Chapter 1
In This Chapter
Identifying the important parts of your iMac
Locating the right home for your computer
Plugging stuff in and getting hooked up
Playing with your bundled software
Buying additional stuff that you might need
You bought a brand-new iMac, and there it sits, in the box. Waiting. Waiting for you.
If you’re a little nervous about unpacking that shiny aluminum and glass rectangle, I completely understand. Face it: The latest iMac follows in the footsteps of many revolutionary iMac designs that have come before it. In other words, it doesn’t look like a computer at all, and that can be a bit disconcerting. And if you’re switching from a Windows PC to the Apple universe, you might find yourself floating weightlessly in your office or your living room without a familiar bulky PC case to anchor yourself. Hence, the reluctance you might be feeling.
However, dear reader, let me assure you that you’ve indeed made The Right Choice. I commend you! Today’s Intel iMac is the fastest, leanest, and easiest-to-use self-contained all-in-one computer ever built. Practically everything’s in one shining panel (except for your keyboard and mouse). You’ve got one of the best backlit LED screens on the planet, a super-fast processor, room for a ton of RAM (memory), and a regular laundry list of the latest technology. Best of all, you don’t have to be a techno-nerd to use all that power!
In this chapter, I introduce you to your new dream machine, giving you an overview of the more important locations within iMac City. I show you how to unpack your new computer, what wires go where, and where your iMac should set up housekeeping. I preview the awesome software that’s waiting within that powerful panel. Finally, I list the accessories that help keep both you and your new iMac computing smoothly.
The Intel iMac might look like a sculpture straight out of a museum of modern art, but it still sports everything that it needs to function as a computer. In this section, I identify the important stuff that you need to live your life — you know, write a term paper in Pages, hear the music you downloaded, or manage the affairs of those lazy Sims.
Every computer requires some of the same gizmos. Figure 1-1 helps you track them down. Of course, as you’d expect, a computer has a “body” of sorts in which all the innards and brains are stored (the screen, in this case), a display screen, a keyboard, a mouse/pointing device, and ports for powering and exchanging data with peripherals.
What a view you’ve got! An aluminum iMac is graced with either a 21.5" or 27" LED display, complete with backlighting for outstanding color and brightness.
Both sizes of iMac screens offer a widescreen aspect ratio (the screen is considerably wider than it is tall), which augurs well for those who enjoy watching movies. (A favorite editor of mine loves it when I use the antique word augur, meaning to predict or foretell.) For example, the 27" screen boasts a whopping 2560 x 1440 resolution.
Hey, here’s something novel for the Intel iMac — something external (outside the computer’s case). Gotta have a keyboard and mouse, right? And you gotta love the options with iMac: You’ll go nomadic … um, that is, wireless and free.
The iMac comes standard with a truly 21st century combo of an Apple wireless keyboard and either a Magic Mouse or a Magic Trackpad! This dynamic duo lets you sit back and relax with your keyboard in your lap, without being tied down by a cord. (Say it with me: “Death to cords, death to cords.”) Just stay within about 30 feet of your iMac screen, and sweet freedom is yours. You can also feel safe using these wireless peripherals because they offer secure 128-bit, over-the-air encryption, which helps keep sensitive information safe while you type and click away. One downside of the wireless keyboard, though: Unlike older wired keyboards, the wireless model doesn’t include any USB ports, and you will need a supply of batteries. (Go rechargeable!)
The keyboard layout is a particular favorite of mine because from here
Both the wireless Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad need a flat surface, but that’s what TV trays are for, right?
You and I — normal human beings — would say that the iMac is supported by a sturdy aluminum stand, but Apple calls it a foot. The foot lets you tilt the iMac panel up and down for the best viewing angle. Most important, though, the foot minimizes the computer’s desk space requirements (or its footprint). (Engineers … sheesh.) And yes, that foot is perfectly balanced and quite stable, so there’s no danger of your treasured iMac taking a dive.
If you decide to get really snazzy and mount your 27" iMac to the wall, you can remove the foot and install the VESA mounting adapter (available separately for about $40). You can use any VESA standard mounting bracket on your wall, too. You can be positioned within 30 feet or so of your wall-mounted iMac with a wireless Apple keyboard and mouse (or trackpad).
Hey, Hewlett-Packard or Dell, can you mount one of those monolithic desktop PCs to the wall? I think not.
A machine this nice had better have great sound, and the iMac doesn’t disappoint. You have a couple of options for iMac audio:
Sorry, but you can’t get a wireless power system … yet. (Apple’s working hard on that one.) With the wireless keyboard and mouse/trackpad setup, though, the power cable is actually the only required cable that you need to run your computer! Now that’s sassy.
Yep, you’ve got one of these, too. It’s on the back of the case (if you’re looking at the screen, it’s at the lower-left corner).
Our next stop on your tour of Planet iMac is Port Central — that row of holes on the back of your computer (see Figure 1-2). Each port connects a different type of cable or device, allowing you to easily add all sorts of extra functionality to your computer.
One of the holes is an exception to the Rule of Ports: The iMac’s SDXC card slot accepts the same type of SD memory cards as most of today’s digital cameras and video cameras. (In other words, that hole is not for connecting a cable; you insert the card instead.) The SDXC slot appears as a tiny vertical slot.
Each of these stellar holes is identified by an icon. Here’s a list of what you’ll find as well as a quick rundown on what these ports do:
For the specs on connecting your keyboard and mouse, see the upcoming section “Absolutely essential connections.”
For more on USB ports — as well as the FireWire ports included on older iMac models — get the lowdown in Chapter 23.
Apple doesn’t include a built-in modem on the iMac, so if you need a dialup connection to the Internet, you need an external 56K v.92 USB modem that’s compatible with OS X Mavericks (version 10.9).
