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First things to do with new Macbook Pro...

A

alwaysaangel

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 14, 2007
119
0
(I'm sorry if there are already posts on this - I found one very brief thread that no one really responded to. If its a really common question, then please just point me to the thread and I'll not make more annoying threads)

So I'm a first time Mac buyer (used them at jobs before though). I brought home my new MBP yesterday and I adore it.

But I'm wondering what are the first things an experienced mac user would do (and therefore a noob should do) when they got it home. I messed with some of the settings and got the basic idea to my liking (basically just the track pad and making the fn key do the splayed windows thing), calibrated the battery, but thats about all I did.

So what else should I be doing in these first couple of days? Should I delete programs I don't think I'll use (like garageband and imovies) - can I reinstall these pretty easily if I change my mind and want them? Anything else I should check, change or look for??

Thanks so much!
 
Don't waste your time uninstalling those programs.. they don't take up much space at all
 
No need to get rid of any programs.

If I were you. I'd run a software update.
Get some cool widgets for the dashboard. especially the Application Update one, this keeps tabs on what third party apps need updating.
Enable tabbed browsing in Safari.
Set the RSS feeds to make new articles orange in Safari.
I'd get the Flip4Mac codec
Also the DivX player (but only because it includes the codec for quicktime).
Erm...
Have a little play on PhotoBooth.
Download Google earth for the mac.
 
Mitch1984 said:
No need to get rid of any programs.

If I were you. I'd run a software update.
Get some cool widgets for the dashboard. especially the Application Update one, this keeps tabs on what third party apps need updating.
Enable tabbed browsing in Safari.
Set the RSS feeds to make new articles orange in Safari.
I'd get the Flip4Mac codec
Also the DivX player (but only because it includes the codec for quicktime).
Erm...
Have a little play on PhotoBooth.
Download Google earth for the mac.
Click to expand...

Also get the Perian plugin for quicktime
 
The First thing I do (And im probly one of the only ones)

As soon as I get my Mac, I pop in the Restore CDs, Format the Drive, and Reinstall OSX without much of the Other Languages, Printer Drives, and Test Programs I dont need.

While its true they dont take up much space etc, This is a Laptop, and Space is Valueable at any cost...
 
Mitch1984 said:
No need to get rid of any programs.

If I were you. I'd run a software update.
Get some cool widgets for the dashboard. especially the Application Update one, this keeps tabs on what third party apps need updating.
Enable tabbed browsing in Safari.
Set the RSS feeds to make new articles orange in Safari.
I'd get the Flip4Mac codec
Also the DivX player (but only because it includes the codec for quicktime).
Erm...
Have a little play on PhotoBooth.
Download Google earth for the mac.
Click to expand...

Awesome thanks! Is there some overarching program that will update all of my software in one swoop?

Also, is there a reason to use safari? I downloaded firefox out of habit, and was considering using camino. Is one substantially better than the others?

Already got the divx - need it to play some of my videos.

Thanks for everything else - i get on it tonight when I'm off work.
 
iBunny said:
The First thing I do (And im probly one of the only ones)

As soon as I get my Mac, I pop in the Restore CDs, Format the Drive, and Reinstall OSX without much of the Other Languages, Printer Drives, and Test Programs I dont need.

While its true they dont take up much space etc, This is a Laptop, and Space is Valueable at any cost...
Click to expand...

Is there a way to do this without reformatting? Can I just go in and delete the languages and drives?
 
alwaysaangel said:
Is there a way to do this without reformatting? Can I just go in and delete the languages and drives?
Click to expand...

You can delete the printer drivers by dragging them to the trash. Language files, you'll need Monoligual or a similar program. Honestly, I would just leave them unless you think you are going to fill the hard drive in a day or two. You can always do it later to save space when you need it...
 
steveInebriated said:
Don't forget to calibrate the battery.
Click to expand...

alwaysaangel said:
I messed with some of the settings and got the basic idea to my liking (basically just the track pad and making the fn key do the splayed windows thing), calibrated the battery, but thats about all I did.
Click to expand...


Cameront9 said:
You can delete the printer drivers by dragging them to the trash. Language files, you'll need Monoligual or a similar program. Honestly, I would just leave them unless you think you are going to fill the hard drive in a day or two. You can always do it later to save space when you need it...
Click to expand...

If you are going to use Monologinual be careful not to delete architectures as it will cause a world of problems when trying to run rosetta applications.

Anyway, i would just use it for about a month or 2 and see what programs I actually use then delete the ones I dont after then.
 
alwaysaangel said:
Is there a way to do this without reformatting? Can I just go in and delete the languages and drives?
Click to expand...

I know there is a program to delete languages you don't need. This takes up the majority of the space. I wouldn't worry about printer drivers, besides, who knows when you might need to hook it up to a printer that's not yours. I will search for the program which removes languages you don't need, can't remember the name off the top of my head.
 
aaronw1986 said:
I know there is a program to delete languages you don't need. This takes up the majority of the space. I wouldn't worry about printer drivers, besides, who knows when you might need to hook it up to a printer that's not yours. I will search for the program which removes languages you don't need, can't remember the name off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

It is the previously mentioned Monolingual. However please read my previous thread for warnings.
 
xUKHCx said:
If you are going to use Monologinual be careful not to delete architectures as it will cause a world of problems when trying to run rosetta applications.

