Mac n00b questions

[photon]

Ok, so now I'm a n00b.

After my first attempt at buying a laptop failed (got scammed on eBay, well I didn't really get scammed the seller got scammed, but either way it ends up that I don't get a laptop), I found a local seller, and now have a nice Macbook Pro 15" sitting here.

I've played around with it a bit and think I'm getting the hang of OSX and how it presents things.

So I've got a few questions. I installed Skype, but I can't find any option to tell it to startup when the laptop starts up (or when my wife logs in, or whatever). Where would I set this up?

I've got Office 2008 installed, my source on buying it is a bit slow so I've got a "Demo" version. Discovered that you can't import PST files into Entourage, so found a small utility that seems to be doing the job, taking a while to convert my wife's 2.5GB worth of mail

I'll try that Adium for a MSN messenger replacement.

Since there's only one drive does that mean Time Machine won't work? Can I configure it to use a network drive somehow, or does it have to be a USB/Firewire drive?

Is that the best option for backups? What does everyone else use for backing up the files on their Macs?

Any other software that is pretty necessary?

TIA

[Reggie Dunlop]

If you've got Skype in your Dock, a simple right-click selection can turn it into a start-up item.

You should be able to network Time Machine as well.

[photon]

Ah ok I see that, is there a way to make it start up but stay minimized?

[photon]

She's got Quickbooks for her business stuff, and I don't think I want to repurchase it, so is Parallels the best way to get that going without having to dual boot? Other cheaper/free options?

[Devils'Advocate]

I'm still on a PowerPC G4 (I'll join the 21st century as soon as I pay off the thousands of dollars I owe the handyman for fixing the leaky pipes around this money-pit). However, I did read a good article on Parallels and the other cheaper/free options here:
http://www.monitor.ca/monitor/issues...guestshot.html

[HotHotHeat]

Time Machine can't operate over a network out of the box...I've started reading about a few things that bypass the limitations apple has put in place. They want you to buy 'time capsule' for wireless backups.

iTime Machine seems to be one ofthe best options out there, I might try it out tonight.

http://www.xiotios.com/itimemachine.html

[photon]

Neat thanks! I'll check it out.

[llama64]

Apple will be updating Time Machine to operate on networked disks this year (I assume). In the mean time I've been messing around with rsync:

http://www.mikerubel.org/computers/rsync_snapshots/

Far more technical, but the inner nerd in me loves it :P

[algernon]

Is there an equivalent of 'F-11' on a mac? (full screen)

[Tyler]

What does F11 do on a PC?

[algernon]

it makes the web site take up the entire screen...when you mouse over the edges, it shows the tool/address bars.

[algernon]

And while We're at it...F-5(refresh)?.

Thanks, I've had the machine 22 hours or so...
alg

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by algernon

And while We're at it...F-5(refresh)?.

Thanks, I've had the machine 22 hours or so...
alg

Mac symbol + R for refresh.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by algernon

it makes the web site take up the entire screen...when you mouse over the edges, it shows the tool/address bars.

Apple rarely ever makes full screen options. They've only recently added it to quicktime(wow that made my day). You can get software that makes it full screen. Like Saft: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...ties/saft.html

Otherwise theres a simple java script that maximizes your window. Here.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Mac symbol + R for refresh.

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Apple rarely ever makes full screen options. They've only recently added it to quicktime(wow that made my day). You can get software that makes it full screen. Like Saft: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...ties/saft.html

Otherwise theres a simple java script that maximizes your window. Here.

Thanks!

[Locke]

I've got another one, so I'm picking up a black macbook, I compiled all the MP3s on my iPod from 3 different computers and I want to transfer them from my iPod to my laptop as a backup/precursor to new iPod.

How?

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Locke

I've got another one, so I'm picking up a black macbook, I compiled all the MP3s on my iPod from 3 different computers and I want to transfer them from my iPod to my laptop as a backup/precursor to new iPod.

How?

You can't really transfer songs from your ipod to your computer. You can enable it as an external disk then drag and drop them...But that's not using iTunes.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

You can't really transfer songs from your ipod to your computer. You can enable it as an external disk then drag and drop them...But that's not using iTunes.

But you can do it that way right? Then just add them to the library from the folder on the computer you dropped them on?

[Traditional_Ale]

Anything a Mac can do I can build a PC to do better and for 1/3 the price.

Sorry that I have nothing to contribute "on-topic".

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Anything a Mac can do I can build a PC to do better and for 1/3 the price.

Sorry that I have nothing to contribute "on-topic".

Newsflash: most people don't choose a Mac based on it's hardware. If you can build a replacement for OS X for a third the price it cost Apple, I'll be suitably impressed.

And no, Linux does not cut it.