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Main Decks => Tech Topics => Topic started by: Rico on April 29, 2014, 05:08:09 PM

Title: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on April 29, 2014, 05:08:09 PM
After years of wanting a Mac to see what all the fuss was about, I finally took the plunge into the Apple deep water today and bought a big, 27" iMac.  I was almost going to do a Macbook Pro but I loved the big screen, more storage, power of the iMac so I went that route.  So, all you Mac users out there be kind to all my questions and feel free to post any good links on places I should look to get me up to speed on using this thing.

Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: davekill on April 29, 2014, 05:36:32 PM
Congratulations!

- I'm sending this from my 27" iMac @ work :)

I'm sure you'll pick-up on the OS with no trouble... resistance is futile  8)
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: billybob476 on April 29, 2014, 06:49:41 PM
Pretty easy overall. The hardest time I've had is adjusting to program installation/uninstallation and the general structure of the file system. Different enough from Windows to cause a bit of confusion.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on April 29, 2014, 07:02:35 PM
Yeah, I'm doing a little installing right now.  For the first couple of days I'm just letting the iMac make the decisions for the most part.  The machine overlords begin,...
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Bromptonboy on April 30, 2014, 01:33:06 AM
Last time I used a Mac was my SE/30 running System 6.  Loved it!
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: billybob476 on April 30, 2014, 03:26:23 AM
Quote from: Rico on April 29, 2014, 07:02:35 PM
Yeah, I'm doing a little installing right now.  For the first couple of days I'm just letting the iMac make the decisions for the most part.  The machine overlords begin,...

It gets fun once you get comfortable. You can drop into a terminal window and get your Linux command line scripting on! All the standard *nix commands are there. I was on an Amazon Web Services course last summer with my MacBook and was glad I had native support of SSH, grep and all that other stuff.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: davekill on April 30, 2014, 07:54:51 AM
Quote from: Bromptonboy on April 30, 2014, 01:33:06 AM
Last time I used a Mac was my SE/30 running System 6.  Loved it!
Nice!
Lots of old macs featured every week on the Retro Mac cast.
http://retromaccast.ning.com/ (http://retromaccast.ning.com/)

I do miss the built-in optical drive, absent on the new iMacs.
Apple was first to ditch floppy drives... now this.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: MARKO on April 30, 2014, 07:55:11 AM
Rico...congrats on your purchase your going to love it I've been using Mac ssolely since 92. Sending this from my 27" iMAC  3.4 I7
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on April 30, 2014, 08:57:13 AM
Got a lot to learn.  Feel like a noob on tech for the first time in a long while.  But that's one of the reasons I got this - to learn.  My younger son Eric has had a Macbook for a few years so he is pretty versed.  Looking forward to learning the Mac-ropes!

P.S.  Any good Mac magazines around people like?
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: davekill on April 30, 2014, 10:08:31 AM
Quote from: Rico on April 30, 2014, 08:57:13 AM
P.S.  Any good Mac magazines around people like?
Mac Life
www.maclife.com (http://www.maclife.com)
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Bromptonboy on April 30, 2014, 11:48:12 AM
What kind of software have you picked up?
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on April 30, 2014, 03:43:11 PM
Quote from: Bromptonboy on April 30, 2014, 11:48:12 AM
What kind of software have you picked up?

Nothing new yet.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Jobydrone on May 01, 2014, 07:30:12 AM
Enjoy, it was the 27" screen that got me to buy mine...gorgeous visuals on that thing.  But it was also the first thing on my machine that failed out of warranty, and would have cost almost a grand to replace, so I barely use it for anything now.  I'm sure you'll have better luck with yours.  For me, I wouldn't buy another Mac computer because of the closed nature of the device, and my dissatifaction with Apple's response to the known issue affecting lots of users that basically killed my iMac as a multimedia and gaming device.  IPad/IPhone another story, I love those.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: davekill on May 01, 2014, 08:13:36 AM
Half the fun of getting something new is taking it apart, so... If you ever get the urge to crack the case, Adam Christianson @ the Maccast recently revealed it's held together with magnets.
A couple of suction cups will lift the screen right off. :)

http://www.maccast.com/ (http://www.maccast.com/)
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Bromptonboy on May 01, 2014, 10:14:52 AM
How do you like the Apple mouse, Rico?  Is your windows-trained finger looking for a center wheel on the mouse?  :)
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 01, 2014, 03:53:44 PM
Quote from: Bromptonboy on May 01, 2014, 10:14:52 AM
How do you like the Apple mouse, Rico?  Is your windows-trained finger looking for a center wheel on the mouse?  :)

Taking some time getting used to that.  But it scrolls by touch and I set it to reverse the direction so it's close to my Logitech/Windows mouse.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 01, 2014, 05:02:14 PM
That's a better desktop pic...   :biggrin

Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Jobydrone on May 01, 2014, 05:50:43 PM
I used the "magic" mouse for exactly one day and plugged in a USB mouse after that. Hated it.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 01, 2014, 06:39:36 PM
Quote from: Jobydrone on May 01, 2014, 05:50:43 PM
I used the "magic" mouse for exactly one day and plugged in a USB mouse after that. Hated it.

