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Is there a way to get a tutorial for how to use a mac in general?

G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
I haven't used a mac in years and years and when I last did (mac plus) I didn't really know what I was doing then, either.

Is there some "tutorial" built into the computer besides just the little baloon words when you click on an icon?

Also, how do I get my keyboard to light up? When I first took the machine out of sleep mode a while ago, I noticed that the light would come on whenever I passed my hand over the left side of the keyboard but then it got dark immediately after I took my hand away. I wonder what that was all about! I'm sure I'll figure it out soon enough but why not ask since I'm here?! ;)
 
I don't know of any specific tutorial, but I'm sure we'd all be happy to help you out with any questions you might have. Tips that I think might be useful right off the bat:

Learn to use expose, its great. Usually it is set up to be f9-f11. Try them out right now! (This assumes you have at least 10.3)

Next, if you are coming from windows, you might find this useful - drag your 'Applications' folder to the dock just beside your trash can (not in the trash can mind you!). If you dragged it to the right spot then you will get a link to it in your dock, and when you right click on it (ctrl-click if you have no mouse) then it will pop up what is similar to the start menu in Windows.

Another tip I'd give to a new mac person is to use the Disk Utility (use spot light to find it if you have 10.4 - that's 'apple button - space') and repair your permissions after applying patches, or just if a program isn't working that well. It fixes a surprising number of problems. (...yes I know the apple button is called 'command' :) )

Last tip - don't fight the Mac! When I moved from Windows I was fighting my Mac when it tried to do things for me because Windows does such a poor job of 'helping' you. You might find that if you just give in to the 'Mac way' that things are better then the way you would have done them on your own. For example, let iTunes manage your music. That took some time for me to give into, but it does a much better job of it then I ever did and now I just get to play the music and not fiddle with my collection (well, not as much anyway)

Your lights on your keyboard light up when the room is dark. They got bright when you passed you hand over because you were blocking the light.

Good luck!


(PS: Please Mac folks if you don't like my tips, have mercy. I'm just passing on what I would have found useful 3 years ago when I converted).
 
Thanks so much Bug, and also Longwood!

Bug, I don't understand every single thing you explained (I'm really quite computer illiterate!) but hopefully I'll learn. E.g. I don't know what expose is and my manual doesn't seem to want to explain what it is. I like how quickly the window disappears if I hit F11...is that basically like minimizing nice and quickly? Yeah I finally figured out the keyboard lighting problem; before I didn't realize the lights in the room had to be dim enough for it to even work. Wow I just love typing on this keyboard. it's so easy and quick (I may be computer illiterate but I'm a damn fast typist!).
 
Greenone said:
E.g. I don't know what expose is and my manual doesn't seem to want to explain what it is. I like how quickly the window disappears if I hit F11...
Click to expand...


Well, that's a part of Exposé. You can also use F9 to show all open windows and F10 to show all windows of the selected app. It's something that's easier to do than to explain so just play around with it and enjoy. :)

Glad to hear you're loving the new Mac, they're simply awesome. Any specific questions can get answered pretty quickly 'round here so feel free to ask. :)

Check out Apple's Exposé page.
 
Ok here's a quick rundown tutorial:
When you start up the Mac, you see an Apple logo in the middle of the screen, then a wheel at the bottom spinning, this means the OS is loading. Too basic? I thought so too.

You more than likely have it set to automatically login (this happens when you install the OS no matter what, it automatically logs in as an already created user). At the bottom is the dock. It has a lot of Apps, if there is a black arrow under the App that means its open. Finder always will be, unless you force it to quit or another utility and that - ignore that though, as you won't need to know that.
If you double click on Macintosh HD (all new Macs have the Hard drive volume called that) and double click on Volumes in the Finder window that appears (that's the grey brushed Window). Now in the Applications folder, you have some folders and some applications (which are custom icons). You can double click on any of those and see what the app is. iPhoto - organize photos. iTunes - music. Garageband - Music creation. etc.
Disk Utility which is located in Utilities in Applications in Macintosh HD, is the best utility to use if something doesn't work. You open it, double click, and choose the Macintosh HD volume, then click Repair Permissions.
The dock and other preferences. Click the System preferences icon in the dock. Its the one that is a light switch with an apple logo on it. Choose any of those menu's to change those settings. The Dock you can position, change size, or hide it.
When an application is opening you'll see the icon of it bouncing at a steady rate. If an application is calling your attention you see it bounce at a gravitational rate. Google how to use a macintosh.


WAIT WAIT WAIT: GO HERE: http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

Apple's tutorial to their own OS.
 
slooksterPSV said:
Ok here's a quick rundown tutorial:
When you start up the Mac, you see an Apple logo in the middle of the screen, then a wheel at the bottom spinning, this means the OS is loading. Too basic? I thought so too.

You more than likely have it set to automatically login (this happens when you install the OS no matter what, it automatically logs in as an already created user). At the bottom is the dock. It has a lot of Apps, if there is a black arrow under the App that means its open. Finder always will be, unless you force it to quit or another utility and that - ignore that though, as you won't need to know that.
If you double click on Macintosh HD (all new Macs have the Hard drive volume called that) and double click on Volumes in the Finder window that appears (that's the grey brushed Window). Now in the Applications folder, you have some folders and some applications (which are custom icons). You can double click on any of those and see what the app is. iPhoto - organize photos. iTunes - music. Garageband - Music creation. etc.
Disk Utility which is located in Utilities in Applications in Macintosh HD, is the best utility to use if something doesn't work. You open it, double click, and choose the Macintosh HD volume, then click Repair Permissions.
The dock and other preferences. Click the System preferences icon in the dock. Its the one that is a light switch with an apple logo on it. Choose any of those menu's to change those settings. The Dock you can position, change size, or hide it.
When an application is opening you'll see the icon of it bouncing at a steady rate. If an application is calling your attention you see it bounce at a gravitational rate. Google how to use a macintosh.


WAIT WAIT WAIT: GO HERE: http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

Apple's tutorial to their own OS.
Click to expand...

Wow - thanks so much Slookster! That appears to be exactly what I was looking for (though the links the others have supplied also will be useful) - that's great!

Q: I've been saving links I like under Bookmark. That's like "favorites" on a PC, right? Once I have the time to explore Mac 101 I'm sure it will make more sense (the details, e.g. where in bookmark to put things).

You've been such a help - all of you - thanks! If anyone else has anything particularly useful, handy, obvious but necessary and therefore worth sharing, please add to this growing list!
 
Greenone said:
Wow - thanks so much Slookster! That appears to be exactly what I was looking for (though the links the others have supplied also will be useful) - that's great!

Q: I've been saving links I like under Bookmark. That's like "favorites" on a PC, right? Once I have the time to explore Mac 101 I'm sure it will make more sense (the details, e.g. where in bookmark to put things).

You've been such a help - all of you - thanks! If anyone else has anything particularly useful, handy, obvious but necessary and therefore worth sharing, please add to this growing list!
Click to expand...
Yup bookmarks are the equivalent of Internet Explorers favorites. Internet Explorer used to be on Mac OS X. I think you can visit Micro$ofts website and download it, but you know how bad IE is. Safari, Firefox, and Camino are the best web browsers for Mac OS X.
 
I found the best way to get used to the Mac is to play around with it. Try new things and see what happens. Also, someone else said this is in another thread, but I forget who: if you think you can do something (such as drag and drop a file into another window), then you probably can. I think that's a nice piece of advice. Also, definitely take advantage of the Mac 101 tutorials that were posted here. I didn't even know Apple made their own tuts, which is pretty cool. I have no use for them, but it'll defintely come in handy for new switchers. I should show the tuts to my mom... :p

But yeah, glad to have you join the community! You'll definitely feel at home here. :)
 
Awww shucks...thanks everyone. I really appreciate the PATIENCE you guys are showing and your kindness! I hope to know half of what most of you do, someday (okay a quarter of what you know will do).
 
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