It's really hard work owning a Mac

Bob D'Amico · #1 04-30-2014, 11:28 PM

Did you know you can start and run a Mac withOUT the boot disk?

Today I finally got around to replacing the 500 MB, 7,200 RPM boot up hard disk in my Mac Pro with an Apple certified 256MB Solid State Drive from Other World Computing.

It took almost 3 hours and boy was it hard.

First I had to slide out the old drive, attach the new SSD to the slide and push it back in the slot. Damn job took me nearly 5 minutes.

Next I had to attach the old hard disk to the Mac using a SATA power adaptor, that took 3 minutes.

Next I had to push the start button on the Mac and wait for 20 damn seconds for it to boot up!

Next I had to format the SSD disk, that may have taken 30 seconds!

Next I had to input my Apple ID and Password so that the Mac could access the iTunes store and automatically download and install the Apple Mavericks Operating System. That took 40 minutes, I ate some lunch and read the Star Ledger.

When that was done I had to click a checkbox to select my location, United States, Whew!

Then I had to pick a keyboard, I selected U.S. English.

Next the Mac asked me if I wanted to migrate files and apps from the old hard disk to the SSD. I checked Yes, and selected the old disk.

I was exhausted from having to click four check boxes so I was pleased to see that the Mac advised that it would take 1 hour and 20 minutes to Migrate the files.

I went to the bank, pharmacy and post office.

When I got home the Mac was waiting for me, ready to work, the Windows 7 OS and MS Office which run via Parallels were even ready.

Tough day but I'm happy because the SSD doubles the speed of the MAC, even with freaking Windows running.

RobS · #2 05-01-2014, 06:47 AM

awesome, Bob

RobS · #3 05-01-2014, 09:40 AM

well parallels installed easily this morning... I have parallel access on my ipad.

still have to install an OS and transfer.

I'm at work now, but in the parallels window I left up at home, there are
several options... something about installing "like a mac" or installing "like a pc"

not to mention options for free ubuntu or android machines, which I'll pass on right
now... don't need to (re)learn another OS at the moment.

Any suggestions?

neverrude · #4 05-01-2014, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob D'Amico

Did you know you can start and run a Mac withOUT the boot disk?

Today I finally got around to replacing the 500 MB, 7,200 RPM boot up hard disk in my Mac Pro with an Apple certified 256MB Solid State Drive from Other World Computing.

It took almost 3 hours and boy was it hard.

First I had to slide out the old drive, attach the new SSD to the slide and push it back in the slot. Damn job took me nearly 5 minutes.

Next I had to attach the old hard disk to the Mac using a SATA power adaptor, that took 3 minutes.

Next I had to push the start button on the Mac and wait for 20 damn seconds for it to boot up!

Next I had to format the SSD disk, that may have taken 30 seconds!

Next I had to input my Apple ID and Password so that the Mac could access the iTunes store and automatically download and install the Apple Mavericks Operating System. That took 40 minutes, I ate some lunch and read the Star Ledger.

When that was done I had to click a checkbox to select my location, United States, Whew!

Then I had to pick a keyboard, I selected U.S. English.

Next the Mac asked me if I wanted to migrate files and apps from the old hard disk to the SSD. I checked Yes, and selected the old disk.

I was exhausted from having to click four check boxes so I was pleased to see that the Mac advised that it would take 1 hour and 20 minutes to Migrate the files.

I went to the bank, pharmacy and post office.

When I got home the Mac was waiting for me, ready to work, the Windows 7 OS and MS Office which run via Parallels were even ready.

Tough day but I'm happy because the SSD doubles the speed of the MAC, even with freaking Windows running.

I'm sold, Bob you should be making commericals for them.

Bob D'Amico · #5 05-01-2014, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobS

well parallels installed easily this morning... I have parallel access on my ipad.

still have to install an OS and transfer.

I'm at work now, but in the parallels window I left up at home, there are
several options... something about installing "like a mac" or installing "like a pc"

not to mention options for free ubuntu or android machines, which I'll pass on right
now... don't need to (re)learn another OS at the moment.

