Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs E-Book

Paul McFedries

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Teach Yourself VISUALLY (Tech)
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Seitenzahl: 253

Beschreibung

Visual coverage of the latest Apple hardware and software,including the most popular programsFully updated to cover all the latest changes and features thatMacs have to offer, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs, 2ndEdition aims at helping visual learners get the most from theirMac hardware and software. Whether you're switching from aWindows machine to a Mac or you're a veteran Mac user looking tomaximize all that your system has to offer, this visual guide walksyou through everything from managing your photos in iPhoto,creating award worthy home movies with iMovie, browsing the Webwith Safari, exploring the ever growing iTunes store, and syncingpopular mobile devices like an iPhone or iPad.* Targets visual learners interested in getting the most fromtheir Mac* Boasts full-color screen shots and illustrations as well asstraightforward, step-by-step instructions* Demonstrates how to manage your photos in iPhoto, create movieswith iMovie, browse the Web, explore the iTunes store, and sync upwith an iPhone or iPad* Walks you through basic productivity, maintenance, andtroubleshooting for a Mac* Transitions you from working with a PC to a MacTeach Youself VISUALLY Macs, 2nd Edition puts you well onyour way to confidently making the most of your Mac.

Leseprobe

Teach Yourself VISUALLY® Macs

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Learning About Mac Types

Understanding Mac Types

Learn About the iMac

iMac Ports

Delve into the Mac Mini

Mac Mini Ports

Get to Know the Mac Pro

Mac Pro Ports

Check Out the MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro Ports

Tour the MacBook Air

MacBook Air Ports

MacBook Air Accessories

Take a Look at the MacBook

MacBook Ports

Chapter 2: Understanding What You Can Do with Your Mac

Create Documents

Play and Record Music

View and Organize Your Photos

Play or Make a Movie or DVD

Take Advantage of the Web

Communicate with Others

Organize Your Contacts and Events

Chapter 3: Connecting Devices to Your Mac

Connect Your Mac to an External Display

The Mac Connection

The Display Connection

Connect a Printer

Connect a Fax Modem

Connect an iPod

Connect an iPhone

Connect an iPad

Connect a Bluetooth Device

Connect Your Mac to Another Mac

Chapter 4: Learning Mac Basics

Explore the OS X Screen

Tour the Dock

Start a Program

Switch Between Programs

Tour a Program Window

Select a Command from a Pull-Down Menu

Select a Command Using a Toolbar

Select Options with Dialog Controls

Save a Document

Open a Document

Print a Document

Edit Document Text

Copy a File

Move a File

Rename a File

Delete a File

Chapter 5: Playing and Organizing Music

Open and Close iTunes

Understanding the iTunes Library

Navigate the iTunes Window

Play a Song

Play a Music CD

Import Tracks from a Music CD

Create a Playlist

Burn Music Files to a CD

Edit Song Information

Purchase Music from the iTunes Store

Listen to an Internet Radio Station

Subscribe to a Podcast

Chapter 6: Viewing and Editing Your Photos

View a Preview of a Photo

View a Slide Show of Your Photos

Open and Close iPhoto

Import Photos from a Digital Camera

View Your Photos

Create an Album

Crop a Photo

Rotate a Photo

Hide a Photo

Straighten a Photo

Remove Red Eye from a Photo

Add Names to Faces in Your Photos

Map Your Photos

E-Mail a Photo

Take Your Picture

Chapter 7: Playing and Creating Digital Video

Play a DVD Using DVD Player

Play Digital Video with QuickTime Player

Create a New Movie Project

Import a Video File

Add Video Clips to Your Project

Trim a Clip

Add a Transition Between Clips

Add a Photo

Add a Music Track

Record a Voiceover

Add Titles and Credits

Play the Movie

Create a DVD of Your Movie

Chapter 8: Surfing the World Wide Web

Open and Close Safari

Select a Link

Enter a Web Page Address

Open a Web Page in a Tab

Navigate Web Pages

Navigate with the History List

Change Your Home Page

Bookmark Web Pages

Search for Sites

Download a File

Chapter 9: Communicating via E-Mail and Chat

Open and Close Mail

Add an E-Mail Account

Send an E-Mail Message

Add a File Attachment

Add a Signature

