The iMac thread :-D

StephyB

StephyB

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Steph
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General iMac thread because I couldn't find one and it seems like a good idea!! (If there is one, point me in that direction and I will hang my head in search fail shame :lol:

So any tips , hints or need to know tricks for a newbie to the mac world (running mountain lion)....?

Also, 16gb ram and 1tb had, for earlier this years model, is that good? Was the 27in screen hard for people to get used to?

Sorry for so many questions!
 
Hi Steph, I have run Macs for years now, I'm on my second iMac ( 2008 vintage 2.66ghz and 4gb ram)
The specs on yours seem out of this world to me, my iMac still performs brilliantly, only just starting to show its age when working on very big image files.

My screen is 20". I have tried a 27" screen but felt a bit overwhelmed by it. I like to see all the screen at once, 27 for me was way too big. maybe a 24 in the future, but I also have a 13" Macbook and going from that to my iMac is pretty weird.
My only suggestion for you is to get yourself a couple of external drives. One for your Time Machine backups ( I have a 1tb drive) and one for your photo library and a clone of your system( I have a 2tb drive for this, and another spare 2TB drive full of all my dvd films and cd music). I use Carbon Copy Cloner. Its free for the basic edition and will work with Lion and Mountain Lion. You can opt for the paid version too. At £24.99 ( ish) its a real bargain.
You can clone your system and keep the clone updated. If anything goes wrong with your hard drive, just use the clone as a start up disc, or just use it as a spare system disc.

Allan
 
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I've had a 24" imac since 2008, it's a 2.8 core2duo machine with 4gb ram and I have to say it's been faultless for me. I went to the 24" from an 18"tft on my old windows pc and for the first couple of weeks I struggled with the sheer size of the screen, but you soon get used to it.

I'm ready to push the button on a new 27" with the 3.4chip, that'll run on 32gb ram and should last me for another few years.
 
allanm said:
Hi Steph, I have run Macs for years now, I'm on my second iMac ( 2008 vintage 2.66ghz and 4gb ram)
The specs on yours seem out of this world to me, my iMac still performs brilliantly, only just starting to show its age when working on very big image files.

My screen is 20". I have tried a 27" screen but felt a bit overwhelmed by it. I like to see all the screen at once, 27 for me was way too big. maybe a 24 in the future, but I also have a 13" Macbook and going from that to my iMac is pretty weird.
My only suggestion for you is to get yourself a couple of external drives. One for your Time Machine backups ( I have a 1tb drive) and one for your photo library and a clone of your system( I have a 2tb drive for this, and another spare 2TB drive full of all my dvd films and cd music). I use Carbon Copy Cloner. Its free for the basic edition and will work with Lion and Mountain Lion. You can opt for the paid version too. At £24.99 ( ish) its a real bargain.
You can clone your system and keep the clone updated. If anything goes wrong with your hard drive, just use the clone as a start up disc, or just use it as a spare system disc.

Allan
Click to expand...

Ooh Thank you!!

I have 1 1tb drive and a 2tb drive already, that should be enough to start right?
 
digitalfailure said:
I've had a 24" imac since 2008, it's a 2.8 core2duo machine with 4gb ram and I have to say it's been faultless for me. I went to the 24" from an 18"tft on my old windows pc and for the first couple of weeks I struggled with the sheer size of the screen, but you soon get used to it.

I'm ready to push the button on a new 27" with the 3.4chip, that'll run on 32gb ram and should last me for another few years.
Click to expand...

Did you find it hard changing from windows to os? That's another thing I'm worried about, I've always had windows, but it's always been a bit confusing, I've always felt a little out of my depth with it. If anything goes wrong I just handed the laptop off to a friend or the ex (when we were still together). It's never been a system I have known inside and out despite having used it for at least 13 years... :-/
 
Most of it's the same chuck, the hardest part was keeping going to the top right to close a window instead of top left.

finder works just like windows explorer and installing programs is much easier because you don't get the 20 questions about where you'd like to install it a la' windows.
 
Depends on the program, cs4 suite for example is as long winded as the windows install :)

As for learning macs, worst thing I found was learning all of the keyboard shortcuts. Otherwise it's just getting used to the little qwerky differences.
 
I just went from the old 24 iMac to a newer 27 screen. It seems that the fonts are not proportional and therefore the screen being far enough away to be useable makes the font too small to be easily readable. I have gotten used to it, my wife has not.

I think that Apple have a hit with the Mac App Store and like the ability to identify a need and usually be able to fill it simply and cheaply. There are usually bundles available every few months that make ownership of apps cheaper.

