In This Chapter
Locating the right home for your computer
Plugging in stuff and getting hooked up
Starting the beast for the first time
Handling your MacBook properly
Cleaning your portable powerhouse
Recharging and maintaining your battery
Configuration is not a dirty word. In fact, this chapter contains a set of procedures that are a snap to learn: unpacking your new MacBook; finding just the right place to park it (when you're not scampering around the world, that is); and connecting sundry cables. Oh, and don't forget starting up your MacBook. I wouldn't leave out the best part!
Nor would I leave out a really important aspect of owning a MacBook — that is, taking care of it. Although laptops are meant for the road, they still need regular maintenance (especially the battery, screen, and keyboard).
If you choose the wrong spot to park your new laptop, I can guarantee that you'll regret it. Some domiciles and office cubicles don't offer a choice — you have one desk at work, for example, and nobody's going to hand over another one — but if you can select a home for your MacBook, consider the important placement points in this section:
Tip
Keep things cool. Your new laptop is silent, but that super fast Intel Core 2 Duo processor generates heat. Make sure the location you choose is far from heating vents and shielded from direct sunlight. I also recommend a laptop cooling pad, which elevates the base of your laptop to allow air to circulate underneath.
Outlets are key! Your computer needs a minimum of at least one nearby outlet, and perhaps as many as three:
A standard AC outlet: Make sure to use an appropriate current adapter if you're traveling abroad.
A telephone jack: You'll need this if you have an Apple modem for connecting to the Internet or sending and receiving faxes.
A nearby Ethernet jack: This might be needed if you use the MacBook or MacBook Pro's built-in Ethernet port for connecting to a wired Ethernet network, or if you buy a USB Ethernet port adapter for your MacBook Air.
Tip
If you prefer to send your data over the airwaves, consider wireless networking for your MacBook.
Don't forget the lighting. Let me act as your mom. (I know that's a stretch, but bear with me.) She'd say, "You can't possibly expect to work without decent lighting! You'll go blind!" She's right, you know. You need a desk or floor lamp, at a minimum — something to illuminate your work.
Plan to expand. If your laptop hangs out on a desk, allow an additional foot of space on each side. That way, you have room for external peripherals, more powerful speakers, and an external keyboard and mouse if you need one.
Tip
If you want to keep an external keyboard handy, consider using a laptop shelf. These Plexiglas or metal stands elevate your laptop several inches above the desk, putting the screen at a better ergonomic position and allowing you to park your keyboard and external mouse underneath.
You're going to love this section. It's short and sweet because the hardware configuration of a laptop is a piece of cake. (Sorry about the cliché overload, but this really is easy.)
Follow these guidelines when unpacking your system:
Check for damage. I've never had a box arrive from Apple with shipping damage, but I've heard horror stories from others (who claim that King Kong must have been working for That Shipping Company).
Tip
Check all sides of your box before you open it. If you find significant damage, take a photograph (just in case).
Search for all the parts. When you're removing those chunks o' foam, make certain that you've checked all sides of each foam block for parts snuggled therein or taped for shipment.
Keep all packing materials. Do not head for the trash can with the box and packing materials. Keep your box and all packing materials for at least a year, until the standard Apple warranty runs out. If you have to ship the laptop to an Apple service center, the box and the original packing is the only way for your machine to fly.
And now, a dramatic Mark's Maxim about cardboard containers:
Note
Smart computer owners keep their boxes far longer than a year. If you sell your laptop or move across the country, for example, you'll want that box. Trust me on this one.
Store the invoice for safekeeping. Your invoice is a valuable piece of paper, indeed.
Note
Save your original invoice in a plastic bag, along with your computer's manuals, original software, and other assorted hoo-hah. Keep the bag on your shelf or stored safely in your desk, and enjoy a little peace of mind.
Read the MacBook's manual. "Hey, wait a minute, Mark. Why do I have to read the manual from Apple along with this tome?" Good question, and here's the answer: The documentation from Apple might contain new and updated instructions that override what I tell you here. (For example, "Never cut the red wire. Cut the blue wire instead." Or something to that effect.) Besides, Apple manuals are rarely thicker than a restaurant menu.
Tip
You can always download the latest updated manuals for Apple computers in electronic format from Apple's Web site. (Adobe's PDF format is the standard for reading documents on your computer, and Snow Leopard can open and display any PDF document using the Preview application or Snow Leopard's Quick Look feature.) I always keep a copy of the PDF manual for my MacBook Pro on my hard drive, just in case.
Apple makes all your laptop's connections simple, but your computer depends on you to get the outside wires and thingamabobs where they go.
