New Macbook incoming(noob)

[Stryk3]

New MacBook arrives tomorrow. Bought a Mac in 1984 but been a Pc user since. I will read the manual, check tutorials, but wouldn’t mind the blessings of some veterans in regard to first day/set up do’s and dont’s
Thanks guys, I am really looking forward to it!

 

[mtneer]

Awesome! Everything looks good, except there no manuals, like it was 1984, anymore

 

[csurfr]

Here’s a tip: FileVault encryption can wreak havoc with High Sierra updates, so either don’t turn it on during setup, or wait for it to be done encrypting your drive before you update to 10.13.4. Otherwise you might find yourself re-installing everything from scratch.

 

[casperes1996]

New MacBook arrives tomorrow. Bought a Mac in 1984 but been a Pc user since. I will read the manual, check tutorials, but wouldn’t mind the blessings of some veterans in regard to first day/set up do’s and dont’s
Thanks guys, I am really looking forward to it!

Everybody's got a different opinion on that. I recommend not following any of the maintenance and "anti-virus" advice, since most of it does nothing at best. Look around and find tips and tricks and use what fits your workflow though - never force onto yourself a workflow that isn't your own, because it's recommended by others though. That just leads to frustrations. You have tools available, but your way of using them is your choice.

If you have any issues or need specific advice, you're always welcome to contact me directly. PM me at any time, I know most everything there is to know about macOS systems and *nix systems as a whole. And when I don't know, I'm quite good at finding the answers .
PS. Of course that's hyperbole, as there's so much to know you couldn't ever get close to knowing it all, but I know a fair deal

 

[Clix Pix]

This may sound nit-picky, but.....right from the get-go, it really is helpful to have the terminology right. So, is your new machine a MacBook or a MacBook Pro? They are two different machines. Are you talking about a 2017 12" MacBook or are you talking about a 2017 13" or 15" MacBook Pro? A MacBook Pro with or without the Touch Bar? It's not unusual for newbies to not notice the differences when jumping onto an online forum. Once you've provided that information people here will be really more informed and subsequently equipped to actually help you if and when you need help.....

 

[Stryk3]

Great point! It’s a new 2017 MacBook Pro 13” no touchbar. Thanks for all the information, oversight, and assistance offered!

 

[EugW]

Hate to say it, but... If you don't need the machine right now, and if you didn't get a killer deal on it, I would have waited for the MacBook Pro updates, which are likely coming sooner rather than later.

Why? Cuz the 2018 CPU updates are likely going to be one of the biggest updates in a very long time.

It's almost guaranteed the higher end models will get big upgrades. There is no guarantee that the non-Touch Bar models would get great upgrades, but there is a decent chance they will too.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...h-could-have-intels-new-six-core-i9-processor

 

[leman]

Don’ts: do not install any antiviruses, cleaners, “optimization” apps or the like

Do’s: get an external drive or two and set up Time Machine.

 

[EugW]

Don’ts: do not install any antiviruses, cleaners, “optimization” apps or the like

Do’s: get an external drive or two and set up Time Machine.

Do: Install an antivirus.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I would say give yourself a little time to get used to the Apple way of doing things, it’s slightly different but it does make sense.

There are endless tutorials and a lot of alternative software solutions so do your research.

An external hard drive for any files and pics etc you want to migrate across is very useful.

They. Are very easy to set up and get started so enjoy.

 

[csurfr]

Do: Install an antivirus.

I’d love to know why you would recommend this.... the only thing that could affect the OP would be malware that he/she would have to install themselves (i.e. “your flash player is outdated, please update”). There hasn’t been a legitimate virus on the Mac since OS 9.

Antivirus software on the Mac is a complete waste of system resources, not to mention money.

 

[leman]

Antivirus software on the Mac is a complete waste of system resources, not to mention money.

And it also makes the software less secure since surprisingly many antivirus suites can be exploited...

 

[EugW]

I’d love to know why you would recommend this.... the only thing that could affect the OP would be malware that he/she would have to install themselves (i.e. “your flash player is outdated, please update”). There hasn’t been a legitimate virus on the Mac since OS 9.

Antivirus software on the Mac is a complete waste of system resources, not to mention money.

Shared files with Windows users, or even your own Windows machines. Macs can receive and re-transmit Windows viruses.

Furthermore, Macs are often multi-user machines. Not everyone is as vigilant about these things as everyone here claims to be.

 

[csurfr]

Shared files with Windows users, or even your own Windows machines. Macs can receive and re-transmit Windows viruses.

Furthermore, Macs are often multi-user machines. Not everyone is as vigilant about these things as everyone here claims to be.

Um... not sure where you’re going with this, but virus’ written for Windows cannot infect macOS, and I think you’re grasping at straws there with the “re-transmit to other windows users”.

As to your second part of “being vigilant”: antivirus software is not the same thing as malware bytes or another malware removal tool (another bloatware product).

 

[EugW]

Um... not sure where you’re going with this, but virus’ written for Windows cannot infect macOS, and I think you’re grasping at straws there with the “re-transmit to other windows users”.

As to your second part of “being vigilant”: antivirus software is not the same thing as malware bytes or another malware removal tool (another bloatware product).

For example, if you get a document from a Windows user that is infected, you can receive it and edit it just fine and your Mac won’t get infected. However, if you then send that file back to a Windows user, you’ve just sent them an infected file.

The goal here is not to be Typhoid Mary.

 

[csurfr]

For example, if you get a document from a Windows user that is infected, you can receive it and edit it just fine and your Mac won’t get infected. However, if you then send that file back to a Windows user, you’ve just sent them an infected file.

The goal here is not to be Typhoid Mary.

You’re right, I have a CS degree from one of the best schools in the country, and I have no idea what I’m talking about.

The goal is not to be paranoid, and slow my machine down with useless software. In over 25 years I haven’t known a single Mac user that has transmitted a virus to a windows user. You’re suggesting that one runs antivirus software on their Mac because Windows has problems with viruses. That falls on Windows users, and with Defender built in to Windows 10 even they have little to worry about.

 

[EugW]

You’re right, I have a CS degree from one of the best schools in the country, and I have no idea what I’m talking about.

The goal is not to be paranoid, and slow my machine down with useless software. In over 25 years I haven’t known a single Mac user that has transmitted a virus to a windows user. You’re suggesting that one runs antivirus software on their Mac because Windows has problems with viruses. That falls on Windows users, and with Defender built in to Windows 10 even they have little to worry about.

If you haven’t seen this happen in 25 years then perhaps you aren’t looking hard enough. It is not exactly a rare occurrence, at least if you do collaborative work. But a user wouldn’t know that if s/he is not scanning for them.

Like I said, don’t be Typhoid Mary.

 

[csurfr]

If you haven’t seen this happen in 25 years then you aren’t looking hard enough. It is not exactly a rare occurrence. But a user wouldn’t know that if s/he is not scanning for them.

Well, feel free to spend your money on what is not needed, but don’t tell others to do the same. I’m going to leave this alone now. Good day!

 

[Samuelsan2001]

You’re right, I have a CS degree from one of the best schools in the country, and I have no idea what I’m talking about.

The goal is not to be paranoid, and slow my machine down with useless software. In over 25 years I haven’t known a single Mac user that has transmitted a virus to a windows user. You’re suggesting that one runs antivirus software on their Mac because Windows has problems with viruses. That falls on Windows users, and with Defender built in to Windows 10 even they have little to worry about.

I have seen it happen where a Mac user unknowingly infects a windows machine, Mac antivirus is mostly free and it uses practically no resources on a modern computer. I have had avast free on my macs since 2010 with no noticeable impact on performance, it’s never cost me a penny and it’s done a good job with protecting me from malware and others from viruses, why would I not use it??

 

[EugW]

Well, feel free to spend your money on what is not needed, but don’t tell others to do the same. I’m going to leave this alone now. Good day!

For example, Sophos antivirus software on the Mac is free for home users, for up to 3 machines.

Have a good day.

 

[DanielDD]

Antivirus software on the Mac is a complete waste of system resources, not to mention money.

Antivirus on a Mac prevent sharing infected files with Windows machines. Useful only if you have shared/network drives. Otherwise, it's a complete waste of resources. Your windows friends can protect themselves.

 

[casperes1996]

For example, Sophos antivirus software on the Mac is free for home users, for up to 3 machines.

Have a good day.

I personally don't use it anymore, and only would install it (and subsequently remove it) in the unlikely situation that I did have a problem, however, I'd like to add that Sophus is the only anti-virus software for macOS that I actually trust at all. I don't think there's any real value to it unless you're either seeing issues, or do very shady things on your computer. macOS' built-in XProtect does just fine, and you'll never even see it

 

[EugW]

I personally don't use it anymore, and only would install it (and subsequently remove it) in the unlikely situation that I did have a problem, however, I'd like to add that Sophus is the only anti-virus software for macOS that I actually trust at all. I don't think there's any real value to it unless you're either seeing issues, or do very shady things on your computer. macOS' built-in XProtect does just fine, and you'll never even see it

AFAIK, XProtect only screens for a very limited number of viruses, and it only works for web downloaded files. Thus in the scenario where somebody hands you a USB stick with an infected Excel file, by design XProtect does absolutely nothing.

 

[casperes1996]

AFAIK, XProtect only screens for a very limited number of viruses, and it only works for web downloaded files. Thus in the scenario where somebody hands you a USB stick with an infected Excel file, by design XProtect does absolutely nothing.

It doesn't only scan downloads. It also scans anything you run/open.
However, you're right that it is a relatively limited set of things it screens for. I'd say it's enough for the majority of people though. If you're not a high priority target for people to give infected Excel files to, and you don't do stupid stuff, like downloading that program a rich prince told you to, so he could transfer all his money to you, you won't need much more than that, and likely not even that to begin with.