[Smirks]

Hello,

I got myself a new 12" iBook 900 this week and so far I really like it and I'm working on becoming more aquainted with it. This is my first mac since the mid 90s (previous macs are plus, se, IIvx and Quadra 605), so this is my first time with OS X.

So, I'm wondering what are the things you all would reccommend I do? Should I enable the root user? What else should I do to make my life and my iBook happier?

Also, what should I have with or on the iBook? What software is reccommended? Are their additional peripherals I should purchase?

If these topics have already been discussed, please point me in the right direction...

Thanks,
Chris

[MSME]

Everyone will tell you to add more RAM, and they are right (it really helps performance in OS X). Since memory isn't that expensive, expand it to 640 if you haven't already done so.

If you have a spare monitor lying around, I highly recommend the monitor spanning firmware hack. The extra screen real estate is great when using a lot of apps at once.

I would also suggest a mouse for when you are working at a desk (if you are used to desktops). I have a MS wireless optical mouse, which I like.

Good luck with your new machine.

[-Q-]

Congrats on your new purchase! I've had an iBook since the white ones were first introduced (I'm now on an 800) and absolutely love it.

Other than RAM, I'd recommend a nice sleeve for it (I have a West Ridge Design sleeve) in addition to your laptop bag. While durable, the exterior can pick up scratches that mar the finish. The sleeve has really helped keep my ibook in great shape.

And to paraphrase Ferris Bueller, if you have the means, I highly suggest picking up an airport card and wireless base station. Wireless computing is so choice.

No real software recommendations--I just use the normal stuff plus my web design apps for my job. But check out http://www.macupdate.com to take a look at the myriad array of freeware, shareware and commercial apps you can play around with.

And if you have any questions, be sure to ask! Good luck...

[SupahCoolX]

Don't enable root user unless you have to, and you know exactly what you're doing. Messing around with root, Terminal, etc. if you're unsure of what you're doing can prove extremely hazardous.
You may want to pick up an Apple AV cable to connect your iBook to your TV to view DVDs. An extra battery is a good idea if you're on the road a lot. Also invest in a good case to carry it around in (search the forums, there are plenty of topics on this).
Airport is definitely cool, especially if you have broadband (cable modem/DSL) or several computers in your home.

[Sosa]

Make sure the plastic screw betwen the F5 and F6 keys is turned so that a little plastic slab holds downt the keyboard. Otherwise your screen will eventually be marked by the keyboard.

Also, develop a backup plan for your data. I use Backup from .mac. If you haven't joined .mac check it out. I think its worth it.

[Smirks]

Originally posted by SupahCoolX:
Don't enable root user unless you have to, and you know exactly what you're doing. Messing around with root, Terminal, etc. if you're unsure of what you're doing can prove extremely hazardous.

I'm a unix admin by trade and I was really looking forward to poking around and using Xs unix core. Do you think the risks are greater than the benifits of doing this?

To everyone else... looks like some good tips. I did purchase sleevecase from sfbags.com.

Keem the tips comin'!

[Lebensmüde]

Originally posted by Sosa:
Make sure the plastic screw betwen the F5 and F6 keys is turned so that a little plastic slab holds downt the keyboard. Otherwise your screen will eventually be marked by the keyboard.

Shouldn't the little screw be tightened "by default"? I know the Apple store put an Airport card in for me, but I assumed they tightened the screw. Now I checked and saw that this isn't so. In other words, thanks for the tip, but I still don't understand how it could be left that way...

[-Q-]

Originally posted by Lebensmüde:
Shouldn't the little screw be tightened "by default"? I know the Apple store put an Airport card in for me, but I assumed they tightened the screw. Now I checked and saw that this isn't so. In other words, thanks for the tip, but I still don't understand how it could be left that way...

I've seen 'geniuses' at the Apple Store get confused by this. "Why isn't the keyboard coming off? Oh yeah, the screw."

I'm sure the main reason is to make it easy for the user to install an airport card and not break their keyboard b/c it's "stuck".