After your new MacBook is resting comfortably in its assigned spot (a traditional desktop or otherwise), you need to make just one required connection: the power cable! Plug the cable into the corresponding socket on the Mac first and then plug 'er into that handy AC outlet. (After your battery is completely charged, of course, you can go mobile at a moment's notice.)
If you have Internet access or a local computer network, you need to make at least one of the following connections in this section.
If you get on the Internet by dialing a standard phone number and your laptop has an external USB modem, just make two more connections:
Plug one of the telephone cable's connectors into your external modem.
Plug the other telephone cable connector into your telephone line's wall jack.
After you get your account information from your ISP, check out Book VI, Chapter 1 for the details on configuring your modem and Internet settings for dial-up access.
If you have high-speed Internet service, or if you're in an office or school with a local computer network, you can probably connect through your MacBook or MacBook Pro's built-in Ethernet port (or an external USB Ethernet adapter connected to your MacBook Air). You make two connections:
Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on the MacBook.
Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port from your network.
Your network port is probably one of the following: an Ethernet wall jack, an Ethernet hub or switch, or a cable or DSL Internet router (or sharing device).
Your MacBook's power switch is located on the right side of the keyboard. Press it now to turn on your laptop, and you will hear the pleasant startup tone that's been a hallmark of Apple computers for many years. Don't be alarmed if you don't immediately see anything on-screen; it takes a few seconds for the initial Apple logo to appear.
Note
In my experience, sometimes a quick press of the power button on some Mac laptop models just doesn't do it. Rather, you actually have to hold the button down for a count of two or so before the computer turns on. However, if your Mac laptop ever locks up (and you can't quit an application), the power button gives you another option: Hold it down for a count of five to ten (depending on your counting speed) and your MacBook shuts off — even if your laptop is locked up tight.
As the Apple logo appears, you see a twirling, circular, high-tech progress indicator that looks like something from a James Bond movie. That's the sign that your MacBook is loading Snow Leopard and checking your internal drive for problems. Sometimes the twirling circle can take a bit longer to disappear. As long as it's twirling, though, something good is happening — your MacBook is loading some file-sharing, networking, and printing components (and such).
At last, your patience of a whole 10 seconds is rewarded, and after a short (but neat) video, you see the Snow Leopard Setup Assistant appear. (You can find out more about personalizing your MacBook with the Setup Assistant in Chapter 1 of Book II.)
Before you jump into the fun stuff, don't forget an important step — a quick prelim check of the signs that your new mobile Mac survived shipment intact and happy.
If you can answer "yes" to each of these questions, your MacBook likely made the trip without serious damage:
Does the computer's chassis appear undamaged?
It's pretty easy to spot damage to your MacBook's svelte design. Look for scratches and puncture damage.
Does the screen work, and is it undamaged?
Does the cover open smoothly? Are any individual dots (or pixels) on your monitor obviously malfunctioning? Bad pixels appear black or in a different color from everything surrounding them. (Techs call these irritating anarchists dead pixels.) A 13″ MacBook screen has literally hundreds of thousands of pixels, and unfortunately, some screens include one or two dead ones.
Do the keyboard and trackpad work?
Check your MacBook's built-in trackpad by moving your finger across its surface; the cursor should move on your screen. To check the keyboard, press the Caps Lock key on the left and observe whether the Caps Lock light turns on and off.
If you do notice a problem with your laptop (and you can use your Safari browser and reach the Web), you can make the connection to an Apple support technician at www.apple.com. If your MacBook Pro remains dead — like an expensive paperweight — and you can't get to the Internet, you can check your phone book for a local Apple service center, or call the AppleCare toll-free number at 1-800-275-2273.
When I first started with computers, a "luggable" computer like my TRS-80 Model IV was the size of a portable sewing machine or a large manual typewriter (yes, I still have it, although I keep it only as a museum piece). These behemoths were built like tanks — and they weighed as much, too. Portable computers were designed to take considerable punishment, and batteries were a dream for the future.
Today's laptops, however, are a different matter entirely than the luggable computers of old: trim, lightweight, and battery-powered, but unfortunately much easier to damage while traveling. In this section, I provide you with a crash course on proper MacBook handling and battery maintenance.
Proper handling of your MacBook is important, so take a moment to cover the Rules of Proper Laptop Deportment. Okay, perhaps I'm lecturing a bit, but a little common sense goes a long way when handling any computer equipment, and your laptop is no different. (Scolding mode off.)
Keep these rules in mind while opening and carrying your MacBook:
The cover is your friend. Open your laptop's cover slowly, without jerking or bending it.
