Buying the new iPhone 3GS and a new iMac to go with it. Long time PC user looking for advice/suggestions on settling in to the new environment.
Getting Ready To Make The Jump From PC's to Mac's
- Thread starter Carpe Occasio
- Start date
Ooh pick me pick me!!!!
I just made the jump myself. I'm waiting on the iPhone until the 19th when the new version comes out but a few weeks ago I got a MacBook Pro and I love it. I also set up a virtual machine using Parallels which is a good thing to do if you don't want to replace all your software immediately. Instead of Microsoft Office though I'm running Open Office.
The main thing to remember is the Command key replaces a lot of functionality of Control EXCEPT for some things like delete. Command/D will actually create duplicates - quite the opposite of what you want.
It's pretty easy. Apple have a guide here but most principles of computer design and use are universal so I'm sure you'll not have much in the way of difficulties.
Shortcuts are all slightly different so you might find a list useful.
ETA - I have an iMac and I've been very pleased with it. It's a good computer.
Shortcuts are all slightly different so you might find a list useful.
ETA - I have an iMac and I've been very pleased with it. It's a good computer.
You'll love it. The hardest part for me was getting used to the new OS. I had problems figuring how to page up and silly stuff like that. 
Yes, in the Apple store my longest pause was over the keyboard.
The main thing to remember is the Command key replaces a lot of functionality of Control EXCEPT for some things like delete. Command/D will actually create duplicates - quite the opposite of what you want.
One other funny thing: ALT + Tab to switch through programs is Command + Tab on a Mac; for whatever reason, they kept the relative position of the keys when making the substitution. (Amazingly, I've seen PC users who think Macs can't tab through open programs because of this.)
Ooh pick me pick me!!!!
I just made the jump myself. I'm waiting on the iPhone until the 19th when the new version comes out but a few weeks ago I got a MacBook Pro and I love it. I also set up a virtual machine using Parallels which is a good thing to do if you don't want to replace all your software immediately. Instead of Microsoft Office though I'm running Open Office.
The main thing to remember is the Command key replaces a lot of functionality of Control EXCEPT for some things like delete. Command/D will actually create duplicates - quite the opposite of what you want.
The main thing to remember is the Command key replaces a lot of functionality of Control EXCEPT for some things like delete. Command/D will actually create duplicates - quite the opposite of what you want.
One other funny thing: ALT + Tab to switch through programs is Command + Tab on a Mac; for whatever reason, they kept the relative position of the keys when making the substitution. (Amazingly, I've seen PC users who think Macs can't tab through open programs because of this.)
Thanks for the info on keyboard shortcuts and navigation.
Kimc, how is Parallels? Any noticable performance hit?
You'll love it. The hardest part for me was getting used to the new OS. I had problems figuring how to page up and silly stuff like that.
Yeah, how do you do that anyway?
Someday I'll get around to the online tutorial...
None that I can notice. I don't have it running all the time. I use it mainly for Quicken and Dreamweaver.
Register at mac-forums.com. They have a very active and helpful community, especially in the "Switcher Hangout"
I switched about two years ago, and have never looked back. Please feel free to PM me any time if you have questions (not that I'm any great expert, but I'll be happy to do what I can).
--
Oh - and buy a standard USB mouse and keyboard for your system. The Apple stuff is nice enough, but if you ever want to do real work, you'll be glad you invested the extra $50 buying these standard components.
I switched about two years ago, and have never looked back. Please feel free to PM me any time if you have questions (not that I'm any great expert, but I'll be happy to do what I can).
--
Oh - and buy a standard USB mouse and keyboard for your system. The Apple stuff is nice enough, but if you ever want to do real work, you'll be glad you invested the extra $50 buying these standard components.
I use VMWare Fusion as I find that it performs better on my Macbook Pro. But, do remember that running Windows inside a Virtual Machine will mean you'll want to buy some extra RAM.
I recommend that you get the lowest amount you can from Apple, and then buy your extra from crucial.com. They have much more reasonable prices, even if you'll have to install the chips yourself.
I'd agree on the mouse front - I have a Razer. I think the keyboard is pretty good though.
Gonna repeat some stuff that was said, so forgive me...
Get the Logitech LX3 optical mouse. It has Mac drivers that let you program it differently for different programs. (So tilting the wheel right in my iTunes skips to the next track, but in Final Cut doing the same thing scrolls down my timeline.)
Command Tab to switch programs is good to know, but even better, moving your finger from 'tab' to '~' lets you move to the left on the list. Very good to know.
Command-H hides an app.
If you use those 3 keyboard shortcuts then you should NEVER EVER have to click 'minimize.' (The yellow button on windows.) If you do that you are wasting valuable time with your mouse. Don't do it! (Windows users love minimizing. Stop it once you come to the Mac and start 'hiding' instead.)
