JonD Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Hi All, I have just been given a used Mac Book Pro 15" running Mac OS 10.6.8. It seems to be pretty much a clean install and as I have not touched a Mac since I was at school... 1990's wondering what apps and tips the Mac owners can recommend. Is it capable of being upgraded to Lion? Is it worth it? Cheers, Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 What model MacBook Pro is it? Does it have a single touchpad, or a visible mouse button? If it's the latter, you can't install Lion IIRC. Lock down your drive using FileVault (Snow Leopard and Lion, under the settings) it'll encrypt the entire disk and decrypt on the fly. Practically impenetrable without the key. Depending on what you want to use it for, I would go for the iWork and iLife suite. It'll cover all the basics and also the fun stuff, like video editing (iMovie) and photo management (iPhoto) Make sure you learn the gestures. Two finger scrolling in a webpage is possibly the best invention ever. If you're running a newer MacBook, you can swipe to go back and forwards (three fingers) and quickly view the desktop by swiping up with four fingers. (may need to be switched on in the settings) If you want to upgrade to Lion, go via the AppStore, which will be on your Mac. Click to buy and it'll download. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 What model MacBook Pro is it? Does it have a single touchpad, or a visible mouse button? If it's the latter, you can't install Lion IIRC. Lock down your drive using FileVault (Snow Leopard and Lion, under the settings) it'll encrypt the entire disk and decrypt on the fly. Practically impenetrable without the key. Depending on what you want to use it for, I would go for the iWork and iLife suite. It'll cover all the basics and also the fun stuff, like video editing (iMovie) and photo management (iPhoto) Make sure you learn the gestures. Two finger scrolling in a webpage is possibly the best invention ever. If you're running a newer MacBook, you can swipe to go back and forwards (three fingers) and quickly view the desktop by swiping up with four fingers. (may need to be switched on in the settings) If you want to upgrade to Lion, go via the AppStore, which will be on your Mac. Click to buy and it'll download. Cheers, this is the spec: Model Number: A1260 Model Family: MacBook Pro 15.4" Processor: 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo (T8300) Manufacturer: Intel # of CPUs: 1 Codename: Penryn Display: Size: 15.4" Finish: Glossy Resolution: 1440x900 Backlight: LED-Backlit Base Memory: 4GB PC2-5300 SODIMM Brand: Apple Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n Color(s): Aluminum Original OS: Mac OS X 10.5.2 Battery: 60-watt-hour removable lithium-polymer Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (256MB) Base Storage: 320GB 5400RPM SATA 2.5" Optical Drive: 8x DL Superdrive It has a touchpad and then a single long mouse button. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 (edited) You should be ok to put Lion on that, as it's Intel, especially if it's already running Snow Leopard. However Snow Leopard will be a bit quicker on it. I would save the £26 for some beers. You'll get much more enjoyment out of SL. Edited November 29, 2011 by Billy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagante Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 LibreOffice 3.4.1 ... don't waste your money on MS Office. Mac OS X Version 10.7.2 works well for me. Be prepared for the different way in which files are saved after changes; you don't use "Save As" any more on some applications. The Preview application opens up all kinds of imagery, as well as PDF files. The software retains its ability to read formats like JPEG 2000, OpenEXR, TIFF, but it has lost the option to ‘Save As’ a certain type of file by invoking the universal keyboard shortcut Cmd + Shift + S. On Lion, Preview now forces users who wish to save the same document in the same format with a different name to choose Export from the File menu. You can revert to a previous version from within the application. Works well for me. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1459 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I wouldn't bother upgrading to Lion, Snow Leopard works fine for me and does all it need to. Besides, I have that many applications I don't want to run the risk of conflicts. I can't think of any essential applications, mine are used purely for graphics so I have the Adobe suite CS5 running on both with a few extra applications. It does depend what you wish to use it for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonD Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I wouldn't bother upgrading to Lion, Snow Leopard works fine for me and does all it need to. Besides, I have that many applications I don't want to run the risk of conflicts. I can't think of any essential applications, mine are used purely for graphics so I have the Adobe suite CS5 running on both with a few extra applications. It does depend what you wish to use it for. Cheers guys, As someone who has been anti Apple for years and has 20 years professional experience of all flavours of Windows, both client and server etc i'll say the following: If you have little or no knowledge of computers and want everything to be easy... buy a Mac. If you want amazing battery life an a battery monitor that doesn't lie... buy a Mac If you want a very easy to use computer that pretty much makes every basic task easy... Mmm, buy a Mac. If you want a simple backup solution built in.. Buy a Mac. OK, I have played with this for maybe 6 hours today since receiving it, installed Office, configured Outlook and played around with loads of things. I have been absolutely blown away by how bloody good this thing is, it runs quicker than my year old high end laptop and makes Windows 7 and Office 2010 look VERY VERY dated. OK, I was very lucky and was given it but would buy one tomorrow Actually the battery monitor lied to me, it told me I had 3:36 at 18:30 and still have 46 mins left despite playing with it all night. My laptop tells me I have 3 hours then pops up asking for power after an hour :( Hope this helps someone making a decision which way to go Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 The macs are very smart, they save power by turning off one processor if you're only doing a couple of low power tasks to increase the battery life I've had 3 macs one I swapped my laptop for (that got me hooked it was a Powerbook