Anyway, i would just use it for about a month or 2 and see what programs I actually use then delete the ones I dont after then.
Click to expand...
Thanks!

How am I sure not to delete architectures versus deleting languages?
 
I was also thinking of wiping the drive, zeroing out the data, and reinstalling without all the extra languages, etc. Then, I would run the transfer wizard (whatever it is called) to get my setting transfered from my iBook.

I am coming from a 700Mhz iBook G3 with 640mb of Ram and 20Gb hard drive. I am so used to trying to conserve space, that I would like to continue the habit, so that once my machine gets really old, I am not crunched for space. Plus, I went with the 2.2 stock model, so I don't have as much space as I would have liked (40gb less than the 2.4). I also want to save some space for a Windows partition.

Any suggestions for me on the best way to set up my new machine, and any links to how to calibrate the battery from the get-go (I gotta get back to work and don't want to look it up just yet).

Also, does anyone know if Parallels can run Rollercoaster Tycoon 2? It is a non-3d game, and I'd like to know if it would work in emulation before downloading the software and possibly paying an extra $70 or $80.

Thanks ahead of time for your help, and to the OP, enjoy your machine. My iBook has served me for 4+ years, and I am looking forward to get hopefully 3-4 years of faithful service from my beautiful new Mac!

-Sam

One last thing:

Any good deals out there on the Brethaven bags? Should I just get one at the Apple Store or Micro Center, or does someone have them cheap online?
 
What i did

I just bought my Macbook 3 days ago and here is what i did when i first got it.

1. I went to www.freemacware.com and looked up some cool apps i might need. (i found about 15 or so im am going to use a lot).
2. I of course imported my itunes and iphoto collections to my new Macbook.
3. I played with system prefereces for a long time, I would highly recommend lookinga at the security pane and the accounts pane for security purposes. I changed mine to have a keyboard shortcut to log out, and in the login window i have my account and a guest account without a password (very limited user), my brother is always trying to get into my computer so i need a good security. (google ialertu)
4. I got the dock background screen saver icon size finder windwos color and all that good stuff the way i wanted.
5. I would recommend using a firefox browser name BonEcho, i think it was specificaly made for the mac.
6. I know i will be shot tonight for saying this but i also got windows xp running on both parallels and bootcamp.

Those are just some basic thing i would recommend

Good luck with your mac!
 
sxl95 said:
I was also thinking of wiping the drive, zeroing out the data, and reinstalling without all the extra languages, etc. Then, I would run the transfer wizard (whatever it is called) to get my setting transfered from my iBook.

I am coming from a 700Mhz iBook G3 with 640mb of Ram and 20Gb hard drive. I am so used to trying to conserve space, that I would like to continue the habit, so that once my machine gets really old, I am not crunched for space. Plus, I went with the 2.2 stock model, so I don't have as much space as I would have liked (40gb less than the 2.4). I also want to save some space for a Windows partition.

Any suggestions for me on the best way to set up my new machine, and any links to how to calibrate the battery from the get-go (I gotta get back to work and don't want to look it up just yet).

Also, does anyone know if Parallels can run Rollercoaster Tycoon 2? It is a non-3d game, and I'd like to know if it would work in emulation before downloading the software and possibly paying an extra $70 or $80.

Thanks ahead of time for your help, and to the OP, enjoy your machine. My iBook has served me for 4+ years, and I am looking forward to get hopefully 3-4 years of faithful service from my beautiful new Mac!

-Sam

One last thing:

Any good deals out there on the Brethaven bags? Should I just get one at the Apple Store or Micro Center, or does someone have them cheap online?
Click to expand...

Considering the new release of Paralells which is supposed to be released this month will ahve 3D support...I think it's safe to say that the current release will handle rollercoaster tycoon 2 fine.
 
you asked earlier about safari/firefox/camino. Personally I have used all three and I find find safari painfully slow, firefox pretty much the same as it is on PC, and Camino to be the fastest of the 3 (but its a small margin with firefox) and it has a much more OS X-y feel that firefox
 
Install Quicksilver, AdiumX, Opera, Flip4mac, VLC, eventually NeoOffice, Pacifist might be nice, that unarchiver whatever it's name was, Smultron.

For commercial apps which might be intresting look for Path Finder, Toast Titanium, CrossOver, Parallells.

Little snitch maybe, depending on your hobbies...
 
iBunny said:
The First thing I do (And im probly one of the only ones)

As soon as I get my Mac, I pop in the Restore CDs, Format the Drive, and Reinstall OSX without much of the Other Languages, Printer Drives, and Test Programs I dont need.
Click to expand...

First thing I do as well...whether a laptop or iMac.
 
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