Receive and Read E-Mail Messages

Reply to a Message

Forward a Message

Open and Close iChat

Add a Buddy

Start a Text Chat

Start an Audio Chat

Chapter 10: Tracking Your Contacts and Events

Open and Close Address Book

Add a New Contact

Edit a Contact

Create a Contact Group

Open and Close iCal

Navigate the Calendar

Create an Event

Create a Repeating Event

Create a To-Do Item

Chapter 11: Working with Your MobileMe Account

Log in to MobileMe

Send and Receive MobileMe Mail

Work with MobileMe Contacts

Manage Your Schedule with MobileMe

Share Photos with MobileMe

Upload Files to Your iDisk

Synchronize Your Mac with MobileMe

Chapter 12: Customizing Your Mac

Display System Preferences

Change the Desktop Background

Activate the Screen Saver

Set Your Mac’s Sleep Options

Change the Display Resolution

Change Your Mac’s Name

Customize the Dock

Add an Icon to the Dock

Hide the Dock

Add a Widget to the Dashboard

Chapter 13: Networking with Your Mac

Understanding Networking

Wired Networking

Wireless Networking

Connect to a Wireless Network

Connect to a Network Resource

Turn On File and Printer Sharing

Share a Folder

Share a Printer

Add a Shared Printer

Chapter 14: Maintaining Your Mac

Empty the Trash

Organize Your Desktop

Check Hard Disk Free Space

Uninstall Unused Applications

Set a Software Update Schedule

Update Software by Hand

Remove Unneeded Login Items

Configure Time Machine Backups

Restore Files Using Time Machine

Recondition Your Mac Notebook Battery

Chapter 15: Troubleshooting Your Mac

Restart Your Mac

Unlock System Preferences

Force a Stuck Program to Close

Repair a Corrupt Preferences File

Reset a Forgotten Password

Repair Disk Permissions

Repair a Disk

Reinstall Mac OS X

Teach Yourself VISUALLY™ Macs, 2nd Edition

by Paul McFedries

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint BoulevardIndianapolis, IN 46256

www.wiley.com

Published simultaneously in Canada

Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax [phone], or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010933464

ISBN: 978-0-470-88848-3

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Trademark Acknowledgments

Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, Visual, the Visual logo, Teach Yourself VISUALLY, Read Less - Learn More and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Mac is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs, 2nd Edition is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple, Inc.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ.

FOR PURPOSES OF ILLUSTRATING THE CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK, THE AUTHOR HAS CREATED VARIOUS NAMES, COMPANY NAMES, MAILING, E-MAIL AND INTERNET ADDRESSES, PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS AND SIMILAR INFORMATION, ALL OF WHICH ARE FICTITIOUS. ANY RESEMBLANCE OF THESE FICTITIOUS NAMES, ADDRESSES, PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS AND SIMILAR INFORMATION TO ANY ACTUAL PERSON, COMPANY AND/OR ORGANIZATION IS UNINTENTIONAL AND PURELY COINCIDENTAL.

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Illustrators

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Credits

About the Author

Paul McFedries is is a technical writer who has been authoring computer books since 1991. He has more than 70 books to his credit, which together have sold more than three million copies worldwide. These books include the Wiley titles Teach Yourself VISUALLY Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Mac OS X Snow Leopard, and Macs Portable Genius. Paul also runs Word Spy, a Web site dedicated to tracking new words and phrases (see www.wordspy.com). Please visit Paul’s personal Web site at www.mcfedries.com.

Author’s Acknowledgments

The book you hold in your hands is not only an excellent learning tool, but it is truly beautiful, as well. I am happy to have supplied the text that you will read, but the gorgeous images come from Wiley’s crack team of artists and illustrators. The layout of the tasks, the accuracy of the spelling and grammar, and the veracity of the information are all the result of hard work performed by project editor Lynn Northrup and technical editor Dennis Cohen. Thanks to both of you for your excellent work. My thanks, as well, to acquisitions editor Aaron Black for asking me to write this book.

