ok, then let's begin.
Most sims sites use either ZIP format or RAR format for downloads -- the Electronics Arts site has downloads available in Sims2Pack format
To avoid download corruption in RAR files when using the Safari web-browser, you need to do a "special click" on the link:
to download a .RAR file you will have to hold down the control button (the one on the end, not the apple button) and then click the link and a menu will pop up. Select
Download Linked File.
With ZIP and RAR files, you need a software that will open them so you can use the files inside.
Stuffit (
$$$ http://www.stuffit.com/)
Stuffit Expander is free
UnRarX (free Mac:
http://unrarx.sourceforge.net/)
Inside the RAR or ZIP you may find .package files or sometimes .Sims2Pack files. The Sims2Pack files you can install by a double click; the .package files you will need to copy manually to the Downloads folder:
~Home/EA Games/The Sims 2/Downloads
or at least that is the usualy place - just take a look in your Hme folder and see if you can find a folder named Downloads - that is where almost all .package files go.
You will probably need CEP - you can get this here:
http://cep.modthesims2.com - be sure to read the installation instructions carefully
You will also want to check anything you see that you want to download is "base game" compatible.
Make sure to get the patch for the game from Aspyr:
http://www.aspyr.com/there is a file limit issue that you will soon encounter if you go on a big downloading spree, check the sticky in this forum to see how to get past the 2000 and 11800 downloads limits.