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The Definitive Apple MAC OS thread


ZeroDamage

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First, if this thread could be stickied or what have you and I will update this first post as information is added.

 

I will be moving full time to a MAC System here at work. I need to become an expert with the MAC OS since our MAC guy left the organization. I know that there are several here who are gurus with the MAC OS X and I would like some help. We have guides on Windows and even some on Linux but not much in the way of MAC OS X.

 

This is what we need. Shortcut keys when booting up the machine to do certain things. A list of things that you do when you first install a new MAC OS X install on your machine. I for example just figured out the Spaces thing the other day where I can then hit F11 and F10 and the other F-keys to maneuver my open apps.

 

I would like to know if there is a way to have multiple work spaces in the way that Linux does and now Windows does with Microsoft's new tool: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinte...s/cc817881.aspx

 

I hear you Apple guys say that they are great and amazing and I want you to prove it. I need to know how to use an Apple as easily as I use my Windows and Ubuntu machines. It WILL be my work machine starting next week.

 

I want to know what apps you install, etc. Changes you make to the keys on the keyboard to make things easier, etc. I will add all of these things to the next post and will edit it as information is added. Please Help with this if you are a MAC guy (or gal in the case of M2)

 

-Lee

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The MAC OSX Info:

 

 

1) to boot from cd - hold C during bootup.

2) spaces is the best, ever. get to know it, and set it to a hotkey that you'll remember: system preferences -> expose & spaces

3) apple key + tab = windows alt + tab, except that adding a shift lets you tab backwards, and moving your mouse to an apple-tabbed icon will select that program.

4) learn (or change) expose shortcuts for all windows/application windows/show desktop. (system preferences -> expose & spaces)

5) get istatpro for dashboard. (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/istatpro.html)

6) move terminal into your dock (drag/drop from -> applications/utilities)

7) drag/drop the applications folder to your dock (open programs quicker)

 

 

oh, and breathe deeply and slowly. you're going to want it to be harder than it needs to be, so try to do something else with your pent up aggression :D

 

apps:

scp - http://cyberduck.ch/

code - http://www.panic.com/coda/

ftp - http://www.panic.com/transmit/ (or filezilla)

mp3 - http://cogx.org/ ( or vlc - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html)

torrents - http://www.transmissionbt.com/

deep uninstaller: http://konstochvanligasaker.se/apptrap/

Edited by ZeroDamage
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I would suggest you pick up this book.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Switching-Mac-Missin...5537&sr=8-1

 

My dad picked up the Tiger version when he switched and he loved it. He is a sys admin for a hospital so he came from a big windows background.

 

If you dont have enough time to grab a book, what kind of commands are you looking for? I love expose, ummm hot corners, many others

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1) to boot from cd - hold C during bootup.

2) spaces is the best, ever. get to know it, and set it to a hotkey that you'll remember: system preferences -> expose & spaces

3) apple key + tab = windows alt + tab, except that adding a shift lets you tab backwards, and moving your mouse to an apple-tabbed icon will select that program.

4) learn (or change) expose shortcuts for all windows/application windows/show desktop. (system preferences -> expose & spaces)

5) get istatpro for dashboard. (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/istatpro.html)

6) move terminal into your dock (drag/drop from -> applications/utilities)

7) drag/drop the applications folder to your dock (open programs quicker)

 

 

oh, and breathe deeply and slowly. you're going to want it to be harder than it needs to be, so try to do something else with your pent up aggression :D

 

apps:

scp - http://cyberduck.ch/

code - http://www.panic.com/coda/

ftp - http://www.panic.com/transmit/ (or filezilla)

mp3 - http://cogx.org/ ( or vlc - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html)

torrents - http://www.transmissionbt.com/

deep uninstaller: http://konstochvanligasaker.se/apptrap/

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I don't really use mine for anything like you would use it for but I'll offer whatever help I can.

 

You ask about multiple work spaces. Is Spaces not what you're looking for (i.e. multiple desktops)?

 

For uninstalling you can just delete apps, but that doesn't always get rid of everything so I suggest using AppDelete. I have a feeling it is just a choice over AppTrap that sj linked to...I don't know which is better but I know I like AppDelete.

 

I also suggest getting OmniDiskSweeper (I didn't pay for it, just stick with the free version). It's a great app for figuring out where most of your hard drive space is being used. All of the OmniGroup apps I've used are nice, but I haven't felt the urge to pay for any of them.

 

That's all for now, gonna go eat lunch.

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With all the talk about how great the MAC OS is, I was expecting more response than this. I can honestly find more information with a search on Lifehacker or something but was hoping for some mini tutorials from our local Mac OSX gurus. Lets have them. Pretend you are installing Mac OSX for the first time.. what steps do you take to get what use every day. I am warming up to this OS but there may be things that you all know and do that will make things much more easy and friendly for me. yes, Spaces is great. Never knew it existed.