Your iMac comes equipped with two pretty powerful stereo speakers on the bottom of the case, but you’re certainly not limited to them. Apple provides an Audio Line Out jack, allowing you to send the high-quality audio from your rectangular beast to a set of standard headphones or to an optical digital audio device, such as a high-end home theater system. (Unlike older iMac models, note that the newest iMac has no audio Line In jack.)
When you bought your new digital pride and joy, you probably noticed a number of subtle differences between the low-end iMac and the über-expensive top-end model. I call these differences the Important Hidden Stuff (or IHS, in case you’re addicted to acronyms), and they’re just as important as the parts and ports that you can see:
As I type these words, the iMac product line offers a number of different storage capacities, depending on the processor speed and screen size you choose: anywhere from a standard 1TB SATA drive to an immense 3TB Fusion Drive. (Yes, friends and neighbors, TB means terabyte, or 1,000GB.) The bigger, the better. Alternatively, you can opt for anywhere from 256GB to 1TB of flash storage instead. (Remember, though, that the iMac has room for only one internal drive.)
Although Apple would want you to build your wireless wonderland with an Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station or a Time Capsule unit — go figure — you can actually use your iMac with any standard 802.11g, 802.11n, or 802.11ac wireless network. And yes, PCs and Macs can intermingle on the same wireless network without a hitch. (Scandalous, ain’t it?)
If you pick the wrong spot to park your new iMac, I can guarantee that you’ll regret it later. Some domiciles and office cubicles obviously don’t offer a choice — you’ve got but one desk at work, for example, and nobody’s going to hand over another one — but if you can select a home for your iMac, consider the important placement points in this section.
You know the mantra: Location, location, location.
This wall-mounted solution has three big problems:
The iMac is slim and trim, but it’s no lightweight, and it doesn’t bounce well. You don’t want it to take a high dive!
Your iMac must be mounted at the proper height on the wall. It’s not good ergonomic practice to sit more than two feet away from your iMac screen, and the screen should be placed at (or slightly below) eye level.
My solution? Don’t plan on using any external devices. Instead, opt for a wireless network with a remote printer and remote backup storage space, like a Time Capsule unit on your network.
Follow these three rules to keep your cool. Make sure that
Hot air from a wall-mounted iMac can discolor the wall.
Technology is nothing if you can’t make it convenient:
I discuss surge protectors and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) at the end of this chapter.
If you prefer to send your data over the airwaves, consider using wireless networking for your iMac. I discuss everything you need to know about wireless networking in Chapter 21.
You are going to love this section. It’s short and sweet because the installation of an aluminum iMac on your desktop is a piece of cake. (Sorry about the cliché overload, but this really is easy.)
Follow these guidelines when unpacking your system:
Take a photograph of any significant damage (just in case).
And now, a dramatic Mark’s Maxim about cardboard containers:
Smart computer owners keep their boxes far longer than a year.
For example, if you sell your iMac or move across the country, you’ll want that box. Trust me on this one.
Save your original invoice in a plastic bag, along with your computer’s manuals and original software, manuals, and other assorted hoo-hah. Keep the bag on your shelf or stored safely in your desk, and enjoy a little peace of mind.
Besides, Apple manuals are rarely thicker than a restaurant menu.
The iMac makes all its connections really simple, but your computer depends on you to place the outside wires and thingamabobs where they go.
After your new iMac is resting comfortably in its assigned spot (I assume that’s a desktop or a wall), you need to make a minimum of one connection: the power cable. Plug the cable into the corresponding socket on the iMac first; then plug ’er into that handy AC outlet.
If you have Internet access or a local computer network, you need to make at least one of the following connections.
If you get on the Internet by dialing a standard phone number, you’ll need an external USB modem that’s compatible with OS X 10.9 to connect your iMac. Follow these steps:
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 the iMac’s built-in Ethernet port. You make two connections:
It’s probably one of the following:
This section answers the most common of all novice computer questions: “What the heck will I do with this thing?” You find additional details and exciting factoids about the software that you get for free, software you’ll want to buy, and stuff you can do on the Internet.
Currently, all iMac computers ship with these major software applications installed and ready to use:
Chapters 13–16 of this book focus on the four major applications that make up iLife: iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.
Figure 1-3 illustrates a flyer under construction in Pages.
What is a modern computer without the Internet? Apple gives you great tools to take full advantage of every road sign and off ramp on the Information Superhighway, right out of the box:
If tabbed browsing and shared bookmarks sound like ancient Aztec to you, don’t worry. Chapter 10 is devoted entirely to Safari.
Always wear a shirt when videoconferencing.
Dozens of useful applications are included with OS X. I mention the most important of them in later chapters, but here are three good examples to whet your appetite:
You can use the data you store in your Contacts in other Apple applications that are included with Mavericks, such as Apple Mail and Messages.
“All productivity and no play …” Hey, even a hard-working person like yourself enjoys a good challenging game, so you can look forward to playing Chess on your iMac right out of the box — ah, but this isn’t the chessboard your dad used! Play the game of kings against a tough (and configurable) opponent — your iMac — on a beautiful 3D board. Heck, your iMac even narrates the game by speaking the moves!
No man is an island, and no computer is, either. I always recommend the same set of stuff for new PC and Mac owners. These extras help keep your new computer clean and healthy (and some make sure you’re happy as well):
A UPS also provides a few minutes of battery power during a blackout so that you can save your documents and safely shut down your iMac.
Make sure your wipes are especially meant for flat-panel monitors or laptop computer screens.
Most hardware manufacturers are nice enough to include a cable with their products, but there are exceptions, especially USB printers. Shame on those cheapskates!