New to Mac, need help

[Brian Adams]

Hey everyone,

Just got my first Mac today! So don't hold it against me for asking what I assume is a no-brainer for those of you familiar with OSX.

I just downloaded the RED Quicktime component and the Final Cut Studio 3 installer. How do I install both of these on OSX?

Thanks!

[Noah Kadner]

Just run them- they are self-installing. Also read the FCS white paper that comes with the installer from RED. Very detailed instructions in there. My book wouldn't hurt either :)

RED: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Revolutionary Camera

Noah

[Stephen Lovett]

Welcome to the Mac world Brian, there are many pleasant surprises ahead, and few frustrations as well.

FWIW holding down the control button will get you right mouse button functions. I remember missing the right mouse button on the laptop for a couple of days before that became second nature.

I recent purchased and read Noah's book. I wish it had been available when I began trying to figure all this stuff out, It's well worth your time and money.

Cheers,

Steve

[Jeff Kilgroe]

My first advice to all new Mac owners:

* Throw the Apple mouse away and buy a Logitech. Apple has never made a mouse that's worth a crap. Even their "Mighty Mouse" is a piss poor excuse for a mouse. YMMV...

If you're using a Macbook Pro and what a compact mouse to go with it, I recommend the Logitech V470 Bluetooth model. Nice little mouse and no additional receiver needed to soak up a USB port.

What Stephen says about holding down the Ctrl key and clicking to get a 'right click" is good to know if you're without a Mighty Mouse or something better. On the new multi-touch trackpad models, you can set a press on the lower-right corner of the trackpad to register as a secondary click (right button).

* In many situations, when you "close" an application with the red 'x' button, it's not closed. So many Mac noobs don't get this. You often have to "Quit" via a Cmd+Q or from the primary app menu. Your dock will show you if an application is active or not.

* Just keep playing with it. You'll figure it out. And eventually you'll realize that it's a pretty darn nice OS.

[Ryan S]

Jeff is right on the money about the mighty mouse. I got my Mac Pro, threw the mighty mouse in the bin, and plugged in my faithful Logitech. Never looked back.

FWIW- I meet a lot of new Mac users and recent converts who think their Mac is completely immune to viruses and other malware- it's not. There's antivirus software out there for the Mac (I've used Norton since my Apple LC475) and it's good to have. I've never had a problem with malware on my macs, but with the type of work I'd assume you're doing on it, why take the chance?

Enjoy your new machine, and ask questions here. You'll find help from Redusers.

[Stephen Gentle]

What Stephen says about holding down the Ctrl key and clicking to get a 'right click" is good to know if you're without a Mighty Mouse or something better. On the new multi-touch trackpad models, you can set a press on the lower-right corner of the trackpad to register as a secondary click (right button).

There's an option that lets you right click by having two fingers on the trackpad and clicking - it's awesome. You don't have to move your thumb that way so it's more efficient.

Another great thing on the trackpads is two finger scrolling - far, far better than those ones that have the scroll things on the sides because like the right click thing above, you don't have to move your fingers, and you can scroll in any direction (up and down, left and right, diagonally etc.).

[ericyoung]

...
* Just keep playing with it. You'll figure it out. And eventually you'll realize that it's a pretty darn nice OS.

Apart from Finder, and window resizing and tiling... - grrrr

[Cail Young]

window resizing and tiling... - grrrr

Expose obsoletes those two "necessities".

[Michael P. Schmidt]

Jeff is right on the money about the mighty mouse.

congratulations !!! you are now on an real computer !!! :)
OS X is a nice System ... u will find you way to do dings ... i'm on mac for 6 years now ... sometime even i discover new way's to do things on the mac quicker or smoother ;) ... it's fun (mostly) to work on a mac

oh and i love(d) all my mac-mice (i'm a ctrl button guy... anyway) and yes the mighty mouse isn't that good but i really have to say in FCP and LogicPro the little 360° ball is really helpfull to navigate through big timelines ... i tried several other mice ... no way they could provide me that kind of smooth navigation ...

btw it looks nice too ;)

so have fun... and try things out !

[ericyoung]

Expose obsoletes those two "necessities".

Please explain?

I really am platform indifferent, as all of them have pros & cons, but...

Expose doesn't let me grab any part of the window to resize it - I have to constantly mouse down to bottom right - what a unnecessary productivity restraint - interface design rules are great until they start slowing things down.

Expose doesn't let me easily maximise two windows side by side (maybe in different apps) so that I can reference one while working in the other.

Unless there's a way I haven't found?