I assume that Neil will disagree, but I have consistently fewer issues with Apple products than with Windows. I would agree with his comments about keyboard shortcuts, but the worst transition issue I had was trying to work out what the simple way to do something was rather than trying to do it the Microsoft way. Adding a new Apple PC to the network for example.

...I think that digitalfailure may have issues with understanding his left from right, or maybe just works with a mirror?
 
I went into the Apple store today to buy a case for my iPad mini. The women who served me was in the worse place possible for me!!! Right next to a 27" iMac!! :lol: I wanted it so bad! :(
 
Tulipone said:
I think that Apple have a hit with the Mac App Store and like the ability to identify a need and usually be able to fill it simply and cheaply. There are usually bundles available every few months that make ownership of apps cheaper.

I assume that Neil will disagree, but I have consistently fewer issues with Apple products than with Windows. I would agree with his comments about keyboard shortcuts, but the worst transition issue I had was trying to work out what the simple way to do something was rather than trying to do it the Microsoft way. Adding a new Apple PC to the network for example.
Click to expand...

First off I'm not an apple hater (I own several apple products and love them all). The only issue I have/had with the iMac was the glossy screen and now the lack of optical drive :)

I guess I'm in a fairly unique situation on here where I have to support both platforms so have a balanced idea of issues. In our case we get just as many support logs from mac users as our windows users.

The App Store, great for home users but a complete arse ache for businesses as we're finding out. But that's a separate thread :)

Not sure I get the reference to windows networking being complicated, if anything (with mountain lion) it's the other way around. God knows what apple did to the networking but its a pain. Again that's a separate thread :)
 
neil_g said:
First off I'm not an apple hater (I own several apple products and love them all). The only issue I have/had with the iMac was the glossy screen and now the lack of optical drive :)
Click to expand...

I don't see this being an issue for an average home user though. I rarely use mine at all anymore. Can see for you though in business it could be a pain in the wazoo.
 
ding76uk said:
I don't see this being an issue for an average home user though. I rarely use mine at all anymore. Can see for you though in business it could be a pain in the wazoo.
Click to expand...

maybe maybe not, depends how much cd/dvd based software you have i guess :)

either way i dont see why they had to remove it, not like the imac is needing to be made lighter etc.
 
I bought a refurbished 2011 27" base model earlier this year and stuck in a 512GB SSD and 32GB RAM. Doesn't miss a beat whatever I've thrown at it :D
 
StephyB said:
Did you find it hard changing from windows to os? That's another thing I'm worried about, I've always had windows, but it's always been a bit confusing, I've always felt a little out of my depth with it. If anything goes wrong I just handed the laptop off to a friend or the ex (when we were still together). It's never been a system I have known inside and out despite having used it for at least 13 years... :-/
Click to expand...
I changed from Windows to Mac in the summer - got the 2011 27" iMac - found it very easy and intuitive to use and love the 27" screen (esp when using Lightroom). I took ages deciding what to get and looked at lots of PC options too - but I'm very happy with my choice!
 
I've been an iMac user for around 2 years now. I found the transition from Windows pretty painless..........and I'm not particularly computer savvy! I got a book from PC World called Mac Basics.......in simple steps, which laid out the differences simply enough for me to understand.

I've only ever had one issue with mine........which started a couple of months ago.......and which is still a problem; my iMac keeps putting itself to sleep at frequent random moments. The screen just goes blank with no warning, the system is still running and usually I just have to tap the spacebar to get the screen back again but occasionally I have to do it by pressing the power button on the rear of the iMac. There is no particular program or task that is happens in......just completely random.

Been twice to the Apple Store - the second time they kept in for a day or so, backed up all my stuff, reformatted the HD and reinstalled everything. All to no avail.......as soon as I got it home it started doing it again. All the diagnostic tests done by Apple show no problems :bonk: Driving me nuts!
 
StephyB said:
Ooh Thank you!!

I have 1 1tb drive and a 2tb drive already, that should be enough to start right?
Click to expand...

I think you will have plenty of storage with those. Good luck
Allan
 
StephyB said:
Did you find it hard changing from windows to os? That's another thing I'm worried about, I've always had windows, but it's always been a bit confusing, I've always felt a little out of my depth with it. If anything goes wrong I just handed the laptop off to a friend or the ex (when we were still together). It's never been a system I have known inside and out despite having used it for at least 13 years... :-/
Click to expand...

I did the change gradually a few years ago. I bought a Mac Mini and had it side by side with an XP desktop. I used a usb KVM switch so I could switch from one system to the other and still use the same monitor and keyboard.

I found myself using the Mac almost exclusively after a short while, except for a few PC games and photoshop. Then I bought an iMac and have never looked back.

We still have 3 Windows laptops in the house, and without starting another Mac v PC thread, I do find my Apple systems easier and nicer to use and start to shudder when anything goes wrong with the Microsoft stuff.

But, they are all just tools and you use the one you prefer or are used to.

If you really want to swap to Mac, you need to be fully committed ( or be very wealthy) before you shell out quite a lot of cash for a new iMac that you might not want to keep, or buy a cheaper older system and see how you get on with it. You wont get the latest OS Mountain Lion on a cheaper system though so you will be missing out a little on performance / functions.

Allan
 
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I kind of already bought an iMac :lol: but I got a phenomenal deal on eBay and got to test it and play with it a little beforehand. It's basically brand new, the guys wife used it for a one week course, but hated it and likes windows... So I get an amazing machine for a little less than half the cost of it brand new and it might as well be brand new! It's also the most expensive computer I've ever owned, but given my only computers have been two laptops it's kind of a world of firsts!

I'm really looking forward to having a good play with it, can't wait to be able to run the sims 3 finally (it is a little too demanding for the laptop).
 
digitalfailure said:
Most of it's the same chuck, the hardest part was keeping going to the top right to close a window instead of top left.

finder works just like windows explorer and installing programs is much easier because you don't get the 20 questions about where you'd like to install it a la' windows.
Click to expand...

Ooh that sounds appealing!!

neil_g said:
Depends on the program, cs4 suite for example is as long winded as the windows install :)

As for learning macs, worst thing I found was learning all of the keyboard shortcuts. Otherwise it's just getting used to the little qwerky differences.
Click to expand...

I may have printed off a list of them and laminated it to keep near the keyboard :lol:

Tulipone said:
I just went from the old 24 iMac to a newer 27 screen. It seems that the fonts are not proportional and therefore the screen being far enough away to be useable makes the font too small to be easily readable. I have gotten used to it, my wife has not.

I think that Apple have a hit with the Mac App Store and like the ability to identify a need and usually be able to fill it simply and cheaply. There are usually bundles available every few months that make ownership of apps cheaper.

I assume that Neil will disagree, but I have consistently fewer issues with Apple products than with Windows. I would agree with his comments about keyboard shortcuts, but the worst transition issue I had was trying to work out what the simple way to do something was rather than trying to do it the Microsoft way. Adding a new Apple PC to the network for example.

...I think that digitalfailure may have issues with understanding his left from right, or maybe just works with a mirror?
Click to expand...

I'm used to the App Store for the iPad and iPhone, from what I've seen the ones on the mac systems work the same way?

Mank said:
I went into the Apple store today to buy a case for my iPad mini. The women who served me was in the worse place possible for me!!! Right next to a 27" iMac!! :lol: I wanted it so bad! :(
Click to expand...

:lol: that's always the way with the apple stores!!

Wail said:
cowasaki did an outstanding thread on Apple and its operating system.
Click to expand...

Bookmarked and subscribed!! Thank you!!

neil_g said:
First off I'm not an apple hater (I own several apple products and love them all). The only issue I have/had with the iMac was the glossy screen and now the lack of optical drive :)

I guess I'm in a fairly unique situation on here where I have to support both platforms so have a balanced idea of issues. In our case we get just as many support logs from mac users as our windows users.

The App Store, great for home users but a complete arse ache for businesses as we're finding out. But that's a separate thread :)

Not sure I get the reference to windows networking being complicated, if anything (with mountain lion) it's the other way around. God knows what apple did to the networking but its a pain. Again that's a separate thread :)
Click to expand...

Eep :( that's worrying!! Networking has always been a bad thing with me!!

ShoeQueen said:
I changed from Windows to Mac in the summer - got the 2011 27" iMac - found it very easy and intuitive to use and love the 27" screen (esp when using Lightroom). I took ages deciding what to get and looked at lots of PC options too - but I'm very happy with my choice!
Click to expand...

Woohoo!! Loving hearing the good stories!!

crusher said:
I've been an iMac user for around 2 years now. I found the transition from Windows pretty painless..........and I'm not particularly computer savvy! I got a book from PC World called Mac Basics.......in simple steps, which laid out the differences simply enough for me to understand.

I've only ever had one issue with mine........which started a couple of months ago.......and which is still a problem; my iMac keeps putting itself to sleep at frequent random moments. The screen just goes blank with no warning, the system is still running and usually I just have to tap the spacebar to get the screen back again but occasionally I have to do it by pressing the power button on the rear of the iMac. There is no particular program or task that is happens in......just completely random.

