New mac owner, couple of questions for the pros..

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Just got a macbook recently and sometimes I'm really struggling with trying to learn some of the OS X differences.

That being said here are a couple of questions:

1. .dmg, .pkg, .zip (this one I recognize), what's the difference?

2. Why aren't the APPLICATION folder found through FINDER and the application folder with the 'A' down on the dock identical in contents?

3. How can I set a wallpaper I find on the .net to be a background? I know on Win 7 it's pretty simple but I don't know where to save it and cannot seem to find anything about it.

4. What is it with the finder and 'Today', 'Yesterday' etc which changes the contents of the right pane?

I've been spending at least 2 hours a day trying to get familiar with OS X and despite the upper questions I'm understanding it a lot more and don't want to throw the macbook across the room anymore. Now it's a 'oh now come on, don't do this, what the hell?'. I must be getting some better.

These aren't the only ones but the most burning issues at the moment.

thanks for any help on the above.

 

[Kmax82]

1. .dmg, .pkg, .zip (this one I recognize), what's the difference?

.dmg (Disk Image) is like a .iso in Windows, except OS X can natively mount them... so they're used for a majority of software in OS X. Another reason why they're used is that they have compression that can be used, and you don't have to uncompress them to gain access to the contents of the file.

.pkg (Package) is an OS X installer.

2. Why aren't the APPLICATION folder found through FINDER and the application folder with the 'A' down on the dock identical in contents?

OS X works on a system/user level with the folder structure. The Applications on the left sidebar (by default) is the Applications folder from /Applications, however the one on the right is from your User's directory. This way, you can install Applications ONLY for your user, and don't have to worry about other Users using your applications.

3. How can I set a wallpaper I find on the .net to be a background? I know on Win 7 it's pretty simple but I don't know where to save it and cannot seem to find anything about it.

If you're in your browser, right click and choose "Set Image as Desktop Background...". Otherwise, go to System Preferences/Desktop & Screen Saver, and you can set them there, add your own folders, etc...

4. What is it with the finder and 'Today', 'Yesterday' etc which changes the contents of the right pane?

These are examples of one of the nicest features in OS X IMO, Smart Folders. Those segregate any thing you've worked with today, yesterday, etc... You can also create your own, with your own parameters by going to File > New Smart Folder.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

ok thanks that helps some. So a pkg file is like a self-extracting executable in windows, right?

Followup on the application folder question - if I'm the only user on the system, should the folders be identical? If not, I plead ignorance and ask why and is there a way to auto-sync them?

and lastly followup on the folders.. so if I go to 'yesterday' , everything there will be what I used/downloaded/copied/moved yesterday, right? I take it things I deleted however will NOT be contained there?

thank you, this is really helping

 

[Ka0t1x]

You can also drag an image file to the desktop display on the Desktop & Screen Saver prefpane. I do this from time to time.. but keeping a directory with Walls seems to be the best option.

 

[QueBert]

ok thanks that helps some. So a pkg file is like a self-extracting executable in windows, right?

It's an installer, I suppose it would be a self-extracting executable. But every PKG I've come across is an installer, so I'm guessing it's like the Mac equivalent of Installshield.As for setting Wallpapers, I downloaded a free image viewer called JustLooking that lets you set an image for your wallpaper. I've been on OSX for a few weeks now and like you am really adjusting to the differences between SL and Win. No button to make a window full screen is really messing with my head lol.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

ok thanks that helps some. So a pkg file is like a self-extracting executable in windows, right?

Followup on the application folder question - if I'm the only user on the system, should the folders be identical? If not, I plead ignorance and ask why and is there a way to auto-sync them?

and lastly followup on the folders.. so if I go to 'yesterday' , everything there will be what I used/downloaded/copied/moved yesterday, right? I take it things I deleted however will NOT be contained there?

thank you, this is really helping

Yes if you are the only user the folders will be identical (that's how it's setup on mine and I am the only user).

Yes anything that was used/downloaded/copied/moved will be in that folder and nothing you deleted.

I suggest having an external backup and using Time Machine to backup your computer.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

It's an installer, I suppose it would be a self-extracting executable. But every PKG I've come across is an installer, so I'm guessing it's like the Mac equivalent of Installshield. I've been on OSX for a few weeks now and like you am really adjusting to the differences between SL and Win. No button to make a window full screen is really messing with my head lol.

Yeah the "full screen" concept is different on Macs.

If you are missing the snap features for windows 7, Cinch is an awesome tool.