and was awesome and tiny) then I got a Mac Book Pro one of the old ones with the long button (loved it more than my new one) apple then cocked up a repair on my old one and I got a free upgrade to the new model (not as good as the old one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 OK, I have played with this for maybe 6 hours today since receiving it, installed Office, configured Outlook and played around with loads of things. I have been absolutely blown away by how bloody good this thing is, it runs quicker than my year old high end laptop and makes Windows 7 and Office 2010 look VERY VERY dated. You're going about it the wrong way. Why do you need Outlook? Outlook is just a Microsoft Email program - it's the same as using Internet Explorer - A Microsoft product to access a service. You can use Mail (in built) or many other email softwares. Thunderbird is also a good alternative. What I find great is that you're running a February 2009 MacBook Pro and you say it makes a high end Windows 7 laptop dated. Imagine what it'd be like to own an i7 2011 MacBook Seriously though - bin Outlook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) Although, if like me you connect outlook to exchange...keep it. Mail is exchange compliant, but without all the bells and whistles. Plus, I like to keep the two separate. Outlook for work, mail for personal. Also, connecting a mac to a windows domain is easier than connecting a windows pc to a domain. Go figure?!?!? Edited November 30, 2011 by huffhuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Next years MacBooks are due to get the overhaul and I am pretty excited about it (savings at the ready). They'll finally bin the DVD drive and make room for more batteries. ...Someone can buy my old MacBook if they're interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Ooooh with that in mind, I've got an intel i7 2.66GHZ x2 with 4GB of ram and a 500GB HD with the upgraded screen I want one with no DVD drive cos its new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 If anyone is in need of a new HDD, I would take a look at the newly updated Seagate Momentus 750GB Hybrid drive. It's got 8GB of flash memory, which stores your boot data, so your Mac will boot as fast as an SSD one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 No DVD? How's that an improvement when I want to install CS5 from my, ummmm, install DVD's? What's the replacement to be eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) No DVD? How's that an improvement when I want to install CS5 from my, ummmm, install DVD's? What's the replacement to be eh? You must be kidding... How did/do you install Lion? That's the way the industry is moving. http://www.adobe.com/downloads/ Your serial number is the way to unlock the software, not the discs Edited November 30, 2011 by Billy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 ...Or plug an external optical drive in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 You must be kidding... How did/do you install Lion? That's the way the industry is moving. http://www.adobe.com/downloads/ Your serial number is the way to unlock the software, not the discs I'm not running Lion, I've got a snowy leopard....meooow. Also, what happens when my clients post me a DVD with all their logos and stuff on, do I say to them oh, you need to send that to Apple? Eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 My CS5 came from a third party supplier that offered a whacking great discount, that was, I admit, a download jobby... THAT I THEN BACKED UP TO DVD. What else am I going to hang off the runner beans as a bird scarer when I'm done? A laptop is wayyyyy to heavy for a bit of garden twine and a cane to support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I'm not running Lion, I've got a snowy leopard....meooow. Also, what happens when my clients post me a DVD with all their logos and stuff on, do I say to them oh, you need to send that to Apple? Eh? Say, "Save the postage, here's my DropBox account" They drop the files to you and you don't have to wait for the postman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Remind me. Does iCloud work on SL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Remind me. Does iCloud work on SL? IIRC, No. You have iDisk in SL, which is actually a lot better. When you move the account to iCloud, it asks if all devices are running Lion and iOS5 Get DropBox once you've upgraded, it's better than iDisk was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 Say, "Save the postage, here's my DropBox account" They drop the files to you and you don't have to wait for the postman. I think they've got a long way to go yet before thats a goer. I guess they want to get rid of the DVD so you'll download all your films from iTunes. I got my kids all ready to watch a film on my AppleTV. Popcorn all ready, all sitting comfortably, bought the film ..... got the message "Film will be downloaded and ready to watch in 5 Hours" *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I think they've got a long way to go yet before thats a goer. I guess they want to get rid of the DVD so you'll download all your films from iTunes. I got my kids all ready to watch a film on my AppleTV. Popcorn all ready, all sitting comfortably, bought the film ..... got the message "Film will be downloaded and ready to watch in 5 Hours" *** Why is it going to be a while before that a goer? Some logos and and documents aren't really going to be any more than 200MB. If you sent them as they were, you'd probably be looking at a 10 minute upload and a 2 minute download. Compress them and you can half that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I'm having problems syncing iDisk now which I think is down to apple having already effectively binned it despite it technically still going. I'll need a reliable way of accessing docs and PDFs on my iPhone remotely and iDisk was great for that. Not upgrading to lion tho. Both the mac pro and MacBook are early 2008 models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I don't use dropbox, I use YOUSENDIT.COM. It's bad enough getting folks to use that, many will want to just 'burn a disc'. Cloud services are great till your Broadband goes tits up for the day, then your screwed. Thanks god I've got two iMac's with a DVD burner on each. Cobblers to 'upgrading' to a Mac with less flexibility. No-one's answered the runner bean issue yet either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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