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KS-Jayhawk · Mar 1, 2004, 09:27 AM

Hello everyone - I have been lurking on here for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. Over the weekend I purchased a dual 1.8, before you all start in on me - I know there is supposed to be new processors coming out soon. You should be happy, I am (was) a windows user, now that I made the switch I couldn't be more happy, I guess I will when the 9800 pro and 1 gig of memory get delivered! Now if I could just figure out how to use iMovie! I live in Wichita, KS - anybody interested in letting me watch you use iMovie?

I sure am glad to be here - Steve

BZ · Mar 1, 2004, 09:33 AM

Congrats... sounds like you will be very happy.

BZ

eddiecatflap · Mar 1, 2004, 09:56 AM

..the dual 1.8 is the best vfm pmac at the moment , well done !

chris v · Mar 1, 2004, 10:03 AM

Welcome to our humble forums! This is a great place for help and conversation. I certainly wish I gould afford to join you in the sparkling world of speedy G5 goodness-- (My upgrade cycle must have broken pedals, or something) that's a kick@ss machine. Congrats.

CV

Cadaver · Mar 1, 2004, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by KS-Jayhawk:
Now if I could just figure out how to use iMovie! I live in Wichita, KS - anybody interested in letting me watch you use iMovie?

I sure am glad to be here - Steve

Not sure if there's a near-by Apple store, but they regularly have demos/tutorials on using iMovie. The sales guys will also show you how to use it.

There are several books (iMovie for Dummies, etc.) that are good at explaining all the features of iMovie. I had one for iMovie 3, but try to find one for the new iMovie 4.

Congrats on the Mac purchase. It'll serve you well. The MacNN news page and boards are some of the best places to get information. Other good places are xlr8yourmac.com and macfixit.com.

boardsurfer · Mar 1, 2004, 12:39 PM

"iMovie the Missing Manual" comes highly recommended. I have it and love it. Very good book.

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 1, 2004, 01:19 PM

Thanks for all of the suggestions, now how do I find out the version of software I am using? dang windows mindset misguides me on the mac!

reader50 · Mar 1, 2004, 01:58 PM

In the Finder, "Get Info" on the item usually shows the version. It shows in Column View also, in the Preview.

In any running application, go to the applications's menu and pick the first choice which will be "About (app name)". For iMovie, that will be the menu iMovie -> About iMovie

olePigeon · Mar 1, 2004, 02:31 PM

If you're trying to find out what version of the OS you're running, click the Apple Menu and select "About this Mac"

For versions of ALL software installed on your computer, click the "More info..." button. After System Profiler loads, click the "Applications" tab. This will compile a list of all your apps and also list the version numbers as well as the GetInfo string, which will often contain the copyright.

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 1, 2004, 03:10 PM

Thanks guys for all of your help - this is such a friendly place.

Eriamjh · Mar 1, 2004, 08:01 PM

iMovie is cake to use. Just use it and you will learn it. Cake.

-Q- · Mar 1, 2004, 08:42 PM

I have to second the above post. I had never done digital video before using iMovie and I learned so much by just diving right in and checking out what it could do. Maybe after you've played around a bit you could get a book to learn about some of the things it can do that may not be immediately obvious, but I don't think you need a book to get started.

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 4, 2004, 09:00 PM

Okay so I have lived with this computer for almost a week...and it locks up about 3 to 10 times a day...WHAT IS THE FREAKING DEAL??? I'm about to throw it out the window...I mean take it back to the store where I purchased it and by another MORE STABLE windows machine.....
I really want to keep this machine...I LOVE all the features it has, but I can't stand turning it on and off every ten minutes (like I am this evening)
I came straight to this forum and started typing this reply and it locked up on me...I can understand some instability between programs...but not when I'm in Safari only...in the beginning I thought it was the USB hub I had, so I took it out, and it still did it, could it be because I'm using a microsoft mouse instead of the apple one? It has been doing it since I brought it home and turned it on...since then I have installed MS office, and the extra gig of Crucial RAM and it seems to be doing it more often...I'm sorry to rant on here, but I am very frustrated right now.

Lateralus · Mar 4, 2004, 09:05 PM

I've owned 7 modern Macs in the past 3 years, and under OS X I have *never* had a lockup or a crash.

juanvaldes · Mar 4, 2004, 09:06 PM

I noticed you said you ordered more RAM and a different GPU. First try removing the RAM you added and see if that helps. Bad RAM a common culprit in a unstable machine.

t500 · Mar 4, 2004, 09:15 PM

Macs are funny about their ram. Windows machines are much more forgiving...

