Chia Pet?

Question

Disclaimer:
I'm completely new to the mac OS.
I downloaded the Chi Pet widget and I just thought it'd grow grass on it's own, but apparently you have to water it. Mine died, and I was kinda upset because it looked pathetic lying on its back all dead-like with this note that said, "YOUR CHI PET DIED BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO WATER IT." Exactly like that. So now, I occasionally click the water droplet next to it and I don't notice anything happening to the Chi Pet, so I was wondering if I was doing it right. I really like the Chi Pet widget because I have two real Chia Pets of my own.
On to a completely different (and a little less inane than Chi Pet widget) topic...how often should I reformat my laptop? After I downloaded FireFox it said I could eject the something from the hard disk and I'm still confused on what a .dmg file is. I know it's disk image, but I don't know what I can delete and what I need to keep to use an application. Can I move stuff from the applications folder to the desktop and will the application still work? Is there a book that's like, What To Do When You Switch To Mac from Windows? I really am not sure how any of this works still, and the help topics don't always work. I'm still trying to figure out how to switch iTunes from regular view to mini-view. It says there's a zoom button at the top left hand side of the iTunes window, but I've yet to find it there or a preference listed in any of the preference windows.
And also, I'd like to apologize for a very inappropriate post I made a day or two ago. I guess I didn't realize the extent of what I was asking, and it made me look like a really big jerk. I'm really not into all of that stuff, I'm still getting used to this wireless business. It's just kinda different (for lack of a better word) when a notification box pops up and asks me if I'd like to join the open network NETGEAR. So, sorry, especially to Allan Sampson -- I think I really made a mistake/made people mad.
Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi.
Like baltwo, I can't help with your Chi Pet widget, but see if there is a restart button or something in its preferences that you can reset. Go back to wherever you downloaded it from to read the documentation/instructions.
A disk image is just that, It is a virtual disk that mounts within a Finder window. To take the case in point, you downloaded Firefox whose .dmg you then opened. In the adjoining pane of the Finder window you'll see the Firefox logo. That is the application. Drag it to your Applications folder. That then copies it to the Apps folder. You'll see a little progress bar for a few seconds while it does so. Don't blink!
You can then eject the D.I. in finder by clicking on the ⏏ symbol. The original download (.dmg) is now redundant and you can safely drag it to the Trash and empty it.
Regarding applications on the desktop, Apple Apps should be left in the Applications folder because that's where Software Update expects them to be. If you move Apple apps around they won't get updated. Third party apps, like Firefox for eg, can usually be run from wherever you like. The Applications folder is tidier though. If you want an App readily accessible, just drag its icon to the dock, that will create an 'Alias', ('Shortcut' in Windows-speak), in the Dock. Or, while the app is open, click and hold its icon in the dock and select the 'Keep in Dock' option. Anything that you don't want in the Dock can be dragged off it. It will disappear in a puff of smoke. The Application will still be accessible in your Applications folder, all you have done is got rid of the alias in the Dock.
Re your iTunes 'Mini view'. at the very top left of the iTunes window you will see three little grey circles. When you point to one of them, you will see a symbol in each. The left hand one with an X closes the window, but unlike Windows' X, doesn't close the Application, (or 'Program' in Windows-speak).
The centre (center) grey circle has a - sign. That minimises iTunes to the Dock next to the Trash. If you want to see cool slow-motion effects, hold the shift ⇧ key whilst minimising.
The right hand circle of the three with the + is the one that you want for mini-view.
Hope this helps,
Have fun!
Adrian
ibook G4 1GHz, 768mb; iMac 17" G4:768mb (10.3.9)   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   Belkin WiFi F5D7632