Just Made the Swtich

S

SuX0rz

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Messages
1,292
Never thought I would, but I broke down and got a MacBook Pro. I got rid of the gaming machine in my sig and I'm going all apple. Although, I do still plan on putting Vista 64 on a small partition for the few games I still play.

Since I'm a newb, what kind of freeware is a must for a new mac owner? What are the most useful keyboard shortcuts?

Oh, and I went glossy...the best decision I ever made. :cool:
 
Yeah, I have come to find how useful comm+Q is. Man, this is really nice...interesting to see how the other half lives.
 
Cyberduck for FTP, Transmission for BitTorrent, Adium for all your IM accounts, Colloquy for IRC, those are some useful freeware apps off the top of my head.

If you want to demo some great pay applications, I suggest you go to Panic and try out demos of their FTP and Usenet clients. They are excellent and I wish they'd make Windows ports. :)

When you install applications, keep in mind that 9 out of 10 will not have an installer. Instead you just drag the application from the mounted DMG or ZIP file over to the Applications folder and boom, you're done. Lots of people new to OS X will just click on the application icon inside the mount and assume that launches the installer, when that icon is actually the application itself.

I suggest assigning Expose functions to hot corners (ie - show all windows at lower left, show desktop at lower right). It is basically gesturing for window management, pretty cool. If you use Spaces a lot then you can hot corner that as well, but I'm fine just having that assigned to the regular function key it is on.

Also make sure you enable right clicking with two fingers on the trackpad, as well as all of the other multitouch functions.

Enjoy.
 
Serpico said:
I suggest assigning Expose functions to hot corners (ie - show all windows at lower left, show desktop at lower right). It is basically gesturing for window management, pretty cool. If you use Spaces a lot then you can hot corner that as well, but I'm fine just having that assigned to the regular function key it is on..
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^^^ That with Expose. Can do wonders for workflow, particularly if you have tons of stuff open at once. For spaces I just left it on the control + arrow keys.
 
MattyC said:
^^^ That with Expose. Can do wonders for workflow, particularly if you have tons of stuff open at once. For spaces I just left it on the control + arrow keys.
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Expose made my life 1000 times simpler after it was introduced. At that point I was working with something ridiculous like 20 Photoshop windows open at once, and Expose made it totally manageable. It is crazy how much faster I got work done after that.
 
I just starting to see how awesome of a feature it is. I really like the space management features of Leopard.
 
I got my MBP 2 months ago, and honestly it is my most favorite computer I've ever owned (and I've owned A LOT). I've got the Leopard 10.5.3 [~118gb] and Vista [~67gb] dual boot going and haven't looked back since. I only get about 50 fps if I'm lucky in TF2 on my desktop, but with this MBP I'm getting about 230. It truly is an amazing machine and really is worthy of the name "desktop replacement"
 
syncore said:
I've got the Leopard 10.5.3 [~118gb] and Vista [~67gb] dual boot going and haven't looked back since. I only get about 50 fps if I'm lucky in TF2 on my desktop, but with this MBP I'm getting about 230. It truly is an amazing machine and really is worthy of the name "desktop replacement"
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What is crazy to me is just how much faster OS X is than Vista on the same hardware in pretty much every way. The thing is that pre-SP1, it was even uglier; boot time alone was WTF compared to the OS X desktop just snapping on shortly after hitting the power button.

And yeah, TF2 runs awesome on it. Now if only hotels had better internet connections so I could actually play the damn thing on my favorite servers when I'm on the road. :)
 
I know you already have Vista setup on the Mac, but did you know you can get an application called Crossover Games, and run all of the Valve Source games pretty much like it was running in Windows, without actually having to install windows.

I use a variation of it, called DarWINE, for applications that i want to run that are windows only. Crossover is much better supported, to my knowledge, but i like fiddling with stuff, for DarWINE works for me.
 
Narisatu said:
I know you already have Vista setup on the Mac, but did you know you can get an application called Crossover Games, and run all of the Valve Source games pretty much like it was running in Windows, without actually having to install windows.

I use a variation of it, called DarWINE, for applications that i want to run that are windows only. Crossover is much better supported, to my knowledge, but i like fiddling with stuff, for DarWINE works for me.
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It was my understanding that Crossover was slower than running the same application in Boot Camp. It still true? I haven't heard of "Crossover Games" until you mentioned it, but I'm gonna check it out right now.
 
I didn't know about those programs. It would be great to know if they run as fast as in windows. Although, I do have this copy of Vista 64 just laying around so I'm not sure what I would do with it if I didn't put it on bootcamp.