Also, use Command Q to quit programs.
Buy a firewire drive and set up Time Machine. NO excuse for not doing so and I will be mad at you if you don't.
If you're getting an iPhone, pay for MobileMe. ($100 a year.) It will keep all your calendars, Addresses, and bookmarks synced over the air. That alone is worth the price, you can enjoy the online web space, photo and video uploading, and other stuff as a bonus. (I only suggest this service to people who have a Mac AND an iPhone. Worth it for you folks.)
iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, and Apple Mail. Learn to use and love all of them. You'll constantly be surprised by how much they all talk to each other, thus making your life easier. I'm serious about that one. If you use something like Google calendars and Gmail, you don't have to stop. But search Google on how to integrate them into those programs and stop using your web browser for that stuff.
Handbrake for DVD ripping (free online). MPEG Streamclip for converting weird video files (fee online) like if you get an MPEG off a still camera that is acting weird.
Instal the Flip4Mac plugin. The free version lets Quicktime play Windows Media files. You can buy a version that lets you encode to WMV if you need it.
Download the Perian plugin too. It adds a few other codecs to Quicktime, like many versions of AVI, for example.
Buy Snow Leopard in September. It will TOTALLY be worth the $29.
iPhoto will do a LOT of photo editing. If you need more power, but not Photosohp-level power, take a look at Acorn. ($50)
Give Safari a try, even if you're a Firefox person. Safari 4 is amazingly fast.
Select a file or folder. Command-i. Lots of good info in there. You can also change icons there by copying the preview from one info box and pasting it on another. So you can make a folder look like a penguin, for example. Tons of icons here.
System Preferences -> Universal Access. Make sure the 'zoom' function is on and the settings are the way you like them. It's technically for people who have vision problems, but you will use it all the time. I promise.
Study Expose. Learn it. Use it. A Mac user who doesn't use Expose is like an automobile driver who doesn't know he has a trunk. Same thing with dashboard. Download widgets here. If you're into things like "How much RAM am I using right now," then get the iStat Pro widget. (Use Activity Monitor for more details, but iStat gives a nice quick look.)
Speaking of Quick Look, select a file and hit the space bar. You can look at files without opening a program. (Even if you don't have the program! Don't have Powerpoint? No problem...use Quicklook to view a PP file!)
I'm a fan of buying iWork, but that's up to you.
Spotlight is not like other searches. Give it some tests. Search for phrases inside documents and see what it finds. Even use it as an app-launcher. On my computer I can click Spotlight, type "Ado" and hit enter. And here comes "Adobe Photoshop!" This is what keeps your Dock clean. Launch less-used programs this way. Only use Garage Band one a month? Launch it from spotlight and save the space on your dock.
Likewise, put a copy of your applications folder right on the dock. Click it and it opens up...set it to "list" view (right-click it to set that) if you miss your Windows Start Menu. You'll get the same thing! (Or set it to grid-view if you're one of the cool kids.)
On the Desktop, hit Command J. Customize.
Then, while in Finder, select the Finder Preferences (not system preferences, but Finder's preferences). Customize.
In a Finder window, select VIEW -> CUSTOMIZE toolbar...and customize.
That's probably enough for now...
Get the Logitech LX3 optical mouse. It has Mac drivers that let you program it differently for different programs. (So tilting the wheel right in my iTunes skips to the next track, but in Final Cut doing the same thing scrolls down my timeline.)
Command Tab to switch programs is good to know, but even better, moving your finger from 'tab' to '~' lets you move to the left on the list. Very good to know.
Command-H hides an app.
If you use those 3 keyboard shortcuts then you should NEVER EVER have to click 'minimize.' (The yellow button on windows.) If you do that you are wasting valuable time with your mouse. Don't do it! (Windows users love minimizing. Stop it once you come to the Mac and start 'hiding' instead.)
Also, use Command Q to quit programs.
Buy a firewire drive and set up Time Machine. NO excuse for not doing so and I will be mad at you if you don't.
If you're getting an iPhone, pay for MobileMe. ($100 a year.) It will keep all your calendars, Addresses, and bookmarks synced over the air. That alone is worth the price, you can enjoy the online web space, photo and video uploading, and other stuff as a bonus. (I only suggest this service to people who have a Mac AND an iPhone. Worth it for you folks.)
iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, and Apple Mail. Learn to use and love all of them. You'll constantly be surprised by how much they all talk to each other, thus making your life easier. I'm serious about that one. If you use something like Google calendars and Gmail, you don't have to stop. But search Google on how to integrate them into those programs and stop using your web browser for that stuff.
