5 Tips For a New Mac User?
Written on January 30, 2007 by Nick Santilli and 53 people have commented
Microsoft’s Windows XP successor, Windows Vista launched today. As it seems some in the world of blogging feel, it should be driving more people than ever to the OS X platform. Sure, that’s poking some fun at Microsoft, but behind every joke there’s some truth…
Anyhow, in preparation for our newly saved brethren, I’d like to ask our talented and insightful readers for some feedback. So we’d love to hear either of the following in the comments:
- The Top Five things you think every Windows User (new to OS X) should be told
- The Top Five things you wanted to know when switching from Windows to OS X
Hopefully We can put together a nice thread for the growing tide of Mac owners.
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#1 HWH says:The Top Five things every Windows User should be told
1. If your company uses Microsoft Exchange for shared calendaring, Entourage will not be suitable. It’s absurd, but for corporate uses, you should run Outlook on XP on Parallels.
If this computer is for personal use, or your company does not use Microsoft Exchange for calendaring, ignore comment.
2. There is no Alt+Tab equivalent. This can and will drive you nuts sometimes… you should download and install Peter Maurer’s (free) Witch. Don’t ask why, just download and use it.
3. Closing all windows of an application — say, Microsoft Word — does not in turn quit the application.
4. Search really works: it works well, it works quickly. Whenever you want anything, just press (Open Apple) + (Space Bar). The whole notion of navigating through folders is generally antiquated with OS X (also, purportedly, with Vista — but this is an OS X post, so).
5. Save your fingers on laptops: to “right-click”, put two fingers on the trackpad, and click; to scroll up and down a web page (or any page), put two fingers on the trackpad and slide them up and down.
Welcome to the “light” side.
#2 Nick says:Trade vulnerabilities for no back-delete key, fair enough?
OK, nothing is perfect but after having used Windows, OSx is an oasis.
1- Learn to close your applications not by clicking on the red button that sports an x in the upper left hand corner but by clicking on File then Quit or the Apple/Command key and Q.
2- Simply burn your back up by dragging files into the mounted fresh CD-rom and hot the burn icon.
3- Download Firefox and Camino, and why not Opera to see how you can use them in conjunction to Safari
4- If you’re really, really scared, go out and buy MS Office, if not, download Open Office. If you’re a little more computer savvy, check out the online version or Google’s.
5- Relax, it’s Unix. Get your RSS feeds going and fetch all the serious Apple bloggers out there.
Finally, welcome
They were also the top five things I wanted to know.
#3 Victor Johnson says:The Top Thing HWH from the post above should know:
1. There is an Alt+Tab equivalent. It’s called Apple+Tab. Wow…
#4 Brad says:HWH is referring to Alt-Tab switching between document windows vs. the Mac switching between applications. A fair amount of difference between the behavior of Windows and Mac is that Windows is document oriented while the Mac is application oriented.
#5 Mike C. says:To switch between windows within the same application try apple+~. It’s right above the tab key.
#6 Ricki Vester Gregersen Jensen says:Well the shortcut no one seems to know is apple +
#7 Nick O says:Or use Witch (http://www.petermaurer.de/nasi.php?thema=witch) to configure application/window switching.
#8 korniszon says:apple+~ works great!
I must say, shortcuts in Mac OS X are far more advanced than in Windowns.
Also, F10 switches to Expose where it is possible to navigate between windows with arrow keys.
#9 Runar says:WARNING:
When you drag a dir A into dir B that allread contains dir A. Dir A will be replaced, NOT merged!!!
#10 Mojitochica says:You guys are awesome; this is just what I need!! Thanks!!
#11 Niels K. says:1. On a german keyboard: Be aware that apple+q will close your location (alt+q is @ in win and linux) and @ is situated at alt+l — will save you a lot of frustration
2. the apple-key opens the way to easy-understand systemwide shortcuts which will you make more productive
3. install quicksilver
4. apple+w will close a window (same as red-x) and apple+q will close an app
5. learn to use hiding your applications instead of minimizing them
#12 HWH says:Folks, Apple+~ is not the same as Alt+Tab.
Alt+Tab switches between ALL windows of ALL applications. Apple+~ only switches between windows of the CURRENT application; and of course Apple+Tab switches between applications, but not their windows.
