New to Mac

[LethalUK]

I just got a Macbook Pro! 

I think it is very quick, but being a Windows user before, I was wondering what I can do to make sure my Mac runs quickly. I used to run Disk Fragment etc, at least once a week.

Also, what can I do to make sure that the computer starts up very quickly, and to keep the battery health good (Ex. Sleep Mode Vs. Shutdown).

Any must have apps, anything I need to know coming from Windows.



I noticed the computer keeps telling me about the battery power choice, how can I make sure that the Processor, Graphics and everything is running well and not trimmed back to save power, as I can't find it?

Thanks guys!

 

[geoffreak]

Must have apps are iStat and Coconut Battery.

You can read Apple's information about batteries here. Battery calibration information is here. You should go through at least a charge cycle a month for best health, but more are better. A charge cycle is any time your computer goes though 100% of charge, whether this is a full discharge or ten 100% to 90% discharges.

I would recommend that you keep your computer in sleep mode all the time. Macs are meant to run forever and only need to be restarted for updates. Battery drain while sleeping is also very low.

 

[eawmp1]

Mac memory management good - don't need to defrag.
If you start up alot, sleep is good. Otherwise power on to use is only about a minute.
Must have apps depend on what you use your computer for. The OS comes with a good email, calendar program. iTunes/iPhoto/iDVD/iMovie/Garageband are useful for most basic media needs.

I recommend the tutorials here:

http://www.apple.com/support/leopard/
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

 

[BaldiMac]

I just got a Macbook Pro! 

I think it is very quick, but being a Windows user before, I was wondering what I can do to make sure my Mac runs quickly. I used to run Disk Fragment etc, at least once a week.

OS X automatically defragments most files as needed.

Also, what can I do to make sure that the computer starts up very quickly,

Avoid installing login items and preference panes.

and to keep the battery health good (Ex. Sleep Mode Vs. Shutdown).

Calibrate your battery once every month or so.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

I noticed the computer keeps telling me about the battery power choice, how can I make sure that the Processor, Graphics and everything is running well and not trimmed back to save power, as I can't find it?

There is a "Energy Saver" pane in System Preferences.

 

[oculus42]

Don't defragment. The file system Macs use don't need it unless you completely fill your disk at some point. The file system is self-managing.

Power is under the Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Energy Saver.

Now, for software:
Adium - near-universal chat client
Caffeine - one-click to keep your Mac from sleeping while you watch movies, etc.
CoRD - In case you ever need Remote Desktop to PCs (no idea what you do, so I thought I'd be inclusive)
CyberDuck - FTP
VLC - Everyone, everywhere should have VLC.

Extra-special add-ons:
MacFUSE & NTFS-3G - These two let you read and write NTFS (Windows) volumes, which include most PC-formatted portable hard drives and some USB sticks.
Perian - Video codecs for QuickTime.
Flip4Mac - play WMV videos in QuickTime

 

[geoffreak]

MacFUSE & NTFS-3G - These two let you read and write NTFS (Windows) volumes, which include most PC-formatted portable hard drives and some USB sticks.

Don't use NTFS-3G. It is the slowest driver you will ever use.
MacFUSE is here.

 

[Gregg2]

I was wondering what I can do to make sure my Mac runs quickly. I used to run Disk Fragment etc, at least once a week.

I check fragmentation with TechTool Pro once a month. I run it every other month, or sometimes the third month from the last time. Even then, the fragmentation is not severe.

 

[geoffreak]

Do not run a disk defragmenter as you risk doing more harm than good. HFS+ is a self-defragmenting file system and any additional tools can ruin data.

 

[LethalUK]

I currently are running it in Sleep mode all the time, as I usually use it in the morning for around 30 minutes, then about 1 hours in the afternoon before a small rest for about 2 hours, with another 1-2 hours of use again before I go to sleep (This is during School).

With no school, it is on almost all the time, unless I go out. Currently, I am charging it up to 100% while it is off, and then using it until it goes down the about 5% off battery.

How can I switch off the login items and preferences as mentioned in here?

Also, the million pound question, will the Mac slow down after time? I plan on keeping it for Summer 2012, then I will buy a new one when I hit 18, to use the student discount and get the free iPod to knock further off the price.

 

[geoffreak]

How can I switch off the login items and preferences as mentioned in here?

System Preferences -> Accounts

Also, the million pound question, will the Mac slow down after time? I plan on keeping it for Summer 2012, then I will buy a new one when I hit 18, to use the student discount and get the free iPod to knock further off the price.

All hard drives slow down as they fill up. Keep about 30% or at least 40GB free to avoid slowdowns. The computer itself doesn't slow down, but feels slower as technology gets faster
Macs can easily last 3 years or more. Get AppleCare to make sure it lasts 3 years.

 

[drummerlondonw3]

well the mac won't actually slow down with time but software requirements and a fuller HD will make the speed of the Mac slower. I have an old iBook G$ 800 mhz that runs a fresh install of Tiger for my Sister to do basic browsing and word processing and it's still fine, obviously if I were to stress the system more then it would show it's age but in this set-up it's as fast as the day I got it

you will just have to face up to the fact that there will be a point when you cannot keep automatically updating and as long as you stay at a point when your system is quick you will be fine

 

[-tWv-]

Don't use NTFS-3G. It is the slowest driver you will ever use.
MacFUSE is here.

I don't notice any speed decrease with the NTFS-3G driver. And NTFS-3G relies on macfuse, it is installed automatically when the ntfs driver is installed. I'm pretty sure Macfuse alone does not allow you to write to ntfs formatted drives.

 

[geoffreak]

I don't notice any speed decrease with the NTFS-3G driver.

The MacFUSE driver is easily 2-3 times faster than the NTFS-3G when it comes to writing data. The difference is night and day.

And NTFS-3G relies on macfuse, it is installed automatically when the ntfs driver is installed.

Unless something has changed recently, this is not the case at all. The NTFS-3G may be based off of FUSE as is MacFUSE, but the implementation isn't as good.

I'm pretty sure Macfuse alone does not allow you to write to ntfs formatted drives.

Yes it does. It also allows you to format them with Disk Utility.

 

[-tWv-]

Oh, so I can just delete the ntfs-3g driver and still be able to write to my ntfs formatted drives? I was under the impression that you needed both.

 

[geoffreak]

I have both installed without problem. I think the MacFUSE driver has priority though.

 

[spinne1]

If as a former Windows user you MUST have a maximized window, this program will make the green button maximize to a full screen:

http://www.blazingtools.com/downloads.html#RightZoom

 

[1ne]

I have both installed without problem. I think the MacFUSE driver has priority though.

Humm... regarding MacFUSE. I had this installed from VMWare but I clearly remember I could not write to a NTFS format until I had install NTFS-3G.

Was there something I need to turn on in MacFUSE?


update
Humm... I just uninstalled NTFS-3G and I could not move a file into NTFS drive.

 

[LethalUK]

Thanks guys, I plan to keep most of my stuff on an external hard drive, and a 16GB memory stick that I will buy for school.

I brought the 13 inch version, as I want the portability for school, and coming from a 17 inch windows computer, I thought it would seem small. However, it doesn't, with the clarity and quality of the screen, I don't even need to maximize the window to see everything!