Handbrake for DVD ripping (free online). MPEG Streamclip for converting weird video files (fee online) like if you get an MPEG off a still camera that is acting weird.
Instal the Flip4Mac plugin. The free version lets Quicktime play Windows Media files. You can buy a version that lets you encode to WMV if you need it.
Download the Perian plugin too. It adds a few other codecs to Quicktime, like many versions of AVI, for example.
Buy Snow Leopard in September. It will TOTALLY be worth the $29.
iPhoto will do a LOT of photo editing. If you need more power, but not Photosohp-level power, take a look at Acorn. ($50)
Give Safari a try, even if you're a Firefox person. Safari 4 is amazingly fast.
Select a file or folder. Command-i. Lots of good info in there. You can also change icons there by copying the preview from one info box and pasting it on another. So you can make a folder look like a penguin, for example. Tons of icons here.
System Preferences -> Universal Access. Make sure the 'zoom' function is on and the settings are the way you like them. It's technically for people who have vision problems, but you will use it all the time. I promise.
Study Expose. Learn it. Use it. A Mac user who doesn't use Expose is like an automobile driver who doesn't know he has a trunk. Same thing with dashboard. Download widgets here. If you're into things like "How much RAM am I using right now," then get the iStat Pro widget. (Use Activity Monitor for more details, but iStat gives a nice quick look.)
Speaking of Quick Look, select a file and hit the space bar. You can look at files without opening a program. (Even if you don't have the program! Don't have Powerpoint? No problem...use Quicklook to view a PP file!)
I'm a fan of buying iWork, but that's up to you.
Spotlight is not like other searches. Give it some tests. Search for phrases inside documents and see what it finds. Even use it as an app-launcher. On my computer I can click Spotlight, type "Ado" and hit enter. And here comes "Adobe Photoshop!" This is what keeps your Dock clean. Launch less-used programs this way. Only use Garage Band one a month? Launch it from spotlight and save the space on your dock.
Likewise, put a copy of your applications folder right on the dock. Click it and it opens up...set it to "list" view (right-click it to set that) if you miss your Windows Start Menu. You'll get the same thing! (Or set it to grid-view if you're one of the cool kids.)
On the Desktop, hit Command J. Customize.
Then, while in Finder, select the Finder Preferences (not system preferences, but Finder's preferences). Customize.
In a Finder window, select VIEW -> CUSTOMIZE toolbar...and customize.
That's probably enough for now...
Wow, great info everybody, and thanks for the offers of help. I'll be exploring all these links you've provided and looking into a lot of the software mentioned. I'll also be taking some of the hardware advise as well. Should be a hoot.
You'll love it. The hardest part for me was getting used to the new OS. I had problems figuring how to page up and silly stuff like that.
Yeah, how do you do that anyway?
Someday I'll get around to the online tutorial...
Space bar does the regular page up and down. And it's either control or command key plus the space bar that does the same as the home page.
Sadly, I cannot test it on my Macbook to see which key it is for sure, as I have closed FF to download ST II and ST III from iTunes tonight. Yes, IR a nerd.
And then there are people like me, who have never even heard of such a thing.The main thing to remember is the Command key replaces a lot of functionality of Control EXCEPT for some things like delete. Command/D will actually create duplicates - quite the opposite of what you want.
One other funny thing: ALT + Tab to switch through programs is Command + Tab on a Mac; for whatever reason, they kept the relative position of the keys when making the substitution. (Amazingly, I've seen PC users who think Macs can't tab through open programs because of this.)
Shortcuts were never really my strength.
Great to know! I've installed extra Ram on my Gateway but thought I'd have to go thru Apple to get more when I need it.
Lots of other great advice too. I now have a "Mac ToDo" file on my desktop.
Oh - BTW, Apple's next version of OSX is coming out in September (I believe), so if you buy before then, be sure to keep all your receipts handy and you'll be eligible for a free upgrade.
Everybody will will have to cough up the $29.
Also, this book -- which is due out next month -- may be of some help
http://www.amazon.com/Mac-OS-Snow-L...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244777298&sr=8-1
(The current version is available too, but since it'll be obsolete shortly, I figured I wouldn't recommend you waste your money. But if you want -- here it is.)
Everybody will will have to cough up the $29.
Also, this book -- which is due out next month -- may be of some help
http://www.amazon.com/Mac-OS-Snow-L...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244777298&sr=8-1
(The current version is available too, but since it'll be obsolete shortly, I figured I wouldn't recommend you waste your money. But if you want -- here it is.)
Great post apart from that part. $100 is way too expensive, and I've had the hard sell for it in the Apple Store when I purchased my iMac. They'll try several lines of persuasion before they drop it, same with Apple Care.
For that reason I'd buy online next time.
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