forgeting pc habbits

[nukiduz]

hi to all. i'm a recent switcher and i'm getting my first mac on a day or so. i have been a pc user since a long time and, inevitably, i've adquired some pc habbits like thinking of directories, install/unistaling issues... i'd like to know if you could give me just some indications to start thinking the mac os x way cause i'm getting a bit confused about virtual devices that appear in the desktop and other stuff that i'm not familiarized to. thanks to all for your help

ps: sorry for my english...

 

[Queso]

Your best way forward is to continue asking questions on forums like these. Every switcher goes through the process of "unlearning" Windows. I know it's frustrating when you're going through it, but as so many of us have been through this ourselves, there will always be people ready to answer your questions.

There are also reference books like "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual" or "Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual" by David Pogue if you want something close to hand. Definitely worth a purchase.

 

[carfac]

I second dynamicv- I am a recent switcher... and Mac OS X: The Missing Manual is about the best thing you can do for yourself. Read it before you get your mac, and keep it next to you as you first start!

 

[katie ta achoo]

OS X, I've found is pretty much like windows, but prettier and less crash-tastic.

Most of the keyboard shortcuts are the same, like copy, paste, cut. (use command ? instead of ctrl, though.)

Exposé is set at F9 F10 and F11 and dashboard is set at F12 by default.

ctrl +alt + command +8 = inverse screen

Just play around; you'll get it.

 

[nukiduz]

thanks for the answers... i'll try to find out that book if it's in spanish. as i mentioned, the thing that confuses me most is when you install some app and you get a new virtual device on you desktop. i really don't get it. what's this for?

 

[nukiduz]

oh, sure. another question: what is it better for my laptop's battery life? a 5400rpm or a 7200rpm hd? thanks

 

[gauchogolfer]

thanks for the answers... i'll try to find out that book if it's in spanish. as i mentioned, the thing that confuses me most is when you install some app and you get a new virtual device on you desktop. i really don't get it. what's this for?

The disk image you see is where the file is located to install your application. Typically you drag the .app file to the applications folder to install. Once it's installed, you can unmount (eject) the disk image, and move it to the trash.

 

[gauchogolfer]

oh, sure. another question: what is it better for my laptop's battery life? a 5400rpm or a 7200rpm hd? thanks

Since a 5400 rpm drive spins at a lower rate, it's typically easier on your battery. It depends on how much time you spend actively accessing your hard drive while on battery power, but it could add ~10-20 % perhaps to your battery lifetime. Of course, your mileage may vary

 

[Queso]

oh, sure. another question: what is it better for my laptop's battery life? a 5400rpm or a 7200rpm hd? thanks

The 5400 is definitely better. Not just the slower spin speed, but the lower heat means the fan is less likely to start spinning.

 

[nukiduz]

thanks gauchogolfer. i think i got it but i still don't see why isn't simplier as i don't understand the need to mount a disk image that you will unmount later.

 

[Togglehead]

"mounting" an image simply means the computer is pretending its a disk in your drive....Macs can read .img and .bin files, while windows cannot, so it just unpacks all the data for the install and you put it in one folder....almost ANY folder acutally...as long as that app folder is on your hard drive...the app wil run.

no registry, no crazy files everywhere....no bit rot

 

[Eric5h5]

i think i got it but i still don't see why isn't simplier as i don't understand the need to mount a disk image that you will unmount later.

Think of it like putting a disk in your computer. You put the disk in, copy the file(s) over, and then eject the disk. The disk image is the same thing, except you're not using a physical disk. It's just a convenient way of packaging files.

--Eric

 

[cb911]

i would say it's not necessary to 'un-learn' things.

i use a Mac at home and a PC at work (actually, PC's at home as well). at first i found myself pressing the 'Alt' key on the PC keyboards as I was used to using the 'Apple' key on my Mac. But all it takes is for you to get used to it.

It's kind of like people who can touch-type on both the DVORAK and QWERTY layout keyboards... there's all the knowlege for each in your head, just a mental differentiation between the two.

give it some time. you'll get 'used' to it.

 

[Applespider]

The first week I had my Powerbook, I slavishly dragged my windows to make them closer to a Windows style Full Screen effect. Used to drive me batty.

Now, most of my Windows windows are work, are set to not be full screen

The other thing I had trouble with was remembering about drag and drop. I'd got so used on Windows to it not working as expected (so avoiding it) that it took a while to think of drag and drop as the primary action on the Mac. I love being able to drag a picture from a web page to the Mail icon in the Dock and have it just drop it into an email ready for me to address.

