Got an M4 Max/36 GB/1 TB, so I’m cycling down my M1/16 GB/1 TB to my fiancé. It’s been awhile since I set up a Mac for anybody other than myself.
My fiancé is not a power user, and mostly just wants the computer for typing, web browsing, watching videos, etc. We figure this should be a great computer for her.
I’ll be setting up Arq to back up her small number of files to my Mac Mini server, so backups will be covered. And we have 1Password Family, so that will be installed as well.
Are there any other pointers for things to set up so that we don’t have future issues? Any user access control stuff or anything similar that can be done to make it harder for things to inadvertently get goofed up?
When you say not a power user, you are not saying the same thing as not a conversant user? The distinction defines whether you should take routine responsibility to administer the computer, for example to clean up and install stuff. A conversant user has comfortable command of the base tools and apps in macOS, and a power user has this plus the ability to make those base tools and apps sing the national anthem in a a rotation of different languages routinely at sunset every day.
Otherwise, steel yourself against a temptation to go beyond limits in what you think should be done versus what you truly have to do should you be called to help with something. By example, my spouse is neither a power user nor a fully conversant user on her MBA. I am more often called on to help print something or connect something to something else. In those cases where I do get to access her computer, I am rather … taken aback … by the excess desktop clutter, overflowing email inbox, and seemingly oblivious disregard for using the filing system at the Finder level. While I may jokingly rant at her for this, I am clear to keep myself out of re-defining her approach, primarily for my own sanity.
Let’s say “moderately-conversant.” Most of my printer troubleshooting has to do with the printer, not the computer, but I occasionally get “look at this” web links to PDF content that I can’t access because the web link (behind an authentication wall) is confused with the PDF itself.
Have her use a non-Admin account for daily use
Go over the Finder View options with her so she can set them the way she wants
Go over System Prefs for settings that affect Appearance, Screen Saver, etc
I’ve not used Arq before. Will it make sufficiently dire sounding warnings that prompt action if it stops backing up correctly? All too often I’ve seen people ignore warnings that ought not be ignored, or e.g. timemachine doesn’t even give warnings nearly as soon as I think it ought to
Sounds like you’ve got the important stuff covered. I have only one piece of advice:
Don’t touch anything about its configuration. Leave it as a fresh install.
This is my 49 year marriage advice on preventing future issues of “messing up my computer.” I know you can make it work better, but just don’t!