[NYCFarmboy]

1. external mouse. (a 2 button scroll mouse from Logitech is very inexpensive and works perfectly...around 25 bucks at Staples etc.)

2. get in the habbit of making backups on CD of your photographs if you do a lot of photography/movies. The CD's if stored correctly should work just fine in 30 years. Your ibook will be a but a memory by then.

3. iPod..a perfect companion to an ibook for music. Also the larger size ipods can make nice external hard drives for backups of essential files etc.


I wouldn't mess with extra batteries. The battery life is about 2 years, so when the 2 year mark comes around get a new battery then, and keep your old one charged for emergencies (such as blackouts etc).
I purchased an extra battery with my ibook and have taken it with me on numorous trips, but have never once had to use it...its nice to know I have it as a back up though.

[alien]

Is there any particular reason you'll need root enabled? Most of the time sudo will do the trick.

For software, I would go to macupdate.com or www.versiontracker.com and just search for keywords or browse the categories.

Here are some of my favorites:

SSH Helper: to setup your dsa identities.
SSH Agent / SSHlogin / SSHKeychain: for ssh-agent and ssh-add, these work each a little differently.
Fugu: Graphical version of scp, sftp.

VLC, for all kinds of .mpgs, .avis etc
MPlayer, an alternative to the same.
RealOne Player, the Mac version is without all the ad stuff.

Delocalizer, to remove language files you don't need if you want to save some MBs.
OmniDiskSweeper, to see how much each folder uses.
SuperCal, very useful for calibrating the screen, if you take a little time learning how to do it.
Cocktail, to remove corrupted cache files.

[Volanges]

One of the best things I have bought, as I use my iBook as my sole desktop computer at home as well, is a good stand to bring the screen up to my eye level:

http://www.macsonly.com/macimp/kamas.html

[SupahCoolX]

Originally posted by NYCFarmboy:
I wouldn't mess with extra batteries. The battery life is about 2 years, so when the 2 year mark comes around get a new battery then,

But what if you'll be on the road, away from any outlets, and need to use your computer for more than 4-5 hours?

As for the root issue: If you know what you're doing, by all means go ahead. It's just that people who don't know Unix or just go typing random things into Terminal can screw up permissions, make their computer unbootable, delete important files, etc. So, as long as you're careful and have the proper knowledge, you should be OK.

[Smirks]

I've ordered extra RAM, as the stock 128 MB does seem to lag at times.

I've also gotten the airport card to hook up to wireless networks.... given the chance...

... and I've had my iPod for about 6 months already, and I really think they love each other. I hooked them up together for the first time this weekend and they danced like nothing I've ever seen before.

Thanks for all the tips!

[businezguy]

I would second the recommendation of .Mac. I have found this service to be far more valuable to me then I could have anticipated.

In the past, I would also forget to back things up, especially my bookmarks, and I would have to rebuild them. This could get annoying. Now I can keep my important text files safe and my bookmarks are nice and organized and continue to build up. Also, I can access my bookmarks and files from work, which is amazing considering I'm forced to use a Wintel at work.

[radarbob]

Starting learning, and continue to learn, everything you can on how to use OS X. I've always said the elegance of Macintosh, and especially compared to Windows, is in the details.

For example, from the finder use on-line help (command-?) and search for "shortcuts" to learn lots of nifty keyboard and mouse-clicking shortcuts.

Spend some time to find a good book on OS X. I can't recommend any particular one but beware of those that seem to be mostly regurgitation of the obvious w/ lots of large, mostly useless, pictures.

Spend the time to learn the intricate details of your most used applications. Learn all non-obvious things for manipulating finder windows because you'll be doing that a lot.

IMHO lots of folks spend a lot of time looking for the next better app when they don't tap into half of what they have.

Become familiar with the general folder structure of your hard drive; what goes where.

Look for the "utilities" folder and see what's there.

Even without learning to use Unix I'd bet you'll start feeling like a "power user" after a while!

Have fun!

