Bitcoin mining MacBook Pro Retina

So you heard about Bitcoins and want to start mining some ?
you are a bit late, but don't worry, you are not too late to be a part of the Gold Rush !so first thing you need to know,
Bitcoin is not the only currency there is. This genre of currency is called crypto currency.
I will not give the same boring lecture of how it works, lets just talk about mining.

Mining simply put, is just brute-forcing hashes.
There are two types of currencies, one uses hashing in sha-256 algorithm and other uses hashing in scrypt algorithm.

here are a few examples:

SHA - 256 based currencies

• bitcoin
• name-coin
• terracoin

• litecoin
• feathercoin
• digital-coin

so why is this important ?

there is very custom-made mining hardware available called ASIC (application specific intigrated circuit) available to mine SHA-256 coins. This hardware will highly outperform your computer or mac.
Your mac or computer will give about 60 MH/s to 70 MH/s at a power consumption of approximately 40 watts per hour. Whereas this specific mining hardware (ASIC) (assuming you bought it worth 1000$) will give 66, 000 MH/s.

Mining is usually done in pools ( or groups ) where your share in the group will be worthless.
so, never mine SHA-256 based currencies on your home computer.

But there is a way out,
Scrypt algorithm based currencies don't have such hardware as yet.
so your contribution in the pool will be about (1/1000) given your current hardware specs. Which is still considerably high.
So we will be mining other currencies like litecoin. if you want you can always convert what you earned in litecoin to bitcoins. This might seem odd but this is the way to make most bitcoins in a given time.

So lets get started,

Step 1:

Download the litecoin wallet

Mac :
DOWNLOAD
Litecoin-Qt 0.8.5.1
for Mac OS X
Windows :
DOWNLOAD
Litecoin-Qt 0.8.5.1
for Windows
Linux:
DOWNLOAD
Litecoin-Qt 0.8.5.1
for GNU/Linux

Install it and let it download the block chain. (let it synchronize)
it will take some time depending on your internet connection.
let it sync in background and continue with the further instructions.

go to the receive tab and copy your payment address

we will be needing it later in the process

Step 2:

get registered to a pool

i recommend
but you are always free to check other pools

now go to MyAccount > Account Details

now paste your payment address in account details, enter your 4 digit code and press update settings.