Switching to a Mac Portable Genius E-Book

Paul McFedries

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Portable Genius
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2009

Seitenzahl: 453

Beschreibung

The Genius is in.You don't have to be a genius to switch from a PC to a Mac. Butif you want to make the move with less hassle, put this savvyPortable Genius guide to work. Want to share data between your Macand your PC? Understand the differences between Mac OS®X andWindows®? Learn how to perform everyday Mac tasks? Transferimportant stuff like calendars, contact lists, and music? You'llfind cool and useful Genius tips, full-color screenshots, and pagesof easy-to-access shortcuts and tools that will save you loads oftime and let you enjoy your Mac to the max.Paul McFedries is the president of Logophilia Limited, atechnical writing company. He has written more than four dozenbooks that have sold more than two million copies worldwide. Thesebooks include Macs Portable Genius, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs,and Teach Yourself VISUALLY Windows Vista. Paul encourages allreaders to drop by his Web site, www.mcfedries.com.Portable GENIUSFun, hip, and straightforward, the new Portable Genius seriesgives forward-thinking Apple users useful information in handy,compact books that are easy to navigate and don't skimp on theessentials. Collect the whole series and make the most of yourApple digital lifestyle.

Leseprobe

Switching to a Mac® PORTABLE GENIUS®

Table of Contents

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 disk 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

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

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

Launching a program

Finding a file

Sending an e-mail message

Surfing to a Web site

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 user 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

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

Importing messages from Outlook Express

Importing messages into Entourage

Transferring Contacts

Importing contacts from Microsoft Outlook

Importing contacts from Windows Contacts

Importing contacts from Windows Address Book

Importing contacts into Entourage

Transferring Appointments

Exporting appointments from Microsoft Outlook

Exporting appointments from Windows Calendar

Importing an iCalendar file into iCal

How Do I Move My Other Windows Data to My Mac?

Moving Data from Windows to Mac

Copying data using a shared network folder

Copying data to an external hard disk

Copying data using your MobileMe iDisk

Moving Media from Windows to Mac

Moving music using iTunes

Converting WMA music to MP3

Moving photos using iPhoto

Moving videos and movies to your Mac

Importing Windows Data

Importing Internet Explorer favorites

Importing Firefox bookmarks

Importing your RSS feeds into Mail

How Do I Work with Files, Folders, and Programs?

Getting to Know Finder

Understanding the Finder layout

Navigating your Mac with Finder

Working with Finder’s Sidebar

Customizing the Sidebar

Changing the Finder view

Opening multiple Finder windows

Working with Files and Folders

Taking a quick look at a file

Renaming a file

Creating a file alias

Creating a new folder

Performing advanced Spotlight searches

Setting up a smart folder

Working with Applications on Your Mac

Installing an application

Switching between running applications

Hiding an application

Managing multiple applications with Exposé

Managing multiple desktops with Spaces

Quitting an application

Running widgets using Dashboard

Uninstalling an application

How Do I Connect and Work with Devices?

Synchronizing with an iPod

Synchronizing music and videos

Synchronizing movies

Synchronizing TV show episodes

Synchronizing podcasts

Synchronizing photos

Synchronizing your address book and calendars

Synchronizing games

Synchronizing with an iPhone

Using an External Display

Understanding external display connections

Setting the external display mode

Connecting Imaging Devices

Connecting an imaging device

Connecting to a network imaging device

Sharing an imaging device

Connecting a Printer

Connecting a printer manually

Adding a shared network printer

Adding a shared Windows network printer

Connecting Bluetooth Devices

Connecting a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard

Configuring your Bluetooth mouse and keyboard

Connecting a Bluetooth headset

How Do I Perform Mac Maintenance?

Routine Mac Maintenance

Emptying the Trash

Cleaning up your Desktop

Watching hard disk free space

Deleting unneeded files

Uninstalling unused applications

Checking hard disk status

Verifying the hard disk

Setting the software update schedule

Updating software by hand

Cycling your Mac notebook battery

More Mac Maintenance

Removing login items

Erasing your hard disk’s free space

Cleaning your Mac inside and out

Preparing for Trouble

Creating a secondary user account

Creating a secondary boot device

Backing Up Your Mac

Configuring Time Machine

Backing up your hard disk to a disk image

Backing up your files to a DVD

Restoring files using Time Machine

Restoring your system

How Can I Solve Mac Problems?

General Software Troubleshooting Techniques

Tracking down the problem

Performing basic software troubleshooting steps

Monitoring your Mac to look for problems

Checking for software updates

Bypassing your login items

Deleting a program’s preferences file

Reinstalling Mac OS X

General Hardware Troubleshooting Techniques

First steps to troubleshooting hardware

Restarting your Mac

Running the Apple Hardware Test

Repairing the hard disk

Repairing disk permissions

How Can I Share Data Between Mac OS X and Windows?

Sharing Data over a Network

Making a wireless network connection

Connecting to a Windows PC

Sharing your Mac on a Windows network

Sharing Documents with Windows Users

Understanding file compatibility

Sharing Microsoft Office documents

Connecting to an Access database

Synchronizing Data Between Mac OS X and Windows Using MobileMe

A bit about MobileMe

Understanding MobileMe device support

Setting up your MobileMe account on your Mac

Setting up MobileMe synchronization on your Mac

Configuring your MobileMe account on your Windows PC

How Can I Run Windows on My Mac?

