iBook novice

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anfields_finestanfields_finest
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Tomorrow i am getting a 12' iBook. I am really looking forward to it as i've only used windows before which have too many problems to list here. So I have a few easy questions to ask because i know hardly anything.



1.Can you use windows-compatible broadband on macs?

2.Can you surf all the windows- friendly websites on macs?

3.What happens if someone sends me a WMA file on MSN Messenger?

4.What is used instead of Windows media player for Video Playing? (iMovie HD perhaps?)

5.Are there equivalents for the main applications e.g.My Computer, Recycle Bin, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures etc...

6.What happens when the right-hand key is normally used?

7.Is there a scrolling facility on iBooks?

8.Can I transfer my music library from windows iTunes to Mac iTunes through a USB?

9.Is the 1.2 GHz processor as slow as it sounds?

10. Is there a good equivalent to Microsoft Word?



That's all I can think of at the moment. Hopefully someone will be able to give me some good answers.



Thanks



af

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 3
    asaphasaph Posts: 176member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by anfields_finest



    1.Can you use windows-compatible broadband on macs?

    2.Can you surf all the windows- friendly websites on macs?

    4.What is used instead of Windows media player for Video Playing? (iMovie HD perhaps?)

    5.Are there equivalents for the main applications e.g.My Computer, Recycle Bin, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures etc...

    6.What happens when the right-hand key is normally used?

    10. Is there a good equivalent to Microsoft Word?





    I'll answer a few of them.



    broadband is just like a highway, you can drive all sorts of different machines on it.



    websites are browser oriented (or should be). Most websites make special accommodations for both platforms if an issue arises. I never have any problems at any websites that I go to with my mac. (I make them as well.)



    For movie playing iDVD, among others works for your DVDs. I use the videolan player, personally (VLC... google it, it's free)



    Your hard drive icon replaces 'my computer' (it takes a bit to get used to the organizational structure, but once you do it's sooooo much better.) you have a pictures, music and documents folder as well. You'll notice that iTunes has an option to sort and organize all your music for you. I recommend doing this one. It's a very nice thing to have.

    your start menu, in case you didnt already know, will be replaced by your dock. If you need a branching menu there are various other applications available that can emulate it, or you can simply drag your HD icon or your home icon into the dock and click+hold to get the same effect.



    I assume you meant the right mouse button. you can ctrl+click to do the same thing or when you're at your desk simply plug a two (or more) button USB mouse into one of the slots and it will work. multiple buttons are supported by default... just plug it in.



    Microsoft word is also available on Mac. in fact, the entire office suite is available on mac. I still use appleworks though, and I have Word as well. I just like the way it functions better. You'll get appleworks for free, but you'll have to buy microsoft word.



    Hope all that helps!

    -Asaph
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  • Reply 2 of 3
    sworthysworthy Posts: 71member
    [QUOTE]Originally posted by anfields_finest

    1.Can you use windows-compatible broadband on macs?



    for sure.



    2.Can you surf all the windows- friendly websites on macs?



    Mostly. There are a few different browsers besides the two (safari and internet explorer) that come w/ your computer. Firefox, omniweb, and more. For software, go to websites such as this, or macupdate.com



    3.What happens if someone sends me a WMA file on MSN Messenger?



    You can either convert the WMA to mp3 (or aac) via itunes, or play it in windows media player for mac (though not if it's protected by DRM).



    4.What is used instead of Windows media player for Video Playing? (iMovie HD perhaps?)



    DVD Player, quicktime, etc



    5.Are there equivalents for the main applications e.g.My Computer, Recycle Bin, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures etc...



    In your 'home directory' you'll see documents, music, pictures, etc. However, you don't really need to know where the files are, you can just dump them into itunes or iphoto, and they'll be stored there automatically.



    6.What happens when the right-hand key is normally used?



    I suppose you mean right click? Typically mac applications are designed so you don't have to right click. If you do, you simply hold the conrol button while you click. Of course, you can buy an external mouse with as many buttons as you'd like as well.



    7.Is there a scrolling facility on iBooks?



    The new apple scrolling is only available on the new powerbooks, but there is software (called SideTrack) that comes close to doing the same thing).



    8.Can I transfer my music library from windows iTunes to Mac iTunes through a USB?



    I don't think so... but maybe someone else can correct me. The easiest way would be to network them together via an ethernet cable.



    9.Is the 1.2 GHz processor as slow as it sounds?



    While it is the low range on the mac side, a 1.2Ghz G4 is not the same as a 1.2 Ghz Pentium 4. Ghz does not equal speed. Google "the megahertz myth" for more info.



    10. Is there a good equivalent to Microsoft Word?



    You can actually buy microsoft word for mac (and the rest of office). If you're looking for other alternatives, you can always use Pages (part of Apple's iWork)
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  • Reply 3 of 3
    maccrazymaccrazy Posts: 2,658member
    All your questions have been answered brilliantly except two! iTunes music can be transferred a number of ways. Firstly if you're using broadband yo may have a network, you can transfer over this. You may also have a firewire disk or cable, an ethernet cable would also work. Set the mac up for sharing and click network in sidebar of finder (equivalent to Explorer). If you want to specify which of these options you can do I can tell you the best way to get your music. You will lose your play counts etc. If you have an iPod there is software available that can keep playlists and play count.



    Secondly you asked about the iBooks performance. I have a 600MHz iMac G3 which is getting slow, I went to my grandfather's PowerMac G4 400MHz with 16MB ATI GPU and it was zippy! I'm being serious. I think it's the quartz extreme. My sister has a 1.2GHz iBook G4 and they're powerful little machines. I'm very jealous of the performance expect my PowerBook is going to kick her iBooks arse!



    Anyway the point is for iLife (except maybe iMovie and iDVD for advanced work) you will be better than fine. Word processing and internet are brilliant and you should have no problems with speed. Obviously photoshop and other CPU hungry applications will not be as fast as a G5 for general use the iBook is perfect for general use, most apps open almost instantaneously. I would strongly recommend getting at least 512MB RAM. That's the only thing.
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