Some Good Advice For a PC Convert

I just bought my first Mac two weeks ago but, have been a PC user all my life. What are the best websites for finding both general and more specific info on Mac "stuff" like:

What software is out there?
Good OSX tutorials
User forums
Mac news sites
Accessories review sites

I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about my new machine so I can use it to its full potential. I've done a few quick Google searches but wanted to make sure I'm not missing the "good ones"! Thanks.

 

OSX tutorial would be awesome! I will be coming from pc's to a mac in the next month as well.

I'm wondering what the file directory system looks like compared to a PC.

 

Apple has its own tutorials, which are apparently very good:

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

 

Thanks Bona Fide

 

I haven't converted to Mac, but I have read Apple's tutorials, the two Bona Fide listed. They are really helpful, especially Switch 101 for Windows users. I highly recommend them for switchers or just people that are interested.

 

yeah, honestly Apple actually has very easy to use and understand support system on there site, you can honestly learn everything you need to know on that site.

things like keyboard shortcuts, honestly just ask here or other people and you will slowly learn all of the Mac equivalent shortcuts etc.

some things that are important to know shortcut wise:

basically Ctrl is replaced by the "Apple/Command Key" (Ex. Ctrl-C (copy) is now (Apple-C) etc. etc.

in windows to rename a file you can click on it, press F2 and quickly rename a file, if you have tons of files to rename it become a total pain in the ass to click a file and wait then click again to rename it.
in OSX the equivalent shortcut to rename is simply the Return/Enter key

To Right click just press Ctrl-and Click, also, if you have a MacBook/MacBook Pro you can go into system settings, mouse, and turn on two finger double click, which is very useful I think. Also be aware that your touch pad has built in Two Finger scrolling, which is one of the best features of these laptops.

There are a lot of little things to learn, but honestly OSX is pretty **** easy to use, even if you don't know a lot already. If you already know windows really well, it is just kind of a matter of learning, how OSX does equivalent things to windows and maybe it even does it better.

Oh, another thing I highly recommend is going into System Preferences/ Dashboard Expose Settings, and setting up Expose, which is one of my favorite things about OSX. Expose basically turns each corner of your screen into a little shortcut area that is extremely useful in terms of using and organizing program windows. Basically, since Mac OS doesn't use a taskbar like Windows (where all your open programs can easily be seen and accessed, bringing that program window to the front), it uses a little organization program called Expose which allows you to either press a keyboard button, (Usually the last 4 "F" keys) or go to the corner of your screen to quickly show the desktop, all of your open program windows, all of the open windows in that particular application, etc. Learn to use it and learn to use it well and you will be a happy camper

 

wait the return key changes the name of a file?! Isn't return/enter also used to run the program?

 

^^^ not in OSX, if you click on a icon once, and press enter/return it won't open or run the folder, it will open the rename function.

 

How do you run a file from the keyboard then or is it click only?

 

Check all of these Mac guides. They helped me learn the software and also showed me how to use some new programs- Quicksilver!

http://guides.macrumors.com/

Here are a bunch of useful freeware programs for Mac. I really like the Virtue Desktops. Try that one out.

http://hmatt.com/mac/macbookfreeware.html

 

Apple+o will open a directory, file or run a program!