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General discussion

For an "Almost" MAC User

Sep 1, 2007 8:28AM PDT

Hello --

I'm about to get my first MAC - how about some recommendations about books, magazines, internet sites and articles on the basic software that comes with a new MAC - and even if it's not basic, the wordprocessing (my biggest concern) that would come with it.

Thanks --

Tosca

Discussion is locked

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For an "Almost" Mac User
Sep 1, 2007 9:12AM PDT

I highly recommend two books: Switching to the Mac, Tiger Addition by David Pogue & Adam Goldstein and Mac OS X by David Pogue. Both can be found locally or on Amazon or in an Apple Store. For forums, go to Apple.com and click on support and discussions and you can read about all current and past software and OS's and you also can go to forums.appleinsider.com and obtain information also. Hope this helps.

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You might not want the "wordprocessing that
Sep 1, 2007 9:18AM PDT

comes with" your Mac - though I guess I don't know what that is...

TextEdit *could* be considered a "word processor"... but it is more like NotePad or WordPad that comes with Windows. "Pages" is part of iWork08, but I *think* that is a demo version. There may also be a demo version od MS Word (part of MS Office for Mac).

Personally, I use NeoOffice... Open Source, free, cross platform, compatible with Microsoft Word (and Excel and PowerPoint... and there is no "maual", exactly, but the online help is really good... what do you need a manual for?

For Mac sites, apple.com is good - though it depends what you want from the sites... the discussions area at apple.com is helpful. http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa

Check if there is a Mac User Group in your area... http://www.apple.com/usergroups/

I guess it depends what you are looking for in the way of support. If you have used applications on a computer before, they are all pretty similar...

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Word Processors
Sep 1, 2007 11:10PM PDT

that "come with the Mac" and that are free, are none existent.

As the previous poster pointed out, "Text Edit" is the only application that might fall into that class but it is similar to NotePad or WordPad.
However, you do get a trial copy of MS Office 2004 for Mac which will be familiar to you if you have ever used Word, Excel, etc.
There is also a trial copy of iWorks which unlike MS Works, actual does. Work that is.
Included in iWorks is Pages, a fully functional word processor that is capable of opening, and saving, documents that were created/being read by, MS Word.
It also contains Apple's new spreadsheet program, Numbers, and their presentation application, Keynote.

All of the above cost money but, as boya84 pointed out, there are free alternatives out there to MS Office.

The books mentioned will also help but word processing on any platform and with any good WP, is basically the same. Once you are inside the program it behaves remarkably similar no matter what OS you are running.

Enjoy your new machine

P

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?
Sep 2, 2007 4:10AM PDT

Doesn't AppleWorks come with every apple?

Is that not a Word Processor?

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? Word Processor
Sep 2, 2007 5:30AM PDT

Appleworks is no longer included and has been discontinued. New machines only come with TextEdit and trial offers for iWorks and Office for Mac.

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(NT) Oh... OK. Thanks for the info.
Sep 2, 2007 2:05PM PDT
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Lots of Decent Free Mac Word Processing
Sep 21, 2007 4:06PM PDT

Key Points for FREE MAC WORD PROCESSING.

Firstly you can load OPEN OFFICE on a Mac. Open Office Aqua even loads easily as a Mac .App. I've loaded this and so far it's working great (and personally I prefer it to Apple's pages and MS Office).

Secondly you have access to Google Word Processing free so long as you are online.

Both of these are completely free.

IBM is also backing Lotus Symphony which is based on Open Office and will be coming out with a Mac version next year.

As for iWorks it isn't that expensive, when compared to Office and from what I've used of it it's been pretty good so far.

Office is not needed or necessary for a PC, and not for a Mac either.

