New Mac users, try these tips

You just bought a shiny new Mac. If you're like most former Windows users, your first thought is, "Now what?" Fortunately, a Mac is very easy to use, maybe even too easy. Windows folks tend to overthink how to do things on a Mac.
Starting with the keyboard, the Mac keyboard looks different from that of Windows. The Apple/Command key replaces the Windows key. But, it works like the Control key on Windows machines. You'll use it with shortcuts.

Incidentally, many shortcuts are similar to those in Windows. Just use the Command key in place of the Control key. For example, use CMD+C to copy, CMD+V to paste and CMD+X to cut. Shift+CMD+A opens the Applications folder. Option+CMD+M minimizes all windows. Press the Command key as you drag an item to a different folder to move it.

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One shortcut to learn fast is CMD+?. It opens the Help menu.

You won't use the Control key much for shortcuts. However, holding it while clicking opens the contextual menu. This is the equivalent of right-clicking in Windows.

The Alt/Option key isn't used much with shortcuts either. Use it with the arrow keys to skip words. Hold the Shift key as well to select entire words.

Touring the Mac screen

The first thing you'll notice is that your Mac OS X doesn't have a Start menu or taskbar. Instead, you have the Dock. It sits at the bottom center of the screen awaiting your every command.

The Dock contains icons for programs on your Mac. To add a program's shortcut to the Dock, drag the program from the Applications folder. To open a program from the Dock, simply click it once.

Minimizing a window sends it to the Dock. Minimized windows appear between your shortcuts and the Trash.

Setting up your Mac

Odds are, you'll need to configure your Mac to your environment and liking. Here's where you'll use the Apple menu. It provides quick access to system commands. Always visible, it resides at the top left of the screen.

Use the Apple menu to turn off your system or restart it. Or, open System Preferences from the menu. Like Windows' Control Panel, it provides access to network, printer and other computer settings.

Macs check for software updates automatically. You'll receive a notice when updates are available. To check manually, select Software Updates from the Apple menu.

To change your wallpaper, select System Preferences from the Apple menu. Click Desktop & Screen Saver and then Desktop.

Click a folder on the left to see the images it contains. Click one to set it as your wallpaper. Close System Preferences.

Macs include wallpapers. You may want to select your own. IPhoto albums are listed below the other folders.

You can also change your screen saver when you change your wallpaper. Click Screen Saver in the Desktop & Screen Saver box.

In the box on the left, you can select from screen savers. You can also opt to use a folder of photos for your screen saver.

There are also Word of the Day and RSS screen savers. (RSS is a system for pulling news from blogs and other compatible sites). If you select the RSS Visualizer, click the Options button. You can then select a news source to use.

Finding things on your Mac

The Finder is another important program on your Mac. Like Windows Explorer, it lets you navigate through files and programs. It is always running.

Click File, then New Finder Window on the Finder menu to open the Finder window. Or use the CMD+N shortcut key. Click the desktop if you don't see the Finder menu.

In the left pane of the Finder, you'll see shortcuts. Click Macintosh to access the hard drive. Clicking Applications opens your program folder. There's also a shortcut to documents.

If you need to search your Mac for files, use the spotlight feature. Use the CMD+Space Bar shortcut key to access it.

Enter your search term in the box. Spotlight searches for files, applications and folders that contain the term. It also searches the contents of files for the search term. Results are displayed as you type.

You can also search by file extension. For example, enter ".MP3" (less quotes) to find all MP3 files on your computer.

The Mac places window controls on the left side of windows. The green button changes the window size. The yellow button minimizes windows. The red button closes windows.


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Mac "Snow Leopard" with no new features?

The seventh version of Mac operating system, called Mac OS X version 10.6 "Snow Leopard", has been launched on 28th August. It was first announced by Apple at WWDC on June 8, 2008 and first public exhibition was given on WWDC 2009.

Some of the dedicated Apple users, who were waiting for some new features in the next iteration of Mac operating system were really disappointed over non inclusion of new features. According to the company, there are no new features in the new version as compared to its predecessor 10.5, which had approximately 300 new features. But, it has introduced enhancements in the interface like better file and folder viewing in stacks, which made finding apps and files much easier. The company restructures QuickTime X to have a cleaner interface and recording tools and added much-anticipated Exchange support across Mail, the Address Book and iCal. But, the new operating system works with Intel Macs only.

Here we discuss some of the upgradation in the new operating system:

Installation and System requirements

According to the company, installation of Snow Leopard is very simple and upto 45 percent faster than its predecessor. Further, it asks only one question during the installation and occupies less than 7 GB space. According to Apple, Snow Leopard will locate any missing drivers on the Web for you.

Apple said that for installing Snow Leopard in a PC, it requires Mac computer with an Intel processor, 1 GB of RAM and 5 GB of free disk space.

New technologies

The new operating system has been rewritten in 64-bit to take full advantage of the hardware because all new Macs come with 64-bit multicore processors, multiple GBs of RAM and high-powered GPUs. It has Grand Central Dispatch technology, which manages the data to its multicore and enhances performance. Further, it has OpenCL, which allows software developers to tap into the power of any onboard video card. Like the GCD, these improvements will mean more and better-performing software for users in the future.

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