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Making the jump from Windows to Apple
By Jamie | April 29, 2008
So it finally happened, I bought a Mac, a MacBook Pro to be precise. The last time I switched computer architecture was Amiga to IBM PC well over 13 years ago. Anyway my trust worthy Compaq nx7010 laptop is a little under powered these days and with a couple of developing hardware problems, a new laptop was well over due.
So why a Mac? Well as you know, I’ve moaned a number of times about Windows Vista and I didn’t want Windows XP, I think after 7 years its time for a new OS. I also have a client who runs a number of Mac machines, so having a greater understanding of OS X is certainly going to beneficial. Above all I wanted to see what all the fuss is about.
Windows User Habits
As a long term Windows user you’re going to be a little confused and miss a few things. Here is what I’ve found in the first 48 hours.
- Installing applications is a little different, to install an application drag and drop executable sorry the dmg extension into the application folder and to uninstall drag the application into the trash can.
- Right click isn’t an issue, you either use the “crtl” key with left click, plug in a regular mouse or enabled double tap via System Preferences (Control Panel), which is quite a nice feature. While your in there, enable “tap to click” too!
- Delete button, I’m a bit baffled by this one? If you have a full Mac keyboard I think it has a delete key. On your MacBook you press the “fn” key with the back-space, apparently a lot of Mac apps don’t need the delete key?
- The drop down menu’s are always at the top of the screen which I’m still getting to use to. Although its nice that all applications “Preferences” or settings are always found under “application name” > Preferences drop down menu.
- Docking bar is a bit like the system tray in Windows but with your most common applications readily available. Once an application is launched, click on the icon again to bring application to the front.
- Alt+Tab on Windows is cmd+tab on the Mac, but you also have Expose button “F3″ which shrinks all you app windows so they can be seen at once.
- On the UK keyboard the @ and ” keys are the wrong way round! Scratch them off and re-arrange the keyboard map is the extreme answer.
- The Mac Fanboys will have you believe that OS X apps never crash or hang, they will do in time. Press cmd+alt+Esc keys to bring up “Force Quit Applications” the Apple Task Manager.
- The Apple key or the cmd key is the equivalent to the control key button on Windows. So Ctrl+C (Copy) becomes cmd+c and Ctrl+v (Paste) becomes cmd+V.
- Print Button, another key that has done the disappearing act and is replaced by another set of key combination. cmd+shift+3 takes a screenshot of the whole desktop and saves it as a PDF to your desktop. cmd+shift+4 allows you to draw a window of the screenshot you wish to take and the same key combination followed by space take screenshots of applications.
I’m sure there will be more over time that I will add here, but if you’re a Mac user that made the switch from Windows, please leave me your tips!
Don’t worry I haven’t gone completely Apple mad, my desktop machine is a Vista machine.
Topics: Clients, Computer Support, Windows, apple |
Article Tags>> apple | mac | macbook | osx | support | Windows
May 7th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Wow.. Didn’t know the delete button issue on a mac. Another thing I can bug my mac friends about.
I don’t think I could live without that.. I use it more often than the backspace button since it’s closer to the cursor keys.
I have followed Windows 3.1 all the way to Vista, but never switched from Win to Mac… so hopefully you’ll post more about your trials and tribulations so I can get an idea of what that’s like.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Its a slight pain, but I now have a full keyboard for my MacBook when in the office and that has a delete key.
I’ll be doing a couple more blog posts on life with a mac. So far I’m happy and I know otherwise I would have Windows Vista slowing down my new laptop.
Couple programs I’m yet to find for the mac
Jamie
May 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I use Control-D for delete.
Now that you have a Mac, you just have to install and use Blacktree.com’s Quicksilver. Ping me for a demo if you see me in Centotre again Jamie!
Regards,
Jon
May 10th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Thanks for the tip Jon.
People keep recommending this QuickSilver thing. Is it a bit like Spotlight, quick like using that.
Jamie