A question for - OSX - users

[Gary S]

I have a question about when my refurbished G4 933 arrives.

I haven't got a clue as to what version of OSX is going to be on the computer or anything else for that matter.

My question is, let's say it has 0SX.1 or something on it and when I start it up for the first time to see if it runs and stuff, will I have to put in all my settings for administrator and users and all that stuff right off the bat or will I be able to shut it down and be OK?

The reason I ask is I don't know that much about OSX except what I got out of the books.
I don't want to screw it up from the get go.

Does anyone have any advice?

TIA

[bobw]

When you boot it up, it will run you through the initial setup.

[atjurhs]

Which ever version of OSX come installed (hope that it's 10.2.x) the initial configuration is very straight forward, and it will help you along - I did it without any books, and I am certainly no kind of a computer guru.  Also, anyhting you initially configure can be changed/un-done through the System Preference Panes.  Just be ready to give your computer a name and have a password in mind.  

One additional point of help in setting it up, if the name you've given your computer has any spaces or special characters, you may want to replace them using an underscore.  For instance,  say you decided to call your computer Felix The Cat, it would be better (from a unix standpoint) to call it Felix_The_Cat.  The reasons for doing this are very unix related, but if you ever need to delve into the guts of your machine, you will greatly appreciate this tip.  BTW, you can also change the computer's name after the initial configuration using the Sysytem Preferences Panes.  And this underscore naming convention tip can also be applied to directories and sub-directories.

Enjoy your new machine!

[Gary S]

atjurhs,

Thanks for the tip. It came late but it came.    

I haven't had a chance to set it up yet so I'll do that tommorrow.

Thanks guys.  
 
 [ 03-13-2003, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: Gary S ]

[kps]

Since we're on the subject of names....

During the setup, the computer will pick your username for you (based on your first name and Lastname). If you don't like it, change it NOW... during the setup, otherwise it is a little complicated and could cause issues if you decide to change it later.

It will also want to set up your internet connection, so have all your settings and passwords handy.

Enjoy!!

[Bill]

Kps is OH SO right about the username Gary S!!

I had one ~~~ drumroll ~~~ "heck" of a time changing that after the fact.

Deciding ((NOW)) saves a lot of grief later on.

[RHPConsult]

I AGREE WITH KPS AND BILL, AND THEN SOME” he whispered! Others here are more sanguine about changing computer names, administrator names, and passwords, but I’m not among them.

OSX is very, very easy to “establish”, "define", and "connect" . . . almost too easy. Only when you find that you have to insert those possibly quickly chosen names and passwords again and again and again as the weeks and months pass will you wish you’d called yourself “123”,  with a password of “OK”.

To compound the “felony”, Apple adopts them unhesitatingly (and exactly) when you sign-on to its site for whatever purposes you may hope to accomplish. The “system” imposed by Apple is apparently based upon the expectation that every Mac will be used by a cast of 1000s and you, as administrator, need to keep the tightest of control over that unruly band. Wrong! Maybe in OSMMMCMXXXIV they’ll make it easier!

And, if anyone can persuade me that it’s easy to change those initial decisions, I wish they’d send me an e-message, in 2500 words or less. I would be forever grateful.

My advice, Gary, is go slow, very slow, don’t be mislead by how easy set-up appears to be. Pick some words that are easy, very easy, to type/remember.

Oh yes, and don’t grow older and have any senior moments!

[Gary S]

"My advice, Gary, is go slow, very slow, don’t be mislead by how easy set-up appears to be. Pick some words that are easy, very easy, to type/remember."

What exactly are you telling me here?

Pick an easy name and password?

Anyways,

I haven't even started it up yet. It came around 5:00 pm
yesterday and by that time my back was kind of sore so my son Sam and I got it out of the box and I inspected it outside and inside and started reading. It came with :

2- Power Mac G4-OSX.2.1 install disks
4- Power MacG4- Software restore disks
1- Power MacG4-Hardware Test disk
1- OSX.2 Developer Tools disk
2- iTunes 3, iPhoto 2, iMovie 3 and iDVD 3 disk
and a blank disk for CD-R and on for DVD-R.
2 Jaguar Disks

The Power Mac install disks have 9.2.2 on them.

