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Just Got A Macbook

kimcheeboi65

kimcheeboi65

macrumors member
Original poster
May 8, 2006
54
0
I'm brand new to apple.

I've been a PC user for so long that I'm very unfamiliar with the Apple Mac OX.

Can anyone give me some tips?

some good softwares, hot keys (for example, windows+d to minimize everything, etc), some simple tweaks on mac to make things easier, etc...

also, i got an software update when I started the computer. Which ones should I update other than necessary ones such as Mac OX 10.4.7??

List of all Updates.
J2SE 5.0 Release 5
GarageBand Update
iDVD update
iMovie HD Update
Keynote Update
Pages Update
iPhoto Update
iWeb Update
Quicktime
iPod Updater 6/28/06
Itunes
Mac OS X Update


--------------------------------
THanks for the replies everyone.

Also, what are some good apps that are common on apple?

should i use firefox on mac ox?
 
Download all the updates - they're necessary to keep your system in top shape. It seems like a lot now but once this first batch is out of the way you can probably get by with running Software Update once a month. Don't skip any updates though, they're all important.

Try to forget your Windows ways and start thinking the Apple way, for example, most of the stuff you would've used the control key for on Windows (ctrl-c for copy etc) has been replaced by the Apple (or more correctly termed "command") key, that's the one with the Apple and the Infinite Loop icon on it next to your space bar, so ctrl-c becomes command-c, paste becomes command-v etc.

To navigate OSX quickly and efficently, get really well acquainted with your keyboard. To get to your home folder, instead of fiddling around with the mouse, just alt-tab (yep, that one carries over) to the Finder and hit shift-command-h holding the keys down as you go, it will open up your Home folder. For your Utilities folder, it's command-shift-u.

Remember, in OSX, closing the window doesn't mean your closing the program. To correctly close a program just hit command-q or navigate to the menu item "program name" (insert program name of the program you are using) and click on "Quit Program"

To navigate through open programs use alt-tab, to have a graphical view of all open windows just hit F9, for a graphical view of all open windows in a selected program hit F10 and to clear away all open windows and display the desktop hit F11. You can do some cool combinations with F9 and F10 by hitting TAB when the windows are displayed - just play around.

For some real fun, hold down SHIFT when you use Exposé (F9, F10 and F11) or when you click on the yellow button to minimise a window or when you invoke Dashboard - it will do everything in slow motion. A really fun party trick is to open a movie in Quicktime, start it playing then hold down SHIFT and minimise the window, you can watch the movie contort into the "Genie Effect" as the window minimises and the movie continues to play as it squeezes down into the dock, it will then keep playing in the dock. You can then hold down SHIFT and click on the movie in the dock and watch the whole thing in reverse.

Definitely go to the beginners pages and Apple's Mac 101 website - there are plenty of tips there.
 
Chundles said:
For some real fun, hold down SHIFT when you use Exposé (F9, F10 and F11) or when you click on the yellow button to minimise a window or when you invoke Dashboard - it will do everything in slow motion. A really fun party trick is to open a movie in Quicktime, start it playing then hold down SHIFT and minimise the window, you can watch the movie contort into the "Genie Effect" as the window minimises and the movie continues to play as it squeezes down into the dock, it will then keep playing in the dock. You can then hold down SHIFT and click on the movie in the dock and watch the whole thing in reverse.

Definitely go to the beginners pages and Apple's Mac 101 website - there are plenty of tips there.
Click to expand...

Hahah, as a recent switcher that is awesome! Thanks! :D
 
Hi,

I'm a recent switcher as well. I've only had my Macbook for just over one week but have loved it ever since I opened the box! I'm going to post my thoughts on it shortly in another post, but thought I would wish you well with yours and hope you have hours fun. I have ... now I just have to find that charger again!
 
Congrats on going mac!

I have recently returned after a 10 year break. The one major issue I have is not using the right keys when I want to copy or paste something. I will hit alt-C instead of command-C. That is the one silly thing that seems to trip me up all the time.

Good luck and have fun!
 
I ALWAYS update all of my programs because it always makes everything better it seems...

its not windoes where you dont actually need it.
 
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