Any helpful hints on switching to a iMac..

[Billy Blazes]

I have been a PC guy for ever. (mostly because of gamming) But after being exposed to apple through my iPhone. I have decided to make the jump to an iMac. I am currently looking at the 27inch iMacs. And expect to make the jump real soon. I really only expect to bring over a few word docs,some pics and my iTunes. Does anyone have any hints or tricks to make the transition smooth. Are there any helpful transition guides or software I should be looking at? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanx
Billy

 

[miles01110]

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

 

[Vantage Point]

when I switched I picked up this book form Amazon - Switching to Mac the Snow Leopard Edition

I also downloaded the trial version of iWorks 09 to see if I could live with that instead of MS Office. I loved it and now use it regularly

 

[DougY]

Just do it!

I have been a PC guy for ever. (mostly because of gamming) But after being exposed to apple through my iPhone. I have decided to make the jump to an iMac. I am currently looking at the 27inch iMacs. And expect to make the jump real soon. I really only expect to bring over a few word docs,some pics and my iTunes. Does anyone have any hints or tricks to make the transition smooth. Are there any helpful transition guides or software I should be looking at? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanx
Billy

I also was a PC user for decades, bought my first iMac back in January, and will NEVER own a PC again! This iMac is the best computer I have ever had. The machine is great, the OS is great and the folks at the local Apple Store who have helped me on my One to One sessions have been great. Its a no brainer.

 

[AlexisV]

I also was a PC user for decades, bought my first iMac back in January, and will NEVER own a PC again! This iMac is the best computer I have ever had. The machine is great, the OS is great

Snap!

 

[Billy Blazes]

Thanx everybody for the posts. Vantage Point thanx for the book recommendation. Already ordered from Amazon. Seems everybody there likes it to. It received 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Billy

 

[spinnerlys]

Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.

Pro tips - tips made available by Apple for easier ways of doing certain tasks​

Mac Guides - tutorials, product guides and more​

"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" created by mad jew in 2006​

 

[Gregg2]

My Tips for new Mac users:

You cannot cut and paste files in the Finder as you can in Explorer. To move or copy a file from one place to another, the Mac way is to open both the Target and Source folders, then drag and drop the file or folder. There are nuances depending on where the Target folder is. For example, hold down Option while dragging a file to copy it to a folder on the same volume.

The green button at the top does not expand the window to fill your screen. Very few windows need the full screen, so what that does is expand the window so it's large enough to handle the content. This will almost always leave some background visible.



You cannot see the size of a file or folder in Icon View by holding your mouse over it. You must highlight the item and use Get Info. Or you can use List View, which will show you the size. There are at least four ways to access Get Info, three of them involving the mouse.

If you have two folders with the same name, but have a few differences between the contents of same, don't move one to the enclosing folder of the other. OSX will not automatically merge the contents of the two folders. Instead, it will overwrite the target folder with the one you're moving. The differences in the target folder will be lost forever. You will be prompted to confirm that you want to overwrite. Be sure you know what that means before saying yes!

 

[Shyfty]

You cannot cut and paste files in the Finder as you can in Explorer. To move or copy a file from one place to another, the Mac way is to open both the Target and Source folders, then drag and drop the file or folder.

I copy/paste files and folders regularly using command+c/command+v. I find it easier than having multiple windows open, but whatever works for you.

The biggest issue for me was learning the keystrokes and discovering the shortcuts, but that's what is so great about places like this. If you feel that there should be an easier way to do something, there probably is, and a quick Google search will usually help you find a faster solution.

Other than that, it was a little tricky getting my head around how everything is set out. Basically, if you just park yourself in front of it for a couple of days, install some software, familiarise yourself with the way the computer works, you should be up and running in no time.

 

[Gregg2]

I copy/paste files and folders regularly using command+c/command+v. I find it easier than having multiple windows open, but whatever works for you.

Yeah, even though you quoted me....

It doesn't say copy/paste, it says cut and paste. You can't do that.

 

[Stonefly]

Yeah, even though you quoted me....

It doesn't say copy/paste, it says cut and paste. You can't do that.

Mine says copy/paste or copy (and whatever file name it is) and paste item when its a file when I right click on something. The keyboard commands mentioned works well also.

 

[R94N]

Hey, I'm sure you'll find that Macs are brilliant I've had mine since Christmas '09 and I'm never going back!

One thing that I would say is that, like with all software, make sure you keep your Mac updated. iWork will handle .doc or .docx files created in MS Word just fine, I think, but you can always use MS Office for Mac instead if you want. I personally prefer iWork but I use Office because it was bundled with my computer The Mac OS recently had a large update to 10.6.4, as well as a new version of iTunes so I think as soon as you get your new iMac run Software Update to get them.

As to security/viruses and the like, personally, I'd say don't bother getting antivirus and a lot of other Mac users would probably agree. Provided you make sure you use the computer 'safely' - i.e. don't go on sites you don't trust, don't allow random stuff you're not sure about to be installed - don't open unsolicited Email - the like. If you get antivirus it'll only slow your Mac down, but if you're planning on sharing a lot of files etc. with Windows users you might want a free antivirus that'll scan for Windows viruses so you don't pass them on, as Macs can get Windows viruses but it doesn't affect them, and they can pass them on.

Sorry for the long post, but I hope it's helpful at least!

 

[Shyfty]

Yeah, even though you quoted me....

It doesn't say copy/paste, it says cut and paste. You can't do that.

I was referring more to the fact that you said you had to drag and drop folders.

The rest was intended for the OP.

 

[Gregg2]

Mine says copy/paste or copy (and whatever file name it is) and paste item when its a file when I right click on something. The keyboard commands mentioned works well also.

Yeah, I get what you do. I'm just telling the recent Windows user that one cannot cut and paste files in the Finder like you can in Windows Explorer. (See the Cut line in your screen shot?) I don't think you're noticing the distinction between Cut and Copy. It's not the same thing. What you do is not what Windows users are used to. It leaves the file behind and makes a copy. If you don't want the file in the original spot, you have to go back and move it to the Trash. What they are used to doesn't require them do that. It's a two step process in Finder that Explorer accomplishes in one step.