Revised with new information as of January 05, 2009

Picture of a lime green iBook     to     Picture of a black macbook

Transitioning from an iBook to a MacBook

 
In January, I transitioned from my lime clamshell iBook, running OS 9.2.2, to a MacBook running OS X. Part of that transition was figuring out what the software on my MacBook isn't just a demo and what such is actually for.

Below is a list of what I was using in the iBook in terms of software, and what I have upgraded to or switched to for the MacBook, if anything yet.

Also see below for troubleshooting your MacBook tech issues (and, believe me, you will have MANY -- the hard drive in my MacBook went bad not six months after I bought the MacBook, and nothing could be recovered; backup frequently and regularly!).

Please note that in several cases I am still looking for suggestions, and yours would be welcomed. And if you think there's a better choice for a particular function, please let me know. And thanks to the two people who have ALREADY written with recommendations, less than 24 hours after I posted this page! (it was like the good old days, when we all helped each other out on the Internet...)

 

Function

  OS9 / lime clamshell iBook
Software used

  OS X / MacBook
Software used

 
work on word-processing files, spreadsheets, and databases from other organizations, developed in various different programs and on various different machines

  AppleWorks and Microsoft Office 2451

  latest version of NeoOffice (open source; donation requested)

 
maintain my contacts database of a few thousand business contacts that tracks my interactions with them and "action needed" items, as well as oh-so-much-more information; maintain my project management database of my many activities; and maintain a billing database

  FileMaker Pro 5.0   still looking. I made the mistake of not spending the big bucks and buying the latest version of FileMaker, because it does far more than I will ever need it too, and buying FileMaker's "Bento" instead. What a mistake! It's incredibly hard to use. I try for a few hours and then give. I try again weeks later for a few hours and give up. I've been having a little better luck with the database function that comes free with NeoOffice but, as of now, I've just been using a spreadsheet I exported from my old database to retrieve information I need.

 
spreadsheets

  Microsoft Excel 2451

  NeoOffice (open source; donation requested)

 
presentations

  Microsoft Powerpoint 2451

  NeoOffice (open source; donation requested)

 
creating graphics, and altering graphics and photos

  AppleWorks 6 (came with iBook)

  AppleWorks 6.2.9 (advice on doing this: the original AppleWorks installer won't work in OSX. Move the entire AppleWorks 6 folder from your OS9 machine to your OSX machine, and AppleWorks 6 will work in the OSX environment; then upgrade from the Apple web site (for free). You can also try this free version of Paintbrush, a paint program similar to the long-defunct MacPaint.

 
design and manage various printed publications

  AppleWorks 6 (came with iBook) and Microsoft Word 2451   NeoOffice (open source; donation requested) an AppleWorks 6.2.9 (see above)
 
design and manage my web sites

  BBEdit 5.1

  Smultron 2.2.7 (freeware)

 
organize, edit and alter photos from my digital camera

  software that came with my camera

  iPhoto (came with my MacBook)

 
uploading web pages via FTP

  Fetch 3.0.1 (freeware)

  CyberDuck (freeware)

 
email (reading and writing email OFFline)

  Eudora 6.1.1 Classic (freeware)

  Eudora 6.2 (freeware)

 
surf the web, and access newsgroups (yes, those still exist) and various web-based discussion groups (and still a few email-based ones as well).

  Netscape 7.02, Mozilla 1.2.1 (freeware), Opera 6.03 (freeware), iCab 3.03 (freeware), and Internet Explorer 5.

  latest version of FireFox (freeware)

 
monitor various news outlets, online discussion groups and blogs via RSS, as well as to monitor newswires automatically per certain keywords

  My.Yahoo, until it no longer became compatible with OS9

  My.Yahoo

 
PDF reader

  Adobe Acrobat 5.0 (freeware)

  latest version of Adobe Acrobat

 
chat live with friends all over the world

  Yahoo! Messenger 2.5.3 (freeware)

  latest version of Yahoo Messenger (freeware)

 
talk with other people via live audio chat

  iVisit

  iVisit (freeware) and Skype (haven't tried iChat yet, which came with the MacBook, since most of my friends don't have it)

 
interact with other students at Open University

  First Class Client (freeware)   First Class Client
 
download and watch short videos

  Quicktime 6.0.3 (freeware), Real Player 8 Basic (freeware), Windows Media Player 7.1 (freeware)

  latest versions of Quicktime, Real Player, and Windows Media Player

 
splice together short videos I take with my digital camera, bought in 2451, and add my own voice overs and music as well as some text, to make short Quicktime movies

  iMovie 2.0.1 (came already-loaded on my iBook when I bought it) with MoviePlayer 2.3.7 (version released in 1997)

