[Advice] After 15+ years on a PC, Working on a Mac

I bought my first MacBook 5 years ago and it is still running like a Champ. Couldn't be happier. My biggest complaint, when i was a University student, primitive software tended not to be compatible so I'd have to go up to the Library to use a Windows computer.

That is literally, in five years, my biggest complaint. Also, I highly advise picking up Applecare. I forget how much it costs now, but i've paid for it multiple times with replacement parts that are covered by the plan, which, I should add, all have been replaced that day. I bring in my macbook to the mall's Apple store, drop it off, go find stuff to look at for a couple hours, come back- its done.

As for getting the shortcuts down. Its all about the command key. I suggest reviewing this list to learn them.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1343

 

A general rule to remember is that Macs use the Command Key (aka the Apple Key....with the little "⌘" on it) the same way Windows uses the Control Key functions (i.e. Control + C = copy is now ⌘ + C = copy).

Here's a good place to start:

Apple Keyboard Shortcuts

And congrats on your purchase. You ought to be very happy once you get used to Mac.

 

And there are a bunch of very useful pages on Apple's website, and there are also a million YouTube videos that walk you through various aspects of the Mac OS, so search away.

 

Semi-related question: Is this website legit?
http://www.freewebstore.org/appleforcheap

A friend emailed this to me and it sounds too good to be true. Brand new MacBook Air for about $500?? What do yall think?

 

Sounds and looks like a scam to me.

 

Could you sound more nerdy? You make it seem like you're marriage is over after 15 years.

 

This thread might be helpful to you.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=184314&highlight=macbook

 

Once you've had Mac, you'll never go back.

A phrase that applies equally effectively to computer users and NBA teams.

:grin:

 

LMAO! Good one!

 

I have been working in the IT industry for a long time and 98% of them being on the PC. Last year I got a macbook and I have been thoroughly pleased with everthing.

It has a learning curve but once you get used to it you will really realize how easy everything is to do and how fluid it has been made.

The one thing that really sold me was the fact that with every laptop I have had I could not stand the trackpad and always used a trackball or mouse. With the touchpad on the Mac, it's another story. I have grown to love it! All of the multi finger jesters etc make this thing work so much better.

Don't get me wrong I still do a lot of stuff on the PC but the Mac holds it's own or better in many areas in my opinion.

 

Two words: mighty mouse

 

Expose. Learn it. Love it.

 

mac runs windows better than a pc with bootcamp or vmware fusion

 

If in all the dropdown menus across the top (file, edit, view, etc)...in just about every program on the mac - it will tell you the keyboard shortcut for that command

the shortcuts I miss on this Dell are:

Command-W for closing the current window
Command-H for Hiding the current program (this works in most programs except After Effects)

 

I got my mac 2 years ago and it has given me nothing but problems, as soon as I graduate, I am going back to PC

 

I did the same thing about 3 years ago. I still primarily work with PCs and use a Windows 7 PC at home along with my Macbook, but I have a greater appreciation for OS X than I would have had. Once you have the actual experience of working with more than one system extensively you can ignore the usual nerdrage morons that make up OS Warz and judge for yourself. Some things to note:

*The menu bar (across the top) is your friend. Because a program doesn't close simply because you close the window, the menu bar will give you a better idea of what you have running. Much like clicking the top of a window in Windows to make it 'active', the menu bar will switch to tell you the name of the program you are 'active' in. This way you have all the commands available for that program.

Once you are used to that, you can use a few key shortcuts to make navigating easy. Apple(CMD)-Q to quit a program, for example. You can also CMD-Tab to quickly switch through your programs that are open.

*If you see a glowing dot under a program icon in the bottom bar that means that program is still open. CMD-Tab and keep tabbing to get to that program and make it 'active'.

*As someone mentioned, Expose is awesome. Windows 7 has implemented a version of this now but on the mac you can set up either a button combination or a 'hot corner' of the screen to kick it on. It quickly spreads out every window you have open so you can click it and jump to that program.

*All of the shortcut commands and setup are in System Preferences. You can get to it by clicking on the Apple symbol in the upper lefthand corner.

*Get used to CMD+space bar. This brings up a quick spotlight search, which is the magnifying glass in the upper right. Windows 7 has also started using this quick system search in the Run option of the Start menu. You can start typing and it will do a quick search, allowing you to quickly start a program or file.

*There are a ton of programs and software out there - most of it free. Lifehacker just put up a nice list of some stuff they like in fact.
http://lifehacker.com/5562864/lifeh...essential-list-of-the-best-free-mac-downloads
But really there's a lot of stuff out there. You should have few problems getting things done on the mac.

 

Thread will disintegrate into a pissing match between PC vs Mac fanboys in 3, 2, 1.....

 

I honestly think the PC users here (and anywhere else for that matter) are more defensive while the Mac users just want to praise a machine that gives them less problem than a PC did.

I made the switch last year and love my macbook but I switch back to my PC from time to time because I have photoshop on my thinkpad

 

That's not effing true and you know it. All you MAC fanboys need to get off that pedestal.