MY FIRST MAC....NOW WHAT?

IE for Mac is a bit of a pain but in different ways than IE for Windows is a pain. There are lots of other browsers around that are faster. MacIE is slower because they put the focus on look and feel rather than speed. Look at www.versiontracker.com and try out Mozilla, iCab, Opera, OmniWeb, and Netscape 6. My personal favorites are Mozilla and iCab. You can also check versiontracker for any other nifty bits. I check it daily. You dont need anti-virus software on a Mac. I've been using Macs for over a decade and have only ever seen 1 virus, which was benign, and existed on a computer at work. If youre paranoid you can get Norton Anti-Virus.

I've tried out Mozilla and Opera and I like them both. Look and feel does matter to me but NOT as much as speed. What do you recommend in this case? And as for Anti-Virus...I have Norton AntiVirus for PC. But this won't work on a MAC will it? Your telling me that I never need to install a Virus software? What if my computer starts to act up really bad and I have NOOOOOO idea that I have a virus? And if I do, I wouldn't know how to get rid of it!

You need to pick a browser that fits your browsing style. iCab has VERY cool features, totally throws out fancy interface but doenst render quickly. Mozilla has almost no features but renders quickly, as does Chimera. Netscape is a compromise.

If your mac starts acting strange run Norton Utilities. There's a 99.99999% chance its NOT a virus.

Run Norton Utilities? I'm guessing that doesn't come with my iMAC right? OK...so your telling me that there really isn't a need to buy any antivirus software or a firewall like Zonealarm? Unless I'm really paranoid? So what is versiontracker? Is this a place to get free software?

versiontracker is a list of software updates, new software, shareware, freeware, commercial software etc that has come out. Its often updated more than once a day. Its an indespensable resource.

Norton Utilities should come with every Mac because you will eventually need it but you probably wont need virus software. If youre paranoid, it wont hurt, but you dont really need it. You dont really need a firewall either unless youre on broadband and again, paranoid. There are cheap/free firewall solutions available for OS X via versiontracker.

All of my computers are connected through this...

http://www.speedstream.com/datasheet_2614.html

And it has a firewall built in. Do you think that this will be enough for a firewall? And you say that Norton comes with the iMAC?? I can't find it!

If your router has a firewall you wont need anything more.

Norton doesnt come with any machines but it SHOULD. Its one of those utilities that everyone should have.

send me an email please....sith@wilang.net

I'd rather not get into the email thing. I get too much as it is.

LOL OK...sorry. Since I'm a PC guy and I know a lot of websites for PC, where else besides www.versiontracker.com can I go for info,freeware etc for MAC?

If its not on versiontracker.com it probably doesnt exist. Ive only found 1 or 2 obscure pieces of software that didnt show up on versiontracker.

I upped the points an extra 25 OK. :-)  I have a question and its regard to Virtual PC. First of all...is it necessary to get VPC??  Do you or most MAC users have VPC? And why? For What purpose?  Can I say...for example use Adobe Photoshop in Virtual Windows enviroment with only 256 Ram on the MAC??  Or would this be way way to slow?  One more question and I'm done with this post. YES!  You get your 75 points.  If you don't already know this but Microsoft Outlook use .pst files. Is there a MAC kind of Outlook equivalent that uses .pst files??

Well since I own two Macs now (G4 and iMac w/SuperDrive) I have to say the best way to get appz and items needed for you new Mac are:

http://www.limewire.com
and
http://www.carracho.com

Don't forget to check out http://www.resexcellence.com

They have a lot of info for new Mac users that want to customize and play with new things on their Macs.

I recommend getting Duality (a themes app for OSX) and Office X - Microsoft.  Download some icons to spice up your desktop and get some alert sounds.

Oh yeah, Microsoft just released IE 5.2.1 - it takes advantage of your OSX interface and smooths text on the page...I like it a lot!

Have fun!

Just wanted to comment on software and VPC.

Software Sites to surf-

http://www.macdownload.com
http://www.tucows.com
http://www.macsurfshop.com
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/

You want to use Virtual PC if:

a. You are a webmaster/developer and want to test a Windows version of your website, or other media before it goes public

b. You found a windows software title that is not  ported for the MacOS

c. You are filthy rich and you want VPC cause you don't have it.