New 17" Powerbook, Any Help Sites About?

I know little to nothing regarding Macs but had to give it a try. Is there a help site or websites with your basic and advanced info, like how to change desktop icons, how to add hard drive space info to hdrive icons, etc... I need a little of everything.

How to resize desktop icons? etc....

Please if you know of any to help me get the learning curve shortened up. thx

By the way, the PB is delicious, works with my existing wireless access point easily.

Is there a way for Mac to see windows networks where all of them are XP Pro but one XP home?

#33002

congratulations! Hope you like your new toy.

For general help, go to this thread: http://www.aqua-soft.org/board/index.php?s...650&hl=settling

To connect to a Windows drive, do the following:

1) Go to System Preferences>Accounts. Edit your account so it says 'Allow user to log in from Windows'

2) In Finder, click the Go menu and click 'Connect to Server..' or press cmd+K. Enter the IP address of your Windows box. It might ask for a user name and password. Enter it.

3) Before all this, you'll need to 'share' the directory/drive in Windows that you want to see in OS X. You can do that in the Sharing tab..

#33007

I suppose there's no difference connecting to a XP Home. In the Finder menu bar click Go/Connect to server (or hit apple+K) and type the IP address of the XP Home machine (i.e. smb://192.168.0.1), that should work.

Here you can find some OS X tips.

Congrats man!! (Y) :woot:

[EDIT]

@taha: you seem to be faster than me!! clone answers :canadian: :canadian:

#33008

Originally posted by frenzyfloyd@Jun 14 2003, 06:45 PM

@taha: you seem to be faster than me!! clone answers  :canadian:  :canadian:

but of course.

You can't beat da Taha..

#33012

Unfortunately, it appears that the superdrives in all apple products are buggy as I have found full complaint forums on this, and mine happens to be yet another of the many. My suggection to anyone thinking about getting one is maybe wait until apple fixes this. This thing is brand new, cost over $3,000.00 and right out of the box the superdrive doesnt work at all. I went thru all the steps with Apple, and like everyone on those forums it appears it is a Hardware Issue.

Doesnt apple have a quality assurance department? This being their largest culprit, why dont they take the time to insert a CD, Music CD or DVD in the drive to see if it mounts? Mine accepts the disks, the cd sits inside for a few seconds and then ejects the cd we put in it. Apple support ran me thru the full gambit of tests and resets and no way to fix it. To make things 100% worse, this issue happens alot according to them,it is quite common, so why continue to sell them? Arent they worried about what this image will do to their company?

Now I got to return this thing for repair and yet even more delay.

I am now contemplating returning for full refund and not get a replacement, based off alot of other owners comments I have seen regarding apple hardware, apple repair and how when they fix one thing something else goes wrong, Im not so sure about them anymore, and have lost quite a bit of confidence in this product line.

I post this as a warning to anyone else, think about it. It is the equivalent of purchasing a very expensive car, and the expensive Bose stereo system not working. No quality department? Makes you wonder about other things inside.

:6 :rant:

#33144

wow... sux0rs...

Isn't there a 'no lemon' rule or something..?

#33146

I hope so, its unfortunate that my first experience with an Apple product has turned sour, but thats the card I was dealt. I have had over 13 pcs in my life and presently have 7 pcs here, and not a single one of them have had something go bad like this; all the hardware works. Yet I'm sure that the reason they work is due to the companies having a quality assurance department that actually inpects their products, and not just collect a paycheck.

Apple should really look into that department here as too many Macs apparently are having superdrive problems, right out of the box.

*** I am now the not-so-proud owner of an Apple 17" Powerbook G4 that apparently completely bi-passed the quality inspection system. ***

-=Thinking of staying with PCs now due to reliability=-

:6 :rant:

#33147

hmm... it sucks what you had to go through. Its hard to believe that a small company like Apple could do such a thing - it would be risking a lot.

Anyway, don't let this spoil your opinion of Apple. Think about it. There are those who haven't had ANY bad experience with Apple products. There are those who have had a few problems (like me). I actually damaged my power adaptor. Not only did Apple replace it, but when it returned my computer, they had installed a new LCD, keyboard and trackpad! So, after every bad experience, Apple tries to make it up. Create a lot of commotion, and they will most likely do a better job of making you happy.

My first question is, did you buy it at a store or order it online? It is best to buy it at a store. (Apple Store or Apple Authorized Resellers). You'll find them to be cheaper, and you can also examine the product before buying it. If you order something online, you'll never know how it was handled before reaching you. So, my first suggestion is to return your machine and buy one at a 'physical' store.

Second of all, what exactly is the problem? Is it just not reading CD's or what?