How to Use This Book

Who This Book Is For

This book is for the reader who has never used this particular technology or software application. It is also for readers who want to expand their knowledge.

The Conventions in This Book

Steps

This book uses a step-by-step format to guide you easily through each task. Numbered steps are actions you must do; bulleted steps clarify a point, step, or optional feature; and indented steps give you the result.

Notes

Notes give additional information — special conditions that may occur during an operation, a situation that you want to avoid, or a cross-reference to a related area of the book.

Icons and Buttons

Icons and buttons show you exactly what you need to click to perform a step.

Tips

Tips offer additional information, including warnings and shortcuts.

Bold

Bold type shows command names, options, and text or numbers you must type.

Italics

Italic type introduces and defines a new term.

Chapter 1: Learning About Mac Types

Are you ready to learn about the Mac? This chapter gets you off to a great start by showing you the different types of Macs that are available. You learn about the general Mac types and find out about the specific Mac models and what features they offer.

Understanding Mac Types

Learn About the iMac

Delve into the Mac Mini

Get to Know the Mac Pro

Check Out the MacBook Pro

Tour the MacBook Air

Take a Look at the MacBook

Understanding Mac Types

Before you learn about the specific Mac models Apple offers, it is a good idea to take a step back and look at the general types of Macs that are available.

Desktop Macs

A desktop Mac is a Macintosh computer that is designed to sit on your desk. In most cases, you connect the desktop Mac to a separate keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The exception here is the iMac model, which comes with a built-in monitor. Also, the Mac Pro model is quite large, so many people place the system unit on the floor.

Portable Macs

A portable Mac is a Macintosh computer that you can take with you when you leave your home or office. A portable Mac — also called a laptop or notebook Mac — comes with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor built in, so it is easy to use in almost any location. A portable Mac also comes with a battery, so you can use it even in places where there is no power outlet available.

PowerPC Macs

From about 1994 to early 2006, all Mac models used a central processing unit (CPU; the “brain” of the computer) called the PowerPC, which was made jointly by IBM and Motorola. Apple no longer uses PowerPC CPUs, but if you are in the market for a used Mac, note that it may come with the PowerPC chip.

Intel Macs

All of the current Mac models use a CPU made by Intel Corporation. Apple began the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006, and every Mac made since about August 2006 comes with an Intel CPU. The Intel processors are faster than the PowerPC chips, and they use less power, which improves battery life in portable Macs.

Determine the Mac CPU

If you have a Mac and you do not know whether it has an Intel or PowerPC CPU, you can find out. Start your Mac, click the Apple icon () in the top left corner, and then click About This Mac. In the About This Mac window that appears, examine the Processor value.

Learn About the iMac

If you are thinking of purchasing an iMac, or just want to know more about this Mac model, this section explains the iMac’s features and concepts.

iMac Overview

The iMac is an “all-in-one” computer that combines the system components (the CPU, memory, hard drive, and other internal components) and the screen in a single unit. The resulting console is amazingly thin, so the iMac does not take up very much room on your desk.

iMac Features

The iMac uses an Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5, or Intel Core i7 processor; a widescreen display (21.5 or 27 inches wide); a powerful graphics card; a built-in iSight camera and microphone; wired and wireless networking support; and a CD and DVD burner.

iMac Ports

The back of the iMac has a generous supply of ports that enable you to connect a wide variety of devices.

Audio Out

You use the audio out port to play music or other audio through speakers or headphones.

Audio In

You use the audio in port to bring speech or other audio into the iMac using a microphone, musical instrument, or audio player.

USB

You use the iMac’s four USB ports to connect devices that support USB, including keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, external drives, iPods, iPads, and iPhones.

FireWire 800

You use the FireWire 800 port to connect devices that support FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 (with an adapter), including external hard drives, external DVD drives, and video cameras.

Mini DisplayPort Out

You use this video out port to connect the iMac to an additional display, such as a second monitor, a TV, or a video projector.

Network

You use the network port to connect the iMac to a wired network.

Delve into the Mac Mini

If you are thinking of purchasing a Mac mini, or just want to know more about this Mac model, this section explains the Mac mini’s features and concepts.

Mac Mini Overview

The Mac mini is a scaled-down version of a Mac that includes all the standard components — CPU, memory, hard drive, video card, and DVD drive — in a unit that measures only about 6.5 inches square (and about 2 inches tall). This makes the Mac mini perfect for a small work area.

Mac Mini Features

The Mac mini uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor; a 320GB or 500GB hard drive; wired and wireless networking support; a CD and DVD burner; and numerous ports (see the next page). You need to supply your own keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Mac Mini Ports

The back of the Mac mini has a number of ports that enable you to connect a wide variety of devices.

Network

You use the network port to connect the Mac mini to a wired network.

FireWire 800

You use the FireWire 800 port to connect devices that support FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 (with an adapter), including external hard drives, external DVD drives, and video cameras.

HDMI Video Out

You use the HDMI video out port to connect the Mac mini to an HD TV or other display that uses an HDMI connector.

Mini DisplayPort Video Out

You use the Mini DisplayPort video out port to connect the Mac mini to a high resolution display.

USB

You use the Mac mini’s USB ports to connect devices that support USB, including keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, external drives, iPods, iPads, and iPhones.

Audio In

You use the audio in port to bring speech or other audio into the Mac mini using a microphone, musical instrument, or audio player.

Audio Out

You use the audio out port to play music or other audio through speakers or headphones.

Get to Know the Mac Pro

If you are thinking of purchasing a Mac Pro, or just want to know more about this Mac model, this section explains the Mac Pro’s features and concepts.

Mac Pro Overview

The Mac Pro is the fastest and most powerful of all the Mac models. With a fast CPU, lots of memory, a large hard drive, powerful graphics, and a wide variety of expansion options, the Mac Pro is designed for power users who need maximum performance and expandability.

Mac Pro Features

The Mac Pro uses either one or two Intel Xeon quad core processors, which gives the Mac Pro the power of up to eight individual CPUs, or two Intel Xeon 6-core processors, which is the equivalent of 12 individual CPUs. It also comes with 3GB or 6GB of memory, a 1TB hard drive, wired and optional wireless networking support, a CD and DVD burner, and numerous ports. You can upgrade the Mac Pro with a faster CPU, more memory, and multiple hard drives.

Mac Pro Ports

The back of the Mac Pro has a number of ports that enable you to connect a wide variety of devices. Note that the Mac Pro also has several ports on the front.

DVI Video Out

You use the DVI video out port to connect the Mac Pro to a computer monitor, TV, or other display.

Mini DisplayPort Video Out

You use the Mini DisplayPort video out port to connect the Mac Pro to a high resolution display.

USB

You use the Mac Pro’s three USB ports to connect devices that support USB, including keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, external drives, and iPods.

FireWire 800

You use the two FireWire 800 ports to connect devices that support FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 (with an adapter), including external hard drives, external DVD drives, and video cameras.

Optical Audio In

You use the optical audio in port to bring digital audio into the Mac Pro using digital audio devices that support optical connections.

Optical Audio Out

You use the optical audio out port to send digital audio from the Mac Pro to digital audio devices that support optical connections.

Audio In

You use the audio in port to bring speech or other audio into the Mac Pro using a microphone, musical instrument, or audio player.

Audio Out

You use the audio out port to play music or other audio through speakers or headphones.

Network

You can use the two network ports to connect the Mac Pro to two different wired networks.

Check Out the MacBook Pro

If you are thinking of purchasing a MacBook Pro, or just want to know more about this Mac model, this section explains the MacBook Pro’s features and concepts.

MacBook Pro Overview

The MacBook Pro is a portable computer that combines the monitor and keyboard into a single unit. Instead of a mouse, the MacBook Pro uses a trackpad where you move the pointer by sliding your finger along the pad. The latest MacBook Pro models use Multi-Touch trackpads, where you use gestures to scroll, rotate, and zoom screen objects.

