my NEW macbook :]]

Hey guys - I just bought myself a Macbook (white) 2.16|2gb|120gb and i'm loving every minute of it. I also lucked out, and got some cool Programs: Adobe Suite 3, Final Cut Pro, iLife, iWork, Office 2004, etc.etc. I'm loving my new macbook but i have a few questions and concerns:

1. I want some sort of protection for it. I dont need so much of a "carrying case" because i have my backpack for that, however i'd like something to keep it from getting scratched, basic protection. I was looking at the Neoprene cases at the apple store but I wasn't that impressed and furthermore i heard a rumor that the colors on those neoprene cases rub off onto my beautiful new white macbook. I did some e-bay research and i found some "slips" for the macbook, it seemed decent, but i'd like a better opinion.

2. Is it okay to leave my Macbook on 24/7? I've asked my friends this same question and they've all said yes, it's ok to leave it on but be sure to turn the brightness of the screen all the way down (so it looks off) whenever i want to leave it on for long periods. Is this true? Should I even leave it on? I don't have a problem turning it off at night but if its harmless to leave it on, then might as well...right?

3. As far as the internet connection goes....While i'm USING the computer, the internet works flawlessly and I'm having no problems-BUT, say im using iChat, If i want to leave my computer for 20 minutes it will sign me off of iChat and turn my screen black (as if its in hybernate mode) EVEN though I have a screen saver option set for 15 minutes. I'm very confused by this.....Is there a way to make my computer stay connected to the internet and to iChat say for 5 hours? With my old PC, i could leave AIM on for days, even weeks and I would stay connected...but now with my macbook it seems everytime i get up from my computer, when i come back whether it be 10, 15 or 2 hours later, my screen is black and i was disconnected from iChat. Please help!!!

Other then that, i'm LOVING my mac...its AWESOME. Can't wait to start utilizing some of these cool programs i've been so lucky to obtain. Thanks for your help in advance!

Scott

 

1) Find some slips for the MacBook, those work great.

2) I would suggest you leave the MacBook on sleep...it only takes a few seconds (about 3 seconds for me) for the MacBook to wake up from Sleep.

3) Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver. Press Show Details and drag the minutes you want to be inactive before the computer is automatically put to sleep.

 

1. The slips from e-bay or the apple store? please link me if possible.
2. Is the "sleep" option automatic or do i need to actually PUT it to sleep? When my screen turns black, does that mean its sleeping? When sleeping, should i close the lid? or keep it open? My friend had a macbook and he used to leave it on 24/7 and sometimes when trying to turn it back on from sleeping it took FOREVER and/or didn't even turn on.
3. Does managing the energy saver options make it stay connected to the internet? will i stay connected to iChat when my macbook is on screen saver?

Thanks for a quick response!

 

1) I don't have any recommendations for any slips, I just know they're good for what you want it for

2) You can sleep the MacBook for closing the lid (and on the right corner of the front of the MacBook a small white lighting will start flashing bright and dim to show its asleep), also you can sleep the MacBook by pressing the power button and pressing Sleep when the window comes up.

It doesn't really matter if you want to keep the lid open or not...if you press the Power button to sleep it, pressing any key on the keyboard will wake the MacBook. If you close the lid to sleep it, opening the lid will wake the MacBook.

You can tell that the MacBook is sleeping when the light on the right side of the front of the MacBook is flashing bright and dimming.

3) You should only be disabled from the internet if you sleep, not on screensaver. So yes, you should be connected to the internet.

 

In System Prefs -> Energy Saver there will be two sliders. One sets the time the computer goes to sleep. The other sets the time the LCD shuts off.

You can drag the sleep slider all the way to the right and it will never go to sleep (And you won't sign off of iChat) This is perfectly safe. When your computer is sleeping the white LED will pulse. You can leave the lid open or closed, doesn't matter. If you close the lid while the computer is on, it will put it to sleep.

The Display slider should always be around 20 minutes. Leaving your display on for long periods of time will burn out the backlights faster. But turning them on and off in short periods of time will also burn them out faster.

You will stay connected in iChat with the screensaver on, it only logs off when the computer goes to sleep.

