[Big Tom]

Hi,

I've just picked up my new MB from my local Apple store and have a quick question about the size of the OS. I opted for the 80GB HD but when I checked to see how much space was free initially I noticed there is only 55.74GB free. I have installed Office:Mac but I'm sure the OS and Office shouldn't take up nealy 20GD of space. Should they?

Capacity: 74.53 GB
Model: ST98823AS
Revision: 7.01
Serial Number: 5PK1B9WX
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
OS9 Drivers: No
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
Macintosh HD:
Capacity: 74.21 GB
Available: 55.74 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2

Thanks

P.S Absolutely loving the new MB!

[GoDucks]

I noticed the same thing with my new MacBook... A few thoughts that may help...

(1) The size of the available total HD space is always a couple of gigs less than the number indicated. It has to do with the way the # of gigs is calculated. Instead of 80, the actual number you have to work with is probably about 75-76.

(2) Apple installs a lot of stuff on the HD that you may be able to delete. For example, there are several gigs of Garage Band loops. If you'r not going to be using them, you can delete them (you can always re-install them later from the restore DVD) and clear off a couple of gigs.

(3) There are also about 2-3 gigs of iDVD themes in the library you can do the same thing with depending on how you will be using the computer.

All told, you can probably get rid of almost 8 gigs of stuff if you really need the HD space.

[brettcamp]

other candidates for slimming down: printer drivers you won't use, and foreign language localizations (easily eliminated via the freeware Monolingual). May save you a gig or so.

[mac128k-1984]

New macs contain iLife, iWork demo, and office demo, add in the complete install of OSX (all printer drivers, languages and fonts) and you have your missing 20gig of space.

What I do when I get a new mac, is reformat the drive and selectively install what I want, for instance I only need the HP printer drivers, why install canon. Also the languages, fonts, office demo all get the heave ho, when I'm done.

[TheIceMan]

Yup, what mac128k said. Everytime I get a new Mac, I always reformat and clean install everything. It's sometimes a pain, but I like to make sure that the only programs installed are by me or are absolutely necessary.

[mcdicky]

thanks for the informations. i guess i should reformat my MB first then talk . hahaha

[Yakov]

you can also delete the iWork demo, which is very large

[Dillon-K]

Wow... I've been SERIOUSLY thinking of getting a blackbook as my first Mac, but um... I didn't realize it would all take up that much space. At the moment of recieving the computer, I won't most likely need the iDVD themes, OR Office for Mac... I do plan on activating iWork though... I however want to check out the GarageBand themes, and I'm REALLY suprised how much space these apps are taking up!! Is there anything else that you guys think I should delete without crippling my sexy new gadget? ... and also, are the iLife apps included on a separate restore disc? Could I (in the case that I need to burn a DVD) bring back ONLY those themes? And also, will all the cool lil apps that are model-specific (such as Photo Booth) be deleted as well... or will those be included in the OS? I'm what I would generall call a Windows "power user" and I've read 3 books on how to operate, use, and optimise OS X Tiger... however, this is one area I'm REALLY unsure of... HELP ME PLEASE!!

EDIT: Can you choose when installing OS X which drivers you need? or do you need to go through the Library to get these? *so confused*

[muaddib420]

yeah, deleting all of the garageband preloaded songs really saved a gig or two. i also trashed the microsoft office suite. there is a program that uninstalls the unused languages that is supposed to save a couple of gigs as well...

http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/

[Simon]

Originally Posted by GoDucks

(2) Apple installs a lot of stuff on the HD that you may be able to delete. For example, there are several gigs of Garage Band loops. If you'r not going to be using them, you can delete them (you can always re-install them later from the restore DVD) and clear off a couple of gigs.

Can I use the restore DVD to install components I deleted if I updated the OS in the meantime? I thought the installer would only install additional items to a system that's the same version as the installer installs. Did that change? Or are you thinking about using some package extraction hacks and installing manually?

[Dillon-K]

so exactly how much space do you think can be cleared by removing the iDVD themes and deleting every language but English?

[shiropetto]

Originally Posted by Dillon-K

so exactly how much space do you think can be cleared by removing the iDVD themes and deleting every language but English?

if i remove every language besides english, does this mean that when i visit french websites (when i have to, that is), the computer wont recognize it? it'll just show up as little blocks? and would i be even able to use webpage translation services to translate them?

[Dillon-K]

the way I interpret is is that the OS itself won't have those languages but I'm sure you can get FF extensions/Safari plugins if needed.

[pheonixash]

Originally Posted by shiropetto

if i remove every language besides english, does this mean that when i visit french websites (when i have to, that is), the computer wont recognize it? it'll just show up as little blocks? and would i be even able to use webpage translation services to translate them?

You will be able to see the web pages correctly. Mac OS X won't have the language packs installed, but the fonts will still be present.

[blacula7]

I jsut bought a MacBook, too and was surprised how much space the OS & Preloads took. Is there a way to free up more space without doing a full reinstall? For example, can I dump unneeded printer drivers now, or do i have reload everything and selectively choose?

Thanks!