Switch from Windows to Mac OS X

There are a variety of reasons one may wish to switch from Windows to OS X; perhaps a family member just bought you a new Apple computer, or maybe you recently got a job in an office that only uses Macs. Whatever the reason may be, this article will help you use your Mac as efficiently as you would your Windows computer.

Steps

  1. Find the dock. This is an essential part of OS X, similar to Windows' Start Menu and Taskbar. The Dock is how you launch new applications, or switch to ones that are already open. It is also where a window goes when minimized. It is usually at the bottom of the screen, though it can be moved to either side. The Trash Can is also here, which functions exactly as the Windows Recycle Bin.
  2. Learn some of the basic differences between Windows and OS X.
    • For example, the window control buttons in OS X are on the left side of the window instead of the right, and the green button makes the window enter full screen mode.
    • To right-click on a Mac without a right-click button, you can either click and hold an item you'd like a menu for, you can hold the Control button while you click (which works more often), or you can enable right-click in System Preferences > Mouse. The Magic Mouse will sense the position of your finger and allow you to right-click.
    • If you use keyboard shortcuts, learn the new ones on a Mac. For the most part, they're nearly identical to Windows shortcuts, except that where Windows uses the Control Key, Macs use the Command Key, which is next to the spacebar, and is marked with a ⌘. The function keys (F1-F16) also add extra quick features.
  3. Learn to use Finder. This operates a lot like Windows Explorer, and for daily tasks, you should be able to adjust to it easily. Remember the different names for folders on a Mac, "My Documents" is "Home", "Program Files" is "Applications", etc.
  4. Familiarize yourself with the Apple Menu. It is toggled by the apple icon in the top left-hand corner of the screen, and is the button you will need to click to shut down the computer, put it to sleep, access the System Preferences, and Force Quit applications, as well as several other tasks.
  5. Be aware of which application you're working in when you use the menu bar. In Windows, the menu bar for each application appears in the window itself. In OS X, the menu bar for the selected window always appears at the top of the screen. The application's name appears in bold, and by clicking on it, you can control the app's preferences and other general tasks.
  6. Learn to kill crashed programs. Like any operating system, sometimes programs crash unexpectedly. When that happens, press ⌘S (Command+S) to attempt to save your work. Then click and hold the crashed program's icon on the dock. From the pop-out menu, click Force Quit. If this doesn't work, you can press ⌥⌘Esc (Command+Option+Esc). This is the equivalent of Windows' Control+Alt+Delete.
  7. Take advantage of System Preferences. You can open it by clicking on the Apple Menu and selecting System Preferences. Similar to Windows' Control Panel, System Preferences allows you to oversee every aspect of your Mac, from security, to hardware, to design. There are even some features that can make OS X more comfortable to Windows users. Make your Mac your own!



Tips

  • Before buying a Mac, try using one at an Apple Store, or a friends house.
  • To add new application launchers to the Dock, simply drag them to the position you want them to reside. To remove a launcher, just drag it out.
  • Refer to the documentation, Apple  Help, and Apple's Knowledge Base (See links). If you need more help, and are still covered by Apple's 90 Day Warranty, or AppleCare, call 1-800-MY-APPLE in the US and Canada.

Warnings

  • When an application is installed, its icon may not be added to the Dock. To add it, just go to the Applications folder, find the name and icon of that application, and drag it anywhere into the Dock. To remove it from the dock, simply drag it out of the Dock and a puff of smoke, together with an audible poof, will appear to tell you that the operation was successful.
  • Removing an application from the Dock does not uninstall it.
  • Many people start using OS X and decide they hate it because they can't get anything done. Although with the new Mac OS PC applications can be used with BootCamp. As with anything new, you will need to take your time to learn this new system. With a Mac everything is plug in and play there is not much setup needed and no extra devices needed.
  • A common misconception is that Macintosh computers cannot get viruses or be hacked. They are by no means 100% impenetrable. Just to be safe, make sure to enable the built-in firewall in the Sharing pane of the System Preferences windows. Third-party anti-virus programs and firewalls, however, are not necessary and usually are more annoying than useful.
  • The programs and accessories you use for your Windows computer may not be compatible with Mac OS X, be sure to check the documentation. Sometimes you may have to buy software you already own again to use it on a Mac, such as Photoshop or Microsoft Word.
  • When an application is closed (by either clicking the red X button on the top left corner of its window or typing Command-W), it stays running in the background. To stop it, click the application's name in the menubar, then Quit. Alternatively, press Command+Q, or Control-click it's icon in the Dock and click Quit. Leaving an application running can use a lot of your system's memory.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Switch_from_Windows_to_Mac_OS_X&oldid=363921"