Maintaining a MAC

infokill

infokill

Well-known member
a strange question for mac users.
What do i need to do to a mac to keep it in tip-top shape for an editor? i have a Pc but moving to a mac soon, so how would i defrag and all that good stuff?
i know its a strange question because i dont have the mac yet, but i want to prepare.

-Thanks
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

On the defrag side, I have read that Mac OSX defrags on the fly so it doesn't seem to need it as a regular service thing.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

I was recommend at the genius bar of the apple store in nyc to go to utilities/ disk utility and run the first aid/ verify + repair disk permissions every month.
Never had a problem with my mac, ever.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

Yep, you don't need to do much. Don't even bother with virus detection. Tech Tools comes with most new Macs, but you rarely need it. The disk utility, repair disk monthly thing is a good idea. Not that you really even need it, its just peace of mind. I just try to keep organized. Delete what I don't need, and back up to DVD im portant files, just in case. I have 3 Macs, and haven't had one problem since I went to OSX, almost 3 years ago. I'm sure you'll love it.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

not to heat up pc vs macs again but it's true. easy to use, less maintenance, seamless, no viruses to worry about. good for being productive. especially for artists.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

[quote author=infokill link=board=Offtopic;num=1109550998;start=0#0 date=02/27/05 at 16:36:38]a strange question for mac users.
What do i need to do to a mac to keep it in tip-top shape for an editor? -Thanks[/quote]

Throw it out of a 12 story window... it will never give you problems again ;D :P.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

I agree, repair permissions either once a month or when something acts weird.

I also strongly recommend that you buy DiskWarrior (from Alsoft), boot from the CD and run it once a month. Also good for fixing weird problems.

Finally, it's good to have a copy of this book:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...23/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-9075415-3936715

Ted Landau has been writing similar Mac OS books for years, and they're standard reference works.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

OSX being based on the Unix framework, is actually designed to run certain background maintenence processes when the computer isn't being used, mainly in the middle of the night. So, it's actually a good idea to leave it on sometimes... mine hardly ever gets shut off. That, and just keep your drives in good shape. You won't have any problems with anything else.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

Kai. I rarely turn off my Macs either, but usually have them go to sleep, either by setting them to sleep, or letting them go automatically. Do you know if they perform their overnight mantainance functions in sleep mode, or do you have the machine fully on? Thanks
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

If they are asleep, I don't believe they will run the scripts for maintenance (which occurs roughly between 2-3 a.m.). You can download MacJanitor for free and it will enable yoo to run these scripts any time you want.

As for regular maintenance, I run a permissions repair at least once a month and a disk repair as well. If you are running a disk repair on your main HD you must boot from the OSX cd.
The only other thing I run is Disk Warrior, also once a month. Keeps everything operating smooth as glass.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

The only thing I've ever bought to keep my Macs in tip-top shape is the iKlear Apple Polish Kit. Keeps them looking pretty. :)
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

I've had my ibook G3 for many many years.. never had a problem. I run photoshop and word processing documents on it. Upgraded to OSX from OS9, installed a superdrive, upgraded my RAM, and hard drive over the years.... never had a problem. I run disk Utility repair permissions every week.

I've used the G4 here at work for 2 years, never had an issue with it except when I upgraded the OS to 10.2.3. HORRIBLE move.

If anything... don't upgrade your OS if everything is working FINE with your current setup. And if you do, decide to do it... wait 3 months after some poor soul downloaded it after the first week or release and see what problems arise.
 
Re: Maintaining a MAC

There's no i in team. 8)

A post place I worked at had a couple troublesome macs. One mac was really temperamental and it kept screwing up project files. We thought it was the guys fault working on it. He was accident prone and would frequently make mistakes. He had a couple monumental ****ups with projects on the mac he was working on and was fired.

Weeks later we realized it was partly the macs fault. We were trying to do maintenance on it and it behaved like a spoiled beaaatch.
 
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