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Windows User’s First Apple Mac - M1 Macbook Air - Initial thoughts, and a question

L

lightfire

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 10, 2017
143
30
I ordered a 16GB 1T MacBook Air but have not yet received it. I decided to get my wife a MacBook Air for Christmas as her Win laptop was experiencing issues, and purchased a Bestbuy MacBook Air 8/256. She does general office tasks and doesnt need the storage or memory that I do. Neither one of us have ever used an Apple MacOS computer, although I have an Ipad.

I received it and decided I better make sure it works OK plus I was extremely curious about software that I use daily on an Ipad. The Ipad is experiencing issues and I was hoping it at least lasted until my Air arrived. And was hoping the Air would run the software that I use daily.

So far, all software that I needed to run plus a couple that I wanted to use, all installed and ran perfectly. I still have several packages I want to run but will wait until I receive my MacBook Air.
Even Email client SPARK and BLINK security camera system from Ipad worked great. Plus BRAVE browser that I use on all my computers.

It took most of the day to install everything I wanted to check out; I made the mistake of trying to watch a Netflix movie before updating MacOS and that was the only glitch, after updating - perfect. I paired and checked out a Bluetooth headphone with this.
My main problem was learning my way around the operating system, but everything so far was fairly easy. I still have to delve deeper.

I am impressed with this laptop. I started the day out full battery and used it all day and had 35% battery left at 11 PM last night. And that was with non-native software. And feel that the OS is easy to use. The screen is nice, plenty bright and looked great, although I didn’t do any color testing.

Now my question: I got carried away and set it all up with my Apple ID, installing software from my ID account.
But I have to change that so I can repack it up for a present. And am not sure if MacOS can be reset like windows, if I can simply change Apple ID to hers, or if I have to wipe the device and re-install the OS and the OS update.
Can someone give me pointers on that task?
 
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andrewstirling said:
“Great that you had a good first impression “

Though not surprising... I have to use a windows laptop for work and have spent the last two hours swearing and resisting the urge to launch it out the window.
Click to expand...
A hammer works well. LOL. I have 2 windows computers and one suddenly developed problems which I have yet to resolve, driving me nuts, but am now thinking it hardware instead of software. My other Windows laptop/desktop replacement works flawlessly. But it is not an easily portable device.
 
lightfire said:
I ordered a 16GB 1T MacBook Air but have not yet received it. I decided to get my wife a MacBook Air for Christmas as her Win laptop was experiencing issues, and purchased a Bestbuy MacBook Air 8/256. She does general office tasks and doesnt need the storage or memory that I do. Neither one of us have ever used an Apple MacOS computer, although I have an Ipad.

I received it and decided I better make sure it works OK plus I was extremely curious about software that I use daily on an Ipad. The Ipad is experiencing issues and I was hoping it at least lasted until my Air arrived. And was hoping the Air would run the software that I use daily.

So far, all software that I needed to run plus a couple that I wanted to use, all installed and ran perfectly. I still have several packages I want to run but will wait until I receive my MacBook Air.
Even Email client SPARK and BLINK security camera system from Ipad worked great. Plus BRAVE browser that I use on all my computers.

It took most of the day to install everything I wanted to check out; I made the mistake of trying to watch a Netflix movie before updating MacOS and that was the only glitch, after updating - perfect. I paired and checked out a Bluetooth headphone with this.
My main problem was learning my way around the operating system, but everything so far was fairly easy. I still have to delve deeper.

I am impressed with this laptop. I started the day out full battery and used it all day and had 35% battery left at 11 PM last night. And that was with non-native software. And feel that the OS is easy to use. The screen is nice, plenty bright and looked great, although I didn’t do any color testing.

Now my question: I got carried away and set it all up with my Apple ID, installing software from my ID account.
But I have to change that so I can repack it up for a present. And am not sure if MacOS can be reset like windows, if I can simply change Apple ID to hers, or if I have to wipe the device and re-install the OS and the OS update.
Can someone give me pointers on that task?
Click to expand...
First, install the most recent system update by clicking the Apple menu>About this Mac>Software Update.

Perform Steps 1-6 of the linked article. DON’T perform step 7 as it is unnecessary, and it is tricky to do on the M1 Macs since Apple changed the process. (I advised updating the system software first for a reason).

