Hi -

I'm not real familiar with Macs and I am trying to help a person who is just
trying to learn how to use his iBook. We would really appreciate any advice
and insight you can share.

Problem 1
Unfortunately, he is wanting to use his iBook on a trip (starting Friday!)
to download digital camera files from a flash card and store them on the Mac
and then delete the files. We have the firewire card reader working fine
and are able to copy the files to the Mac's desktop but actually deleting
the files from the card is the problem. Here is what we are doing so far:

*Attach the firewire card reader. The computer recognizes it just fine and
places a icon on the desktop for that drive.
*Open the "un-named drive" icon. Go to the subdirectory that holds the
image files.
*Drag this folder to the Mac desktop. Watch files get copied to the Mac's
drive.
*Drag the subdirectory from the "un named drive" to the desktop trash can to
delete. The folder no longer shows up according to the Mac.

The problem is that the files aren't really deleted. The Mac appears to
create a hidden trash can directory on the disk (found this when transferred
the flash card to a reader on a windows machine). This trash can directory
takes up a lot of space and needs to be deleted. How do you do this on a
Mac? I am trying to do the windows equivalent of right clicking on the
trash can and selecting "empty..."

Problem 2

He would like to burn a CD of his image files from his Mac onto a CD that
can be read by both Windows and Mac computers. His ibook has a read-only
drive, so he has bought an external USB CD burner. Is there a way to do
this within the Mac OS or does he need to download/buy a third party
application? Any pointers and recommendations on how to do this or what
software to buy (something easy to use) would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Doug

In article <N5Meb.4908$f11.624@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.n et>,
"-" <xvvvz********.com> wrote:

> The problem is that the files aren't really deleted. The Mac appears to
> create a hidden trash can directory on the disk (found this when transferred
> the flash card to a reader on a windows machine). This trash can directory
> takes up a lot of space and needs to be deleted. How do you do this on a
> Mac? I am trying to do the windows equivalent of right clicking on the
> trash can and selecting "empty..."

At first look, this sounds like normal Macintosh behavior. Macs retain
the files in the trash (where they occupy disk space) until the user
empties the trash. Depending on the system in use, there is a menu
selection in one of the menus at the top of the screen that will say
"Empty trash..." or the like. On this, a MacOS X machine, that menu
selection is in the Finder menu. On some earlier operating systems,
the menu selection "Empty trash..." is found in the Special menu.

Note that one does not delete the trash can directory, although this
would probably work to accomplish the purpose. One empties the trash.

> Problem 2
>
> He would like to burn a CD of his image files from his Mac onto a CD...

I must let someone more experienced with burning CDs comment on this.

jim

>
>> Problem 2
>>
>> He would like to burn a CD of his image files from his Mac onto a CD...
>
> I must let someone more experienced with burning CDs comment on this.
>
> jim

The best way that I know of to ensure crossplatform compatibility of a burned
cd is to burn in ISO 9660 format. This should allow the disk to be read from
a Mac or a Windows machine. I am not sure if the stock cd burner software
will do this or not. I use Roxio's Toast Titanium program. It is the defacto
standard for Mac cd burning software.

In article <N5Meb.4908$f11.624@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.n et>,
<xvvvz********.com> wrote:

> The problem is that the files aren't really deleted. The Mac appears to
> create a hidden trash can directory on the disk (found this when transferred
> the flash card to a reader on a windows machine). This trash can directory
> takes up a lot of space and needs to be deleted. How do you do this on a
> Mac? I am trying to do the windows equivalent of right clicking on the
> trash can and selecting "empty..."

Control-click (The Mac equivalent of a right click) or just click and
hold on the trash can icon in the dock, and a menu pops up, with an
"Empty Trash" item in it. There is also an "Empty Trash" item in the
Finder menu.

"-" <xvvvz********.com> writes:
>
> The problem is that the files aren't really deleted. The Mac
> appears to create a hidden trash can directory on the disk (found
> this when transferred the flash card to a reader on a windows
> machine). This trash can directory takes up a lot of space and
> needs to be deleted. How do you do this on a Mac? I am trying to
> do the windows equivalent of right clicking on the trash can and
> selecting "empty..."

"Empty Trash" from the menubar (under "Special" on older versions of
MacOS. Under "File" on OS X.)

> Problem 2
>
> He would like to burn a CD of his image files from his Mac onto a CD
> that can be read by both Windows and Mac computers. His ibook has a
> read-only drive, so he has bought an external USB CD burner. Is
> there a way to do this within the Mac OS or does he need to
> download/buy a third party application? Any pointers and
> recommendations on how to do this or what software to buy (something
> easy to use) would be appreciated.

MacOS comes with some basic disc burning software, but many people
have reported problems getting Windows to read the result.

The best thing to do is to buy a product called Toast, by Roxio.
(The same people who make EZ CD Creator for Windows). When making
CDs with Toast, be sure to make a "Mac OS and PC (Hybrid)" disc or a
"Mac OS Extended and PC (Hybrid)" disc. If you make a Mac OS or Mac
OS Extended disc, Windows won't be able to read it.

-- David

In article <N5Meb.4908$f11.624@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.n et>,
"-" <xvvvz********.com> wrote:

> Hi -
>
> I'm not real familiar with Macs and I am trying to help a person who is just
> trying to learn how to use his iBook.

You're a good egg. May I suggest a copy of "iLife: The Missing Manual"
or "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual" for either of you?

Incidentally, if your friend is coming from the OS 9 Mac world, he might
want to look into Scott Kelby's "OS 9 Conversion Book."

> The problem is that the files aren't really deleted. The Mac appears to
> create a hidden trash can directory on the disk (found this when transferred
> the flash card to a reader on a windows machine). This trash can directory
> takes up a lot of space and needs to be deleted. How do you do this on a
> Mac? I am trying to do the windows equivalent of right clicking on the
> trash can and selecting "empty..."

Right-click or click-and-hold on the trash can in the Dock.

If you are using OS 9 (you didn't specify), then the command is under
the "Special" menu at the top of the screen.


> Problem 2
>
> He would like to burn a CD of his image files from his Mac onto a CD that
> can be read by both Windows and Mac computers.

iPhoto, which is included in the software for iBooks running OS X, can
do all the stuff you are now doing manually. I'm not sure why the other
respondents haven't suggested this:

1. It will (or should) automatically pop up when you attach the camera
or a card into the card reader.

2. It will automatically or manually copy the pics onto the hard drive

3. It will (optionally) erase the card/camera's pictures when finished

4. It will burn a PC/Mac compatible CD of the pictures you select,
assuming the USB CD burner is compatible with the system's built-in
burner (if he's burned anything previously, then it is. Otherwise,
you'll have to check).

> Is there a way to do
> this within the Mac OS or does he need to download/buy a third party
> application?

iPhoto will handle it fine if he's in OS X. If not, I'd suggest Roxio
Toast.
--
Cheers,
_Chas_
http://www.apple.com/switch
non-spammers can write to chasm at mac (dot com)