So, as I mentioned (and Nick O reminds), to get the Alt+Tab equivalent, you have to use Witch.
#13 Namo says:1. The first thing I have to say to new switches is to refrain from installing any third party app for about a week. I think its important to get the feel of how real Apple apps are. I know I was more comfortable with windofied apps when I first switched. Now even iTunes is on my questionable list.
2. OS X dock uses a “Parent-Child relationship” for its windows management. This means you have one instance of an application and it holds all the windows. If you select a parent but now windows you will see that parents menu. This is also why you can close a window with out closing the app, you are in the one in charge of memory allocation.
3. Turn on expose right away. To do so, click on the upper right apple and select system preferences, then set the upper right corner to all application, and set the upper left to application. Go a head and turn off dock magnification while your at it.
4. Find a good forum to go to when you need help. http://www.Macrumors.com is a good place to start–I warn you that it is a huge forum.
5. When you are comfortable with OS X, and you feel awkward with all those menus in windows go ahead to http://www.macupdate.com and enjoy all those great 3rd party Apps. I will also encourage you to not go to the window equivalents right away. See which one feels like a solid OS X. Sometimes the windows ports aren’t as good as their windows native cousins.
#14 Nick Santilli says:Great, great stuff everyone! Keep it coming.
Namo, I especially dig your #1 - getting used to the OS X interface before adding all the extra stuff. very nice idea.
But on #4, I’d have to point to our own TAB community.
It’s small, but growing, and the members are wonderful about helping each other out.
#15 Jenn says:The number one thing I think switchers should be told is “it’s going to be different.” I hear constant complaints of how OS X just doesn’t work like they’re used to… all these little things like, oh, I don’t know, how there’s no universal uninstaller or how you can only resize a window from the corner. These complaints annoy me because it’s a matter of perspective. You like it because that’s what you’re used to. I don’t miss it because that’s what *I’m* used to. Believe me, you’re not the first person to bring it up. Apple has good reasons for doing things the way they do, and they can do it differently if they want because it’s *their* OS. Give it time, give it patience, and realize it’s going to take some getting used to. But once you start figuring out “The Mac Way” you’ll wonder how you ever put up with Windows.
#16 Don says:1. Computers can actually be fun to use as you’re about to discover
2. Stop being afraid of your computer and start using it
3. The Internet is your friend
4. Microsoft is the biggest software maker in the world, not the best
5. The Mac is about direct manipulation, not learning arcane commands and procedures
#17 B deR West says:If you’re used to Windows Explorer, you don’t need a fancy plugin to be able to follow the path of Finder. If you want to find out the file path, simple change to column view, and you can see exactly where the folder you’re in sits in the heirarchy of things.
Also, try Neo Office instead of Open Office. Neo Office runs natively in OS X, and does not require X11, which probably wasn’t installed on your Mac. You’ll have it on the OS X install disc, if you really want it.
In most programs, Shift+Delete forward-deletes, and if you have an Apple Keyboard, the delete key that’s near the home, page up, page down keys forward-deletes as well
Open Apple+Q is important! Keyboard shortcuts in OS X do things! use them!
Even though it isn’t printed on the Apple Keyboard, F14 and F15 control the display brightness, if you’re trying to figure that out.
If you connect a thumb drive and delete things from that drive, they get put in the drive’s “trash,” a folder you cannot see. If there’s nothing on the drive but it says it’s full, press Open Apple+Shift+Delete while focused on Finder to delete all trashes (including mounted drives), and you’ll be good. This took me a while to figure out. I had to open disk utility and format my flash drive every time I wanted to delete things from it for a while.
#18 Tony Steidler-Dennison says:Some tips from a new switcher (bought first Mac in December, though I’m moving over from Linux rather than Windows).
1. Install Quicksilver. Namo’s comments notwithstanding, it’s the single most powerful and useful third-party app you can install. Use it, learn it, love it.
2. Drag your applications folder to the dock. It’ll sit nicely on the right side and always be quickly available.
3. Learn to hide a program (Apple+H) rather than drop it onto the dock (minimizing the window), especially if you keep a lot of apps open. That will keep it available to the Apple+Tab key combination, allowing you to easily cycle between open apps. Of course, alternatively, F10 will open Entourage and you can just click on the app you’d like to bring to the front.
4. Installing and removing apps on a Mac is a snap. Double-click on the .dmg file, and drag the resulting icon into the Applications folder (in Finder *or* on the dock). Once that’s done, you can right-click and eject the drive-like icon on the desktop. To remove an app, drag its icon to the trash. You might also want to check for any related files in your home Library/Application Support folder.
5. Get familiar with the built-in keyboard shortcuts. You’ll find some of the most useful ones by clicking on the upper-left Apple icon, selecting System Preferences/Keyboard and Mouse/Keyboard Shortcuts. You can also add or change shortcuts from the same menu.
Bonus 1: Stay in the System Preferences screen and work your way through all the options. The customizability is amazing, and it’s all a learning experience.
Bonus 2: When you inevitably drop a drive icon from the Finder sidebar or the Desktop into the trash, and it disappears with a cute puff of smoke (don’t ask), don’t panic. You can get it back with Finder/Preferences.
I’ve really come to realize in the past month or so why Mac users are so loyal. I like that, and it’s well-earned.
#19 luke says:Here’s the 5 things I wanted to know:
1. How do I switch to document 3 of AppX in one action? It’s just not possible, in windows every document is on the task bar, click it and it appears. In OS X you have to do a couple actions. Activate expose > look > click. Or Command-Tab then Command-~.
2. Hows do I hide all apps(aka. Show Desktop). Yes, I know expose has a reveal desktop but it merely slides apps off to the side and they come back. Windows has a real hide all apps, show desktop. I remember I spend ages looking for an app, apple script to do this correctly.
3. Does deleting an app remove it’s all associated files? Nope. The whole installation, uninstallation process in OS X is untidy, sure for some apps it’s easy as ABC but for some it’s a pain.
4. How the hell do I get Finder to remember to stay in column view? still to this day nearly 3 years after I switched this issue remains a big annoyance.
5. How can adjust the mouse accelartion curve? in comparison to Windows the OS X mouse drivers are horrible. The speed is so slow an the curve is weird.
#20 B deR West says:@19: Well, No. 3 is easy: download AppDelete (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/31123).
The other ones… I’ve nver had a problem with the acceleration curves of my mouse, and I find Exposé works just fine for showing me the desktop, letting me do what I need, letting me switch between apps, etc.
#21 Cliff says:I’m seeing a lot of people request that one of the number one thing you do after you switch is install quicksilver–you can get it here-http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/
Also, I’ve been reading a blog that does very good quicksilver tutorials–they were immensely helpful to me, and they are at Dan Dickinson’s blog (vjarmy.com) here: http://vjarmy.com/archives/2004/03/quicksilver_a_b.php. He’s also done some intermediate and advanced tutorials, and best of all–he has no affiliation with quicksilver, he just really enjoys it enough to write a tutorial about it.
Have fun!
#22 Lordmike says:luke -
1. You need a third party application called Witch to just that, it has been mentioned a few posts above yours.
2. Windows doesn’t hide anything. Show desktop minimize all windows at once. I don’t know if that is possible in Mac, but minimizing all programs fast (unless you have 10+ open) I use command m.
3. You need a third party application like in Windows for this. It’s called Appzapper and can be found at http://www.appzapper.com/
In Windows I always have to dig in to the register after I uninstall a program to remove tons of extra keys, plus way to often I will have to remove the program folder from Program Files and sometimes Common Files. Because the uninstaller is poorly made.
4. No idea on this one, sorry.
5. I agree! I notice the same thing on all linux/unix systems I have tried since I started trying to switch from Windows 12 years ago.
#23 Lordmike says:1. Download and install Appzapper before you install any other third party applications. Very handy tool for uninstalling applications.
2. Quicksilver, learn to use it first by just opening applications, then read Nick Santilli’s guides to this fantastic app and you will be amazed on the things you can do.
3. Read the application menus and try to learn the keyboard shortcuts for example, command q to quit a program instead of the red x.
4. Spotlight on command space is a great tool to search for documents. Basically same as locate in linux, but you don’t need to use updatedb here. And I think, but I’m not sure that it also searches inside documents on the fly.
I think quicksilver can do these things too, but that’s not why I use QS.