Finally, don't base your opinion on one bad experience. I can understand how you feel - this being your first Mac and all... but remember, it is just chance. Just hope that the next one you get (if you do) will be in perfect condition.

edit: It is a good idea NOT to get rev A products. Wait till the product has been out for a while and has been updated and things fixed before ordering it. I would recommend waiting for WWDC, because I think the PB17" will get the new IBM 970 chip (it being the top of the line Apple portable)...

#33157

:cry: :cry: I had the same powerbook replaced, but for a different reason, my computer was bent and the power button stopped functionning. My new powerbook is great, but its latch is kind of loose, and pops out some times. However I haven't had any problems with either of the two superdrives, both read and write perfectly. I suggest that you go to an Apple store, where the service is always free and the the employees are extremely helpful. Anyway I can't help you there, just buy Applecare (f***ing $349) and hope for the best, but for me great service is always free at the Soho Apple store. Have you noticed how quickly the powerbook heats up, is there a way to cool it (other than not using it) to keep the parts from frying. If you have connections to case manufactureers, help me out, I can't pay $150 just for a freakin' laptop case!! Anyway, I'm begginning to wonder about the Powerbooks' quality and whether buying one was really worth it. :cry:

#33203

sucks about the latch - once again can't believe Apple neglected such a thing. I say - have it replaced again!

(edit: I think there's a policy about having it replaced 3+ times. I think they give you some sort of compensation. I don't know what it is though..)

Anyway, about the heat - all laptops get really hot, its normal. All the interior components all packed together, it tends to heat up. You can check a PC laptop, its gonna be the same. The only cool laptops are the iBooks and the Pentium M laptops. They are actually cool.

e.g. Right now I am typing on my iBook, and the laptop is room temperature. In fact, the right side is even cooler.

#33214

I agree with taha when she says laptops all get hot, its normal. My SonyVaio gets hot as well, but nothing uncomfortable. I just wouldnt lay it across my legs though.

Well I had a great fathers day with my family, now to think about either keeping ethis (returning for repair and return) or returning for full refund. I purchased it through Amazon.com and in their purchasing rules they wont accept returns unless if the product was defective, then i can either get it replaced or full refund.

Presently, I think the smartest thing to do is get the full refund since in a few weeks they will unveil the newest chip they are gonna use and / or maybe the G5 chip.

But , I may just get a refund and stick with laptop PCs; would be the smartest thing to do I think now. Any problems I find on a +$3,000.00 laptop, will drive me nuts. In my honest opinion they should be near perfect for that price.

Well I will not continue to rant and rave about it. Time to just make a decision and go with it.

:goku's job:

#33250

Just have the laptop replaced, it has great features, totally unavailable in PC laptops. Futhermore its the last powerbook that will boot into OS 9, a great asset. Concerning g5 laptops, I'd like to find a replacement program, where within a year, if a new model of the same laptop is released you can swap it out and pay the difference.

#33255

well, I'd say get the full refund and get the latest laptop that is unveiled at WWDC. Its expected to be good - reaaal good. :woot:

#33258

A new Apple laptop will not be unveiled at the WWDC, its mainly for "Panther" and G5 (either Motorola or IBM PPC 970). A new one wont be released until next September, so keep it. I can always get mine replaced, or refunded because of the latch.

#33265

Guys, you will not believe this!

I took both my laptops with me during Fathers day activites, on one I set it up for everyone to watch movies (DVD on the SonyVaio), and I examined my powerbook more in depth with the time while they watched a movie... I then bring my PB home and hook it up, and sopmething told me to try the dvd in it again. I put it in and low and behold the thing now works. Out of the blue with the same exact cds and dvds that we ran thru the tests with the Apple Support Guy.

So now Im wondering if it will work all the time or some of the time or WHAT!?

Im gonna run a few movies through it and try and burn a dvd to see. ill get back with you on this saga later.

#33266

Excellent, good luck with it in the future. Consider yourelf lucky because of me!!!

#33282

How is your holding up nrzero?

Do you or anyone know where their might be news or if you know when Apple is going to announce their new Laptops?

If so please post. There must be an Apple site that talks about whats up and coming in the future.

This is what I have found > http://www.envestco2.com/macwhispers/archi...ives/000071.php

How is everyones feelings on this new chip? good, bad or about the same as G4. No talk of G5?

Thanks

#33451

How is your holding up nrzero?

Do you or anyone know where their might be news or if you know when Apple is going to announce their new Laptops?

one word: Spymac.

Go there and you'll know all about the latest rumors.

#33491

It is going to be a while before the new G5's are released. I have my sources and all. The wildest of the wildest rumours is that the earliest that a G5 system would go into beta testing is this September-October. I wouldn't expect a G5 system release until Spring of next year.

Oh ya and if it is Motorolla chip it wont be worth the upgrade

#33497