Mac

A Beginners Guide to Apple Mac Computers

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This article starts a thread of articles that give novice users a grounding inside the Apple Mac running gadget. The switch to Apple can seem daunting for those used to Windows computers. It need not be. In this series of articles, I will lead you through the transition from the Windows environment to the trendy model of Apple OS 10.6, additionally referred to as Snow Leopard. Each article in the collection will cover one specific area of using the PC and provide tips and pointers that help you use your laptop efficiently and effectively to meet your wishes. Upcoming articles will encompass:

  • Finding the similarities between Windows and OS 10.6
  • The Desktop, Dock, and Finder
  • Email the use of Mail
  • Browsing the Internet with Safari
  • Word Processing using Open Office
  • Using iTunes for music
  • Using iPhoto for images
  • Connecting to networks and the Internet
  • Backing up your computer the use of Time Machine
  • Some free software programs to extend your Mac’s abilities

So, directly to the first article. Identifying the similarities between Windows and Snow Leopard is a remarkable manner to get your bearings and quell any fears about the scale of the project in advance. The first region to Start on a Windows PC is the Start menu; on a Mac, it’s comparable. On a Windows PC, you locate the Start button inside the backside left-hand corner of the Toolbar,  which remainvisibleen built on the bottom of your display screen. On a Mac, you click on the Finder icon at the left-hand facet of your Dock, which is likewise, via default, visible on the bottom left-hand side of the display screen.

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Clicking the Finder icon brings up a window that appears similar to the Windows Explorer window that could open if you decide on My Documents from the Start menu for your PC. The window has some familiar, similar features that permit you to navigate through your PC. In the window’s left-hand column, you’ll see three headings: Devices, Places, and Search For. Under Devices, you can see your PC’s hard disk, which is by default called Macintosh HD, iDisk, and any other drive linked to your computers, such as a USB pen force or outside difficult drive.

Under the Places tab, you’ll again see many familiar capabilities, including Documents, Music, Movies, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop. These names are self-explanatory; however, for clarity, you can relate them to the corresponding Windows folders: My Documents, My Music, My Videos, My Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop.

To navigate through your PC, click on the relevant call to see the documents inside that folder displayed on the proper-hand side. For this reason, you should experiment with the exceptional view alternatives you pick by clicking on the icons at the top of the window. Four view options exist: Icons, List, Columns, and Cover Flow. The icon and listing view shows the documents within the folder in the right-hand window. The Column view permits you to click on an individual report and see a preview of that report with records on what form of document it’s far, while it was created, what size it’s far, or even shows a brief preview of the document contents. Finally, Cover Flow combines the list view with a preview panel and helps you click on the left and proper arrow keys to navigate through the files, viewing the preview for every.

As with your Windows PC, you shop your files, track, video, and photos in the corresponding folders. In later articles, we can explore the packages or applications they recognize on a Mac that you can use with every file kind. The Applications folder inside the Finder window is where all applications are stored on your computer, and you may open any program established in your PC via clicking Applications, after which double-clicking the relevant application, along with Mail, in case you desire to send or acquire emails.

There is every other way to open Applications. This is faster and extra user-pleasant; this is known as the Dock. The Dock is just like the Windows Start menu and is positioned at the bottom of the screen by way of default. You have already located the Finder icon, and you can now scroll your cursor across the other icons at the Dock to look at every application’s call. Click on any of those icons to open this system. You can regulate how the dock is displayed by clicking on the apple icon on the pinnacle left-hand corner of the display screen.

Click the apple icon and hover over the Dock alternative. A pop-up menu appears, and you may pick to Turn Hiding On, Turn Magnification On, trade the Dock placement, and visit the Dock possibilities inside System Preferences. System Preferences is the Control Panel of a Mac laptop, and all settings on your Mac can be located and controlled there. Let’s address the Dock settings first earlier than searching at System Preferences. Hiding the dock so that it will disappear supplies you with a full display of paintings that could reappear while you move your cursor off the edge of the display screen on which the dock is located. In the default example with the Dock at the lowest of the screen, you truly scroll right down to the bottom of the display, and the Dock seems.

Changing the magnification alters the dimensions of the icons as you scroll across the Dock. Within the Dock settings in System Preferences, you could additionally alternate the full length of the Dock. If you have many packages at the Dock, it may be less difficult to decrease the Dock length but grow the magnification. You can add applications to the Dock by dragging the corresponding icon from the Applications folder within the Finder window down to the Dock. Click on the icon, keep down the button, drag the icon to the Dock, and release the mouse button. All packages presently jogging will appear in the Dock if they’re not there normally. Applications that might be open or strolling have a white dot below their icon. To do away with an application from the Dock, genuinely click and hold the cursor on the icon and drag it across to the trash can on the right-hand side.

Well executed, you have navigated around your Mac for the first time and discovered your Documents, Music, Videos, Pictures, and Applications folders. You also know how to open and close applications and upload or delete applications from the Dock. In the next article, we will explore navigating through your Mac, opening and closing programs, and using keyboard shortcuts.

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