Mac Tips Anyone?

Um, no!  Sorry I can't help directly, but my niece used to visit the Mac user forums for tips and info when she had her MacBook... if that helps.

I was going to get a Mac Mini going back a while, thought it would be the most economical way to try out OS-X, but the more I read about Apples business practices the less attractive the idea became.  In the end I just gave up on the idea and built myself a high-end Windows machine instead.

Anyhow, all the best with it, and hopefully somebody more knowledgable than I will come along with some ideas for you.

Ah crap. Someone would go and add work! Well...here's my first tip: Secure yourself! There aren't a lot of RnDs around (I should be more thankful....but I'm not).

http://www.macyourself.com/2012/10/29/5-simple-ways-to-secure-your-mac/

It also looks like a decent site for tips/tutorials. I'll have to get up to speed on this stuff...which I know 0K about. And DO NOT get MacDefender or any of its 'relatives'. It's a virus/Trojan.

And the real mac expert around here is Hankers (Linux, too... ) and I.D.

Get a second one and you'll have matching bookends...;)

My sum-total of expertise with all things Apple is a 2C that needs the same ...;)

As Captain Picard would say, plug it in and ........

I've been using Macs for a while. Don't really have any tips, but I can certainly help with any questions you might have.

Well, as luck would have it, this box can't be upgraded past Snow Leopard, and has a 32 bit processor, and so far, every app I have tried to install fails because they all seem to be for 64 bit only. 

I may now know why the guy let me have it so cheap.

So far, the effort to install an app seems to be my only problem.

Can I install "programs" other than apps?

Oy, Jim...you didn't check its specs before buying???

Well, I actually traded for it, Doc. I traded a low end graphics card and an HP Mini netbook with a broken hinge for it. 

But no, I guess I didn't do enough research.  

Just teasing you! Don't feel bad...knowing you? You'll trade up!

Yeah, should be able to.  If it only has a 32 bit CPU then it was likely released before 'apps' were an Apple consideration.  As I recall, my neice used to go to the Apple page and download programs from there.... some were pay for but many standard programs were free.  I think SoftPedia and maybe a few other software hosting sites have a Mac section, so you could try checking some of those to see what's available for your particular machine.

yes. http://www.howtogeek.com/177619/how-to-install-applications-on-a-mac-everything-you-need-to-know/

you like widgets?

- there are the native Dashboard widgets. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard_(Mac_OS)

- Rainlendar has a a Mac version. http://www.rainlendar.net/cms/index.php?option=com_rny_download&Itemid=32 

Rainlendar is capable of far more than just the legacy skins people upload at Wincustomize. the more interesting stuff is at deviantArt or Custo. there is a chance the current version of Rainlendar is not 32 bit compatible (but you'll have to try that). if that is the case, try older versions from the beta forums: http://www.rainlendar.net/cms/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=42&func=showcat&catid=7

- the cool kids use GeekTool http://www.deviantart.com/browse/all/designs/?q=geektool

there is a chance the current version of GeekTool is not 32 bit compatible (but you'll have to try that). version 3.0 should most probably work: http://projects.tynsoe.org/en/geektool/download.php

- and there's also Yahoo! Widget Engine (aka Konfabulator). abandoned by Yahoo!, but you'll probably find it somewhere on the internet. Takashi Izawa's clocks alone are worth the effort.

Thanks, Moshi. I'll check this stuff out.

Yes, I like Yahoo widgets. I have the geek tool kit, but my version is for Windows, likely not Mac compatible. I keep it on my PortableApps drive.

Hey, it's still fun to see how the other half lives...lol.

I don't expect it to lead me away from Windows.  So far, Mac seems a lot like Linux/Ubuntu/Gnome, etc.

If I can get hands on a Core 2 Duo or better, laptop version, I can upgrade it, then move into Yosemite. Then I can do apps as well as other stuff.

the name is probably too generic. we are talking about two very different things here.

"Ah, I see." said the blind carpenter as he picked up his hammer and saw.

Kewl!!!   

 Take a   pound on it until it can actually do something

Makes a nice doorstop.

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 19

Makes a nice doorstop.

Now that's not nice.

Would be more appropriate at the bottom of an aquarium.

BTW does fish poo float or sink?