[klinux]

Someone already did this (megasad?) - basic softwares to load:

http://www.megasad.com/archive/ibookswan/software.html

Goes without saying but you might also want x11, FINK, qmail, etc. Try here: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...rce/index.html

[k_munic]

romeo/bluetooth adapter

i do use my iBook as an "keynote player" and my audience is allways impressed, how i remote control my computer with my mobile phone ("does your m$ computer don't do this?")

as mentioned before:
- max RAM
- a .mac account for syncing with your home-machine
- protect your new buddy with the an open firmware password
- dvd2x for "crunching" your favorite movies smaller (hd in an iBook is allways too small!) and playback them with vlc
- a good pair of headphones

enjoy your new Apple! it's a great little machine.

[wdetmar]

I'm not a UNIX admin, but I got my iBook so that I could have a stable OS AND work with learning UNIX a little better. For good or for bad my job is as a Microsoft Consultant and most of my days are spent doing Microsoft stuff. So, while I have good intentions of learning UNIX, I need to balance that with my job requirements for MS knowledge.

Anyway....

I've played with some of the tutorials on these sites:
http://www.macosxhints.com
http://www.macdevcenter.com

And I haven't screwed up my system using Terminal, etc. yet. I've installed mySQL and configured it along with Apache and Moveably Types blog software and everything still works.

Max the RAM, I think you did that already.
Wireless, check.

Get a wireless mouse - Kensington works well, I'm sure there are others. This one packs the antenna into the mouse when you are finished and runs off of AAA batteries. I've had it for a month or so and the batteries are still going strong so far.

Marware keyboard/screen protector.

A good carry case. I think you already got this too. I got the EMS backback. I can hold both my PC laptop and my iBook. Yes, some of my customers are frightened by the iBook. My friend got the Tumbuk2 case and he loves it. Very pricey, but good.

Applications
Try Fink, OpenOffice, X11, etc. I have been using my iBook and the Apache server and mySQL to run Moveable Type as a personal blog/content management system for my technical notes. Editing conf files and playing with Apache is about as much UNIX as I have had time to do lately.

Microsoft Remote Desktop - so that you can access XP and server "desktops" and perform administrative tasks.

I'm told Virus protection to scan files is a good thing. I use it because I work in a Windows environment and I don't want to be accused of forwarding on an attachment with a macro virus, etc. Otherwise I don't think that there are any OSX viruses...yet. Symantec and Network Associates provides one, there are probably others.

Microsoft Office, if you need to interact with PC users and their Office documents. Open Office may work well, but I haven't tried it yet, so I can't give you an opinion.

VirtualPC, just in case you MUST have access to PC based applications. There are a few at my office, and even though I choose to use a Mac, I still need to get to these applications to do some jobs once a week.

A couple of browsers. I have found that some browsers render pages better than others. Stick with one and use the other as a backup in case of emergency. There are also bookmark managers.

Backup, Backup, Backup. Get a good program. I use PsyncX, there are others. It's not flashy, but it gets the job done. Understand where all of your applications put their data and make sure you have a plan to backup that data. Do it often.

MacJanitor. I'm still "switching", but I was told that this was a good program to use to initiate the UNIX housecleaning.

Booster. This will give you the ability to elevate the privilege of the application you are about to use. I use it with editors when editing the Apache conf file.

Find a good editor and get to know it inside out. Appleworks, Word, BBEdit, etc, for taking notes on whatever. Everybody takes notes, right? There's lots of them out there, just plain editors and specialized programming editors and web page editors. Find one. A new program I'm trying out is VoodooPad. It's a cool notepad that allows you to easily create hyperlinked documents. I've only used it for a day so far. I like it. I'm using SubEthaEdit too.

Safari Books Online for OSX books. They have the OSX for UNIX geeks I think, and other titles. I think they give a 14 day "free, with a credit card" trial. I like it alot.

The Missing Manual and OSX Hacks books are great, they are on Safari Online too.

A couple of web sites I like:

http://www.macosxhints.com
http://www.macdevcenter.com
http://macwindows.com/
http://www.macminute.com/
http://www.macfixit.com/index.php
http://versiontracker.com/
http://macupdate.com/

Just my thoughts, enjoy your new purchase.

Mike