I also like to use to scare some of my die-hard mac friends. I tell them, "Yeah, I got a Macbook Pro, but I'm just going to use it for Vista." Needless to say, they freak and I get a good laugh.:D
 
Im not sure the speed differences, haven't tested it myself, and I am not really sure of the compatibility with all games either, but if you pretty much play Source games, it might be worth looking into. IMO, if it runs faster than 40fps, its good enough for me. :) but im not very picky with games either, dont play them much.
 
After like 6 months everything fit like a glove. Two finger scrolling and right clicking became easier then using a mouse, command q became a way of life and command tab, expose (hot corners) and so fourth make my life so much richer.

edit: I've had macbook pros for the last 2 years, but it took about 6 months to fully appreciate the nuances.

Must haves: Firefox 3, Adium, Transmission if you do bittorrent, thats really about it. Other apps are for specialized purposes.
Candybar is kinda fun.
 
I guess I will throw up list list of must haves for Free Applications. I also have quite a few commercial applications i use constantly, if you are having trouble finding an application for something you need/want to do, shoot me an IM I probably either know of an application already, or can find one relatively quickly.

0xED Hex Editor
Adium multi client IM
AppFresh Update Manager
Growl System notifications
Gimp Image Manipulation
IceClean System Maintenance
NewsFire RSS Reader
Transmission BitTorrent Client
VLC Media Player
What's Keeping me? For that annoying error when you try to empty the trash that some file is in use.
 
taylorwilsdon said:
After like 6 months everything fit like a glove. Two finger scrolling and right clicking became easier then using a mouse, command q became a way of life and command tab, expose (hot corners) and so fourth make my life so much richer.

edit: I've had macbook pros for the last 2 years, but it took about 6 months to fully appreciate the nuances.

Must haves: Firefox 3, Adium, Transmission if you do bittorrent, thats really about it. Other apps are for specialized purposes.
Candybar is kinda fun.
Click to expand...

I would add Quicksilver to that short list. Everything that spotlight should have been.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBvFUhTqKK4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EydTYOeqIrk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DYb56xxnh4&feature=related

Those are some vids on how powerful the simple application is. If you just want to see it being used, check out vid 2-3. The first one is primarily setting up the application and its most basic function. The first vid is still VERY useful for setting it up the first time however.
 
Thanks for all the help guys...

I've installed many apps you have recommended. I need VLC player right off the bat. I loved it in windows and could see myself without it on my new mac. I also am giving quicksilver a look. Seems like a very powerful program, and a bit over my head. I figure if I start using it now I'll get over the learning quicker.
 
Good way to think. I used quick silver for a bit, but didnt really like the feel. Might not have given it enough time, so i might give it another look at some point.

It is a pretty amazing what it can do though.
 
Yeah, I just watched those youtube tutorials and I was blown away. Pretty slick stuff, most of it still over my head, but I can see if you get it down how fast you can get around OSX.
 
although I technically made the "switch" awhile ago...I built another gaming machine just to be disappointed with the selection of pc games.

I did sell my core duo mini the other day for more than I paid and am trying to sell my g4 mini as well. I also plan on selling my pc and pick up a SR mbp soon before all the new mattes are gone.

im hoping starcraft 2 will be playable on it natively and perhaps WiC under boot camp and maybe some other older games like morrowind and oblivion.

WiC should work alright im guessing...I have a friend that plays it at 1440x900 on a 8500gs with low settings...otherwise ill buy it again for the 360.
 
TheGardenTool said:
although I technically made the "switch" awhile ago...I built another gaming machine just to be disappointed with the selection of pc games.

I did sell my core duo mini the other day for more than I paid and am trying to sell my g4 mini as well. I also plan on selling my pc and pick up a SR mbp soon before all the new mattes are gone.

im hoping starcraft 2 will be playable on it natively and perhaps WiC under boot camp and maybe some other older games like morrowind and oblivion.

WiC should work alright im guessing...I have a friend that plays it at 1440x900 on a 8500gs with low settings...otherwise ill buy it again for the 360.
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SC2 will run natively, Blizzard has had concurrent PC/Mac releases for a decade now. Those other games you mentioned will run fine under Boot Camp. I play TF2 on the MPB in my sig and it runs great.
 
the thing im most concerned with is the 128MB on the low end SR. I would get a peryn but the screen issue bothers me and I don't constantly want to exchange it until they fix it.

at least apple uses gddr3 I suppose.
 
I'm not a mac user, yet, but I heard of a program called secrets and apparently its tweaking os x on steroids. I think it was called secrets or something.
 