MacBook Pro Features

The MacBook Pro uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor; a widescreen display (13, 15, or 17 inches measured diagonally); 4GB of memory; a 250GB, 320GB, or 500GB hard drive; a built-in iSight camera and microphone; wired and wireless networking support; and a CD and DVD burner.

MacBook Pro Ports

The sides of the MacBook Pro have a number of ports that enable you to connect a wide variety of devices. Note that the different versions of the MacBook (13-, 15-, and 17-inch) have slightly different port configurations. A 15-inch MacBook Pro is shown here.

Network

You use the network port to connect the MacBook Pro to a wired network.

FireWire 800

You use the FireWire 800 port to connect devices that support FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 (with an adapter), including external hard drives, external DVD drives, and video cameras.

Mini DisplayPort Video Out

You use the Mini DisplayPort video out port to connect the MacBook Pro to an additional display, such as a second monitor, a TV, or a video projector.

USB

You use the MacBook Pro’s USB ports to connect devices that support USB, including keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, external drives, and iPods.

SD Card Slot

You use the SD card slot to insert a Secure Digital memory card.

Audio In

You use the audio in port to bring speech or other audio into the MacBook Pro using a microphone, musical instrument, or audio player.

Audio Out

You use the audio out port to play music or other audio through speakers or headphones.

Tour the MacBook Air

If you are thinking of purchasing a MacBook Air, or just want to know more about this Mac model, this section explains the MacBook Air’s features and concepts.

MacBook Air Overview

The MacBook Air is a portable computer that combines the monitor and keyboard into a single unit. Instead of a mouse, the MacBook Air uses a Multi-Touch trackpad where you move the pointer by sliding your finger along the pad, and where you use gestures to scroll, rotate, and zoom screen objects. With a height of just 0.76 inches, the MacBook Air is the world’s thinnest notebook computer.

MacBook Air Features

The MacBook Air uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 13.3-inch widescreen display (measured diagonally), 2GB of memory, a 120GB hard drive, a built-in iSight camera and microphone, and wireless networking support. Note that the MacBook Air does not come with wired networking support or a CD or DVD drive.

MacBook Air Ports

The sides of the MacBook Air have a number of ports that enable you to connect a wide variety of devices.

Audio Out

You use the audio out port to play music or other audio through speakers or headphones.

USB

You use the MacBook Air’s USB port to connect devices that support USB, including DVD drives, keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, external drives, and iPods.

MiniDisplay Port Video Out

You use the MiniDisplay Port video out port to connect the MacBook Air to an additional display, such as a second monitor, a TV, or a video projector.

MacBook Air Accessories

MacBook Air SuperDrive

The MacBook Air does not come with a built-in CD or DVD drive, but you can attach the external MacBook Air SuperDrive to the USB port. The MacBook Air SuperDrive can read and write DVDs and CDs, and weighs just 0.71 pounds.

USB Ethernet Adapter

The MacBook Air does not offer a port for a wired network connection. If you need a faster network connection than the MacBook Air’s built-in wireless networking, or if your local network offers only wired connections, you can attach the USB Network Adapter to the computer’s USB port.

Take a Look at the MacBook

If you are thinking of purchasing a MacBook, or just want to know more about this Mac model, this section explains the MacBook’s features and concepts.

MacBook Overview

The MacBook is a portable computer that combines the monitor and keyboard into a single unit. Instead of a mouse, the MacBook uses a trackpad where you move the pointer by sliding your finger along the pad.

MacBook Features

The MacBook uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor; a 13.3-inch widescreen display (measured diagonally); 2GB of memory; a 250GB, 320GB, or 500GB hard drive; a built-in iSight camera and microphone; wired and wireless networking support; and a CD and DVD burner.

MacBook Ports

The sides of the MacBook have a number of ports that enable you to connect a wide variety of devices.

Network

You use the network port to connect the MacBook to a wired network.

Mini DisplayPort Video Out

You use the Mini DisplayPort video out port to connect the MacBook to an additional display, such as a second monitor, a TV, or a video projector.

USB

You use the MacBook’s two USB ports to connect devices that support USB, including keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, external drives, and iPods.

