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unfamiliar with eMac

 
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What are some reasons not to get an eMac for someone whose use of the computer will be basic?

Is it common for Web sites to require InternetExplorer or Netscape and not work with Safari?
 
Greenhorn
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Most websites display just fine in Safari. For those sites that don't, an eMac will also run Netscape, Firefox or the Opera web browser.

Most popular software packages (web browsers, Microsoft Office, Quicken, Quark Express, Adobe Photoshop, etc.) are offered in a Mac version. There are also many open source packages that can be downloaded for free that are compatible with the major software packages.
 
Marlene Miller
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Thank you J.

The Symantec products are written for Windows. What do eMac users use for virus protection?
 
blacksmith
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An eMac will also run Internet Explorer.

Virus protection - Norton Antivirus is the most common package. The best protections comes from the fact that one is running Mac OS X, though - it's extremely safe right out of the box.
 
Marlene Miller
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Thank you Warren.

I often see comments such as "this product will run with Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher". Why don't they mention Safari?

Don't Web browers and servers use HTTP? What difference does it make whether the browser is IE or Safari?

Is it common for MAC users to use IE?
[ December 30, 2004: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]
 
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I often see comments such as "this product will run with Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher". Why don't they mention Safari?



Safari is very small beans when it comes to the browser market. It is, however, very compliant to web standards so any site written to standards (versus depending upon IE bugs or proprietary extensions) should work just fine. For me the combination of Safari and Firefox covers all but sites written to only run under IE.

Don't Web browers and servers use HTTP? What difference does it make whether the browser is IE or Safari?



Yes, but the problems arise when sites use HTML and especially Javascript that use IE proprietary extensions and formats rather than adhering to web standards.

Is it common for MAC users to use IE?



Not any more. The version of IE available for the Mac is getting pretty long in the tooth and has fallen out of use. Microsoft no longer supports it.
 
Marlene Miller
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Thank you Bear. Very helpful. I'll keep Firefox in mind.

I've been scanning the user discussions at Apple. Most people believe anti-virus software is not needed. Some use it anyway. Here is something I do not understand.

... but Word and Excel, due to the scripting language available in both programs, can infect documents with viruses on a Mac as well as on Windows systems. While these infections aren't as popular as they were a few years ago they can still cause harm to your Mac.


So your best friend using Windows sends you a Word document. It is infected with something. You install Windows for Mac to read Word documents. You open the document, Word executes the script and all your user files are wiped out. Is that the point of the above warning?

MAC OS X will not be affected, even if you have System Admin privileges. Is the correct?

Would anti-virus software have found the offending script in the Word document?

Regards, Marlene
[ December 30, 2004: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]
 
J Mason
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Thank you Bear. Very helpful. I'll keep Firefox in mind.



I would also recommend that Windows users switch to Firefox. Firefox is more compliant with web standards and also presents fewer security risks.

I've been scanning the user discussions at Apple. Most people believe anti-virus software is not needed. Some use it anyway. Here is something I do not understand.



I run both a Mac and a Windows PC. I don't run virus protection on the Mac and have never really needed it. I've scanned the Mac several times and have never found a virus. On the other hand, viruses, worms and spy-ware are so common on the PC that you must run some brand of virus protection.

So your best friend using Windows sends you a Word document. It is infected with something. You install Windows for Mac to read Word documents. You open the document, Word executes the script and all your user files are wiped out. Is that the point of the above warning?



I am assuming from this statement that you are running Windows via an emulator (Virtual PC?). If so, only the Windows partition would be effected. BTW, there is a Mac version of Microsoft Office so you wouldn't have to run Windows to use Word.

MAC OS X will not be affected, even if you have System Admin privileges. Is the correct?



I recommend creating two user profiles (even on a single user system). Use the profile that has SysAdmin privledges only when absolutely necessary. The majority of the time, you should run under a profile with more limited authority.
 
Bear Bibeault
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I recommend creating two user profiles (even on a single user system). Use the profile that has SysAdmin privledges only when absolutely necessary. The majority of the time, you should run under a profile with more limited authority.



Sage advice.
 
Marlene Miller
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Thank you all.

I made a mistake. I meant Word for Mac, not Windows for Mac. Office 2004 for Mac is too expensive just to send documents to Windows users. Is that the only way? I think I'll try saving Appleworks documents as .doc.

I've got all the information I need. I am ready to advise my dad on what he will need. I think he'll like the eMac.

Thank you for the help.
 
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Originally posted by Bear Bibeault:


Sage advice.



But also completely unnecessary: unless you change it your account is not by default a ROOT account and if an app needs to do something that requires admin access OSX prompts you for your password, so nothing can just sneak in and install itself.
 