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 4, 2004, 09:21 PM

Yes, but it was locking up BEFORE I added the RAM, and I haven't added the GPU yet, it just came today, I'm trying to take this one step at a time....well I have been using it for about 15 minutes now with no lock up..hmmmm

juanvaldes · Mar 4, 2004, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by KS-Jayhawk:
Yes, but it was locking up BEFORE I added the RAM, and I haven't added the GPU yet, it just came today, I'm trying to take this one step at a time....well I have been using it for about 15 minutes now with no lock up..hmmmm

In that case maybe the RAM it stared with was bad. Has this been happening since day one?

You can either try to rule out the orginal ram with the stuff you got our just call apple up and tell them you got a bad unit. Sucks but it does happen.

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 4, 2004, 10:39 PM

Well hopefully I have figured it out....I removed the MS intellimouse, and hooked up the apple mouse - and it hasn't locked up yet...strange. I am sure going to miss all the extra functions of the MS mouse, (scroll wheel, secondary button, not to mention the forward and backwards buttons) Does anybody know of a good alternative to the apple mouse?

juanvaldes · Mar 4, 2004, 10:47 PM

I use the same mouse myself. But I did read some folks talking about problems with the latest drivers. Did you download the latest drivers for it? If that does turn out to be the problem my GF loves her Kensington mouse (exact same mouse).

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 4, 2004, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by juanvaldes:
I use the same mouse myself. But I did read some folks talking about problems with the latest drivers. Did you download the latest drivers for it? If that does turn out to be the problem my GF loves her Kensington mouse (exact same mouse).

Yeah I have the latest drivers for the MS mouse (I had to download the driver to get the extra buttons to work) so I am wondering, since the mouse is about two (or three years old) maybe the mouse itself was the problem?

d0ubled0wn · Mar 5, 2004, 06:42 AM

I'm using a MS Intellimouse 2-button + scrollwheel. MS drivers not needed... OS X recognizes the right button and scroll wheel automagically. But I'm guessing you have the Intellimouse with the 4 or 5 buttons?

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 5, 2004, 07:19 AM

Originally posted by d0ubled0wn:
I'm using a MS Intellimouse 2-button + scrollwheel. MS drivers not needed... OS X recognizes the right button and scroll wheel automagically. But I'm guessing you have the Intellimouse with the 4 or 5 buttons?

yes it has 4 buttons and the scroll wheel

cambro · Mar 5, 2004, 07:49 AM

I'm not surprised that you found your lockups to be related to a 3rd party device.

On properly working hardware, OS X just doesn't fail. Period. For example, my Powerbook has been running for 35 DAYS without being restarted. It has joined many different wireless and wired networks and dial-up ISPs, is a web server and a MySQL database server, interacts with external USB and Firewire devices and network printers, has been plugged into and out of several different external monitors and projectors, and is constantly being moved on and off power and in and out of sleep. Oh, and I actually do work on it too!

Whenever you hear about OS X crashing suspect these things (in order of likelihood):

1) 3rd party kernel extension and/or USB driver that sucks (and other system hacks).
2) Bad RAM (usually related to damage on installation).
3) Hardware problem.
4) Bad system install and/or really hacked up permissions on system files (very unlikely).

That said...I'm glad you figured out your problem. My single 1.8 G5 is pretty sweet...I can only imaging the dual action!

eddiecatflap · Mar 5, 2004, 09:17 AM

..proof m$ can't make decent hardware OR software ?

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 5, 2004, 12:57 PM

Something else strange happened today, the computer was asleep, I pushed the space bar to wake it up, it began to power up then went totally off, when I turned it back on, a warning message popped up saying that the date was a date before 2001 and it may cause problems. I went to system preferences to fix it, but it already had the correct date...anybody ever experience a problem like this?

mikemako · Mar 5, 2004, 01:29 PM

I'm really sorry to hear you're having so many strange issues creeping up.. maybe you should consider clean installing Mac OS X. It is a drastic step, but with all the problems it sounds like you're having it might be the best thing. Just backup the items you must keep (documents/pictures, etc) by inserting a blank CD or DVD and dragging the folders/files onto it; then Control-Click the CD and choose "burn"; then you're ready to clean install! If you need help with this method, let us know.