Audio In

You use the audio in port to bring speech or other audio into the MacBook using a microphone, musical instrument, or audio player.

Audio Out

You use the audio out port to play music or other audio through speakers or headphones.

Chapter 2: Understanding What You Can Do with Your Mac

Are you ready to learn about what you can do with a Mac? In this chapter you find out about the wide variety of tasks you can perform with your Mac, including creating documents; playing music; organizing photos, contacts, and events; surfing the Web; and communicating with others.

Create Documents

Play and Record Music

View and Organize Your Photos

Play or Make a Movie or DVD

Take Advantage of the Web

Communicate with Others

Organize Your Contacts and Events

Create Documents

You can use your Mac to create a wide variety of documents, including lists, letters, memos, budgets, forecasts, presentations, and Web pages.

Text Documents

You can use text editing software on your Mac to create simple documents such as lists, notes, instructions, and other items that do not require fonts, colors, or other types of formatting. On your Mac, you can use the TextEdit application to create plain text documents, and the Stickies application to create electronic sticky notes.

Word Processing Documents

You can use word processing software on your Mac to create letters, resumes, memos, reports, newsletters, brochures, business cards, menus, flyers, invitations, and certificates. Anything that you use to communicate on paper, you can create using your Mac. On your Mac, you can also use TextEdit to create formatted documents. Other examples include Microsoft Word for the Mac and Apple iWork Pages.

Spreadsheets

A spreadsheet is a software program that enables you to manipulate numbers and formulas to quickly create powerful mathematical, financial, and statistical models. Your Mac comes with a test drive version of the Numbers spreadsheet application, which is part of Apple’s iWork suite. Another example is Microsoft Excel for the Mac.

Presentations

A presentation program enables you to build professional-looking slides that you can use to convey your ideas to other people. Your Mac comes with a test drive version of the Keynote application, which is part of Apple’s iWork suite. Another example is Microsoft PowerPoint for the Mac.

Web Pages

You can use Web page editing software on your Mac to create your own pages to publish to the Web. You can create a personal home page, a blog, or pages to support your business. On your Mac, you can use the iWeb application, which comes with the iLife suite, to create and publish entire Web sites.

Play and Record Music

Your Mac is a veritable music machine that you can use to organize and play your digital music collection. You can copy music from audio CDs, purchase music online, and even record new tunes.

iTunes

Your Mac comes with the iTunes application, which stores your library of digital music files. With iTunes you can play albums and songs, organize tunes into related playlists, download and edit track information, and organize your music to suit your style. You can also use iTunes to listen to Internet-based radio stations.

iTunes Store

You can use the iTunes application to connect directly to the online iTunes Store, where you can purchase individual songs, usually for 99 cents per song, or entire albums, usually for $9.99 per album. Your Mac downloads the purchased music to your iTunes Library, and you can listen to the music on your Mac or add the music to your iPod, iPad, or iPhone.

Import Music from a CD

You can add tracks from a music CD to the iTunes Library. This enables you to listen to an album without having to put the CD into your CD or DVD drive each time. In iTunes, the process of copying tracks from a CD to your Mac is called importing or ripping.

Record Music

Your Mac might come with an application called GarageBand that enables you to record your own tunes. You can attach an instrument such as a guitar or keyboard to your Mac and record your playing. You can also use GarageBand to add accompanying instruments such as drums, bass, piano, or another guitar.

Burn Music to a CD

You can copy, or burn, music files from your Mac onto a CD. Burning CDs is a great way to create customized CDs that you can listen to on the computer or in a portable device. You can burn music files using the iTunes application or using the GarageBand application.

Synchronize with an iPod, iPad, or iPhone

You can use the iTunes application to copy some or all of your music library to an iPod, iPad, or iPhone, which enables you to play your music while you are walking around or on another audio device that connects to the iPod, iPad, or iPhone. When you attach the iPod, iPad, or iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable, iTunes automatically synchronizes the device according to the settings you specify.

View and Organize Your Photos

Your Mac’s high-quality display is perfect for displaying, organizing, and editing your digital photos. You can view photo slide shows, import images from a camera, take snapshots, and edit your photos.

View Photos