I've been able to play all the games that I need to with my MBP. That is going from my big gaming rig with dual 8800GTS, 8GB of ram, Q6600, etc to strictly using this laptop. The only game I've got to turn things down on is Assassin's Creed.

Besides that, I'm really happy with gaming on my Mac. Sure, it's not my old tower, but for all that it does I think it handles games pretty well.
 
TheGardenTool said:
the thing im most concerned with is the 128MB on the low end SR. I would get a peryn but the screen issue bothers me and I don't constantly want to exchange it until they fix it.

at least apple uses gddr3 I suppose.
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There are no screen issues in Penryn that didn't exist in SR, as far as I'm aware. Furthermore, you can't even buy a SR new anymore; so if something is wrong - good luck returning it.
 
So the flickering screen when waking up from sleep is present on both the SR and Penryn?

A couple of resellers still have the SR 15s new or I'll wait until Apple Store posts some refurbished. If something goes wrong, I'll have Apple replace/repair as it'll still be covered until warranty.
 
I have a few questions... what's a good html/css/javascript etc. editor... i used notepad++ on PC but i don't think they ahve it for mac and right now i'm using textwrangler but idk if i like it... although i do like the way they show the files you have open cause i've opened like 25 before to fix a little thing in each and just went down the list :) As well you guys ssuggest transmission, what makes transmission better than say azureus for mac?

Also, For steam... i've had trouble getting it to work... i can get it to run and i install CSS and that seemed to work but then i went and downlaoded TF2 and steam seemed to dissappear and i couldn't get on it at all... i was very confused... does this sound like a common problem (with crossovers). Also with a x1600 would i be able to play Assassins' creed and the newer like games... i noticed someone said they could run assasin's creed but had to turn it down... but i'm not positive on wha tMBPthey are talking, i assume the new ones.


Also is there a way to get rid of some of the stuff i don't use, liek safari etc. etc. ? some of the internal stuff.
 
The first program I installed when I got a mac was Stuffit I think...It's like winzip for Mac.

VLC is also amazing... it has played any format I throw at it.
 
You guys do know that the Penryn MBPs use the Santa Rosa chipset as well? the only difference is the processor itself. The rest of the system is pretty much the same.
 
Malikman said:
I have a few questions... what's a good html/css/javascript etc. editor... i used notepad++ on PC but i don't think they ahve it for mac and right now i'm using textwrangler but idk if i like it... although i do like the way they show the files you have open cause i've opened like 25 before to fix a little thing in each and just went down the list :) As well you guys ssuggest transmission, what makes transmission better than say azureus for mac?

Also, For steam... i've had trouble getting it to work... i can get it to run and i install CSS and that seemed to work but then i went and downlaoded TF2 and steam seemed to dissappear and i couldn't get on it at all... i was very confused... does this sound like a common problem (with crossovers). Also with a x1600 would i be able to play Assassins' creed and the newer like games... i noticed someone said they could run assasin's creed but had to turn it down... but i'm not positive on wha tMBPthey are talking, i assume the new ones.


Also is there a way to get rid of some of the stuff i don't use, liek safari etc. etc. ? some of the internal stuff.
Click to expand...

For web dev, I suggest checking out Coda. Smultron is decent too if you're only looking for free software.

For Steam, use Crossover Games instead of normal Crossover. It's included when you buy Crossover and you'll get much better results with it.

You can get rid of anything you want by dragging it to the trash, but I would advise against that. If you're not using something you can usually just move it into another folder for safe keeping. Unlike in Windows, as far as I know, there's no way to easily restore individual OS utilities if you need them. Also if you're doing web development, why would you want to get rid if Safari? It's got some of the best web coding tools in the industry built right into it (read: Web Inspector).
 
Safari was an example, but itunes and some other stuff was my main question. causae i use adium instead. but i realized they don't take up much space. My main question now is how comes my printer doesnt friggen work, haha.
 
actually, anything you delete that comes in the base install can be reinstalled just by running the CD that came with the mac. pretty simple. And you can customize an install by selecting 'customize' during the install process off of the disk.
 
Narisatu said:
actually, anything you delete that comes in the base install can be reinstalled just by running the CD that came with the mac. pretty simple. And you can customize an install by selecting 'customize' during the install process off of the disk.
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I tried to do this for a friend who deleted his Address Book app, and there was no way to do it without reinstalling other stuff too (which created a problem of its own). We ended up copying a working copy from another machine. Please share your technique for reinstalling individual software from the install DVD. I think it's possible to use Pacifist to manually crawl through the mpkg files and find one particular program to install, but hopefully you have a more straightforward method than that.
 
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