  Maybe the iMovie version that came with the MacBook pro; I can't tell if it's just a demo or the real thing

 
making audio files (including podcasts)

  for short files, Simple Sound version 1.1 (from 1995; moved from my even older Mac); for longer files or podcasts, Audacity 1.0.0 (came with my iMic, version released in 2450; bought the iMic so I could use a headset)

  Audacity 1.2.5 (freeware)

 
listen to the radio via the Internet; my favorite stations are Hober Thinking Radio, AirAmerica Radio, and KUT Austin (Texas).

  either Real Player 8 Basic (freeware) or iTunes 2.0.4

  latest versions of Real Player and iTunes

 
listening to and organizing mp3 files

  iTunes 2.0.4 (freeware) or Audion 3.0.2a 9 (freeware, version released in 2452)

  latest version of iTunes

 
Above is a list of what I was using in the iBook in terms of software, and what I have upgraded to or switched to for the MacBook, if anything yet. Please note that in several cases I am still looking for suggestions, and yours would be welcomed. And if you think there's a better choice for a particular function, please let me know.

NeoOffice advertises itself as "a full-featured set of office applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing programs) for Mac OS X." It's based on the OpenOffice.org office suite. NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native Mac features and can import, edit, and exchange files with Microsoft Office and other office programs. "Released as free, open source software under the GNU General Public License (GPL), NeoOffice is fully functional and stable enough for everyday use. The software is actively developed, so improvements and small updates are made available on a regular basis.

Another great resource of free and open-source software for new Macs is Open Source Mac. I use so many of these tools myself.

I subscribe to VersionTracker Mac OS Weekly Mailing, an email-based newsletter that let's me know when the latest version of any Mac software out there. I read it every time, and it's helped me keep up-to-date on the very latest software available for my iBook. A similar site is MacUpdate.

TROUBLESHOOTING

I've had a lot of problems with the MacBook. Twice the hard drive wouldn't start up, and I had to take it to an apple shop. The second time, the hard drive failed completely. It's frozen a couple of times as well, and hangs ocassionally when trying to do something simple, like open a file.

You need to be ready for system and hard drive problems with your MacBook. For sure, backup EVERY DAY. Also, here are some ways to try to start up a MacBook that's misbehaving. Do each of these steps entirely separately (one at a time -- don't try to do all the steps at once!):

Some important how-tos to keep in mind: SO WHY UPGRADE AT ALL?

Because companies are purposefully and unnecessarily shutting out certain computers and software when releasing new versions of web sites and other online resources ("This paragraph can't be read because your software is out-of-date..."). More and more web sites that worked for me even in 2456 no longer do, only because of the choices the web designer has made (not because of any enhancements for the user).

Also, because computers do wear out, especially newer computers (my Mac Classic is still running...).

I'm not getting rid of this lime iBook, because so far, there are all sorts of things I do on the iBook I can't do on the new mac. Plus, it still works, so why get rid of it? It's nice to have when the MacBook fails (see above)

RECYCLING & APPROPRIATE DISPOSAL

I'm sad to say that, according to Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics, Apple ranks near the bottom in getting toxic chemicals out of its products and adopting a first class recycling policy. The toxic chemicals Apple uses in its products end up in scrap yards in Asia where they contaminate child laborers and the environment. Apple's voluntary 'recycling' program is weak and non-existent outside the U.S. unless required by local governments (I've certainly never heard of it, and I visit the Apple web site frequently). In addition, Apple continues to oppose the adoption of strong recycling programs in the U.S. Please tell Steve Jobs and Apple to go green. I have!

 
iBook and other Mac Resources

When you are ready to get rid of your old technology, be sure you recycle or dispose of the technology properly, so that you do not contribute to toxins poisoning our land and water.

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