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Thanks and a first round of newbie questions

M

MNagel

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 1, 2004
6
0
Boise, Idaho
Hi everyone,

I am a first time switcher and I wanted to thank you all for your input (if you knew it or not) in my decision. I have been thinking about switching to mac for a while now (windows was simply getting unbearable). By lurking on this site I was able to gather all the info I needed to switch with confidence. My G4 PB 1.5 (5400, 128 VR, 512) arrived yesterday and I love it. So THANK YOU!

As you would expect I am having my own set of growing pains. There are minor things that are difficult to adjust to for someone who has been using Windows exclusively for 10 years. So here's my first round of newbie questions.

1. I read on a tread a while back that someone ordered a PB with 128 VR and was shorted 64mbs. I'm a little paranoid and was wondering how he found this out. I looked under "about this mac" and found no mention of video ram.

2. I got a brand new Logitech MX900 to compliment my PB. So far it works great and I am very happy with it. I mapped the keys on top to expose. I was hoping to map the side keys to forward/back in safari and/or finder. Is this possible?

3. Can you guys suggest a good IRC client?

4. Can you suggest any other apps that would be useful for a newbie like me?

Thanks again and I look forward to hearing back from you!
 
MNagel said:
1. I read on a tread a while back that someone ordered a PB with 128 VR and was shorted 64mbs. I'm a little paranoid and was wondering how he found this out. I looked under "about this mac" and found no mention of video ram.
Click to expand...
You're on the right lines. Go to about this mac and click on the "More Info..." button, then have a look under "PCI/AGP Graphics", under "Hardware".
3. Can you guys suggest a good IRC client?
Click to expand...
I like MICE iRC myself.
 
MNagel said:
Hi everyone,

2. I got a brand new Logitech MX900 to compliment my PB. So far it works great and I am very happy with it. I mapped the keys on top to expose. I was hoping to map the side keys to forward/back in safari and/or finder. Is this possible?
Click to expand...

Nah, that won't be possible.

MNage said:
4. Can you suggest any other apps that would be useful for a newbie like me?
Click to expand...
There are a lot of apps depending on what you want. You can start with VLC, and if you do a search on this forum, there are many threads discussing a lot of useful apps.

enjoy your pb

cheers
 
2. I got a brand new Logitech MX900 to compliment my PB. So far it works great and I am very happy with it. I mapped the keys on top to expose. I was hoping to map the side keys to forward/back in safari and/or finder. Is this possible?
Click to expand...

If you can map it to Apple+Left arrow or Apple+Right arrow that'll work.

3. Can you guys suggest a good IRC client?
Click to expand...
For just chat Mozilla has an IRC client. X-Chat is pretty good for a free one. Snak is my favorite but it costs to use past a certain point. You can find all of these on versiontracker.com

As for new Apps. Don't download a bunch of new apps. Just get 'em if you need em. No sense in filling up your hard drive with a bunch of apps just to play around with.
 
MNagel said:
2. I got a brand new Logitech MX900 to compliment my PB. So far it works great and I am very happy with it. I mapped the keys on top to expose. I was hoping to map the side keys to forward/back in safari and/or finder. Is this possible?
Click to expand...

YES IT IS!

DON'T LISTEN TO OTHERS' HUMBUGGERY!

1. Install the Logitech Mouse Drivers
2. Go into System Preferences -> Logitech and click on the icon of your mouse
3. Select the key you wish to map, in the menu select "keystroke"
4. Click the command key (it looks like a tic-tac-toe board with no ending lines.. like where the "alt" key used to be on your keyboard) and set the keystroke to [ (left bracket).
5. save and have fun :)

If you want to use this in JUST safari, you'll have to get USBOverdrive--a free utility. Someone else on the board can help you set it up.
 
MNagel said:
4. Can you suggest any other apps that would be useful for a newbie like me?
Click to expand...

You mean the software package that comes with your PB wasn't enough?! :eek: :eek: :eek: iLife alone should keep you busy for a while. ;)

Congrats on your switch, and it's good to see a fellow Boisian on these boards, though it did take me by suprise. ;)
 
slughead said:
If you want to use this in JUST safari, you'll have to get USBOverdrive--a free utility. Someone else on the board can help you set it up.
Click to expand...
Duff-Man says...I recommend USBOverdrive over Logitech's software regardless - it is much better. However to clarify - it is *not* freeware - it is $20 shareware (and worth every penny)....oh yeah!
 
4. Use VersionTracker A LOT.

Also try video lan client (find it it at versiontracker).

VLC+Real+quicktime+mediaplayer is all you need for video, ever (unless you need to edit).

For ripping DVDs, use MacTheRipper (find at version tracker) and DVDImager (find at version tracker). Simple, Flawless, foolproof.

Burning's harder. Unless the movie you ripped is smaller than 4.7GB, it cannot be put onto a single layer DVD-R unless you compress it (which is a whore). Otherwise, just go into Disk Utility (on your computer right now), and do File -> Burn from image

For some other stuff, check http://unsanity.com
 
Wow! Thanks for all the great advice. I can see this board is really going to be a valuable resourse!

As for my question about the MX900. I'm excited at the possibility of getting this to work however I got hung up on step one. Logitech appears to have no drivers for OSX - should I try drivers for another mouse... the 700 perhaps?

slughead said:
YES IT IS!

DON'T LISTEN TO OTHERS' HUMBUGGERY!

1. Install the Logitech Mouse Drivers
Click to expand...

As for the advice on apps thanks. Your right iPhoto alone has kept me busy for hours today! :D
 
USB Overdrive doesn't seem to be working either..... The site says no BT support. Two strikes. I'll keep trying, let me know if you guys come up with anything else. Thanks again
 
USBOverdrive is good. If you have a USB mouse that is. The site says that they are working on a Bluetooth version.

USBOverdrive is free to use, for as long as you like, except for a reminder to purchase it that shows up once whenever you log in. Also, it takes about 15 seconds to change settings, if you don't pay. I think you can bear it.
But shelling out some money to a dev that makes a good product is a good idea.

On USB Overdrive, if you want to map a button to Expose, just map that button to Middle Click, Right Click, etc... and that will make it pass that signal onto Expose.

I think that makes sense.

Lets say for example, you want the middle mouse button to be an expose button, but you want the other buttons for say, navigationg back and forwards. First, set the buttons up for moving back and forwards in USBOverdrive. Then, set the Middle Button, to the Middle Click function. That will make the Middle Mouse button register is Expose, as the Middle Mouse button. Then just use Expose to map it to whatever you want.

It works...

I personaly have USBOverdrive set up so I can use the scroll wheel to pause what I'm watching/listening too in iTunes/WMP/VLC/Real/Quicktime, and set to change the volume when scrolled. These functions only activate when I'm in one of those programs.

I think that makes sense. Ok I'll shut up now. I have contributed nothing to getting your MX900 working the way you like.
 
SilentPanda said:
Just get 'em if you need em. No sense in filling up your hard drive with a bunch of apps just to play around with.
Click to expand...

Now that's no fun. :)
 
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