Edward Kenworthy
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Originally posted by Marlene Miller:
Thank you all.

I made a mistake. I meant Word for Mac, not Windows for Mac. Office 2004 for Mac is too expensive just to send documents to Windows users. Is that the only way? I think I'll try saving Appleworks documents as .doc.

I've got all the information I need. I am ready to advise my dad on what he will need. I think he'll like the eMac.

Thank you for the help.



Do not, I say again, do NOT touch AppleWorks with a bargepole: it is truly awful: bug ridden and frankly Apple should be ashamed.

Either wait for the rumoured new Apple Office suite or have a look at OpenOffice.
 
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AppleWorks isn't that bad, but it is pretty long in the tooth, so I would still recommend doing as Edward says (there's been quite a kerfuffle in the Mac rumour sites lately re the possible 'iWorks' package).

Bear in mind that TextEdit can save files in .rtf format which can will open happily in Word depending upon how complex the original document is.

(TextEdit can also open .doc format files, again if they're not too fiddly).
 
Marlene Miller
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>>Do not, I say again, do NOT touch AppleWorks with a bargepole

Thank you for the advice and warning. I didn't notice discontent when I was browsing the Apple discussion group for AppleWorks.

The system requirements for OpenOffice on the Mac are extreme:
256 MB of memory for decent performance. 512 MB recommended.
1 GB additional free space on your System drive for use as swap space during installation and execution.

(Windows: 64 MB RAM, 250 MB available hard disk space
Linux: 64 MB RAM, 300 MB available hard disk space)
 
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A couple years ago I ridded my mac of MS Office and went with Appleworks and regretted it. I have to echo Edward's sentiments on it - it was frustrating. Felt like it did half of what Office did half as well.

Now I get by on TextEdit using rtf, and have the luxury (?) of Windows at work should it be absolutely necessary to open something with Office itself. I also tried out an inexpensive app called ThinkFree Office that can open and create doc xls and ppt files. It's not bad, though it's not really a replacement for Word. But for only 50 dollars you can't beat the price. And it's Java.
 
Marlene Miller
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Thank you Pauline. OK, TextEdit for word processing.
[ January 06, 2005: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]
 
Pauline McNamara
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iWork is out, looks tempting. Just like it's supposed to.
[ January 12, 2005: Message edited by: Pauline McNamara ]
 
Marlene Miller
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Thank you Pauline. $80. Much better than MS Office for $400. Requirements: 512 MB of RAM. The eMAC comes with 256 MB. Is it common to upgrade to 512MB or 1GB? Mac OS X 10.3.6. That's about the lastest version, isn't it?
[ January 12, 2005: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]
 
Marlene Miller
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The eMac has three USB 2.0 ports. What are typical uses for those ports? One for a printer. Are the other ports for the keyboard and mouse?

The Mac Mini has two USB 2.0 ports. Does the printer connection have to be wireless?

Why does the Apple keyboard have two ports?
[ January 12, 2005: Message edited by: Marlene Miller ]
 
Bear Bibeault
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The eMac has three USB 2.0 ports. What are typical uses for those ports? One for a printer. Are the other ports for the keyboard and mouse?



Usually the mouse will be plugged into one of the keyboard ports. But you can do it anyway you like. On my PowerMac I have the printer and keyboard plugged into the back of the machine. A scanner plugs into a USB port on my monitor. The trackball plugs into one side of the keyboard, and a USB light bar (which casts a cool blue light onto my keyboard) is plugged into the other side. When I want to download pics from the digital camera, there's another port on the monitor that I use.

I also have an iPod using one of the firewire ports, and my vidocam using the other.

The Mac Mini has two USB 2.0 ports. Does the printer connection have to be wireless?



If you have a keyboard or monitor with ports, there's usually plenty to go around. If you need more, you can always get an inexpensive usb hub.

Why does the Apple keyboard have two ports?



See above.
[ January 12, 2005: Message edited by: Bear Bibeault ]
 
Marlene Miller
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OK. Thank you very much. That's helpful.
 
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2 questions.

1) My eMac seems to be running a little bit slower.. any tips on making it stay the speed it performed when I first got it?

and 2) I don't have any virus protection (except for the one that automatically comes with Mac OS X), is there any way to do a scan?

Thanks,
-Kate
 
Bear Bibeault
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"Katy Z.",

We're pleased to have you here with us on the Ranch, but there are a few rules that need to be followed, and one is that proper names are required. Please take a look at the JavaRanch Naming Policy and adjust your display name to match it.

In particular, your display name must be a first and a last name separated by a space character, and must not be obviously fictitious.

Thanks!
bear
Forum Bartender
 
Bear Bibeault
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You may find this article helpful. MacDevCenter, in general, is a great resource.
 
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