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
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lightfire said:
I ordered a 16GB 1T MacBook Air but have not yet received it. I decided to get my wife a MacBook Air for Christmas as her Win laptop was experiencing issues, and purchased a Bestbuy MacBook Air 8/256. She does general office tasks and doesnt need the storage or memory that I do. Neither one of us have ever used an Apple MacOS computer, although I have an Ipad.

I received it and decided I better make sure it works OK plus I was extremely curious about software that I use daily on an Ipad. The Ipad is experiencing issues and I was hoping it at least lasted until my Air arrived. And was hoping the Air would run the software that I use daily.

So far, all software that I needed to run plus a couple that I wanted to use, all installed and ran perfectly. I still have several packages I want to run but will wait until I receive my MacBook Air.
Even Email client SPARK and BLINK security camera system from Ipad worked great. Plus BRAVE browser that I use on all my computers.

It took most of the day to install everything I wanted to check out; I made the mistake of trying to watch a Netflix movie before updating MacOS and that was the only glitch, after updating - perfect. I paired and checked out a Bluetooth headphone with this.
My main problem was learning my way around the operating system, but everything so far was fairly easy. I still have to delve deeper.

I am impressed with this laptop. I started the day out full battery and used it all day and had 35% battery left at 11 PM last night. And that was with non-native software. And feel that the OS is easy to use. The screen is nice, plenty bright and looked great, although I didn’t do any color testing.

Now my question: I got carried away and set it all up with my Apple ID, installing software from my ID account.
But I have to change that so I can repack it up for a present. And am not sure if MacOS can be reset like windows, if I can simply change Apple ID to hers, or if I have to wipe the device and re-install the OS and the OS update.
Can someone give me pointers on that task?
Click to expand...

The install software you can ignore, the only problem is when you wanted to update it and asking an old apple id.

For me, keep is simple stupid style. Rename as "admin" cannot be touch, and create new user "your wife" :p
 
KPOM said:
First, install the most recent system update by clicking the Apple menu>About this Mac>Software Update.

Perform Steps 1-6 of the linked article. DON’T perform step 7 as it is unnecessary, and it is tricky to do on the M1 Macs since Apple changed the process. (I advised updating the system software first for a reason).

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...
Yes, I updated OS yesterday. Thanks. Will this method keep the updated OS or revert back?
 
alien3dx said:
The install software you can ignore, the only problem is when you wanted to update it and asking an old apple id.

For me, keep is simple stupid style. Rename as "admin" cannot be touch, and create new user "your wife" :p
Click to expand...
Sorry, I am not clear on what you are suggesting. Rename what as “admin”? And “create new user” means just adding another Apple ID?
 
lightfire said:
Sorry, I am not clear on what you are suggesting. Rename what as “admin”? And “create new user” means just adding another Apple ID?
Click to expand...
you could create her as a new user and as admin, set her up. then delete the profile you had for you. just make sure you remove yourself from iCloud and find my iPhone first.
 
Last edited:
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lightfire said:
I ordered a 16GB 1T MacBook Air but have not yet received it. I decided to get my wife a MacBook Air for Christmas as her Win laptop was experiencing issues, and purchased a Bestbuy MacBook Air 8/256. She does general office tasks and doesnt need the storage or memory that I do. Neither one of us have ever used an Apple MacOS computer, although I have an Ipad.

I received it and decided I better make sure it works OK plus I was extremely curious about software that I use daily on an Ipad. The Ipad is experiencing issues and I was hoping it at least lasted until my Air arrived. And was hoping the Air would run the software that I use daily.

So far, all software that I needed to run plus a couple that I wanted to use, all installed and ran perfectly. I still have several packages I want to run but will wait until I receive my MacBook Air.
Even Email client SPARK and BLINK security camera system from Ipad worked great. Plus BRAVE browser that I use on all my computers.

It took most of the day to install everything I wanted to check out; I made the mistake of trying to watch a Netflix movie before updating MacOS and that was the only glitch, after updating - perfect. I paired and checked out a Bluetooth headphone with this.
My main problem was learning my way around the operating system, but everything so far was fairly easy. I still have to delve deeper.

I am impressed with this laptop. I started the day out full battery and used it all day and had 35% battery left at 11 PM last night. And that was with non-native software. And feel that the OS is easy to use. The screen is nice, plenty bright and looked great, although I didn’t do any color testing.

Now my question: I got carried away and set it all up with my Apple ID, installing software from my ID account.
But I have to change that so I can repack it up for a present. And am not sure if MacOS can be reset like windows, if I can simply change Apple ID to hers, or if I have to wipe the device and re-install the OS and the OS update.
Can someone give me pointers on that task?
Click to expand...