Yeah, I know what you mean.  One trouble is I have pretty big hands and the magic mouse is very low profile compared to my Logitech which seems much more ergonomic.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Bromptonboy on May 02, 2014, 08:13:48 AM
Ah, Katee - the iMac is officially christened now.  :)
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Bryancd on May 02, 2014, 09:37:47 AM
Quote from: Rico on May 01, 2014, 06:39:36 PM
Quote from: Jobydrone on May 01, 2014, 05:50:43 PM
I used the "magic" mouse for exactly one day and plugged in a USB mouse after that. Hated it.

Yeah, I know what you mean.  One trouble is I have pretty big hands and the magic mouse is very low profile compared to my Logitech which seems much more ergonomic.

I use a Logitech with my iMac. I never was a big fan of the Smart Mouse, especiall for gaming.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 03, 2014, 04:35:54 PM
Got a new mouse for the Mac today and have gotten closer to my new setup for my desk area.

Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: billybob476 on May 03, 2014, 05:02:41 PM
Next step...
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 03, 2014, 06:08:41 PM
Yep - pretty much.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: davekill on May 03, 2014, 08:39:30 PM
could be...
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 04, 2014, 05:22:47 AM
I like that!
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: billybob476 on May 05, 2014, 12:54:29 PM
RE: Podcasting on the Mac, I do UMB on my MacBook Pro. I don't bother with GarageBand, I just use Audacity for Mac.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on May 05, 2014, 03:03:49 PM
I do plan on trying out GarageBand soon.  I picked this guide at lunch today.  Has a lot of good info in it for us Mac-Noobs!

Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Ktrek on May 08, 2014, 08:47:12 PM
Nice set up Rico! My hard drive crashed this week and so I set about researching a new PC. Do you know most stores don't even carry but a few desktops anymore? I looked at the Macs but they just really are not for me. I suppose if I had bought into the whole Ipod, Ipad, Iphone thing it would have been a more serious contender but I'm an Android fan and supporter and I also really like Windows 7. All the new PCs come with Windows 8.1, which I loathe (I sell systems at work and I just don't care for how it manages files). Well, since I mainly use my PC for Internet, email, Spotify for music, Netflix, and paying bills, I decided to see if I could buy a copy of Windows 7 and just install a new hard drive. I found a local computer repair shop that sold me a copy and for $200 bucks I'm back in business. All the diagnostics on the PC checked out fine except for the hard drive and so it seemed like the best thing to do. If I was into games or something I probably would have bought something with more power and a better processor (intel i3) but for what little I do with the PC it's plenty good enough. I did go ahead and put a 2TB hard drive in this time. I'm not sure I will ever use it all but you never know. Now for the task of downloading all my programs again and setting everything up the way I like. It's good to be back online. As much as I like my Samsung 10.2 inch tablet it's just not the same as using my big Samsung 60 inch monitor. These old eyes just like things big and easy to read these day. LOL

Kevin
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: moyer777 on May 13, 2014, 09:01:02 AM
Sorry I'm late to the game...  I LOVE my Mac stuff, haven't used my PC in a few months now.  I too had to get a wired mouse for editing and all the music stuff I do... just couldn't handle the feel and latency in the magic mouse.  They are cool if you are just surfing, but my life became happier when I just got a cheap wired mouse with a scroll wheel. 

My business computer is a beefy MacPro with a ton of memory... and I just had to add a bunch more cause I was running out... I've filled 4.5 TB already... geez.. video sucks the memory.  So far only a few glitches with it, and that is when I am MASS overtasking it.  I have two 27 inch monitors set up and LOVE it.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: moyer777 on May 13, 2014, 09:02:09 AM
Oh and for m recordings I now use Logic Pro 9 and Logic Pro X.  It's great recording software for voice overs, music production and more!  For video I use Final Cut Pro X and LOVE it.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Bromptonboy on May 13, 2014, 10:47:12 AM
Wow - 2 27" monitors - I am jealous!

I have one, and can never go back to anything smaller.
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on June 12, 2014, 05:01:24 PM
Well this evening I just went through the pain of my first Mac issue/hiccup.  I somehow messed up my password/keychain thing.  I kept getting all these popups and had to reset some stuff.  What a pain in the a$$. 
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: moyer777 on June 16, 2014, 09:12:49 AM
that is weird.  I wonder what happened?
Title: Re: New iMac!
Post by: Rico on June 16, 2014, 02:48:47 PM
Quote from: moyer777 on June 16, 2014, 09:12:49 AM
that is weird.  I wonder what happened?


Not quite sure.  I get a bit annoyed at having a lot of passwords to just run things locally on my own machine.  I understand for the internet and online stuff, but within the operating system itself it's kind of overkill.

P.S. But on the plus side I downloaded this game called "Trine" for $0.99 and it's pretty cool!