5. If you’re a linux user, you will know the terminal already. If you are a windows user, try to stay away from terminal unless you want to know how to do certain stuff using a command console.
#24 Nick Santilli says:To answer Luke’s question about forcing all Finder windows to Column view:
Make sure the application in focus is the Finder
Go to the menu bar and click on “Finder” and choose Preferences (or CMD , if you’re sure you’re on the Finder)
Making sure you’re on the General tab, click the box 2/3 of the way down, which reads, “Open new windows in column view”
#25 soho says:Regarding mouse acceleration:
I also didn’t like the feeling of the OS X mouse movement, as I’m pretty used to the “windows way”. But there’s help: just install a small mousedriver-app called “Steermouse”, which enables you to customize sens and accel of your bluetooth/usb mouse of choice.
I’m really glad I found that small tool.
and btw. when it comes to Finder’s limitations: take a look at PathFinder, which is essentially a good looking and functional Finder replacement. This app brings Windows Explorer goodness to OS X, and even more.
#26 luke says:A lot of the ’solutions’ provided aren’t exactly decent solutions or free.
App Zapper isn’t free, SteerMouse isn’t free, Witch is really really slow and not a taskbar, Finders prefs still don’t stop windows opening in list and icon view, expose is like a temporary show desktop.
I remember going through all these options when moving to mac. I guess it’s in the details.
I still think one of the worst things for new switchers is installing and uninstalling apps. Windows users have no clue what a .dmg is, I recall trying to run my apps from the .dmg mount first time then wondering where they’d gone when I rebooted. Uninstalling is far worse, some have can be deleted, some have an uninstaller, some require you to run the installer in order to uninstall, some have an uninstall option in a menu item
A total mess.
#27 David in Saskatoon says:A. The easy way to uninstall:
1. Get EasyFind (free from the DevonThink website)
2. Type in the name of the app you want to uninstall and let it search right across your drive
3. Within a few seconds it will return all mentions of the app (from Applications, preference panes, data folders, Library subfolders, etc., etc.
4. Double check that these are indeed the files you want to blow away (if you use too generic an entry, it will find a bunch of other stuff as well!)
5 Mark off the files to be deleted or (in most cases) just check Select All
6. Hit Move to Trash… voila! All gone.
B. Learn to maximize the usefulness of the Services menu (one of the most criminally underrated features of OS X)
C. When you’re ready to use some third party apps check out the extraordinary array of freeware available (high on the list are the utilities from DevonThink, e.g., Word Service, also Voodoo Pad lite, and many others)
D. While the Mac community can be gratingly fanboyish at times, it’s also extraordinarily helpful–the answer(s) really is out there.
E. Forget about Microsoft…!
#28 R. Lloyd says:In actuality, it’s not Apple - whatever. That is the Command key.
So, Command - P sends the print command to the computer, etc.
#29 R. Lloyd says:“4. How the hell do I get Finder to remember to stay in column view? still to this day nearly 3 years after I switched this issue remains a big annoyance.”
In the Finder, go to Finder > Preferences and check “Open new windows in column view”
Open a new window, close it, open it again..
#30 Annie says:Hey guys this helped me a lot thanks for the tips!!!! I will like to know if anybody knows how to download Visual Basic a programing software for Mac OS X? Thanks again…
#31 Nick Santilli says:Annie -
RealSoftware offers RealBasic for OS X/Windows/Linux. It’s $99 as an introductory price, so get it now if you really need it, because it’ll be $200 regularly. I think it’s the only Visual Basic offering for Macs…
http://www.realsoftware.com/
#32 Dave says:1 Unless your disk is almost completely full you never need to de-fragment it.
2. “The Apple Key” is also called the Command key and many people (and documents) refer to it as such.
3. Your brand new Mac will seem obsolete in about 6 months. It won’t be, but you will probably want to buy a new one in a year because the new ones are “so cool.”
4. You don’t NEED anti-spyware or anti-virus for OS X (yet) but you SHOULD get anti-virus software that will keep you from passing on viruses to your PC friends or your Boot Camp/Parallels version of Windows. (Try ClamXav it’s free)
5. When you first started using Windows you had to get used to it, things weren’t intuitive. OS X is more intuitive but since you have adapted your thinking to the way Windows works you will have to get used to even the intuitive features OS X offers. Don’t worry it won’t take as long.