Why Run Windows?

Dual-Boot or Virtualization (or Both!)?

Dual-Booting with Boot Camp

What you need to run Boot Camp

Getting your Mac ready for Boot Camp

Creating a partition for Windows

Installing Windows

Switching between Mac OS X and Windows

Renaming the Boot Camp partition

Sharing files between Mac OS X and Windows

Boot Camp keyboard techniques

Removing the Boot Camp partition

Running Windows with Parallels Desktop

Installing Parallels Desktop

Running Parallels Desktop

Setting up Parallels Desktop with a Boot Camp virtual machine

Installing Windows in a new virtual machine

Configuring the virtual machine

Exchanging files between Mac OS X and Windows

Running Windows with VMware Fusion

Installing VMware Fusion

Setting up VMware Fusion with a Boot Camp virtual machine

Installing Windows in a new virtual machine

Configuring the virtual machine

Exchanging files between Mac OS X and Windows

Mac Online Resources

Mac Shortcut Keys

Glossary

Switching to a Mac® PORTABLE GENIUS

by Paul McFedries

Switching to a Mac® Portable Genius

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint Blvd.Indianapolis, IN 46256www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-43677-6

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

is a Mac expert and full-time technical writer. Paul has been authoring computer books since 1991 and he has more than 60 books to his credit. Paul’s books have sold more than three million copies worldwide. These books include the Wiley titles Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs, Macs Portable Genius, and iPhone 3G Portable Genius. Paul is also the proprietor of Word Spy (www.wordspy.com) a Web site that tracks new words and phrases as they enter the language. Paul invites you to drop by his personal Web site at www.mcfedries.com.

Credits

Senior Acquisitions Editor

Jody Lefevere

Project Editor

Sarah Cisco

Technical Editor

Paul Sihvonen-Binder

Copy Editor

Scott Tullis

Editorial Manager

Robyn B. Siesky

Vice President & Group Executive Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President & Publisher

Barry Pruett

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Project Coordinator

Patrick Redmond

Graphics and Production Specialists

Ana Carrillo

Jennifer Henry

Andrea Hornberger

Quality Control Technician

Melissa Cossell

Proofreading

Melissa D. BuddendeckJessica Kramer

Indexing

Christine Spina Karpeles

Paul McFedries

For Karen and Gypsy.

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 Senior Acquisitions Editor Jody Lefevere, who was kind enough to ask me to write the book; Project Editor Sarah Cisco, who made this an immeasurably better book by offering lots of good advice and asking the right questions at the right time; Copy Editor Scott Tullis, 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.

What you need is a version of the Genius Bar that you can access at your finger tips. 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. 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.

What Are the Differences Between Mac and Windows?

If you were going to move to a new country, you’d probably spend a bit of time learning as much as you could about the culture of your new home. In particular, you’d want to learn how the new place is different from your old country. For things like currency and customs, dress and driving, food and finance, it’s important to know how things are different. It’s the same when you make the move from a Windows PC to a Mac. Yes, they’re both computers, but the similarities pretty much end there. Everything from windows and menus to using the mouse and the keyboard is different on a Mac, and this chapter takes you through the most important of these differences.

Understanding Interface Differences

An old TV ad for a camera told us that “Image is everything.” That’s probably true for a camera, but not (I hope) for the rest of life. When you’re switching from Windows to the Mac, it’s probably true that “Interface is everything.” That’s because, as with any computer, you must use the Mac interface to get things done, but the Mac interface is quite a bit different than the Windows interface you’re used to, so mastering the interface should be your first chore.

The next few sections help you do that by showing you how the new Mac interface differs from the old Windows interface that you’re leaving behind. (I’ll also point out where they are similar, so you know the parts of the Mac terrain where the learning curve isn’t so steep.)

The Dock

When you start your Mac, one of the first things you probably notice once the desktop shows up is the colorful ribbon of icons that appears along the bottom of the screen, as shown in figure 1.1.

1.1 The collection of icons along the bottom of the Mac desktop is the Dock.

This strip is the Dock and you might think it’s the Mac OS X equivalent of the taskbar in Windows. Actually, although it does have its taskbar-like moments, the Dock is quite a bit different than the taskbar. The main difference is that you can search high and low but you won’t find anything like the Windows Start button on the Dock. In fact, the Mac doesn’t have an equivalent to the Start menu at all (although see my discussion of the Apple menu in the next section). Instead, the Dock itself is a kind of amalgam of the Windows Quick Launch toolbar and taskbar:

• Each Dock icon represents an application, and you click an icon to launch that application. This is just like the Windows Quick Launch toolbar.

• When you launch one of the Dock applications, Mac OS X indicates that the program is running by adding a blue dot under the icon (see the Finder icon on the far left in figure 1.1). If you launch a non-Dock application, Mac OS X adds an icon for that application to the Dock (and displays the blue dot under the icon). For example, figure 1.2 shows the Calculator application running, and you can see that Mac OS X has added an icon for Calculator to the Dock. This is very similar to the Windows taskbar, which displays a button for each running application.