I have been a long time Windows user since Windows 3.0. I decided to get a Mac to learn how to use the OS.
There are some differences. Moving, copying and cutting files is different. If the source and destination are on the same machine dragging and dropping copies. If the source and destination are on different locations that are not local, say an external drive, the files are moved. I think. I have not nailed down the exact scenarios.
Dragging between different volumes copies. Dragging between folders on the same volume usually moves (permissions can affect this). Holding down the Option key when dragging forces a copy instead of a move. Holding down option and command while dragging creates an alias (link).
CTL-X, CTL-C, CTL-V don't exist. You have to use Command-X, etc. instead. I find this annoying because the keys are too close. Or it is just a problem of muscle memory.
...and Mac users moving to Windows feel the same in reverse. It's a muscle memory thing.
Clicking on the Red dot in the corner does not really close the app. The app icon must be dragged to the trash to close the app.
No!!! Dragging the app icon to the trash deletes the app from your computer.
Compared to the Mac, Windows adds unnecessary windowing layers. It's gotten better - and more Mac-like - over the years, but it's still convoluted. The Mac is simple. Generally speaking, an app runs until you select Quit from the app's File menu. Closing a window (clicking the red dot) is not the same as quitting an app. Unfortunately some apps do not follow this convention, including some Apple apps. If you click the red dot in Photos, the app does in fact quit.
Apple used to be a lot more disciplined when it comes to UI and app behavior. Once Johnny Ive took over user interface, everything really suffered (so glad that overrated hack is gone!!!). Most Mac apps still follow the tried and true convention of running until you quit them via the File menu.
Unplugging an external drive will produce an error message. Instead of unplugging the external device must be drug to the trash.
You need to unmount a volume before disconnecting it. This is a safety measure more than anything else. What if you have an open file on that volume and just unplug it? Obviously Apple can't prevent a user from simply unplugging, but requiring the user to press the little eject button in the Finder sidebar (or drag to the trash) keeps the user from ejecting volumes with open files, thus preventing possible corruption or data loss. It's a best practices kind of thing. So they nag you if you don't do it.
Dot files. Ugh. Any file that is accessed, or created on the Mac, will create a "." Dot file. It has something to do with determining file properties and indexing. A thumb drive with 500 files will have 500 dot files on the external drive if those files have been touched on the Mac.
What are dot files?
The integration between the Mac, iPhone and iPad is excellent. Creating a Note, creating a photo, etc. and that will be synced to the other devices. It is possible to remove a photo on the Mac and have it also removed on the iPhone.
This is one of Apple's biggest selling points. If you use multiple devices, they all sync very nicely without any user interaction.
The delete key functions differently. Using the delete key on the Mac deletes to the left of the cursor and moves the cursor to the left. On the Windows platform the delete key deletes to the right of the cursor and does not move the cursor. The delete key on the Mac is the equivalent of the backspace key on Windows. There is a key combination that can make the delete key on the Mac function like in Windows. Clumsy, but workable solution.
Holding the "fn" key on the Mac (function key with the globe icon) while pressing delete acts like the Windows delete key. I wouldn't call that clumsy. Full-size Mac keyboards also include a "Del" key, which is like the Windows delete key.
Removing installed apps is easy, mostly on the Mac. Unfortunately this sometimes leaves behind many files that have to be removed manually. And finding the location of those files is sometimes difficult.
This is another area where things are improving, but you are right. Most of these files are in the (hidden) Library folder. There are a number of third party uninstaller apps that are quite effective.
Install apps appear in different locations. Some appear in the Launchpad, others appear from the Applications selection in the Finder menu. I have not figured out why all the apps do not appear in both locations. That is annoying as you may have to look in two locations to find the app.
All apps are installed in the Applications folder. There is a root-level Applications folder that all users access. This is usually where apps are installed. Each user can also have his or her own Applications folder inside his or her Home folder.
Launchpad is hot garbage and totally un-Mac-like! Avoid!!! Deleting an App from the Launchpad, for example, deletes it from your computer and does not move it to the trash. The Launchpad acts like an iOS device, which is confusing.
There are two ways I launch apps. First, press command and the space bar together to bring up Spotlight. Type the first few letters of the app name and hit the return key when it shows up. Lightning fast! The second option is to drag the Applications folder to the dock. Once the folder is in the dock, right click on it and select View as List. Now when you click that folder, an alphabetical list of all your apps shows up.
Be patient, work with the system. You can make it work once you get used to the Mac way of doing things.
100%!
Frequently used apps should be placed in the task bar, which can be located at the bottom or sides.
I prefer to use the dock only for running apps and minimized windows, choosing instead to launch apps via the methods described above. I you fill the dock with a lot of app shortcuts, when you start minimizing windows, everything gets very very very small. But that's a personal preference thing!