Close it before you move it. By closing your laptop, you put your Mac OS X operating system into sleep mode. If your MacBook has a typical magnetic hard drive with moving parts, the hard drive automatically spins down, making it safer to move. (Naturally, if your MacBook uses a solid-state drive with no moving parts, this isn't a concern.) The laptop is still on and will spring back to life after you open the cover.
Be nice to your keyboard. Don't press too hard on those keys! Use the same amount of pressure that you use with a desktop computer keyboard.
Keep food and drinks far away. Care to turn your laptop into a very expensive doorstop? Then go ahead and park your soda next to it. (Oh, and crumbs are perfect if you're interested in buying replacement keyboards.)
Keep your laptop as level as possible. Using your laptop while it's tilted too far in any direction can eventually cause problems with your hard drive. I kid you not.
Like any desktop computer, your MacBook should receive basic care to banish dust and dirt. Although you can't completely open the case to dust (as you can on a Mac Pro), follow these guidelines to keep your MacBook's external surfaces clean:
Wipe your laptop's case every week. I use a soft cloth, but there are cleaning wipes specifically made for cleaning computer cases.
Consider a laptop sleeve. You can protect your MacBook from dust without constantly dragging around a laptop bag or case — invest in a cloth or leather sleeve, which simply slides on over the laptop. Easy on, easy off!
Clean the screen the right way. I always recommend either a photographer's lens cloth or monitor cleaning wipes for use on your MacBook's display panel. (This is not a job for a soft cloth.)
Don't forget the vents. If your MacBook uses a fan or the case sports cooling vents, use either compressed air or a computer mini-vacuum to clean them every three months or so (or more often if you're using your MacBook in a particularly dusty environment).
Your keyboard needs attention, too. In contrast to how you can treat a traditional keyboard, it's never a good idea to turn your Mac laptop upside down and shake it! Instead, use the aforementioned computer mini-vacuum to clean any crumbs, dust, or other detritus from your keyboard.
Your MacBook's battery might appear to be maintenance free, but unfortunately that's not the case. Consider these tips as your rules of the road for monitoring and charging your battery:
Recharge in sleep mode or when powered off. Your battery recharges faster when your laptop is off or in sleep mode. (I go into more detail on sleep mode in Book II, Chapter 2.)
Keep your laptop plugged into an AC socket when possible. I take every opportunity to top off my laptop's battery, and so should you.
Tip
If you don't have much time to charge your battery before you're away from an AC socket — say, half an hour — don't use your MacBook whilst it's plugged in and charging.
Save your juice. For the most juice you can scavenge, here are some easy tricks:
Turn off your laptop or leave it in sleep mode.
Turn off unnecessary hardware. To conserve battery power as much as possible, disconnect any USB or FireWire devices, and turn off your AirPort and Bluetooth wireless hardware if you're not connected to a network. (I cover AirPort wireless networking in Book VII, Chapter 3. Bluetooth comes into focus in Book VIII, Chapter 6.)
Reduce the brightness of your display from your laptop's keyboard, using the F1 key.
Remove CDs and DVDs from the optical drive. (MacBook Air owners, don't go hunting for a built-in optical drive, because your laptop doesn't have one.)
Monitor your battery level from the Finder menu. I love Snow Leopard's battery-monitoring system! Your laptop's battery life can be displayed in the Finder menu in several different views; my personal favorite is as a percentage of power remaining (with a fully charged battery registering at 100%). To display the percentage, click the battery icon in the Finder menu and choose Show
Keep in mind that the percentage shown is estimated using your current System Preference settings and power usage, so if you change your Energy Saver settings or remove a USB device that draws power from your laptop, you'll see that change reflected in the battery meter. Figure 3-1 illustrates the battery meter in Percentage view.
Calibrate your battery. You can "train" your battery to provide the maximum charge by calibrating it, which Apple recommends doing monthly. It's a snap:
Charge your battery until the Finder menu battery meter indicates that the unit is fully charged at 100%.
Keep your laptop connected to an AC socket for another two hours to ensure a maximum charge.
Disconnect the power cord and use your laptop on battery power until it's fully discharged and it automatically switches to sleep mode.
Warning
Make sure that you close all your applications when you see the low battery warning dialog box so that you don't lose anything.
Allow your laptop to sleep (or turn it off) for a full five hours.
Reconnect the AC cord and fully charge your battery.
Note
If your battery is no longer holding a charge — in other words, if you fully charge it and unplug the AC adapter, only to discover that you have only a few minutes of battery life — it's time to invest in a replacement battery. MacBook and MacBook Pro owners can buy a new battery themselves (from Apple or any one of a number of online vendors), but owners of MacBook Air laptops must take their computers in for servicing. The Air is a sealed unit, and you can't replace the battery yourself.