Sarnian

I don't think the Mac handles any differently to a PC (I'm a Mac user too, and so glad they ported it across). Video-wise, I like the Long Dark Survival School series by Hadrian on YouTube, though you may want something shorter, depending on how much time you want to invest.

The prepper caches don't always turn up, I think. I keep looking, but haven't found them either, but I've only spent 20 game-days so far.

Save scumming is saving the game before trying something out (like repairing clothes) and quitting/reloading if it goes wrong. I don't think it's possible in Survival mode, just when playing the story mode. Some hardcore players get very angry that anyone should have the ability to do this. Not sure why that should be if someone wants to do that in a single-player game, but it takes all sorts! 🙂

Just select the purification tablets and click "use". Each tablet will disinfect half a litre of water. I end up with unpotable (unsafe) water if my fire only lasts long enough to melt snow, but not to complete the boiling. It's a shame that if boiling stops a minute early, the water's still unsafe. It would be better to have the chance of contacting dysentery reduced by each minute of boiling time, until it's completely safe, so you could take a chance on water that's fairly-well boiled. I agree with you that snow should be clean in the Canadian wilds, but it's another mechanic to keep things interesting. I've yet to see my first toilet in the game (so far, I've not left Mystery Lake).

Is repair success purely down to the quoted chance? I've noticed that if I try repairing clothes at the end of a day when I'm down to my last 25% energy, that I invariably fail, while I tend to be luckier early in the day. Not sure if this is just good/bad luck or if there are other factors at play.