New Mac user & M1 MacBook Pro owner

[ToasterZapper]

Hi all,

As the title of the post says I'm new to MacOS and the proud owner of a new M1 MacBook Pro 8/512.

After years of using Windows (and iOS/iPadOS) I'm really struggling to find my way around and learn the keyboard shortcuts, but that will come with time.

At the moment I have a couple of burning questions -

1. In regard to the trackpad - I wish I could visit an Apple Store to see what the click of another machine feels and sounds like. On mine it is a very weak feeling with a kind of hollow umph sound - does that sound about right/normal? I've tried changing the force setting from light to firm but it doesn't make a huge difference. Searching on here and on google seems to suggest it's fine, and I guess it's just because I have come from a physical click trackpad on my HP x360 Spectre.

2. I'm used to Windows security; Windows firewall and Defender as well as Bitlocker, but I'm unsure what I need to change on the Mac. I've enabled FileVault and turned the Firewall on (it seemed to be off by default), but I'm unsure of the advanced options such as stealth mode.

Any other tips and tricks would be appreciated if you have the time. I'll be looking to get MS Office installed as well as looking into Xcode/Swift and AWS development tools.

 

[James_C]

1. In regard to the trackpad - I wish I could visit an Apple Store to see what the click of another machine feels and sounds like. On mine it is a very weak feeling with a kind of hollow umph sound - does that sound about right/normal? I've tried changing the force setting from light to firm but it doesn't make a huge difference. Searching on here and on google seems to suggest it's fine, and I guess it's just because I have come from a physical click trackpad on my HP x360 Spectre.

The trackpads don't actually move on Mac Notebooks, they use a solenoid to vibrate to simulate the effect of physical movement. That might explain why it feels slightly odd.

 

[ToasterZapper]

Thanks @James_C I've read about that when I gave it a google. No doubt it's fine and just comes down to the difference factor.

 

[James_C]

Thanks @James_C I've read about that when I gave it a google. No doubt it's fine and just comes down to the difference factor.

Congratulations on your new Mac by the way, the M1 Macs are amazing machines. Don't worry about the learning curve it may feel a little alien at the moment, but in a couple of weeks, you will be wondering why you did not switch sooner. I switched in 2002 and have not looked back since. With Apple Silicon the future of Mac looks strong.

 

[ToasterZapper]

Loving it so far, but simple things like a Windows ctrl+a, ctrl+c etc elude me at the moment! More time and googling required.

Oh, and right click!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Congrats on the new Mac.

1) You don't need an anti-virus program on your Mac. There are no Mac viruses in the wild. However, Macs can get Malware. Mac has built in guards against such. If you still feel vulnerable, you can install a free program called "Malwarebytes, and scan our Mac once a month.

2) The track pad sound is normal. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[ToasterZapper]

Thanks @Apple_Robert, I just needed to be told it's normal 😀

Currently battling with getting my Photos to finish "Curating" - I knew I'd have an issue from seeing it hang on my iPhone; from what I can tell it's a batch of videos that it isn't happy with.

 

[ToasterZapper]

Oh actually I have one more question - when I was first setting up MacOS I was asked something that for the life of me can't remember what it was but basically I ended up with a subfolder under Desktop with my username "Desktop - username MacBook Pro". Does this make it easier for iCloud to sync files if I have multiple machines? I would prefer not to have the subfolder but don't understand the implications.

 

[James_C]

Loving it so far, but simple things like a Windows ctrl+a, ctrl+c etc elude me at the moment! More time and googling required.

Oh, and right click!

Copy and Paste on Windows Ctrl C and Ctrl V on a Mac is Command ⌘ C and Command ⌘ V. Right Click needs to be enabled in trackpad preferences - Click on Settings in the Dock, Select Trackpad the choose your settings for secondary (right) click. If you use an external mouse you need to enable secondary click in mouse settings.

This Apple Guide to switching may be worth a quick look.

Of course there are plenty of people on this forum that will help you with any questions that you have

 

[James_C]

Oh actually I have one more question - when I was first setting up MacOS I was asked something that for the life of me can't remember what it was but basically I ended up with a subfolder under Desktop with my username "Desktop - username MacBook Pro". Does this make it easier for iCloud to sync files if I have multiple machines? I would prefer not to have the subfolder but don't understand the implications.

When you set up your Mac it will ask you what you want to call your home folder. This is where your files and data are stored for your user account (As you might want to create accounts for other users if it is a shared computer and you want to keep your files and settings separate from someone else's). Each user you set up will have a home folder created in the Users Folder - See the path in the bottom of the screenshot below

This is what mine looks like with the path at the bottom. Userfolder is the name that you would have given to your user folder. There are a number of common subfolders created automatically for you in your user folder, including the desktop folder. Any files that you put into your desktop will also appear on your physical desktop screen.

You can create subfolders in any of these folders, however I am not clear if you or something that you may have installed created a subfolder in the desktop folder or you are just referring to your Userfolder itself.

The key thing is that any data stored in the Userfolder (or subfolders of) will only be accessible by you.

I hope this makes sense

 

[satcomer]

I say for the reverse firewall look at the shareware app called Little Snitch!

For picture changing shareware look at either PixelMator Pro or Affinity Photo instead of late Adobe!

For video conversation look at to the open source program Handbrake!

Lastly if you and audio or video guy then look at the share ware program Loopback!

 

[Fishrrman]

OP commented:
"I'm used to Windows security; Windows firewall and Defender as well as Bitlocker, but I'm unsure what I need to change on the Mac. I've enabled FileVault and turned the Firewall on (it seemed to be off by default), but I'm unsure of the advanced options such as stealth mode."

On the Mac, all you need is MalwareBytes.

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www.malwarebytes.com

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