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Tips for Almost
Sep 6, 2007 1:56AM PDT

WP: see openoffice.org, neooffice.org, bean,: check version tracker.com, too

How will you use your Mac? Make Movies, Music? Science? Graphics? Photography?
Your use & expectations will determine what to get.
* Suggest you take advantage of the Free Apple Personal Shopper:
http://www.apple.com/retail/personalshopping/ They are not on commission. Make an appointment, to talk about your needs & apps & peripherals.
*Apple has private tutoring for after you buy, too: http://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/
and, see:
- http://www.apple.com/getamac/movetomac/
- http://www.apple.com/support/mac101
- http://www.apple.com/tiger
- http://www.apple.com/business/
- http://www.apple.com/pro/
*Switch from PCs? - http://www.apple.com/support/switch101 - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/cdb_whatcalled.html *Check out: http://www.myfirstmac.com and http://www.macinstruct.com/node/124> http://macinuser.atspace.com/index.html
*Keep Your Mac Happy: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/iMacChat/files/ and go to Tips folder (may have to copy & paste links but well worth it)
-Online resources: http://MacOSG.com, and http://www.apple.com/usergroups
*David Pogue's, The Missing Manual Series of books. There is an edition just for Switchers, too.

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Almost MAC cont.
Sep 6, 2007 1:16PM PDT

Wonderful Kathleen - Thanks so much -- Tosca

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Yes, those are great links!
Sep 23, 2007 12:41AM PDT

I've bookmarked all of them. Thanks very much. I haven't made the move yet but expect to in the next month or two (after Leopard has been released).

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TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO THE LIGHT!!
Sep 21, 2007 11:44AM PDT

Don't do it if you plan to use any real business apps. Nothing works well. It will freeze on a regular basis so Mac users say it doesn't crash. Everything is a multi-step process instead of one click. I told the support folks that I was not able to sync my Blackberry (for the Mac users, that is a very popular business tool) they told me to get an iphone. You can always just buy one more program to make the one you used easily with Windows function sometimes. Simply playing a short video is an ordeal. It actually speeds up and slows down; the sound spits and sputters. The answer for all problems is to fall for more closed architecture. The attitude is...sorry your inferior device or software or anything else will not work properly with a Mac. Again, the answer for all your problems is to buy more Mac this or that.
I now have $2300 paid for a very poor excuse for a computer. I guess I will find some children to play with this toy and I will bite the bullet and buy another Vaio.
Don't drink the KoolAid...stay away from the dark side...come back to the light.

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Do you need some advice or help?
Sep 21, 2007 10:59PM PDT

These forums are generally here for folks to seek help with computer questions. Looking through the 3 posts you have made after joining yesterday, all I see you doing is venting your frustration. I get that way too, when some piece of technology is giving me the fits, I like to vent and yell and go chop wood. After I get the frustration out, I sit down and ask some of the fine people here about how I can get my computer to do what I originally wanted it to do.

It sounds like your biggest frustration is getting a Blackberry to work with your mac. I can't help you here because I don't use a blackberry, but, if you were to start a new thread with "Blackberry headaches" as the subject line, then maybe, just maybe, someone who has had a similar frustration may be able to help you out.

BTW, you are absolutely right when you said... "Mac is a cult toy for people only interested in doing things the Mac way" We are only interested in doing things a mac way here. That is why this is a mac help forum. If you want to learn how to do things in a "mac way" as well... all you have to do is ask. Happy

grim

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I did
Sep 22, 2007 12:43AM PDT

You may be interested in why I joined yesterday. I was looking for answers to all the problems I have had with the MacBook not living up to the promises made in the Apple store at Lenox Square in Atlanta. To your point, I have spent many hours looking for answers on blogs AND with Apple support AND with Parallels support. All I have found is other postings from other people fed up with silence from Parallels and the buy more Mac solutions from Apple. I am serious when I tell you that Apple support said that they know that there are problems with Blackberry (note the problem is Blackberry or Microsoft not Apple); the solution suggested was to buy an Iphone. I guess the solution for any problem could be to deny that it exist or just ignore it and it will go away.
I found this forum looking for answers and wished that someone had warned me with facts about non-compatibility.