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ZD, you're asking a bunch of people who use the OS completely differently than you intend (need) to to tell you how to use it. We can't do that.

Personally when I install OS X I make sure I install Textmate (for programming and because it's the best Text Editor I've ever used, but it's not free), I install VLC so I can watch videos, I install Firefox because it's teh hawesomes, I install Quicksilver because it is the best app-launcher ever (and a billion other things I don't use it for because I don't need to...but you might...go research it here), I install smcFanControl because it lets me control the speed of my laptop fans.

I install OmniDiskSweeper that I told you about above to discover where my space is taken up (a rumor I've heard but haven't ever verified is that OS X runs better if you keep at least 10% of the hard drive free).

I also install The Unarchiver to deal with zip and rar files. However it sometimes has problems dealing with password protected ones so I also install UnRarX. The reason I use The Unarchiver as my main one rather than UnRarX is that Unarchiver assumes I want to...well...unarchive. So it is just a double click and that's that. It unzips (or unrars) right there and closes itself when it's done. Like I said though it can have trouble dealing with password protected ones at times.

 

Last but not least I install AppDelete which I told you about above as well.

 

Then I update everything.

 

That's it. I don't know any special shortcuts or button configurations to blow up the world...but those are the apps I use.

 

 

Now that I think about it I definitely think someone like you should check out Quicksilver. It's incredibly powerful and does 10 thousand times more things than I use it for.

Personally I had never heard of an app like it but when I got it...I was hooked. I can find nearly anything on my machine just by pressing Option(alt)+Spacebar and I start typing. You can even launch the app or open the file you're looking for just by pressing Enter. So I can navigate around my Mac and rarely have to touch the mouse. It's so nice to be in an application and realize you need to open something...and just start typing...no opening a menu, no browsing through the hard drive...just typing.

It is seriously my favorite app I have ever used in my life on any operating system. And I only use it for about 1% of what it's meant to do.

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if the only thing you got out of the posts above is that spaces is great, there's no reason to say anything more :D

 

i use mine for web development, marketing, business. the apps i listed above are the core of my new install routine, plus installing mamp pro (http://www.mamp.info/en/mamp-pro/), ie4osx for browser compatibility testing(http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/), vmware for installing vms, and that's about it. oh, and istat pro (http://www.islayer.com/index.php?op=item&id=7).

 

apptrap > appdelete, btw. :D

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Playaa, that was the kind of post that I was looking for. That's all this thread needs. What you use it for and what apps you download, install, and find useful. They are all apps I will try out. I am liking the Apple OS at the moment and starting next week, it will be my primary OS.

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So I started looking into this Quicksilver app more because I was recommending it to you ZD. This thing kicks major donkey tails.

I frequently download things in zip format, open them, unzip them then move them to other folders. This is not a difficult process...but using Quicksilver it's even easier and quicker...I just type, hit enter, type, hit enter.

Love it.

 

Also...Apple+Delete = send files straight to the trash. I just discovered this one a week ago...seriously.

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I got a mac last week too. It's an older G4 notebook or something like that. Got it for $350 though. Sweet, this is a great thread. I think it has leapord on it (however you spell it, I'm no Englilish major). I'll be referring here often in the next few weeks. :)

 

Yeah, probably a Powerbook. Keep in mind that apps you install will have to be the PowerPC versus the Intel version. Different CPU type in those older Macs. I was using one sometimes up until recently.

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  • 2 weeks later...

What I've been looking for: http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2818/os_x_t...ons_for_leopard

 

To use these boot shortcuts or commands, hold down the bolded keypress while your system is booting up. If it does not work, you probably did not start holding down the key (or key combination) soon enough.

 

shift - Safe Mode

 

Booting with the shift key depressed starts OS X in Safe Mode with Account preferences ignored and unessential kernal extensions / kexts disabled.

 

option - Startup Manager

 

Booting with the option key depressed starts OS X with the Startup Manager which allows the user to select which OS or partition from which to boot.

 

Mouse button - Eject Media

 

When the user boots with the mouse key depressed, any media in the drive such as a DVD or CD is ejected.

 

cmd v - Verbose Boot

 

If this key command is held down when booting, all the startup messages that are typically hidden will be displayed. This is an excellent method for debugging booting issues.

 

c - Boot from CD/DVD

 

Booting with the "C" key held will tell the system to boot directly from a CD/DVD in the drive.

 

t - Target Mode

 

If the "T" key is held during the bootup, the computer will be placed in target mode. This basically allows the computer to be accessed by other systems as a FireWire drive. Other computers can read, write, or mount the target mode system just like any other FireWire drive.

 

Other Bootup Shortcuts --

 

cmd s - Single User Mode

 

x - OS X Force boot

 

r - PowerBook Display Reset

 

n - Boot up from NetBoot Server

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