For a refurbed machine it's clean as a whistle. A few small scratches on the lower part of the case. The inside is clean. A new IBM Deskstar 60gig Hard Drive.

I'm going to try and set it up and see if it works today. My back is pretty sore so I don't know what I'll get done.

I didn't sleep well last night.......excited.    Other than that I'm OK.

Gary

[Gary S]

Oh BTW,

I bought this computer from PowerMax.

They sent this along:

"IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Many of our customers have wondered if it is absolutely necessary to register your Mac when you first boot up your machine. For a variety of reasons, many people prefer not to give Apple their personal information. And in fact your warranty is valid from the date of your purchase whether you
register or not.

when you first boot up, although it seems unavoidable, you can avoid registering your new or refurbished
Apple computer. If you do NOT want to register your machine, simply follow these following steps:

1) Power up the computer- the Welcome screen appear while the computer starts up.

2)Pick you country-click Continue.

3)Pick your keyboard- click Continue

4)When the registration Information page opens, press
Command-Q, this will open a box which says:
You have not finished setting up Mac OSX...." click on the Skip button.

5)Fill in your name, short name and password. Verify your password, give yourself a hint, and choose your login picture.

NOTE[-if you DO NOT choose a password, you will need to press return every time you are asked for an administrator password in the future.

That's it!"

If you wish to register your computer electronically in the future, simply double-click on the Send Registration icon in your home folder.

..............................................

My question is, what would this accomplish?
 
 [ 03-14-2003, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: Gary S ]

[kps]

I think what RHP is saying is don't be tempted to "fly" through the setup process. Take your time reading the setup screens and imput proper information before proceeding to the next screen.

Also, connect the machine to your cable modem before you start. [EDIT: if you want to register or not]

Choose an easy username, which will be called the short name on the setup screen.  For the password, choose an easy to remember string that you're comfortable with. This can be changed later without too much fuss.
 
 [ 03-14-2003, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: kps ]

[atjurhs]

I work in a "classified environment" - can't say more than that.  But as such, I have to deal with muliple passwords on multiple machines with muliple usernames.  

What I have found over the years to simplify, keep straight what's what, and maintain a good degree of security over all this username-password stuff is to associate your password with a little phrase or to associate it with a keyboard pattern/sequence.  

As an example of a phrase:  "I like to eat burritos and carrots" could be made into the password il2EB&C

This password has a mixture of uppercase and lower case letters and at least one numeric, and it's not too long or too short.  On your  own machine you can also use special characters.

An example of the keyboard pattern would be: qwerty  but that particular one is such a "standard" that hackers would love for you to use it.

Never just hit the return key.  

Like it or not if you ever connect to the internet, there will be hackers out there who will try to get into your box.  If this ever happens to you, you will indeed go through a great deal of pain to undo the damage they've done.  Making the password easy will only make it easier on them to hack you.

Just some more setup tips

[Gary S]

Well.

I'm here on OS X.1.2 using IE.    

I did the log in thing. I just wanted to see if the machine works.    Never was able to connect with Apple.    

It's running a little slow with just the 256mb of ram it came with.
I'm going to shut this puppy down and put another gig in and see how it does.    

Then I guess I install Jaguar.    

Then I'm going to find out how to minimize the dock! It's in my way.

[Bill]

-----
2- Power Mac G4-OSX.2.1 install disks
4- Power MacG4- Software restore disks
1- Power MacG4-Hardware Test disk
1- OSX.2 Developer Tools disk
2- iTunes 3, iPhoto 2, iMovie 3 and iDVD 3 disk
and a blank disk for CD-R and on for DVD-R.
2 Jaguar Disks

The Power Mac install disks have 9.2.2 on them.
-----

That list sure seems like what you get when you buy a 'new' machine Gary S.

[Gary S]

Bill,
The 2-512 modules did wonders.
I'm still in 10.1.2. I never did get to installing Jaguar.
I thought I'd load my son's game, Medal of Honor on the puter and he hasn't been off since 3:00!
Boy, does he like OSX! It's like second nature to him.      
Spring break starts today and I don't know if i'll get to get on for 10 days or so.......I better go out and get a router.            

OSX is very cool.

[Bill]

Figured you'd like it.  
Jag is even better.  

With the 64 card and the ram ..... zoom city with games.  

BTW. What did the 256 stick speed read?