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I see.
Sep 22, 2007 12:57AM PDT

And I'm seeing similar compatibility issues with Windows Vista. There is no panacea out there but many issues can be solved if you find the right people to talk to.

Here I'm seeing solutions to the points you raised earlier so it's sad that your Apple support failed you.

Bob

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I have to wonder
Sep 22, 2007 12:43AM PDT

what a "real business app" actually is. Could you give us an example?

On the subject of the Blackberry. Google is a wonderful tool and found numerous ways to sync a Blackberry with OS X in a very short time.

So far I have not found anything that you can do on a Windows machine that you cannot do on a Mac. Of course, that would exclude the thousands of virus's that will run on WIndows but not OS X.
Speaking of which, I wonder why your AV software did not see the alleged virus that was sent to you from a Macbook owner and which, allegedly crashed your Vaio.

The Mac may not be the machine for you, as firmly entrenched in the Windows way of doing things as you appear to be, but millions of others find that it is way better than anything else they have used.

If you still have the Macbook, judging from the price you say you paid, this must be a Macbook Pro, and still want to sync the Blackberry, just do as the other poster suggested.

P

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business
Sep 22, 2007 1:23AM PDT

In my industry, Blackberry, Outlook and Excel are standard. Another app is Quickbooks. Those would be considered business applications. From Apple support, the standard answer is to blame it on Blackberry, Microsoft or Intuit.

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Google? HELP! please tell me more
Sep 22, 2007 1:34AM PDT

If I can use a Google app to sync my Blackberry with Outlook PLEASE tell me more. What is the app and how do I get it? My calender and address book with be synced with Outlook right?

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a couple of resources and an observation...
Sep 22, 2007 2:41AM PDT

I did a search ("backberry macintosh") using Yahoo! instead of Google. The first hit:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/mac-users-corner/186-macintosh-blackberry-sync-requirements.html

There were more hits that looked helpful, but this one was quite interesting - you can do the search yourself - perhaps you will find something even more applicable to your particular environment. I do not believe it was suggested that there is a Google application that does Blackberry synching with Macintosh - rather, your using the Google search engine would provide you with information related to applications that can do that.

I use a Blackberry as well. My company IT wirelessly updates my Outlook email, Calendar and Contacts information (and when I make changes to either of those on my Blackberry, the same items on the Outlook server get updated, too). When I take notes on my Blackerry, I usually copy the notes, then paste them into an email and send them to myself. Tasks are Calendar items. The only reason I have to connect my Blackberry to my computer is to back up the Blackberry information - which, for all intents, is already the same as my Outlook stuff, so there really is nothing to back up and nothing to sync. If your company does not do this, then perhaps PocketMac from http://www.pocketmac.net/ may be of use to you. My company makes me use a HP/Compaq 6220 laptop and I need to VPN to our network to use the Outlook client, but I am much more productive when I use my Macintosh and OSX and Safari web browser - and connect to the corporate network using secure web browser access. The IT folks say this is not supported - which only means I can't ask them questions - but it was easy enough to get the security certificate and install it in the correct directory. I have help dozens of others do the same with their personal Macs. And they have helped others... and we're a company with 35,000 employees globally.

Then I did a Yahoo! search using "quickbooks macintosh" and the fourth hit looked most appropriate:
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/commerce/catalog/home.jhtml?_requestid=17359
In the upper right, Intuit says, "Want to manage your business accounting on a Mac? QuickBooks: Pro for Mac lets you manage your business finances on the OS you prefer." So that looks to be supported by Intuit.

Then I did a Yahoo! search using "excel macintosh" and the second hit looked most appropriate: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/excel2004/excel2004.aspx?pid=excel2004
According to Microsoft, an update is around the corner...
http://www.macoffice2008.com/
I use NeoOffice on my Mac and other than some pretty complex macros, I have not had issues with sharing Excel, Word or PowerPoint files with my Mac (and NeoOffice).