P.S. R. Llyod that still doesn’t stick for all new windows. I have had it set that way since I got my Mac but once in a while my windows start opening in icon view.
#33 mdmunoz says:1. Yes, there is a right-click.
2. No, the red button does not quit the application, switching is app-based, and applications aren’t big windows with smaller windows inside.
3. Yes, it is, in fact, much better that way.
4. Use Spotlight and smart folders.
5. Download Quicksilver.
#34 Andreas says:A couple of posts referred to Appzapper to uninstall - uApp (http://www.eagle-of-liberty.com/uapp/index_en.php) does the same thing the same way and is free in contrast to AppZapper.
#35 Rolf says:Answer to luke #19:
// 2. Hows do I hide all apps(aka. Show Desktop).
I’m doing that by creating a Quicksilver-Shortcut (called trigger) for the comand: “Finder / hide all others”
My shortcut of choice is CTRL-Alt-Apple+H
Quicksilver is so powerfull if you just take a look under the surface…
#36 Jon Robinson says:I switched on in about 6 weeks ago. It was actually for productivity reasons in the office…the iLife, Rapidweaver type stuff has been a HUGE bonus though.
The first four questions I had:
1. Why doesn’t alt-tab work right? Well, Alt-tilda does what I was missing, so I’m happy. I’m not going to download Witch, although that is nice to know about.
2. Why doesn’t a file open when I highlight it and hit enter? cmd-o works for me now.
3. how do you show the desktop? I turned expose on and now I just hit fn-F11. And it isn’t a temporary view, like a someone said above.
4. Why can’t I use the keyboard in the popup dialogs?..just have to change a preference and use tab to move the light-blue outline to your selection and then hit to select…enter will always select the default dark-blue selection. This is actually really nice.
I do think it would be a good idea for a switcher to just run OSX with no 3rd-party apps for awhile to see how much more OSX can do natively compared to windows. Windows users are used to needing another app to do something they want but OSX has much of what you already need. That being said, the first thing I did was install Quicksilver…this is the best app EVER! Macheist happened right when I bought so I dove in and now I really recommend the following:
1.Quicksilver (launcher at its simplest and an interface to almost everything else on your computer…I still only know a fraction of it’s powers)
2. Rapidweaver-(simple way to make web pages)
3. TextMate
4. Pathfinder (if you think Finder is lacking)
5. Daylite (CRM-if you run a business)
#37 luke says:Rolf, can you please explain further how you create that trigger in quicksilver?
#38 Simon Arch says:@Tony: “1. Install Quicksilver. Namo’s comments notwithstanding, it’s the single most powerful and useful third-party app you can install. Use it, learn it, love it.
No, no, no, no, NO. Learn how to use the OS BEFORE you install crutches like Quicksilver.
#39 Ken says:@luke
3. Does deleting an app remove it’s all associated files? Nope. The whole installation, uninstallation process in OS X is untidy, sure for some apps it’s easy as ABC but for some it’s a pain.
Actually, this is a painful process on Every computer platform I’ve ever used. Windows, HP-UX, Linux variants, Palm.
Uninstallers on Windows don’t remove everything (registry keys, temp files, additional directories, etc)
*nix variants… if you “install” something new, you run into dependency clashes, same goes when you want to “uninstall” something.
Palm - I remember installing something, deleting it and noticing that there was about a 1MB data file that went with it that I couldn’t remove.
OS X - more than likely something is in “Library/Prefrences” or “Library/Application Support”. Usually it’s documented somewhere.
Pick your poison. (Agreed - they all need work)
#40 Tony Steidler-Dennison says:Simon:
I think the switch to Mac for me was a bit easier, having come over from Linux, than it might be for a Windows user. I got very comfortable with the OS pretty quickly, including the Unix underpinnings. It took me a few weeks to even hear about Quicksilver. By that time, I was already familiar and comfortable with many of the other key aspects of OSX.
I don’t see Quicksilver as a crutch any more than I might see using a GUI tool to avoid learning the command line as a crutch. Both really are system enhancements. But, I do understand and appreciate the spirit of your point.
