If you haven’t noticed, our district is going Mac. When I first started in the ITS department in October of 2011, it had been over a decade since I’d last used a Mac, and suddenly I found myself needing to become proficient on my new work computer. I know that using a new operating system can be a challenge, but I’ve gathered some tips I’ve learned since that fateful fall that I feel should be shared with all Mac users, new and seasoned alike (because you never know!):
First, the mouse: Mac mice are a little different than PC, but it’s all in how you set it up. One of the first things I urge new Mac users to do is go to System Preferences (if it’s not already in your dock, you can access it by clicking the Finder, then going to Applications and finally System Preferences), and click (just once) on Mouse. You should see a likeness of your mouse (they make it pretty easy). To make right-clicks, well, right-clicks (as you would experience on a PC mouse), change the setting of the right-side button from Primary Button to Secondary Button. No need to search for a Save button, because there isn’t one. Just close the window.
Next, Command vs. Control. This may sound like some kind of life skills seminar title, but for those of us who have learned the keyboard shortcuts on a PC, it can be heart-stopping when the Control key on a Mac doesn’t quite work. Fear not! On a Mac, use the Command (or Apple) key the way you would use the Control key on a PC. This includes keyboard shortcuts as well as selecting multiple items.
Next up, the window buttons: on a PC, you have the red X button to close a window, the two-boxes button for window maximizing, and the line for window minimizing. The good news: Macs are similar in this aspect. The not-as-good news: the buttons are on the opposite side than you would be accustomed, and in a different order. The red button is to close a window, the yellow is to minimize, and the green is to maximize. Also, fun tidbit: when working in certain programs, such as the Microsoft Office suite, if you haven’t saved recently, the red button will contain a little black dot, which should help remind you that you’ve made changes since your last save.
Finally, screen shots: on a PC, you have to do the whole screen, and immediately paste it into a MS Word document. On a Mac, you have two options: full screen shot, or selected screen shot. The full screen shot can be achieved by pushing the Command, Shift, and the number 3 (on the top row of your keyboard, not on the number pad!) keys all at the same time. If your sound is on, you should hear a camera-snap sound. For the selected screen shot, push the Command, Shift and the number 4 (again, top row, not number pad) at the same time. Now, you’ll see your mouse on the screen is no longer an arrow, but a cross. Click and drag to select the area of your screen you would like to take a picture of, and once you release, you should hear the camera-snap sound. As you take these screen shots, they will save directly to your desktop. When you open them, they’ll generate in a program called Preview. Here, you can select what you want to cut and paste into other programs (such as MS Word), or keep them as they are.
What’s a Mac tip that has proven indispensable to you? Please share in the comments (you may even be featured in an upcoming blog entry).
First, the mouse: Mac mice are a little different than PC, but it’s all in how you set it up. One of the first things I urge new Mac users to do is go to System Preferences (if it’s not already in your dock, you can access it by clicking the Finder, then going to Applications and finally System Preferences), and click (just once) on Mouse. You should see a likeness of your mouse (they make it pretty easy). To make right-clicks, well, right-clicks (as you would experience on a PC mouse), change the setting of the right-side button from Primary Button to Secondary Button. No need to search for a Save button, because there isn’t one. Just close the window.
Next, Command vs. Control. This may sound like some kind of life skills seminar title, but for those of us who have learned the keyboard shortcuts on a PC, it can be heart-stopping when the Control key on a Mac doesn’t quite work. Fear not! On a Mac, use the Command (or Apple) key the way you would use the Control key on a PC. This includes keyboard shortcuts as well as selecting multiple items.
Next up, the window buttons: on a PC, you have the red X button to close a window, the two-boxes button for window maximizing, and the line for window minimizing. The good news: Macs are similar in this aspect. The not-as-good news: the buttons are on the opposite side than you would be accustomed, and in a different order. The red button is to close a window, the yellow is to minimize, and the green is to maximize. Also, fun tidbit: when working in certain programs, such as the Microsoft Office suite, if you haven’t saved recently, the red button will contain a little black dot, which should help remind you that you’ve made changes since your last save.
Finally, screen shots: on a PC, you have to do the whole screen, and immediately paste it into a MS Word document. On a Mac, you have two options: full screen shot, or selected screen shot. The full screen shot can be achieved by pushing the Command, Shift, and the number 3 (on the top row of your keyboard, not on the number pad!) keys all at the same time. If your sound is on, you should hear a camera-snap sound. For the selected screen shot, push the Command, Shift and the number 4 (again, top row, not number pad) at the same time. Now, you’ll see your mouse on the screen is no longer an arrow, but a cross. Click and drag to select the area of your screen you would like to take a picture of, and once you release, you should hear the camera-snap sound. As you take these screen shots, they will save directly to your desktop. When you open them, they’ll generate in a program called Preview. Here, you can select what you want to cut and paste into other programs (such as MS Word), or keep them as they are.
What’s a Mac tip that has proven indispensable to you? Please share in the comments (you may even be featured in an upcoming blog entry).