User Accounts

[Doug in Alaska]

My new iMac is on it's way. I've used PCs up to this point. When I set up the machine I want seperate log-ins for myself and my wife. Should I set myself as an admin and her as a standard user? I'll do all the software installations so I assume I'll need admin rights?
Thanks, Doug in AK

[simbalala]

As the initial user you'll automatically have admin rights. You're on the right track.

[Curiosity]

You do not need admin rights to install software in your own account. I set up a standard account and installed some software in that home directory under an extra Applications directory in there. I did not see a point in installing into the system Applications if I was going to use the application in only that account.

[Satcomer]

When you first setup the Mac, it will be the Admin account. Once you get into OS X go the dock and look for the System Preferences->Accounts. In the Accounts pane click on the + button and create the User Accounts you want to make. Don't make the new accounts Admin accounts, just User accounts (for security reasons). Now with OS X each User will have their own Music/Pictures/Movies. To know the differences from Windows I urge you to get David Pogue's book Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual. It is easy to read (with picture even ) and is very informative. It will help you a lot and you will be a semi-old OS X informative user in no time flat.

[Doug in Alaska]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help with this. I'll order the book on Monday. It looks very informative. Hopefully it covers iPhoto 08 fairly well.

[Natobasso]

Originally Posted by Curiosity

You do not need admin rights to install software in your own account. I set up a standard account and installed some software in that home directory under an extra Applications directory in there. I did not see a point in installing into the system Applications if I was going to use the application in only that account.

However, you can also set accounts that are limited to what they can view, install and/or run. Great for a kid account.

[Satcomer]

Also here are some very useful Mac sites you should visit.

1) MacOSXHints.com - a great daily hints site.
2) Accelerate Your Macintosh.com - a great site for adding hardware hacks to your Mac
3) iFixIt Guides.com - a great how to install instructions for ram, hard drives and DVD/CD replacements in Apple portables
4) BareFeats.com - a speed testing comparison site for Apple related products
5) "Well Known" TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products - good Apple document for working with firewall/router logical ports
6) MacFixIt.com - read the fix it articles with a grain of salt but it can sometimes be informative
7) MacWindows.com - Reader reports of using Mac in Windows dominated enterprise world
8) MacMinute.com and or Macworld.com - Mac news sites
9) MacUpdate.com and/or VersionTracker.com - Mac software updates listings sites
10) OWC and/or Crucial - two sites that sell guaranteed RAM that works great with OS X machines (Apple charges WAY TO MUCH for extra RAM)
11) MacPicks.com - find most any Mac centric web site on the net through this site
12) VMware or Parralles.com - programs that help you run Windows and OS X at the same time on Intel Macs

[Giaguara]

And of course macosx.com
Congrats for the new iMac, Doug.