 

So I should keep the sleep timer off completely which allows me to put it to sleep on my own (dis-allowing the computer to go to sleep un-wanted and signing me off)

What is the display slider? after the 20minute mark as you suggested, does it go to sleep?

 

The display slider adjusts how long the display goes to sleep. So during that time the display is totally black but the computer is still on.

Yes, you can keep the sleep timer off completely if you don't want it to automatically sleep for you.

 

oh..so theres two sleep options. Display Sleep, and Computer Sleep. Is it okay to keep my computer on Display sleep for a long period of time, or is it best to put it on Computer Sleep when leaving it?

 

Sure, I leave my iMac on. It's been on for 3 months straight.


The display slider is the slider under the Sleep slider. No, the display slider only sets the time the display turn off, the computer will still be on.

 

Well, if you don't plan to use it for hours I'd say sleep the entire computer.

And Windowsrookie, your iMac's been on for 3 months? What about your Software Updates?

 

Only major updates require to restart.

I leave my computer on 24/7 because I run F@H for my folding team.

 

So say it was time me ME to go to sleep and i want to keep my macbook ON. The best thing to do would be put the actual computer to sleep by either closing the lid or pressing the power button and clicking sleep option. Right or Wrong?

ALSO

Say it was mid-day and i was leaving the house for an hour, or two, or three up to 6 hours - Put the display to sleep so it doesnt burn out any pixels and that will keep me signed onto iChat ? Right or Wrong

 

Yes and yes. And remember to set a password and require it to unlock the MacBook from screensaver .

 

Yeah, but there's been more than one major update since 3 months ago . I'm trying get you from a technical standpoint, so you did have a time when your iMac was off, to restart for software updates. Hah!

Just joking around

 

I don't set a password (to unlock screensaver), you don't need to. A password doesn't make your laptop any more secure. People can still easily get the data off the hard drive.


And chant, your taking this way to seriously.

Just disable auto-sleep.

If you're going somewhere or going to bed, just close the lid. If you want to stay connected in ichat just keep the lid open.

 

The main reason he wants to keep the MacBook on is because he wants iChat to stay on, and I don't know if he wants anyone to easily be able to read his IMs .

 

Well, any true Apple user would forbid his friends from ever touching his Mac.

 

Thank you Sam - I'm not taking this too seriously windowsrookie, i'm just trying to become familiar with the Mac interface. If i want to leave my computer and stay signed on and not have any damage done to my laptop, then simply put the screen to sleep by adjusting the Display Saver to 20 minutes?

 

Where is my thanks? hmmmm?

And just chill out, take it easyyyy man. You're not going to damage anything by leaving it on, or putting it to sleep with the lid open. You could leave the MacBook on in a plastic bag, and it will shutdown before anything bad happens.

Yes.

 

Thank you windowsrookie - by the way, how is your town coping with the recent tragedy?

 

The bridge? Everyone's pretty much over that. I'm about 15 minutes away from that 35-W bridge, the Lafayette bridge is much worse and I travel over that one every day.

 

I heard on the news today that they discovered 5 new bodies this morning - ughhh thats so intense! I cant imagine being stopped in rush hour traffic on a bridge and all of a sudden it collapses.........wow...

 

Hey chant, sorry for my disappearance .

Anyways, no problem, happy to help out. And tatsumi, I don't understand your posts...

 

if you're still looking for a skin of some sort for your macbook to protect it from scratches, you should probably take a look into "best skins ever." i have one on my mp3 player, a creative zen vision:m, and my friend has one on his DS and it is not even noticible when you show it to someone unless you point it out to them. i even jabbed mine with a key once since it was in my pocket, and now the mark isn't even there anymore. its a good basic skin for your needs (to prevent scratches). application is not the easiest thing in the world, but once you get it on, it is totally worth it. also, application is really forgiving. if you screw up, you can just take it off and reapply it. removing the skin after a while doesn't leave any sticky residue behind either, it comes off totally clean.

here is the site for the skin. they have skins specifically for apple laptops, the mb and mbp.

http://www.bestskinsever.com/servlet/the-Lap-Tops-cln-Apple/Categories

 

wow! thanks a lot buddy - im honored, using your first post on me :]]

 

Thanks for that link! I just ordered the full body kit for my MacBook Pro!