What to do first

[jj97101]

So, am going to be getting my MacBook in a few days . Been going through the other threads and people have loads of stuff that you should do when getting your MacBook, freeing up space, installing bootcamp etc. so this is a read for people to write what they think people should do as soon as they get their MacBook air.
I have one question, is it possible to use a disk drive from another Mac and use it for the MacBook Air? I know you can do it for windows. It's just I don't have a disk drive at home and am not too keen on spending that much money on a SuperDrive. If I can't do it this way I'll most likely just make dmg's.
So what should I do when I first open my MacBook air?

 

[GGJstudios]

I have one question, is it possible to use a disk drive from another Mac and use it for the MacBook Air? I know you can do it for windows. It's just I don't have a disk drive at home and am not too keen on spending that much money on a SuperDrive.

Users of Macs without optical drives can either buy an Apple USB SuperDrive or use DVD or CD sharing via Remote Disc when they need access to an optical drive.

So what should I do when I first open my MacBook air?

Turn it on and start using it. It's that simple.

 

[Alvesang]

Am I the only one who doesn't understand this? I guess you should know what you buy a computer for, therefore I think you know what you want to do with it first. Setting it up seems like a good idea. Installing the applications you got the MBA for in the first place doesn't seem too far out either.

To answer your other question: Yes, you can use any CD or DVD drive within your network for your MBA.

And while typing all this, I imagined what your first usage for your new MBA could be: Porn.

 

[jj97101]

Setting it up seems like a good idea.

Sorry I should have rephrased it, how would you set it up.

 

[GGJstudios]

Sorry I should have rephrased it, how would you set it up.

There's no setup required, other than the initial selection of user name, password, etc., which you will be automatically guided through when you turn it on.

 

[jj97101]

Do I have to say exactly what I want? I'm looking for things like, guides to completely uninstall GarageBand, delete all the unused languages, unlocking turbo boost on windows 7 with that program I can't remember the name of. That sort of thing.

 

[GGJstudios]

Do I have to say exactly what I want?

Yes, you do, since none of what you're asking now is normal setup for a new Mac.

I'm looking for things like, guides to completely uninstall GarageBand, delete all the unused languages, unlocking turbo boost on windows 7 with that program I can't remember the name of. That sort of thing.

I don't recommend uninstalling any of the apps that come with Mac OS X. Some may affect other functions if removed. You won't save that much space by uninstalling them, anyway.

Freeing up space in Mac OS X

Helpful Information for Any Mac User
Portables Fast Start: The New User's Guide to Apple Notebooks

 

[jj97101]

Yes, you do, since none of what you're asking now is normal setup for a new Mac.

I don't recommend uninstalling any of the apps that come with Mac OS X. Some may affect other functions if removed. You won't save that much space by uninstalling them, anyway.

Freeing up space in Mac OS X

Helpful Information for Any Mac User
Portables Fast Start: The New User's Guide to Apple Notebooks

Thank you

 

[KPOM]

If it doesn't come with Mountain Lion, my suggestion would be go through the initial setup (enter your Apple ID, choose the language, etc.), and then go online to get your update code: http://www.apple.com/osx/uptodate/.

It should just take a few minutes to get the e-mail. Then load Mountain Lion before transferring other files, etc. You might as well start it up fresh. If you want, make a backup onto an external drive first.

I recommend Carbon Copy Cloner. It's now a paid program, but there is a free trial. The nice thing is that you can create a bootable backup on an external drive.

 

[stchman]

Users of Macs without optical drives can either buy an Apple USB SuperDrive or use DVD or CD sharing via Remote Disc when they need access to an optical drive.

Turn it on and start using it. It's that simple.

You can get any USB DVD drive and they will work, Apple's Superdrive is not the only one.

 

[GGJstudios]

You can get any USB DVD drive and they will work, Apple's Superdrive is not the only one.

I didn't suggest it's the only one that works. It's just the only one I recommend.

 

[stchman]

I didn't suggest it's the only one that works. It's just the only one I recommend.

Point taken.

In my search for a wired Ethernet adapter it appears that Apple branded adapters (the Thunderbolt and USB) are the only ones that are guaranteed to work OOB on the MBA. Since I wanted one that works, I just bucked up the $29 for the Thunderbolt version.

I am finding that everything "just works" on a Mac applies only to Apple branded products.

 

[GGJstudios]

I am finding that everything "just works" on a Mac applies only to Apple branded products.

... which is one reason Apple's SuperDrive is the only one I recommend. Apple devices seem to "play nice" better than 3rd party devices, in some cases.

 

[stchman]

... which is one reason Apple's SuperDrive is the only one I recommend. Apple devices seem to "play nice" better than 3rd party devices, in some cases.

Agreed, after much reading devices that worked in Snow Leopard OOB no longer worked in Lion OOB. I'm sure that there are some devices that worked OOB in Lion that no longer work in Mountain Lion.

This leads me to believe that Apple purposely removed the kernel modules that supported that piece of hardware.

 

[swordfish5736]

I got a blu-ray drive off ebay for under $50 a few months ago and it works with my mac mini flawlessly.
I believe it was this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/External-US...Ray_Drives&hash=item3a69cdd8af#ht_2785wt_1413

It's nice that the power is pulled from a USB port but since air's only have 1 port on each side that could make things annoying.

Even though i doubt i'll use it much I ordered the apple superdrive with my MBA earlier today.