Been twice to the Apple Store - the second time they kept in for a day or so, backed up all my stuff, reformatted the HD and reinstalled everything. All to no avail.......as soon as I got it home it started doing it again. All the diagnostic tests done by Apple show no problems :bonk: Driving me nuts!
Click to expand...

:bonk: silly ghost problems!!!

I'll have a look and see if I can get hold of a similar book for mountain lion...

From the sounds of everything written here I probably won't need a new computer for many years.... Woohoo!! I like the sound of that!!
 
Went Mac over a year ago and currently use MBP with a 27" Thunderbolt Display. Would never go back to windows as it just seems so slow and clunky and like something out of the Stone Age.
 
im currently looking at getting a 24" imac because my poor little notebook cant cope with photoshop and the small display doesnt exactly make things easy either.
 
StephyB said:
I kind of already bought an iMac :lol: but I got a phenomenal deal on eBay and got to test it and play with it a little beforehand. It's basically brand new, the guys wife used it for a one week course, but hated it and likes windows... So I get an amazing machine for a little less than half the cost of it brand new and it might as well be brand new! It's also the most expensive computer I've ever owned, but given my only computers have been two laptops it's kind of a world of firsts!

I'm really looking forward to having a good play with it, can't wait to be able to run the sims 3 finally (it is a little too demanding for the laptop).
Click to expand...


Did you get a Magic trackpad with it or a mouse?

I would recommend the trackpad, its superb. It will take a while to get used to, but once you have mastered it, a mouse ( even a magic mouse) feels so dated and clunky.

You got a really good deal there. I :sulk:am NOT jealous at all.....

Allan
 
What's it like for editing? Can you get fine control while editing in photostrop?
 
I use a magic trackpad most of the time. I would say it's OK for the majority of work, but for fine work in PS I switch back to the mouse ( Magic of course) for that.

However for most work in PS LR and FCPX the trackpad is fine, although it does take a little getting used to.
 
allanm said:
Did you get a Magic trackpad with it or a mouse?

I would recommend the trackpad, its superb. It will take a while to get used to, but once you have mastered it, a mouse ( even a magic mouse) feels so dated and clunky.

You got a really good deal there. I :sulk:am NOT jealous at all.....

Allan
Click to expand...

I have owned three trackpads since they came out and have tried to get on with them and failed. I really like the magic mouse and with a wacom graphic tablet, find that is the best combo for me. I guess it is whatever you get used to - happy with a trackpad on a laptop but not with a desktop.
 
crusher said:
I've been an iMac user for around 2 years now.

I've only ever had one issue with mine........which started a couple of months ago.......and which is still a problem; my iMac keeps putting itself to sleep at frequent random moments. The screen just goes blank with no warning, the system is still running and usually I just have to tap the spacebar to get the screen back again but occasionally I have to do it by pressing the power button on the rear of the iMac. There is no particular program or task that is happens in......just completely random.

Been twice to the Apple Store - the second time they kept in for a day or so, backed up all my stuff, reformatted the HD and reinstalled everything. All to no avail.......as soon as I got it home it started doing it again. All the diagnostic tests done by Apple show no problems :bonk: Driving me nuts!
Click to expand...

There might be some helpful info in this thread:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1234778
 
srichards said:
There might be some helpful info in this thread:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1234778
Click to expand...

crusher said:
Thanks for that, just had a read through and will see what I can do. I'll update this post in a day or so. Thanks again.
Click to expand...


Thanks once again. I worked my way through all the suggestions in the link and I seem to have cured the problem (fingers crossed)! Not quite sure exactly what I did, but pretty sure it was something to do with the Hot Corners which I have now switched off:D I'm very grateful for the help:thumbs:
 
Brilliant. Glad you're getting somewhere. Sometimes it is the most ridiculous setting that can beggar things up!
 
Renaming Bluetooth Devices...

It's been driving me nuts, but I finally figured out how to do it, thanks to google I found this: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/18144/how-to-rename-a-bluetooth-device-in-osx-lion

Just in case it'll come in handy for anyone.

I'm still getting used to the gestures on the trackpad and the magic mouse... But slow and steady right? :bonk:

So far adoring the swap from Windows to Mac, I can't believe it's taken me this long!! I feel like an idiot :lol: and I'm getting the hang of most things relatively quick. I'm still utilising youtube tutorials to work some things out (mostly just the basics :bonk: ) but all in all it's been pretty painless. I'm anxiously waiting for work to swap over the reception computer now :lol:

The thing I'm loving the most is it all just works. No effort required. Oh, swapping from holding control to holding command is an interesting one... I have to keep reminding myself of that!!
 
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