There are also other less drastic things you could try if you'd like, such as going to the "Disk Utility" application (it's located in the "Utilities" folder inside the "Applications" folder) and choose to "Repair Permissions".

rhogue islander · Mar 5, 2004, 03:00 PM

Did you remove the MS drivers? They have not caused any problems for me but you never know. There is an uninstall option in the install package, if I'm not mistaken.

Perhaps your OEM ram is bad. Just for yuks try popping it and then pushing it back in.

Run the Hardware test from your software install DVD. It tells you how to run it in small print on the label.

If no problem is found, consider exchanging it for another unit or return it altogether as defective and purchase a new one.

juanvaldes · Mar 5, 2004, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by KS-Jayhawk:
Something else strange happened today, the computer was asleep, I pushed the space bar to wake it up, it began to power up then went totally off, when I turned it back on, a warning message popped up saying that the date was a date before 2001 and it may cause problems. I went to system preferences to fix it, but it already had the correct date...anybody ever experience a problem like this?

This is a long shot but can cause date problems. If the battery on the motherboard was bad it would not keep time which is why it might revert back to 2001. Now if you have "Set Date & Time Automatically" turned on in System Prefs -> Date & Time, that would explain why it reset.

But I do not really think this is the cause, but it could cause the problem.

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 5, 2004, 08:50 PM

Okay I reinstalled OSX, keeping my fingers crossed

GnOm · Mar 6, 2004, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by KS-Jayhawk:
Well hopefully I have figured it out....I removed the MS intellimouse, and hooked up the apple mouse - and it hasn't locked up yet...strange.

The cable tends to break directly where it comes out of the mouse (this is also true for the Apple Pro Mouse), that might have caused the lockups.
AFAIK Microsoft has a lifetime warranty for their mouses, try to get yours replaced.

cheers.

KS-Jayhawk · 07:57 AM

Well all I have installed on the omputer since the reinstall of OSX is MS office, the machine seemed to work fine last night, now it has locked up twice this morning...so I guess I'll just take it back to the store (14 day return policy) and exchange it

eddiecatflap · Mar 6, 2004, 07:08 AM

..tell us how you get on and good luck , man !

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 6, 2004, 08:36 PM

Well I took the computer back to compUSA, they had to look at it for 45 minutes...and then told me that it was defective (yeah I didn't do anything wrong) and I can exchange the machine....only they don't have any in stock, I have to wait a week...so now I am with out mac...I am having mac envy...but I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new machine!! thanks to all of you for your suggestions, hopefully i will be able to return the favor in the future!

olePigeon · Mar 7, 2004, 01:31 AM

Sucks that you got a bad... Apple. Hehe. I'm sure your new one will have you sleeping overnight for Apple store openings in no time.

Commodus · Mar 7, 2004, 10:11 AM

Here's hoping that the new machine is a revised PowerMac. A "free" upgrade to a dual-2.2 GHz (or something around there) would be a pleasant surprise indeed.

juanvaldes · Mar 7, 2004, 03:20 PM

sorry it hear it was actually bad. But that's life, and a new one is on it's way.

Azzgunther · Mar 8, 2004, 08:23 AM

Your machine probably had a faulty processor. That will happen once in a while, and since you ruled out RAM and did a clean OSX install I'd guess that's what happened to you.

Here's to a speedy week for you

KS-Jayhawk · Mar 10, 2004, 08:16 PM

Well it was like pulling teeth at compusa, (long story) but I got the machine exchanged today and it is working perfectly.

I love this machine! I even started a .mac account.

Lateralus · Mar 10, 2004, 09:51 PM

Now we can say congratulations.

rhogue islander · Mar 11, 2004, 11:38 AM

I really hate exchanging/returning things to CompUSA. It's one of the reasons I end up going to BestBuy if at all possible.

That said some CompUSA's are more lenient than others in their implementation of the return/exchange policy. I have two in my area.

Glad to hear you have a working machine now

Westfoto · Mar 11, 2004, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by KS-Jayhawk:
Well it was like pulling teeth at compusa, (long story) but I got the machine exchanged today and it is working perfectly. I love this machine! I even started a .mac account.

Good to hear that it turned out for the good with a new machine. Congrats

West