OK now I have my shiny new iMac, what apps, programmes are must have coming from a PC

brad123

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2002
Messages
6,398
Reaction score
286
Points
2,020
Location
Yorkshire
Right the iMacs all set up and Ive installed skype, thunderbird, office trial, msn etc, so coming from a PC background for 25 years what apps or programmes should I install, few questions below if anyone can help thanks.

1. I have an imac, iphone 4s, and an ipad 2, any clever tricks or anything I should be doing to combine all 3 products etc.

2. Is there a radio app for listening to the radio rather then say going to the radio stations page and clicking listen here.

3. What apps should I download or purchase to help me us ethe iMac.

4. Any programmes to help the transition from PC to iMac go smoothly and with less stress.

5. Any good imac forums to pester people and aks questions from specialists etc. I already use apple forums but can be slow to get replies.

6. Anyway I cna link my iMac to my TV and or projector?

7. Anyway of getting a tv signal on the iMac, I can use Sky Go for main channels.

8. How do I make sure when I shut down the iMac and restart say the next morning the programmes and windows are where they were before I shut down the night before.

9. Any neat tips or tricks I should know that I could not do on a PC.

10. Any good books to help me, dummies guide perhaps?

11. Any advice you can give for a PC user going to a mac.

12. Which programmes already installed on the imac are worth using and good.

13. Should I install windows 7 to be safe? And if so is parrallel worth getting?

14. What anti virus do I need?

15. Can you post a screen grab of your skype as I dont think mine is right, it works but doesnt look owt like my skype on my PC and looks a bit pants on the imac?

16. Is there any option of having the toolbar at the top of the screen thats for the programme im in or window im using on the window itself rather then running along the top of the screen. Not sure ive described it right, say I have skype open, the skype tools, edit, view, help options links are all not connected to the skype window open but run alon a bar at the top of the screen. And say if i clicked onto msn the bar would change to the msn details and links etc.


Anything else I forgot?

Thanks for the help guys really appreciate it.
 
Last edited:
Thanks.

16. Is there any option of having the toolbar at the top thats for the programme im in or window im using on the window itself rather then running along the top of the screen. Not sure ive described it right, say I have skype open, the skype tools, edit, view, help options links are all not connected to the skype window open but run alon a bar at the top of the screen. And say if i clicked onto msn the bar would change to the msn details and links etc.
 
1 - iTunes

2 - iTunes

3 - See the Simple programs link Rob posted

4 - Depends what you want to do really. There is MS Office for Mac for example

5 - Try Mac Forums | Apple, iPod, iPhone Discussions

6 - No idea, sorry

7 - Browser based, use TVCatchup - Never Miss A Show Again - hardware based, look at Elgato EyeTV Hybrid - Apple Store (UK)

8 - Don't shut it down, just sleep

9 - Again, depends what you want to do

10 - iMac for Dummies: Amazon.co.uk: Mark L. Chambers: Books

11 - Try to forget the Windows way of working, and look at it with a fresh take.

12 - Again, depends what you want to do, but Preview is one of the most powerful yet unknown apps on there IMO

13 - Only if you want to use Windows

14 - You don't, but there are some free ones available if you are really worried

15 -
126eiau.png


16 - No

:smashin:
 
Last edited:
— As an Amazon Associate, AVForums earns from qualifying purchases —
OpenOffice for (4) and VirtualBox for (13). And forget about paying for these.
 
I have just installed Sophos for anti virus on my MacBook Air, and Mac Mini.

It was a recommendation from RobM on another thread - Thanks Rob.

I've been using Mac's for about 2 years, but I only found out the other day that your press cmd+shift+3 to take a screen shot.
 
For screenshots, use Grab. It's built into OSX and lets you do things like screen shots, screen 'snips' (choose the selection of the screen you want), time screenshots (take a screenshot in 10 seconds) or take a shot of just one window. It's in Utilities, or Spotlight search for Grab.
 
For screenshots, use Grab. It's built into OSX and lets you do things like screen shots, screen 'snips' (choose the selection of the screen you want), time screenshots (take a screenshot in 10 seconds) or take a shot of just one window. It's in Utilities, or Spotlight search for Grab.

Thanks Rob, I never knew about that.

You learning something new everyday..
 
6. Assuming your projector/TV are relatively recent and have high resolution connections (VGA, DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort) then it's a simple case of buying the appropriate mini-DisplayPort to _ _ _ _ adapter and then connecting the two ports together using an normal £2 lead of the required type.

7. There are TV Tuners with Mac OS support yes, Elgato do some for example. The iMac has no internal expansion slots though, so it'll be a USB stick/box.

9. Hitting the key on the top row of the keyboard that shows several boxes in a big box produces a neat result (not strictly mac specific but the windows version isn't particularly widely used)

11. Some of the apple applications like iTunes and iPhoto are going to be rather more clingy than you expect unless you're used them on windows. They're not just simple cataloguing/editing programs as you'd imagine but squirrel away any files you add to them into their own files and you'll have to launch them and re-export the files when you want to use them for other uses.

Generally though, just go with the flow. There are lots of minor variations like the changed position of the menu bar, some good, some bad and some, like that one, just different. Although do turn off the automatic screen dimming, or it'll drive you mad every time you try and read something of any length.
 
Last edited:
Mac OS X Lion: The Missing Manual is an excellent book. Loads of tips and tricks for you to uncover.
 
download th OS X guide app off the app store for your iPad! its free and has a load of stuff on it!
 
Cheers guys some excellent advice there. I have bought a new logitech solar powered mac keyboard and its excellent, far better then what the imac came with.
 
delete the old one and install the one from the link I provided.
 
Ah right brilliant thanks, ok daft question on an imac how do i uninstall a programme lol, sorry.
 
Skype v5.3 works well for us, together with some very useful features such as ScreenSharing. Video-conferencing can experience the odd disconnects, etc., but overall it is a positive experience.
 
Ah right brilliant thanks, ok daft question on an imac how do i uninstall a programme lol, sorry.

Drag it to the wastebasket, normally :smashin:

CamFire, 5.3 would be great if it didn't take up two thirds of the screen on a 13" MBP! What were Skype thinking?
 
CamFire, 5.3 would be great if it didn't take up two thirds of the screen on a 13" MBP! What were Skype thinking?
That I would not freak out at the square spot on the person's face (on the other side)? :D . For me, a large view of the other side is welcomed... :smashin:
 
CamFire said:
Skype v5.3 works well for us, together with some very useful features such as ScreenSharing. Video-conferencing can experience the odd disconnects, etc., but overall it is a positive experience.

Seconded.
 
Not saying Skype 5 doesn't work, just that I don't like the huge area for contacts compared to the much smaller list used in 2.8 or the version for Windows.
 
I can agree with that, remembering the initial shock at the large-ish icons for the contacts in both views. To sort this out, I use Spaces...er, a separate Desktop.
 
Right one annoying thing I need to sort is the difference in height of the imac and cinema display screen.

Ive spent all day arsing with an mx desk clamp and its still not at the same height, the imac is 1.5 inches higher so I need a solution as its annoying to hell, what with my mild OCD!!

Easiest option is to put the apple cinema display on something to raise it 1.5 inches, yet still keep it looking smart, any ideas, I did think maybe some sticky pads on the bas eof the apple cinema display stand perhaps, after forking out my savings on this id like it to look smart still and not be ruined by a dodgy looking base or raiser.
 

The latest video from AVForums

TV Buying Guide - Which TV Is Best For You?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom