Hi Barry,
I'll try and answer a few of these questions for you.
Bootcamp: yes you hold the option key down during boot up, then arrow to
the OS you want to boot from and press enter. So for example I have my
Macbook configured to boot Leopard by default and have XP installed on a
second partition. I would hold option during boot up, then right arrow to
XP and press enter, as Leopard would automatically be selected on that
screen.
Office: The OpenOffice.org 3.0 seems to work reasonably well. I have only
tried the word processor, but have heard others have had success with the
spreadsheet application etc.
Podcasts: I still use Juice for this under Windows, but for the most part
ITunes 8.X looks really accessible, so I'd probably give that a shot.
Speaking of ITunes you also asked about an Apple ID for the ITunes store.
This is just a way to authorize your computer to play DRM protected content
and buy music from the ITunes store. If you just want to import your own
stuff you don't really need an Apple ID, but if you want to make purchases
or play DRM protected content you will need to sign up for an apple ID. You
can either use a mobile ME account for this if you have already created one
(this used to be called a dotMac account) or you can sign up for an Apple ID
using your existing email address. I guess the best way to describe it is
sort of like a Microsoft Passport for the Mac.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Mitchell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dj Paddy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X
bytheblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2008 7:16 AM
Subject: Finally here
Folks,
My gorgious little Mac Book pro has arrived today. it came with Boot Camp
and Vista already installed and configured.
I'll say what I've learnt already from a five minute conversation with my
good friend Erik Burggraaf who's on this list and what I've managed to come
across in my own time today. Then I'll probably ask a few questions.
First a bit of background. I've been using PC's for 16 years or more and am
on my second Computer Science Degree. So I am very much a self confessed
geek! I've used all the Windows OS's bar Vista. I am looking forward to
installing Vmware Fusion and getting Linux up and running on here.
The only time I ever used Mac was in my sighted days and that was at least
10 years ago at school, where I only really used the Word Processor and
played Shuffle Board!
Erik told me about the useful,
key layout,
bottom left fn, ctrl, options , command.
ctrl options is vo keys,
ctrl options f8 quick start guide for voice over (I did go through this and
am finding the VO key combinations not to awkward to perform)
ctrl options k for keyboard help and esc to turn off (well impressed with
this).
fn f1 lower brightness fn f2 raise brightnesss (handy I expect for battery
and prevent nosy parkers in the lab looking at my screen! )
fn f11 lower volume fn12 raise volume.
f13 top right - eject cd.
The eject CD was a relief as I rang Erik in a bit of a flap because I'd one
stuck in there. It's really brought me back to, "day one", with a PC this
Mac. Only I am finding partly because of experience, and going through the
tutorial it's fairly intuitive.
I've found Boot Camp and can reboot into Vista and vice versa.
I've had a look at Itunes Front Row, System Preferences, messe arund with
the different voices for voice over, had a look at Mail but not set an
account up in there yet. I've also looked at the Dock, and Safari.
Oh yes and although i heard Eriks when i stayed there in August/September
the sound system still blows me away on this!
I have the Voice Over Daizy manual here and am planning on looking at it
this evening.
Several questions though.
1. Boot Camp.
Does anyone know the exact keys and timing for when to press them to select
the OS on power-up?
I read on,
http://www.winsupersite.com
It was Options and then you used the arrows to select the OS, but that was
for Tiger.
2. Apple account/ID or something?
I got prompted for this to enter the Itunes store? I dont' have one do I?
There wasn't a create.
3. Mail.
Can I setup an apple mail account to use in there untill such time that I
may decide to migrate my various other mail accounts into the Mac World?
4. Voice Over and HTML.
Having used Windows Screenreaders I've gotten used to being able to navigate
these like I could in a word processor because of the buffer the text is
placed into. How to I intract with HTML like this or...?
I've landed on several HTML Text in Help files and when I do VO Down Cursor
to Interact it just bongs at me. though I can Interact with other things.
5. Podcasting.
What application is people using for this? I've noticed Podcast Catcher in
Utilitys but again it's asking me for a password along side my username?
6. Format Of USB Sticks.
Do I need to turn USB ports on in Mac OS? If so how? When I plugged my USB
stick in nothign happened. At first I thought this was because it was
FAT32, but was expecting something?
If I need to format a USB Stick to use on the Mac any stps on how to do this
and how do I get it to see a FAT32 disk just so I can format it to Mac OSX
format? Or do I need to go use Partition Magic on Windows to prep the disc?
7. Updates/maintenance
I have airport tuned on and it connected to my WIFI Network. Will the
system auto update and run cleanups or is there somewhere I can go to
configure this stuff?
8. Office Suite.
What one are people using and if Open Office how do I obtain it and install
it? Never installed an App onto a Mac but have heard something about
dropping them onto the Dock or into the Apps folder? no Wizards or
Unzipping packages?
9 Further learning.
Any recommended resources other than the Voice Over Daisy manual for
teaching myself?
Thanks heeps for any and all answers, I knwo this is a lot but I'm pressed
for time as I was meant to have had this system 7 weeks ago, (granted it
means I got the new Mac Pro now), but I need to get up to speed here as
quickly as possible for final year projects.
Dj Paddy
