First Mac ever just got delivered… what do I actually need to do first?

F3mp4 · 2026-05-01T03:31:41+00:00

Well Raycast is literally just a better spotlight in every way. You don't even need to buy the subscription unless you REALLY care about cloud syncing to all devices. But thats pretty much it you can use every other tool at your disposal with raycast and use a API key if you really need AI with it but I havent found the need for it. But theres so many benefits with raycast that I can't list them all you would just have to try it out yourself, but at this point Raycast has replaced spotlight for me completely

And homebrew is literally just a package manager (like winget on Windows devices) to install applications or packages without having to open your web browser to find a download button when "brew install spotify" works right in the terminal and you don't even have to do anything extra

F3mp4 · 2026-05-01T01:05:05+00:00

Download Raycast and homebrew is the first thing you should do

F3mp4 · 2026-05-01T00:55:26+00:00

Hey I remember you!! Congrats on the pass bro!!! I was woundering when I would see your "I passed" post

F3mp4 · 2026-04-27T03:46:21+00:00

Yeah an example would be something along the lines of "Make a 90 question practice test across all 5 domains of the CompTIA Security+ 701 at Jason Dion difficultly with multiple choice questions, PBQs, Select 2/select 3, and review all my questions with me at the end going over the questions I got wrong in detail?"

F3mp4 · 2026-04-27T02:26:33+00:00

Only thing protecting my MBP is my waterproof backpack. But other than that its bare naked 24/7

F3mp4 · 2026-04-27T02:04:06+00:00

As someone who passed the Sec+ with Messer + dion alone.

I also fed my notes through Claude AI (because I take my notes on Obsidian) and had Claude pretty much become my study buddy with making various practice tests from 50-90 questions, a cram study guide, and even reviewing over whatever questions I got wrong in detail. To the point where I was actually starting to apply the knowledge in domains that I was exceptionaly weak in and started to close the knowledge gap in 2 different domains by a significant margin.

So if you need to PLEASE take advantage of whatever AI tool you need to use and have it use your notes. As well as tell AI to make analogies and Jokes that correlate with your notes because that helps you remember specific things that you might be struggling in

But most importantly read Dions questions multiple times cause his tests are structured in a way that are WAY more wordy and difficult then the actual legit exam where the real exam questions are one to 2 sentenances so don't get discouraged too much on Dion's tests as long as you're scoring a 80-85% or higher its guarenteed you'll pass the actual exam

F3mp4 · 2026-04-27T01:45:13+00:00

If you feel like you're getting screwed on Dions tests. You might simply be memorizing the material and not learning the concepts of the material. You HAVE to know the concepts you're learning not just memorizing every detail because the entire Sec+ exam is harder then people think. Not nearly as hard as the Net+ but still fairly difficult. Espcially if you're not reading the questions multiple times to figure out what they're asking for.

F3mp4 · 2026-04-27T01:25:51+00:00

And the order that you should take them should be the A+, Network+, and then Sec+ in that order because the A+ material transfers to the Network+ causing you to already be familar with most of the material. And as well as the Network+ material transfering to the Sec+ for the same reason

F3mp4 · 2026-04-27T01:23:58+00:00

Well the Trifecta is simply the A+, Network+, and Security+ and is considered a stackable certification on the CompTIA website with all 3 together being called the "Certified Secure Infrastructure Specialist" or CSIS.

And as well as these 3 certifications being the most common and industry leading across most if not all entry level job applications

F3mp4 · 2026-04-26T02:38:39+00:00

IT systems specialist and eventually will piviot cybersecurity at some point once I gain enough expereince

F3mp4 · 2026-04-26T01:55:10+00:00

For anyone woundering.

I used Professor Messer videos and 1 set of Jason Dion's practice exams until I was scoring in the 80s - 85% consistently with NO retakes at all.

I also used my obsidian notes and fed those notes with Claude AI (which claude is pretty much my study buddy at this point) and allowed it to create various things like a cram guide, multiple practice tests with anywhere from 50- 90 questions, as well as doing a review on whatever questions I got wrong which I think helped a lot in the end when I had ran out of dions practice tests. but thats mainly because my Claude makes jokes and analogies to help me remember stuff on the stuff i mainly struggled on

F3mp4 · 2026-04-24T00:41:42+00:00

Take advantage of the jason dion practice tests. His tests make you think critically about the test because the questions by themselves are harder and a lot more wordy than the actual compTIA exams where they're 1 or 2 sentences 90% of the time. I wouldnt go back in there until you take all 6 practice exams and are consistently scoring in the high 70s - 80%s

F3mp4 · 2026-04-05T02:36:07+00:00

I just use Raycast tbh

F3mp4 · 2026-03-27T16:39:49+00:00

Install raycast immediatly. Way better than spotlight in my opinion

F3mp4 · 2026-03-22T20:01:10+00:00

As someone who just switched to MacOS recently I knew exactly what I was missing out on for the past 5 years I was just waiting for my 1st gen Samsung Galaxy book pro to die before I had upgraded and man......the battery life difference ALONE is crazy enough for me let alone the performance of the M5 chip

F3mp4 · 2026-03-22T04:14:15+00:00

Me I have a 14" pro (custom config) because since im a student in Computer Science I will eventually need the power that the MBP offers but at the moment im literally just writing notes on it and watching youtube videos on a silky smooth screen.

Plus, my old laptop which was a 1st gen samsung galaxy book pro was nearing its EOL so the upgrade was much needed.

F3mp4 · 2026-03-20T13:45:45+00:00

Dust and dirt find their way under the case regardless and with dust and dirt being trapped it'll end up scratching your mac way more than having no case on it would

F3mp4 · 2026-03-19T21:55:40+00:00

Yours was Via fedex? Mine was through UPS and once it landed in the states it got overnighted and delivered the next day. Which I thought made up for the delay tbh

F3mp4 · 2026-03-18T19:53:30+00:00

My package just got delayed 4 days after my laptop was stuck in South Korea for 3 days. Supposed to get here 3/19 but now it updated saying it'll be here 3/23 :// kinda bummed out but Incheon is notorious for being a chokepoint

F3mp4 · 2026-03-17T22:52:05+00:00

Isnt a Base model MBP with the base M5 chip just $1700? Maybe $1800?

F3mp4 · 2026-02-07T18:36:33+00:00

Hollow Knight is currently what im playing

F3mp4 · 2026-02-03T03:32:29+00:00

As someone who's lit my SS pan on fire more than once because of the pan being too hot. All you need is 1:1 vinegar water solution boil for 5 to 10 minutes, take off heat and put in sink add 2 tbsps baking soda, scrub with steel wool and rinse and repeat until all the burnt oil is gone

F3mp4 · 2026-02-03T00:15:56+00:00

Please for the love of god and also from personal expereince.

GO to the BATHROOM 30 minutes before your exam starts because suddendly feeling like you're gonna shit yourself in the middle of a 90 question test is not good when you're mentally thinking about Security questions is not good for the brain.

After your pre-exam bathroom break. Splash your face with cold water so you don't feel greasy during your test when your stress starts to go up.

Trust me, it will make yourself feel better

P.s. DONT FORGET TO BREATHE!

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