Few questions for a new mac owner.

[robertk328]

And leaving it in sleep doesn't cause wear or anything on the computer?

No, because everything essentially shuts down, without shutting down. When you wake it up, the monitor comes back to life, fans turn on, hard drives activate, etc.

 

[Rob Phillips]

And leaving it in sleep doesn't cause wear or anything on the computer?

Actually starting up is very taxing on a computer. Your best bet is to leave it on. My MacBook Pro is sleeping in a messenger bag right now. I rarely shut it down.

 

[robbrick]

I had a iMac back in 2008 and never shut it down. I used back to the Mac to be able to grab files while away from home on it (before Dropbox). Never had a problem with anything. Even when I was on vacation it stayed on.

 

[RavenSword]

Actually starting up is very taxing on a computer. Your best bet is to leave it on. My MacBook Pro is sleeping in a messenger bag right now. I rarely shut it down.

Oh, ok. So I'll just use sleep mode then. I assume though the week I've owned it and was shutting it down didn't cause harm, right?

 

[Rob Phillips]

Oh, ok. So I'll just use sleep mode then. I assume though the week I've owned it and was shutting it down didn't cause harm, right?

Nope. You're good.

 

[RavenSword]

I do have a quick question about viruses and malware on Mac. Even if I had one, could it spread itself through the computer?

 

[Rob Phillips]

I do have a quick question about viruses and malware on Mac. Even if I had one, could it spread itself through the computer?

A virus, by definition, can spread itself through a computer. That being said, viruses for Macs are rare. Nothing to worry about.

 

[RavenSword]

A virus, by definition, can spread itself through a computer. That being said, viruses for Macs are rare. Nothing to worry about.

well, I've done scans with bit defender and malware bytes and nothing came up. so I assume Im safe. my worry is that lets say i plug in a usb drive that could contain a mac malware or virus.

 

[robertk328]

Oh, ok. So I'll just use sleep mode then. I assume though the week I've owned it and was shutting it down didn't cause harm, right?

Not at all

 

[robertk328]

I do have a quick question about viruses and malware on Mac. Even if I had one, could it spread itself through the computer?

Have had a Mac since 2000 with no virus or malware scanner/protection, and have never had an issue. Doesn't mean I can't, but nothing I've ever worried about.

 

[anon(9602380)]

Never shut any of my Mac's down. Only time they ever shut down is on updates. Otherwise they run 24/7 without issues.

 

[RavenSword]

Should I also be using encryption for backups and stuff? How do I encrypt backups and such and is it a lengthy process if I have a 1tb hard drive in the Mac and am backing up to a 5tb HDD.

 

[patlar1998]

Do I need any other software other than Handbrake to rip DVDs?

 

[anon(9602380)]

Do I need any other software other than Handbrake to rip DVDs?

Not really. I do like to run it through iFlicks 2 after ripping in Handbrake as it does a better job on the metadata than Handbrake.