 

[Kmax82]

Followup on the application folder question - if I'm the only user on the system, should the folders be identical? If not, I plead ignorance and ask why and is there a way to auto-sync them?

No, don't auto sync them. Just use one as standard, and disregard the other. If you're the only user, it really doesn't matter which one you put them in, I would just recommend that you be consistent, so if you need to delete one, you know where they all are.

Since I'm the only user I just always use /Macintosh HD/Applications, instead of the user default /Macintosh HD/Users/username/Applications, but that's your choice. Spotlight will find them the same, and you can just replace the Applications in the sidebar with the folder from your User directory if you choose to use that one.

and lastly followup on the folders.. so if I go to 'yesterday' , everything there will be what I used/downloaded/copied/moved yesterday, right? I take it things I deleted however will NOT be contained there?

Yup.. it's a live preview of whatever parameters are setup. Think of it like a Google search of your HD. I guess that would be the best parallel.

 

[TheStu]

Leopard doesn't have a user/applications folder, is this a Snow Leopard thing?

OP is this a new system or a used one? Any chance you could hit us up with a screenshot of what you are talking about vis a vis the applications stack and applications folder

 

[Kmax82]

Hmm.. for some reason I have two, maybe I'm the odd ball.. Of course the only thing in the User/Applications folder is Crossover, so maybe it created that? But I could've sworn it has always been there on a new OS install for me.

 

[Ka0t1x]

I was also wondering what was going on with the User's Application folder as I don't have one either. SL, default factory install.

 

[TheStu]

According to Tyranicus (and he actually pays attention to this stuff), the Applications folder is 'hidden' or whatever. Essentially the user's Application folder doesn't appear until something calls upon it. Crossover is an example of something that brings the Application folder out.

I am wondering what the OP is doing/has done to cause this.

 

[Kmax82]

According to Tyranicus (and he actually pays attention to this stuff), the Applications folder is 'hidden' or whatever. Essentially the user's Application folder doesn't appear until something calls upon it. Crossover is an example of something that brings the Application folder out.

I am wondering what the OP is doing/has done to cause this.

Hm.. interesting.. thanks for the info.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

According to Tyranicus (and he actually pays attention to this stuff), the Applications folder is 'hidden' or whatever. Essentially the user's Application folder doesn't appear until something calls upon it. Crossover is an example of something that brings the Application folder out.

I am wondering what the OP is doing/has done to cause this.

completely stock install, haven't changed anything, it sits right there on the dock, just like all of them at best buy for instance.

 

[TheStu]

Like I said, hook us up with a screenshot. The dock Stack and the folder should be identical.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Like I said, hook us up with a screenshot. The dock Stack and the folder should be identical.

ok please don't take this the wrong way... whats a dock stack and how would I take a screenshot? I'm not trying to be difficult, I only ask because I want to learn.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Screenshot: Alt + Shift + 3 or Alt + Shift + 4

Dock Stacks are the stacks next to the Trash Can that open up into either a fan, a stack, or a list.

 

[MotionMan]

No button to make a window full screen is really messing with my head lol.

Right Zoom for Mac

MotionMan

 

[TheStu]

ok please don't take this the wrong way... whats a dock stack and how would I take a screenshot? I'm not trying to be difficult, I only ask because I want to learn.

Not being difficult at all!

CMD+Shift+3 to take a full screen shot (everything on your screen will be captured, so cover the naughty bits . CMD+Shift+4 changes your cursor to crosshairs and you can use that to drag a box around the area you want to grab. The screenshots should end up either in your Pictures folder, or the desktop.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I think it ends up on the desktop.

 

[MotionMan]

I think it ends up on the desktop.

The one I just did ended up on the desktop.

MotionMan

 

[TheStu]

I forgot that I had changed that in the settings quite some time ago, mine go to my Pictures folder, default is desktop.

 

[Ka0t1x]

Not being difficult at all!

CMD+Shift+3 to take a full screen shot (everything on your screen will be captured, so cover the naughty bits . CMD+Shift+4 changes your cursor to crosshairs and you can use that to drag a box around the area you want to grab. The screenshots should end up either in your Pictures folder, or the desktop.

If you want the window only feature of screenshots like Windows.. CMD+SHIFT+4 then press space bar to toggle window only mode. Layer of the window doesn't matter as long as you have it selected (if Safari was in front and you selected Mail behind it, it will take a picture of Mail without Safari blocking it). I end up using this method 90% of the time.