#41 Kurt says:@Show Desktop (Hide all Apps)
Fogive me if someone already mentioned this but it’s very easy to hide all open applications. If go to the finder (click on it in the dock or hold down the apple command key and tab to it) you can hide all open apps by using the key command ‘option + apple + H’. This works for all applications, it stand for hide others. You can also use ‘apple + H’ to hide the application your currently in.
Example: Say you have safari or explorer open as well as many other programs and all the windows are gettin annoying. Well while your in the program you want just hit ‘option + apple + H’ and all other applications will ‘hide’. It’s three keys I know but it’s really easy to hit ‘option + apple’ at the same time with your thumb. You can also go to the menu bar of the app and hit ‘hide others’ or ‘hide (app name)’.
The Mac OS is much more intuitive, if it works on this it will probably work on that too.
#42 Scott Gant says:Anyone ever use Spotlight to uninstall applications? Just type in the name of the application you want to uninstall, and it should show you all the files associated to that…such as preferences or folders. I’ve used it that way and it seems to work pretty well.
#43 bassplayer360 says:For window switching, the mighty mouse squeeze function works great but not at re-opening windows(app’s) dropped to the dock. Is there a quick way to open them without pointing and clicking?
#44 UGNN InfoManager says:Actually most of the responses above are all “geekish” responses — which could confuse a new switcher.
.
1) Take the short, simple tutorials in the “Start Up” booklet
.
2) Learn how to use “Help” (under the “help” menu)
.
3) Understand that nothing will break. You can’t hurt it
.
4) You need NO further software at this time.
. . . (maybe later once you’re comfortable with everything)
.
5) Join a user group.
#45 UGNN manager brother says:and the killer tip of the year in our school division for teachers doing tutorial or instructional documents….
a targeted screen capture with cross hairs mouse is: shift, control, command, #4
this gives you crosshairs mouse icon…whatever you mouse select goes to the clipboard for using in documents, emails, etc. TIP OF THE YEAR for Instructional Technology Resource Teachers and educators of all levels. We love our macs (and the intel windows running parrallels as well)!
#46 v jacobson says:Okay everyone - I had a MAC SE in college(yeah, 20 years ago), used PC’s at work for years, and now have an IMAC at home. Yes, it is very frustrating to learn to use because 1) previously intuitive ‘window’ type behaviors are not similar (in fact, Apple seems to go out of its way to use dissimilar semantics and common terms - like freaking ‘delete’ should be ‘delete’ - NOT “Move to Trash”. I mean, come on.) but also 2) because for a new computer user (new to ANY computer use), such as my husband, and unfortunately me as well in many ways, there is no easy tutorial or way to learn the BASICS about using the computer - what is on it, what things do, I mean forget sorting out shortcuts, we don’t know what the long way is yet! So - any advice as to where to go? (besides the built in ‘help’, which still requires a bit of knowledge to begin with, or #44’s suggestion to use the Start Up Booklet (where/what is this? we inherited this new IMAC from our 93 year old grandmother, so may not have all the stuff we should have with it . . . .).
Any help would be MUCH appreciated. I loved my MAC in college, and my main problem (and my husband’s) is probably more just learning basic computer info - what is what, where is it, then how do you best use it, etc., than necessarily adjusting to the IMAC, but one way or the other we could use some help.
Thanks,
V Jacobson
#47 Rick says:1. Your menu’s are (generally) available from the top of the screen, rather than attached to the windows.
2. To turn off your computer, you can go to the Apple menu (top left) and click shut-down, or Control-Eject. (More important for desktops)
3. Programs are now called applications, accessible from the Applications folder. (Located in the Applications folder on your operating system hard drive.)
4. Many shortcuts use the command (apple) key instead of Cntl.
5. Apple Finder was there before Windows, and many shortcuts have not changed. Apple was not simply just trying to be different. (what does Alt-F4 have to do with closing a program anyway?)
#48 Richard says:And don’t forget if your coming from a Windows machine the hash key # is found under Alt+3
I know .. it was part of my first account login under mac after switching from Windows, which I set on my Windows machine before the switch
(NB. The hash key # is also known as the pound key by those in the US)
#49 Kris says:What are some good websites or forums for a newbie to Macs to join? I’m looking for a nice community that offers tips and help.
#50 MacUser says:Thanks for the info!
http://www.videoprofessor.com
#51 terri-Anne Howell says:How do I maximize my screens?????
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