The install software you can ignore, the only problem is when you wanted to update it and asking an old apple id.

For me, keep is simple stupid style. Rename as "admin" cannot be touch, and create new user "your wife" :p
lightfire said:
Sorry, I am not clear on what you are suggesting. Rename what as “admin”? And “create new user” means just adding another Apple ID?
Click to expand...

As what you have to install maybe rename as admin, maybe rename as a guest user. So at least your wife doesn't know what being install inside.

When you create a new user for her, it will have no apple id, which can consider as a new "laptop".This week I loan my old laptop to my friend and I create a new user for him and he links to his apple id. Just now I give my old mac mini to my friend with my old apple id been removed and I help him to link with his apple id.

Changing new users not so hard, just remove your apple id. But to very clean remove everything takes a lot of step like boot into recovery and removes the partition and make it install from the server whatever default it.
 
rmhop81 said:
you could create her as a new user and as admin, set her up. then delete the profile you had for you. just make sure you remote yourself from iCloud and find my iPhone first.
Click to expand...
Ah, but my Apple ID is on iCloud for use with my Ipad, so I cant remove it from icloud. I didnt setup “find my phone”.
 
lightfire said:
Ah, but my Apple ID is on iCloud for use with my Ipad, so I cant remove it from icloud. I didnt setup “find my phone”.
Click to expand...
They mean turn off the FIND MY MAC on the Macbook, sign out of iCloud from your profile, and then add your wife as a new user. You can then delete your user profile if you wish.
 
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dmylrea said:
They mean turn off the FIND MY MAC on the Macbook, sign out of iCloud from your profile, and then add your wife as a new user. You can then delete your user profile if you wish.
Click to expand...
thanks for clarifying...I failed to say the right thing lol
 
alien3dx said:
The install software you can ignore, the only problem is when you wanted to update it and asking an old apple id.

For me, keep is simple stupid style. Rename as "admin" cannot be touch, and create new user "your wife" :p


As what you have to install maybe rename as admin, maybe rename as a guest user. So at least your wife doesn't know what being install inside.

When you create a new user for her, it will have no apple id, which can consider as a new "laptop".This week I loan my old laptop to my friend and I create a new user for him and he links to his apple id. Just now I give my old mac mini to my friend with my old apple id been removed and I help him to link with his apple id.

Changing new users not so hard, just remove your apple id. But to very clean remove everything takes a lot of step like boot into recovery and removes the partition and make it install from the server whatever default it.
Click to expand...
I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to say, but an admin account is absolutely possible to delete.
You just have to be logged in as another admin account when you do it. Renaming accounts is a bad idea. It is a far better idea to create new accounts and delete the old ones.
Quackers said:
Would a new user get access to the apps installed by the first user?
Does your wife want access to what you've installed?
Click to expand...
Yes. But if you installed the app from the Apple App Store you would have to log in with the old iCloud account (Apple ID) every time the app is to be updated. The better idea is to uninstall all apps and install them again with your wife's Apple ID.
 
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David Hassholehoff said:
I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to say, but an admin account is absolutely possible to delete.
You just have to be logged in as another admin account when you do it. Renaming accounts is a bad idea. It is a far better idea to create new accounts and delete the old ones.

Yes. But if you installed the app from the Apple App Store you would have to log in with the old iCloud account (Apple ID) every time the app is to be updated. The better idea is to uninstall all apps and install them again with your wife's Apple ID.
Click to expand...
The main issue is to make is clean as new or "renaming". I waste a lot of time before mac mini 2014 trying to create new os default from recovery from internet.
 
@KPOM advice is the best so far. Just follow his guideline and your wife will get a MacBook that's like new. Don't go any shortcut route or you'll regret it later.
 
Last edited:
Yes, but as many have stated before, step 7 (reinstall) could safely be substituted for a new user + deletion of old user.

There is also a third option.

You could boot into recovery mode and delete the file /private/var/db/.AppleSetupDone
This will make the initial setup guide run again after reboot.
You will probably have to remount the disk with mount -uw / to be able to remove the file.
 
Go the recovery route as others have said. And if she doesn't have an Apple ID yet, I suggest helping her make one and use that to set everything up. Going roundabout ways with your own account is going to make everything harder than neccessary.
 
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