Any suggestions?

Not sure what "like a mac" means but it probably is Coherence Mode which you want.
Ubuntu you don't need and it will take up disk space. It's the graphical version of Unix which you probably already know. Apple's iOS is based on Unix which is why it works so well.

RobS · #6 05-01-2014, 05:35 PM

Bob,

Thanks... yes, I knew about ubuntu.... and also recognized 'sudo' command from previous lives (when I wrote about my netgear issue in a different thread)

Thanks, Bob!

Bob D'Amico · #7 05-01-2014, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neverrude

I'm sold, Bob you should be making commericals for them.

Does that mean you are going to buy a Mac or are you going to keep using that 15 year old PC?

BTW: No joke, but you may be too old to switch to a Mac, there is a learning curve that tends to drive some people, especially Seniors, XXXXing crazy.

My grandkids on the other hand use MacBook Air's at school, every kid is issued one each morning! A few weeks ago while visiting my daughter, she was trying to teach her son Patrick how to use a standard Windows PC with Microsoft Word. After a while he said never mind, "this is taking forever, why do use such a dumb computer," and would do his book report at school.

salmontogue · #8 05-01-2014, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob D'Amico

Not sure what "like a mac" means but it probably is Coherence Mode which you want.
Ubuntu you don't need and it will take up disk space. It's the graphical version of Unix which you probably already know. Apple's iOS is based on Unix which is why it works so well.

And all this time I thought Ubuntu was the outlaw cousin of Obozo.....or do I have that reversed? Are they not both Unixes (spelling)?

DP

Bob D'Amico · #9 05-01-2014, 05:55 PM

Ubuntu is a user interface for Linux which is derived from Unix.

Ubuntu Family Tree
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lyTree1210.svg

salmontogue · #10 05-01-2014, 06:04 PM

After analyzing that family tree, I need a nap.

DP

RobS · #11 05-02-2014, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob D'Amico

Ubuntu is a user interface for Linux which is derived from Unix.

Ubuntu Family Tree
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lyTree1210.svg

LOL... the terrorist editions are down near the bottom

RobS · #12 05-02-2014, 07:09 AM

well... windows 7 installation is in progress

didn't even know I *owned* windows 7, but must be for one of my sons laptops. I thought I only had Vista (which I still do somewhere
for the old PC) but also found Windows XP Pro first

... almost used that, then looking more found a copy of Windows 7

RobS · #13 05-02-2014, 08:01 AM

and................it's done.

only "glitch" was getting it to recognize the CD drive so that I could install office, which is in progress.

2 "types" of drives were present, and I had to configure parallels to select the 'default CD' in order to run in the VM properly (apparently. using the other "drive" I could navigate the files, but setup wouldn't run and find the media)

Office is now installed.

RobS · #14 05-02-2014, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob D'Amico

BTW: No joke, but you may be too old to switch to a Mac, there is a learning curve that tends to drive some people, especially Seniors, XXXXing crazy.

....

all I know is that my "technical support" has been easier since I have the mac.

after I setup everything for my wife, I don't get the calls during the day about how the computer is frozen, or the "mouse won't work"

I was complaining to a mac-owner-friend of mine and he simply told me that "you're too used to doing things the hard way"

neverrude · #15 05-02-2014, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob D'Amico

Does that mean you are going to buy a Mac or are you going to keep using that 15 year old PC?

BTW: No joke, but you may be too old to switch to a Mac, there is a learning curve that tends to drive some people, especially Seniors, XXXXing crazy.

My grandkids on the other hand use MacBook Air's at school, every kid is issued one each morning! A few weeks ago while visiting my daughter, she was trying to teach her son Patrick how to use a standard Windows PC with Microsoft Word. After a while he said never mind, "this is taking forever, why do use such a dumb computer," and would do his book report at school.

I'm definitely going to be getting a new PC sometime this year since xp doesn't have support anymore.

I?ll want to sit down with someone .who has a Mac just to get an idea of how much is involved in learning their system compared to what I have now.

I don't have clue what you and Rob were talking about.