In either case, you could always not use the MacOS versions and run Windows on the Macintosh hardware (using Parallels or whatever) - in which case it is just like any other "traditional" Windows machine... that happens to have an Apple logo on it. But if you do this, be aware that you will need all the anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware detection and eradication systems (and regular updates) a "traditional" Windows machine needs to remain protected in a networked (or shared media) environment that are currently not required under the MacOSX environment.

And, of course, you stated your option of returning to "traditional" Windows hardware (Dell, HP, etc...) environment. Technology is all about choices - and having the technology do what you need/want it to do. Having been an IT manager with responsibility for ~500 Windows and ~500 Macintosh computers, I can honestly say that I am forced to use Windows but I choose to spend my own money (and be much more productive) on Macs. But this could be different for you.

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thank you
Sep 22, 2007 3:04AM PDT

thanks for your response. I will check out all the links you suggest. To provide more clarity, I am using Parallels and the assortment of Windows software I have accumulated. All of the problems occur within the virtual environment. I was sold on the seamless idea of running all my windows programs on the Mac. I just had to buy the Mac, Parallels, a standalone version of Vista and install all my programs. It has not been a good solution for me. The blogs I have read indicate that Blackberry and Intellesync will not work with Parallels. Some reports say that VMware instead of Parallels would work.
Thank you for the clarification about the Google reference being a generic search instead of an application. You saved me the time of searching through all the new Google applications.

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This one is interesting to me...
Sep 22, 2007 3:00AM PDT

"Simply playing a short video is an ordeal. It actually speeds up and slows down; the sound spits and sputters."

Would you be able to supply a little more detail?

Was the video on the local hard drive or CD/DVD? Do you know what kind of video it is/was? That is, was it QuickTime or Windows Media or Real or something else? Was it MP4 encoded? Was it high definition or standard defintion - or something else, perhaps from YouTube or MySpace?

Or was the video coming over a network? If on a network, was it wired (10/100/1000baseT ethernet) or wireless (802.11b/g/n)? Can you specify which one? Perhaps on a 1xEv-DO or EDGE/UMTS carrier network?

Were you runnning any other CPU or network intensive tasks at the time?

I am interested because I do a fair amount of video work and don't hear/read about this sort of stuff very often - unless the network is congested (or slow to begin with) and the viewer is trying to pull broadband video through a less than robust network connection or the CPU is busy doing other stuff or the source server is oversubscribed... but these typically impact all operating systems and are not generally MacOS specific...

Thanks if you can provide at least some detail - it is sincerely appreciated.

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video file
Sep 22, 2007 3:13AM PDT

It is a short (4mg) wmv file sent to me by email. I opened and watched it with an old Vaio desktop without a problem. I forwarded it to friends who watched it without issue.
I tried to open it directly from the email and downloading it to my virtual desktop. Either way the problems were quickly evident.
Remember, I am running Parallels with the MacBook (not a MacPro - the black one) using Outlook for email. The video was attempted on Media Player.

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"The video was attempted on Media Player."
Sep 22, 2007 3:27AM PDT

Bingo. Even on brand spanking new Vista laptops I've found (Windows) Media Player to choke and sputter.

Try VLC Player next time. I think there is a Mac Intel native port as well.

Sorry, I have no cure for WMP. It is what it is.

Bob

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not a problem for Vista on PC's
Sep 22, 2007 3:32AM PDT

The video runs fine on PC's with Vista...I checked with others. Only the Mac with Parallels and Vista is a problem.

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It hasn't here. Which is why...
Sep 22, 2007 3:54AM PDT

I note an alternative player. There are a few owners that want WMP to work but I know of no cure for that one.

