Setting up iMac first time

[John01]

Hi

I am fairly IT literate but only have PC/Windows experience. I now have an iMac but as a complete mac newbie have no idea where to start. I would appreciate some help. Specifically I have the following questions;

1. What usual steps one needs to take to setup a brand new iMac for normal everyday use? A link or two to easy to follow tutorials would be appreciated.

2. How does one setup a brand new airport extreme a1354 router to work with iMac for internet access?

3. How does one setup parallels 5 on iMac to enable running win apps? Does one need a copy of windows to accomplish this?

4. How does one share files with a pc (win vista) on same network?

5. How can one configure iMac for remote access?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Regards

 

[TattooedMac]

Hi and welcome to the forum John . . .

Ill set down some links for you to check out and should get you on your way

Mac Switcers 101 ~ Apple
Mac 101 ~ Apple
100 Essential Mac Apps ~ MacTipsAndTricks
Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts
Mac OS Menu Bar Items
Mac Downloads ~ Apple

And just a few Apps that a lot of Mac Users use !!!!!

So there is a bit of reading there. As i goes for Apps we dont know what you are into, but ill list a few that most people have and you can look them up in the 100 Essential Apps URL i gave ...

Adium ~ Chat Client
Growl Notifications
SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner ~ Both make bootable copies of your HD
HandBrake ~ Video Converting
Burn ~ As it says A Burning App
Transmission ~ p2p client
Skitch ~ Screen capture and more
VLC ~ Video player that plays most codecs and does a lot more
Perian and Flip4Mac Makes watching certain codecs easier ... This is Essential IMHO
Audacity ~ Play with Music App
CandyBar ~ Mods all your icons, and dock
MainMenu or Oynx ~ Does the same as Disk utility only more thorough
Quicksilver ~ Works like Spotlight but way way better and does so much more
StuffitExpander ~ Opens Zip and rar files and more
Lil Snitch ~ Firewall type App that looks at your incoming and outgoing traffic
and last but certainly not least .....
AppTrap ~ Once installed it sits in System Preferences and deletes all associated files of anything that you put in the trash ...

Should keep you busy for a while lol
Hope it helps some

#2 ~ Apple Manuals ~ Setting up Airport Extreme
#3~ Setting up windows via Parallels~ Ask Dave
#5 ~ Usinf remote desktop on iMac

 

[roflitskyle]

Welcome to Mac Forums! TattooedMac mostly covered everything but your question about Windows 7 and Parallels. You are correct, you will be need a copy of Windows 7. Or you could use Boot Camp.
PARALLELS:
How to install Windows 7 in OS X using Parallels Desktop – a complete walkthrough – Simple Help

Keep in mind, running Windows 7 on Boot Camp will be faster than running it on Parallels.

BOOT CAMP:
Boot Camp: Windows 7 installation frequently asked questions

Congrats on the new Mac! Good luck!