So complete mac noob here - just bought an M2 macbook pro - Questions

thedoc46 · 9 Feb 2023 at 19:36

Hello after being a PC builder / Windows user for what is it the best part of 35 yrs, i thought i'd give the Apple Macbook a go. I'm an iOS user, iPhone and iPad, and have the Apple TV, airpods and just thought why the heck not ! I saw a new M2 Macbook Pro on sale and even though i don't really have a specific need for one, i thought its been a while since i've treated myself to something completely unnecessary in my life, so pulled the trigger. OK so maybe i do have a slight reason. I use Premiere Pro a lot, and have always toyed with the thought of giving FCPX a go, but i don't think my 8GB macbook is going to cut it, but they didn't have any 16GB's M2s, so went with the paltry 8gb ver.

So after a few hrs, some of which were a little frustrating, namely me looking at the right of windows to close when everything is on the left. Figuring out the 'Control button is really the 'Alt' button. And now i've finally enabled right click, whereas it was off by default. I'd figure i'd ask, where do you get software from? erm like on the cheap. i'd like to get MS office for mac, as all my stuff such as spreadsheets and word docs are obviously needed if i'm really going to use this ever. I also use google drive on all my pc's... does this work on a mac ? i guess i could google this but i miss asking questions on forums like we did back in the late 90's and early 00's

Where's the best place to get these? and do these lic keys you get from using an overseas VPN work. I do have a couple of kids, 16 and 17, both in school, so could try and pull off a student version. I get the Adobe Creative suite this way.

Also AV software... Back in the day mac users would mock PC users saying we don't need AV software, but that was yrs and yrs ago, and times have probably changed.. Does that still hold true?

I think that's it for now.

Thanks in advance

thedoc46 · 12 Feb 2023 at 20:39

Thanks OP here, i deactivated one of my Malwarebytes Premium lics and installed it on the mac, which for the record, i'm really enjoying. A very useful feature is being able to iMessage from the thing, when i'm busy doing something else, rather than having to grab the iPhone and type from there. i do get a lot of iMessages so thats a big feature for me.

So i also bought a very very grey license key from one of those grey sites. it was only $25, however upon activation it says lic key already used. ugh, and i've yet to hear back from their support with a new number, and that was a good few hrs ago... hey if i've lost $25 then so be it. But it is Sunday and they may not be answering support requests on sun, so all is not lost just yet.

But overall i'd say its been a great purchase considering i didn't really have a need for one, i seem to look forward to using it. Maybe thats just new toy syndrome ? if there is even such a thing ! lol

thedoc46 · 13 Feb 2023 at 22:54

thedoc46 said:
Thanks OP here, i deactivated one of my Malwarebytes Premium lics and installed it on the mac, which for the record, i'm really enjoying. A very useful feature is being able to iMessage from the thing, when i'm busy doing something else, rather than having to grab the iPhone and type from there. i do get a lot of iMessages so thats a big feature for me.

So i also bought a very very grey license key from one of those grey sites. it was only $25, however upon activation it says lic key already used. ugh, and i've yet to hear back from their support with a new number, and that was a good few hrs ago... hey if i've lost $25 then so be it. But it is Sunday and they may not be answering support requests on sun, so all is not lost just yet.

But overall i'd say its been a great purchase considering i didn't really have a need for one, i seem to look forward to using it. Maybe thats just new toy syndrome ? if there is even such a thing ! lol

So grey license support came through and gave me a good key. So I'm now rocking MS Office on this Mac for not a lot ! couldn't be happier. Though I will say, I do prefer the way office feels on a PC. Anyway I'll only use it for mostly viewing and the occasional edit, when not on my main PC.