Newbie Help with macbook

Well everyone I finally took the plunge and entered the polar white world of Apple. So far I'm impressed, although I'm still getting use to OSX. But I have a couple of newbie questions.

1.) Where is the default download file location?? I've downloaded some widget zip files and installed the widgets but I cant find the downloads themselves. I dont want my precious HD space being filled up with junk.

2.) With my old windows laptop when downloading torrents overnight I would change the power settings so that when I closed the lid the laptop continued to download. How can I achieve this on my macbook? I'm a bit stuck. Also is it wise to leave my macbook running with the lid closed?

Cheers for looking

 

1) Files are downloaded onto the Desktop by default. As hldan points out in the post below, widgets are downloaded elsewhere.

2) There is an application called InsomniaX that does this. There should be no problems running your MacBook with the lid closed; the vents aren't blocked. Note: NBR does not support the torrents you are downloading .

Also, because you're a new switcher I recommend (once again ) two articles that all switchers should read. They're helpful in understanding Mac OS X and the differences they have from Windows.

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101

 

The default Widget download (Install) location for Apple's pre-installed Widgets is in your library folder.
Path:
Finder-Macintosh HD-Library-Widgets.

User downloads (Installs) are in the library folder in your "Home" folder.
Path:
Finder-Home Folder-Library-Widgets.

Also get to know Spotlight. Up top right corner. Just type in the name of what you are looking for and it not only will find it but it shows the path of where your installs land.

 

Yep, I use InsomniaX with my macbook, works great

 

torrents get a bad rap. i use torrents for legitimate purposes all the time. i just downloaded america's army, for example. its like a 2 gig file or so. i wouldn't even consider any method other than torrent for downloading.

true of any medium-large file. it doesn't have to be copyrighted material.

why can't we give others the benefit of the doubt and assume that they also have found a legitimate use for torrents? they dont have to have the stigma that they do....

 

legit torrent use non US released anime eps.

 

Downloading Linux distros is another legitimate use. Bittorrent itself now has a paid video download application. Unfortunate is the era when people are judged guilty until proved innocent and not the opposite. I hope people will remember that when they end up in jail for crimes they have not committed, but then it will be too late.

 

I download freeware, free label music, music that I own on a disc but I'm to lazy to rip, and Top Gear. All that stuff is legal. Actually I downloaded windows XP sp2 because my original copy is so scuffed it wont read any more, since I actually own a license to the software it's perfectly legit.

 

you can use spotlight to find one widget that you can remember the name, it will find the location of this widget, then you can find all of them.
Not smart as the previous replies, but I think this one always works

 

yup, Blizzard also uses torrents to serve their patches for WoW.

 

Nonetheless, in this day and age when people actually have the ability to pirate stuff so easily it is hard to think it is for a legitimate reason. I bet every one of us has pirated at least once.