Mac 101: AllThingsD delivers a video guide for Mac novices

If one of your loved ones has just switched to the Mac, or just got a Mac for the holidays, they might want some tips on how to get around and do the things they're used to doing in Windows. Katherine Boehret from AllThingsD has just posted a video and some tips showing many useful tips for switchers.

The video shows hints about keyboard shortcuts (such as using the Command key on a Mac instead of the Control key on a PC), and using Command-Option-Escape on a Mac to force-quit an application, much like Control-Alt-Delete does on Windows. There's also tips on using the mouse on a Mac, and using the trackpad to perform gestures to get around your laptop.

Switchers are also going to need help on controlling windows; closing and minimizing controls, of course, are on the top left of windows on a Mac, much like the buttons on the top right of a window on Windows. There's also tips on the differences and how to adjust to similar features and applications on a Mac, like the differences between Windows Explorer and the Finder on the Mac, and what parallels there are between other bundled applications. Finally, there's also tips on which web browser to use, how to eject a disc, and where to go for help.

If you've got a friend or family member who's new to Mac OS X, it's something they should check out to help get used to using the Mac. Of course, right after that, the next step is to read through our library of Mac 101 tips and tricks for novice Mac users.

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Source: http://solution.allthingsd.com/20091222/opening-a-window-on-…

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Software Switchers Mac 101 Snow Leopard

If one of your loved ones has just switched to the Mac, or just got a Mac for the holidays, they might want some tips on how to get...

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b76302

What a shame the Wall Street Journal gets away with posting such lame videos with less than stellar advice for switchers.

December 26 2009 at 10:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Rash

Regarding Command-Option-Escape on a Mac to force-quit an application, the windows equivalent is Ctrl-Shift-Escape and not Control-Alt-Delete. Control-Alt-Delete will bring you 6 options, one of which is Task manager (Assuming windows XP). But Control-Alt-Delete brings you Task manager directly same as the force-quit on Mac.

December 24 2009 at 10:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

gtdavemac

I sent this to a friend that just got a Mac, and then realized two glaring errors:

Right clicking is supported on a Mac. For those that don't know, there is no button, but the mouse can detect a right click. This simply needs to be turned on in the options by setting the right side of the mouse to "Secondary Button". Also, because it is touch dependent, make sure you lift your left finger before right clicking. This is the only part which may take some getting used to. With a MacBook, right click is supported on a trackpad by using two fingers... "Secondary Tap" in the settings page.

Secondly, there is no difference in pulling out USB devices with a PC or a Mac... if data is being saved to the device, it can be corrupted. This is not OS dependent. Now, most of the time, it IS safe to just yank it out if you aren't working on a document of saving something. Here's the diffence: Windows does't complain, but a Mac tells you that you should not do this. In Windows, there is a "Safely Remove Device" option in the system tray, by right clicking on the icon. Some people use this, many don't.

Merry Christmas!

December 24 2009 at 4:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to gtdavemac's comment

Justin

Agreed. The Mac (correctly) warns you about this. Although I don't know if this is actually possible or if this is a limitation of the drive's file system, it would be really nice if when this happened the OS was smart enough to tell you if the drive was in the middle of a read/write and tell you to plug it back in to finish what it was doing. That would only work if the OS could control the necessary aspects of file I/O when working with that device. Maybe a new file system could support this?

December 24 2009 at 5:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Pat

Agreed. Her little video does a good job of making the Mac look much WORSE than it is! It does support right click, you (technically) can yank out drives, etc etc. I think many people may watch this and have 2nd thoughts about buying a Mac. Everyone I've ever turned a Mac onto has thanked me multiple times for encouraging the switch.

December 25 2009 at 10:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply