Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

So what are the first things I should do after getting my MBP?

Z

Zakoth

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 31, 2011
69
0
It's being delivered on Thursday and I would like to know what to do and how to do it (this is my first Mac).
 
Disneyland!!!!!


No but seriously, the MBP has a very user-friendly intro system to show you the basics. I would play with the OS. Remember that with OS X, there are usually 3 or more ways you can do one command, and you can customize it further to your liking. Also, the multi-touch trackpad will become something you fall in love with quickly as your most common commands can be done via that.

Then, check out apps. For OS X, you can get a lot of great programs for free. And of course some are paid. My top apps are:

-1Password
-Seasonality Core
-Office 2011
-Onyx
-OmniFocus
-Nisus Thesaurus
-Adium
-Virtual DJ
-iPhoto (which you already may have if you bought iLife...if not its $15)
-iBooks Author
-Adobe Creative Suite 5.5

Those are just a few but that is to give you an idea of what exists. Browse the App store and you will find all sorts of apps that will fit your lifestyle. :)
 
Get really excited, because it's the most elegant machine you've ever unopened. Feel genuinely proud of your purchase.

The best thing is you can just turn it on and surf the web or do whatever you want straight off the bat. It's not like those stone-age windows machines where the first thought is "I better install this antivirus software ASAP before I touch the web".
 
Just enjoy it.

I strongly recommend not installing lists of third party apps you probably don't need. Use the Mac, see how you get on with it, if there's stuff you find you can't do or performance issues you encounter then come here and post and we'll help you out :)
 
Zakoth said:
It's being delivered on Thursday and I would like to know what to do and how to do it (this is my first Mac).
Click to expand...

Really, really, really explore the customisation options. Look at all the System Preference panes. Look at "Customise Toolbar" in every app on the machine. Open the Preferences window in every app.

Experiment with all the options to get it like YOU want it.

After using your Mac for a week do it again.

If there is something you can't get to work like you want, Google it, you won't be the first, and there is almost certainly an Apple way of doing it, or a third party solution.

I have friends and relatives who have switched to Macs, who have not done this. Months, even years later, I show them something really simple on their machine, and they say Wow, I wish I had known....

Only other thing I would say is not mac specific, but get your back up regime sorted...Time Machine is amazing, but you might want to have bootable clone too,
 
I would agree with a few other people on this post to familiarize yourself with the OS. I recently switched to Mac from Windows and took plenty of time in order to familiarize myself with the ins and outs of the system but it is definitely a very fun and easy system to work with and customize.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back