Hey lads, I'm very new to Macs, think they are brilliant but really have no idea bout them yet!! What I want to know is, how do I clean up the hard drive, like disc clean up on windows? (if possible)
unix doesn't fragment files like winduhz does.. the longer you use it the better it gets.. in theory.. asa it will try to put a file in available space which is large enough to fit it all in one go every time you change and save it. To do a full defrag just copy all the files to a different drive and back again... problem solved... though I doubt there is a frag issue anyway more than say 5% all you need to do is delete temp files and any old junk every so often and have a general tidy up..
Before I install an application, I run /Utilities/Disk Utility and check the integrity of the file system. (Fix it from DVD, if needed.) After I install the application, I check & repair permissions from the same utility. I've no idea why they're usually not in accordance with Apple's rules. (This never happens with Debian Linux.) Check your system log to be sure your computer sets its time with an atomic clock on the internet (or install the software), and be sure that it rotates logs & such regularly. (The original did so at only 4am, requiring one to install, essentially, the standard Unix program for laptops.) Two O'Reilly books I found useful: the one for Tiger & one for Unix knurds. Also, there are parts of the OS that aren't cleaned by Apple. Monthly, I use 'Onyx' to do so. (Others are available.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnyX The Wikipedia has much information about Macs & software. Their links are the safest to first find a site, such as macupdate or versiontracker (which is why I don't give them here). You can then make a bookmark for it. There you can find all applications, especially free ones (moved from Linux to Mac by those on sourceforge). Although it is true that files smaller than 20 MB are not fragmented, this process rapidly fragments free space on the drive. Unlike ext3, the latest HFS+ will rather quickly eat all free space larger than 20 MB. This means you may suddenly not be able to write DVDs, and even big applications that swap may not be able to run. There is an inexpensive, but slow, defragmenter from England with great support; but the recommended file-by-file backup & restore is likely best. Apple partitions 10.4 as two small pairs of drivers for the boot drive and optical drive (should one fail), everything else, and a swap partition. This means defragmenting 'everything else' should be done on a regular basis.
Oh, if you're coming from Microsoft, note that Macs have object-oriented user interfaces. You can use a Mac like a Microsoft machine: go to /Applications, open one, create an object in /Documents, &c. However, the preferred, 'modern' method is to treat virtual objects as you always have real objects: carry the object to the machine. Pretend you want all documents in /Documents. Create an alias of your favorite word processor and drag & drop (carry & place) the icon in /Documents. Adjust its styles, create a letterhead, save it, then ctrl-click the letter and make it a template (there's a little check box. Now set up a printer to use only the back cartridge, say, and drag its icon to /Documents. Finally create an alias of /Documents and carry & place it upon the Desktop. When you want to write a letter, open the 'Documents' folder on the Desktop. You will see three icons: a typewriter (you can make it so), a tray of paper, and a printer. Open the stack of paper and a copy will appear in the folder. Drag this to the typewriter to edit it. The various versions will always be an icon in 'Documents' that you can rename. When done, drag it to 'Printer', renamed 'B&W Printer', if you wish. That's the general idea. You can customize your desktop so each folder on it is for a task you regularly perform, such as banking. The Mac interface isn't completely object-oriented (all your settings aren't stored in /Documents), but it's good enough to greatly simplify your daily work. Good luck!
Thanks for all your help guys, It will take me some time to get used to Mac but it's going to be worth it!!!
cheers.. mac-os is a brand of unix.. you will find all kinds of info in the solaris and be-os notes as well. I love object oriented os setups.. a little strange at first, especially the way everything (even a hardware device) is a file, but when you get into the idea it's very empowering... Of course you can completely ignore the gui features and all the bling and just go for the raw power in the background.. I think my favourite feature is being able to put anything anywhere, and as long as you tell the rest where it is (or it where everything else is) then it doesn't care and works as normal... as for permissions and who owns what.. first it will drive you up the wall.. then it will be great.. then it will drive you up the wall again.... especially printer configs hehehehehehe
Just a note, because I didn't want you to leave with the impression that a Mac is more difficult than MS Windows: it's just the opposite. Nothing could be simpler. The only thing to keep in mind is to buy peripheral devices from companies that support Mac well. I've never had a problem with permissions, but I correct them each time I install a new application. To print, use the help system. You may find your printer already setup, and an automatic device scan will mount your printer when you attach it. You can always start with the simplest driver on the support site of your printer's company (not CUPS). I should remark that the CUPS printing system, available at the flick of an option, is extremely complex internally, but very simple for you. I have three collections of PDDs (printer definition documents), each allowing me to control a different collection of gizmos on my printer(s). A PDD defines, essentially, what's on the specification sheet of your printer: its capabilities. Even with a simple printer driver, each print job will use different capabilities. You may want 4x6" color photos one moment, then a book printed using only the black cartridge on letter paper next. Each time you click print, you'll be asked this; or, rather, a default (color on letter paper) will be chosen. You can drop down a menu, edit this, and save your edit as '4x6 Glossy Photos', for example. Then, each time you print, edit your options or choose a saved set. Nothing could be easier: and it's necessary to know your wishes. CUPS was for networks, though I use it without one. One can send encrypted text or postscript directly to a network device, text file, PostScript file, PDF file, or any device, such as a FAX modem or any named printer (name all your devices), automatically translating the queue into that device's language. Internally, it's complicated; but look what it does!
