Switching to a Mac Pocket Genius E-Book

Paul McFedries

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Portable Genius
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Seitenzahl: 153

Beschreibung

An accessible guide to using a Mac or transitioning from Windows to Mac This book helps new-to-Mac users get more comfortable with their computers. Switching to a Mac Pocket Genius guides readers in learning more about their computers, including becoming familiar with the interface, performing routine tasks, and moving data. The author wants to help users get around Mac challenges and avoid or remedy common problems they encounter.

Leseprobe

Switching to a Mac® Pocket Genius, 2nd Edition

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: What Are the Differences Between Mac and Windows?

Understanding Interface Differences

The Dock

The menu bar

Window features

Moving windows

Resizing windows

Understanding Hardware Differences

Keyboard differences

Mouse differences

Hard drive and CD/DVD differences

Understanding System Differences

Finder versus Windows Explorer

System Preferences versus Control Panel

Terminal versus Command Prompt

Sleep mode differences

Understanding User Account Differences

Locating your user data

Understanding your role as an administrator

Chapter 2: Which Mac Applications Do I Use?

General Mac Applications

Mac web browsers

Mac e-mail applications

Mac calendar applications

Mac address book applications

Mac FTP applications

Mac Media Applications

Mac media players

Mac graphics applications

Mac video editors

Mac Productivity Applications

Mac office suites

Mac word processors

Mac spreadsheets

Mac database applications

Chapter 3: How Do I Perform Everyday Mac Tasks?

Configuring Your Mac

Understanding preferences

Displaying the system preferences

Displaying program preferences

Unlocking preferences

Changing the desktop background

Changing the display resolution

Setting the sleep options

Performing Day-to-Day Tasks

Starting a program

Finding a file

Sending an e-mail message

Surfing to a website with Safari

Adding a contact

Scheduling an appointment

Shutting down your Mac

Working with User Accounts

Logging into your account automatically

Assigning a password to your user account

Changing your account name

Setting up another user account

Switching user accounts

Working with Media on Your Mac

Ripping music from an audio CD

Playing music

Importing photos from a camera

Viewing photos

Taking a screen shot

Chapter 4: How Do I Transfer E-mail, Contacts, and Calendars to My Mac?

Transferring E-mail

Importing messages from Microsoft Outlook

Importing messages from Windows Mail or Live Mail

Importing messages from Outlook Express

Importing messages into Outlook 2011

Importing messages into Entourage

Transferring Contacts

Importing a CSV file into Address Book

Exporting Outlook contacts to a CSV file

Exporting Windows Live Contacts to a CSV file

Exporting Windows Contacts data to a CSV file

Exporting contacts from Windows Address Book to a CSV file

Importing contacts into Outlook 2011

Importing contacts into Entourage

Transferring Appointments

Exporting appointments from Microsoft Outlook

Exporting appointments from Windows Calendar

Importing an iCalendar file into iCal

Importing an iCalendar file into Outlook 2011

Switching to a Mac®

Pocket Genius,

2nd Edition

by Paul McFedries

Switching to a Mac® Pocket Genius, 2nd Edition

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 10475 Crosspoint Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46256 www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 9781118009772 (ebk), 9781118035931 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Paul McFedries is a Mac expert and full-time technical writer. Paul has been authoring computer books since 1991, and he has more than 70 books to his credit. Paul’s books have sold more than four million copies worldwide. These books include the Wiley titles Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs, Second Edition, Macs Portable Genius, Second Edition, and iPhone 4 Portable Genius. Paul is also the proprietor of Word Spy (www.wordspy.com), a website that tracks new words and phrases as they enter the language. Paul invites you to drop by his personal website at www.mcfedries.com, and to follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paulmcf and www.twitter.com/wordspy.

Credits

Executive Editor

Jody Lefevere

Project Editor

Cricket Krengel

Technical Editor

Paul Sihvonen-Binder

Copy Editor

Kim Heusel

Editorial Director

Robyn Siesky

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Barry Pruett

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Project Coordinator

Patrick Redmond

Graphics and Production Specialists

Jennifer Henry Andrea Hornberger Heather Pope Julie Trippetti

Quality Control Technician

Lauren Mandelbaum

Proofreading

Susan Hobbs

Indexing

BIM Indexing & Proofreading Services

Dedication

For Karen.

Acknowledgments

The only thing more fun than switching from Windows to Mac is writing about switching from Windows to Mac! So, yes, I had a great time writing this book, but that task was made all the more pleasant by the great people I got to work with. They include Acquisitions Editor Jody Lefevere, who was kind enough to ask me to write the book; Project Editor Cricket Krengel, who made this an immeasurably better book by offering lots of good advice and asking the right questions at the right time; Copy Editor Kim Heusel, whose eagle-eye for all things ungrammatical made me look like a better writer than I am; and Technical Editor Paul Sihvonen-Binder, who offered excellent suggestions throughout the manuscript. Many thanks to all of you for outstanding work on this project.

Introduction

The stats tell us that people are switching from Windows to the Mac in record numbers, but those stats don’t tell us why. Perhaps it’s because Windows users would like to actually enjoy using a computer for a change. Perhaps it’s because Macs just work: you take them out of the box, plug them in, and within minutes you’re doing your thing. Perhaps it’s because Macs just look so darn good that Windows folks can’t help but admire their stylishness and innovative design. Or, perhaps, it’s those funny and strangely irresistible commercials.

Whatever your reason for switching to the Mac, the bottom line is that you’ve made the move and now your new Mac life is about to begin. It’s true that any computer is going to have problems, but your Mac is likely to have far fewer problems than any other type of system, particularly any Windows system.

The Mac uses a graphical, mouse-centric interface like Windows, but only some of your Windows know-how will transfer to the Mac. While the Mac can handle most types of data, you will face the task of getting your data onto your Mac in a form you can use. There’s no doubt the Mac is dead simple to use out-of-the-box, but some of its most useful and powerful features are hidden away in obscure parts of the operating system. Sure, the Mac’s robust design makes it a reliable machine day after day, but even the best-built machine can have problems.

When you come across the Mac’s dark side, you might be tempted to make an appointment with your local Apple Store’s Genius Bar, and it’s likely the on-duty genius will give you good advice on how to overcome the Mac’s limitations, work around its annoyances, and fix its failures. The Genius Bar is a great thing, but it isn’t exactly a convenient thing. You can’t just drop by to get help; you may need to lug your Mac down to the store; and in some cases you may need to leave your Mac for a day or two while whatever problem gets checked out and hopefully resolved.

What you need is a version of the Genius Bar that you can access at your fingertips. What new Mac users like you really need is a “portable” genius that enables you to be more productive and solve problems wherever you and your Mac happen to be.

Welcome, therefore, to Switching to a Mac Portable Genius, Second Edition. This book is like a mini Genius Bar all wrapped up in an easy to use, easy to access, and eminently portable format. In this book you learn how to get comfortable in your new Mac home by learning the ins and outs of the interface, what programs to use, how to perform the most important everyday tasks, and how to get your precious data onto your Mac. You also learn how to work around Mac challenges, prevent Mac problems from occurring, and fix many common problems yourself.

This book is for ex-Windows users who already know their way around a computer, and just want to transfer and apply that know-how to the Mac. It’s a book for people who want to get productive, efficient, and creative with their new Mac without have to wade through long and ponderous tutorials. It’s a book I had a blast writing, and I think it’s a book you’ll enjoy reading.

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