Hello Sulafa,
Welcome to the group of Mac users.
Q1: How to update the Operating System?
A1: Since you have a "new laptop", I assume you are using Mac OS X.
Check this on your machine using:
Apple Menu -> About this Mac
On my system it displays Mac OS X, 10.2.6, Memory: 512 MB, Processor:
400 MHz PowerPC G3, and has a button to provide more information from
the Apple System profiler (several pages of it). If you are not using
Mac OS X, use a clarification request so I can provide the appropriate
information.
Next, use:
Apple Menu -> Get Mac OS X Software
to bring up a web page with Apple's OS X download page. For example -
right now it displays updates for Mac OX 10.2.8 which I should
download "sometime soon" for my own system.
Alternatively use:
Apple Menu -> System Preferences
to bring up a set of preference items including "Software Update". If
Software Update does not appear, try selecting "Show All" in the upper
left. Select Software Update. You can check for updates daily, weekly,
or monthly. You can also "Check Now" which also shows that same 10.2.8
download.
In Software Update, if there is a product update you don't want,
select the item and use:
Update -> Make Inactive
and you won't be bugged about updates for that product. You can also
show the inactive packages on the same menu.
I find the second method is a little more convenient - it allows you
to apply several updates at once, does system checks, and will prompt
to reboot if needed.
Another note - you will need to provide your System Administrator
password to update the Operating System or any other major components.
This is intended to help keep your system safe. Don't use your
administrator account / password unless you really need to.
Q2: Can you provide a list of sites with software for the Mac?
A2: Of course. The first is
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
displayed as part of the answer to #1. This site has the software
organized in several categories, product descriptions, pricing, etc.
Other sites include:
http://www.versiontracker.com/
a company that sells a product to track product updates, but also has
a free service listing free / non free software products,
descriptions, ratings, and feedback.
http://fink.sourceforge.net/
http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net/
a group specializing in supporting free Unix applications / utilities
on Mac OS X. I use both Fink and FinkCommander on a regular basis to
stay up to date with utilities I use from Linux and other Unix
systems. In part, this is because I do software development and prefer
the tools I am familiar with.
http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/2001-2003-0.html?legacy=zddl
Ziff Davis (a publisher) used to have a good set of Mac oriented
magazines (MacUser, MacWeek) but still has a good on line presence and
pointers to Mac software.
A truly huge site - but getting a little old is
http://www.info-mac.org/
which describes a mailing list and archive of Macintosh free /
shareware software. Over 5.5 GByte of software / data is available for
download.
You can find a number of additional sites using search phrases such
as:
macintosh downloads
macintosh product reviews
and similar phrases (e.g., add the product name or type of
application).
However, if there is something specific you want feedback on - please
use a clarification request. If it is something I've used - I can
certainly provide first hand (or find third party reviews) feedback.
Q3: How can I keep safe?
A3: By default, the system is installed "safe", unlike MS Windows -
people can't access your PC unless you turn something on. In general,
I do the following:
1. Stay up to date with security updates. There have been a handful
this year, usually affect products I don't use, but it is still good
to apply in case my needs change.
2. Do not enable any network services unless you actively using them
and understand how they work. For example from System Preferences,
select Sharing to see a number of network services available. On my
machine - all are turned off. The things I want to share with other
people are all hosted on .Mac (about $100 per year). That way its
Apple's problem to keep the system safe.
3. I run Virex, provided as part of my .Mac subscription, every time
I reboot. I keep the virus definitions up to date (using eUpdate), and
have yet seen any viruses / worms make it to my machine.
4. If you have a home machine with dialup, I would also check
System Preferences -> Network -> PPP tab -> PPP Options...
and ensure "Connect Automatically When Needed" is not set. That way
your machine will stay off the phone line unless you want it to. With
a DSL or Cable Modem, you could just disconnect the line if you are
really serious about security (or run behind a firewall).
If you want more options - say a little more about your set up so I
can make further suggestions.
Of course, most of the worms / viruses are targeted for Microsoft
Windows systems. I have been using the Mac for about 20 years now and
don't recall being bothered since the 1980's. At that time, I used a
product called "Gatekeeper", but it isn't needed on Mac OS X due to
fundamental changes in the OS that make it much more secure.
Q4: Where are news sites?
A4: Asked in your wrap up, check out are on line publications
including:
http://www.tidbits.com/
which produces a weekly newsletter including product reviews, "how to"
descriptions, and other helpful information.
http://www.macjournals.com/
which also has a daily / weekly journals describing news / products on
the Macintosh.
http://www.macnightowl.com/index.htm
a site with regular news updates and other information. Published by
Gene Steinberg, an author of Mac related books.
http://www.theregister.com/content/39/index.html
a general IT news site, very British, and very sarcastic in some ways,
has a "Mac Channel" with Macintosh oriented news.
There are plenty of other sites, try a search phrase such as
macintosh weekly newsletter
or something similar to get plenty of sites.
--Maniac |