 

[annk]

Think of it like putting a disk in your computer. You put the disk in, copy the file(s) over, and then eject the disk. The disk image is the same thing, except you're not using a physical disk. It's just a convenient way of packaging files.

--Eric

This question gets asked a lot, and this is by far the best answer I've ever seen Can it get worked into one of the guides, I wonder.

 

[Cloudgazer]

As a little wise green man once said:
"You've got to unlearn what you have learned."

Within a few days of using a mac you'll try activating expose on your PC by sliding your mouse into the corner of the screen.
"Doh! It just don't work"

It happens ot me all the time.

 

[nukiduz]

This question gets asked a lot, and this is by far the best answer I've ever seen Can it get worked into one of the guides, I wonder.

yeah i think the same. it really made me understand this question. thanks.

 

[theheyes]

When I switched not long ago, I ordered a book on OS X Tiger when I got my mac. The first day or so I was thinking "ok, how do I uninstall stuff?" and "how do I defrag the thing?" and "if I eject this will my application still work?"

I just kept playing around with it, occasionally looking online for help. To be honest by the time the book arrived I had pretty much worked everything out for myself, but I would still recommend reading through one of the books mentioned earlier. It will give you the reassurance that youre not doing something fundamentally stupid with the OS.

The most important thing I think about the new OS is grasping a handful of concepts like mounting images, file permissions and the lack of a registry. Once you understand these youre well on your way.

 

[TonyRush]

Ok, here's a situation.

I installed Messenger for Mac as part of Office and I use it for business. Since installing, I now have a "virtual disk" on my desktop called "Microsoft Messenger".

If I try to eject it, it says "This application is in use".

So, I have this virtual disk that I can't get rid of. What do I need to do to use Messenger and get rid of this mounted item?

Thanks!
Tony

 

[notjustjay]

So, I have this virtual disk that I can't get rid of. What do I need to do to use Messenger and get rid of this mounted item?

You need to copy the MSN Messenger program from the "virtual disk" onto your hard drive somewhere. Typically in your Applications folder, but you can put it wherever you want.

Then you can unmount the disk image and get rid of it for good.

 

[notjustjay]

I have had the privilege of sharing the Mac experience with a few people, several of whom have sprung for PowerBooks. There is always a transition period where they can't figure out how to do something that they did frequently on Windows.

My advice to them was this: Forget how you did it in Windows. Step back from the situation and ask yourself, "What would be the most sensible way to do this?" Give that a try and you might be surprised by the results!

Apparently that advice worked for them in many situations (I'm guessing related to drag-and-drop functions).

 

[mduser63]

Ok, here's a situation.

I installed Messenger for Mac as part of Office and I use it for business. Since installing, I now have a "virtual disk" on my desktop called "Microsoft Messenger".

If I try to eject it, it says "This application is in use".

So, I have this virtual disk that I can't get rid of. What do I need to do to use Messenger and get rid of this mounted item?

Thanks!
Tony

My brother has the same problem. For some reason I cannot convince him to properly install Messenger and run it from his Applications folder, so he's always got that disk image on his desktop. First, if Messenger is open, quit it. Next, drag Messenger (the app) from the disk image to your Applications folder. Then you can drag the white disk image to your trash (which will change to eject). At this point you can also delete the .dmg file from your desktop if you'd like.

 

[Linkjeniero]

You need to copy the MSN Messenger program from the "virtual disk" onto your hard drive somewhere. Typically in your Applications folder, but you can put it wherever you want.

Then you can unmount the disk image and get rid of it for good.

Remember to close MSN before doing that, else it won't let you eject the image. After you're done, you can erase the image if you want; it's no longer necessary.

 

[TonyRush]

Thanks guys -- that was simple enough! It's done.

I think part of the challenge is that it's taking some time for me to recognize which icons are applications and which are setup files and which are application files.

Thanks for your assistance!
Tony

 

[cb911]

it's probably handy to have the Get Info window open when you're sorting out new files. that'll help you to see the filetype, if it's an Application or not.

just something to be aware of, i think one of the 'proof-of-concept' trojans/virus actally used a Text file icon, so you're expecting it to open in Text Edit. but it was actaully an application or shell script that would execute some undesirable commands. pays to be attentive to what files you put on your system.