Bob

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For the mac environment...
Sep 22, 2007 3:56AM PDT

... make sure you download both VLC and Flip-4-mac. This along with the regular Quicktime, should be able to play almost everything (except Real Player videos) that you will find on the web. I have also adopted SWF & FLV Player as another "must have". Armed with all these different players, I have yet to find a video that I can't view on my mac. All these programs are free or shareware with advanced features that can be used for a small fee.

BTW... the reason why I know this is I have clients sending me video clips all the time they want included in promo video DVDs and web sites. Of course they never have the original files, so I spend hours finding some way of playing them, and then trying to convert them into editable formats.

Good luck, and if you have more questions feel free to ask. Happy

grim

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Pro to Pro
Sep 22, 2007 4:05PM PDT

Hi I notice you do similar work as I do. I 've a question. If you can answer this you will solve my problems. I get videos from clients on DVDs, such as their old family videos which they wanna add to their slideshows for weddings and stuff and they burned it from VHS to Stand alone DVD recorder. It is pain to transfer that DVD video to Final Cut Express HD. The only way i do it is to connect my DVD player to my GL2 and transfer it to DV and then capture it but it is a long way I wish I can find a way to convert some part or even whole DVD into DV file so I can edit it. Do you know any answer to that ? I'll appreciate it.

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Though not directly to a DV file, why not?
Sep 22, 2007 11:17PM PDT

Why not use HANDBRAKE to rip the DVD?

Bob

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Hand Brake only rip in..
Sep 23, 2007 2:23AM PDT

MPEG 4 and I need to edit in DV format. I wish it would have the options to convert it to DV

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Like Bob mentioned, I use Handbrake.
Sep 23, 2007 1:57AM PDT

to rip the dvd to mpeg-4 files on my hard drive. If I want to convert those files to some other format, I then use MPEG StreamClip to convert to something else (such as DV). StreamClip is a fantastic program since it also allows you to crop the edges of the clip, reorient the video if it is slightly tilted, etc. All in all, a donationware program that certainly deserves financial support from it's users (download of streamclip for windows and mac is free).

I just went through my applications folder. Here is a list of all the video related programs I have used at one time or another to produce projects for clients. Some were more useful than others. I'm omitting apple iLife, and the Adobe software I use. I also bought the new CS3 master suite but can't use Premier, Encore, etc... until I get a mac-intel (I currently have a G4).


Flip 4 mac

Quicktime Pro

VLC Media Player

Hand Brake

Mac the Ripper

iSquint

MPEG Streamclip

Popcorn

SWF & FLV Player

SWF to FLA Converter

Snapz Pro X (movie capture version)

Toast 6 Lite

Many of these programs are free or request a donation. My policy is to play with the free version until I use it to do a money making project... as soon as I make a buck, I send the requested donation.

Many times a customer hands you materials they think are ready to use but are actually not in an editable form. I had one client (a writer and movie director) who wanted web based SWF files from his web site included on a promo DVD. Of course, he didn't have the original files to give me until after I finished the project. I tried several decompilers to convert back to FLA for export through Flash to Quicktime. SWF to FLA Decompilers work, but this added 5 extra layers and some unwanted artifacts (compared to the original FLA files that he handed me after the job was done). After messing around with the problem for literally weeks... I got the job done. The guy later asked me to do another promo video including more SWF files. This time around, I used Snapz Pro X to capture the video (at a 28 frame per second setting) as it played on my desktop. It was a hell of a lot quicker, and produced much the same results. Of course, all these projects were done to NTSC standards so video resolution was not as big a concern. Once I get a Mac Pro tower I expect to start doing some Hi Def work.

Cheers

grim

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Thanks
Sep 23, 2007 2:29AM PDT

You have given me a good list of softwares. I'm already using Mac the ripper and Handbrake. I also have VLC, Toast 8 (which can burn Blu Ray Discs but I dont have the drive yet) I have power mac G4 dual mirror. I'm already editing HD and its a little bit of a work for a processor but its ok.