12 replies to this topic

[Juju]

Please help an old dog learn a few new tricks?

I am having a MacBook Pro built for me at work to replace my lil old DELL laptop which has been a nightmare from start to finish (rebuilt 4 times since leaving the factory 14 months ago, plus new motherboard ).

I haven't used a Mac since I wrote up my thesis on a G4 in 2001. I am reliant on "right clicks" and all CTRL & F button shortcuts & will now have to retrain myself completely.....which is scaring me slightly...

Does anybody have any tips & tricks that would be useful for me, please? I know it will slow my work down for a while & it will take me a few months to get back up to speed....at my age.....

I can't remember half the stuff I used to do years ago on the G4.

[maryquant]

I found when I switched to Mac that they have now incorporated most of the features of intel based systems (including an actual intel based system now)

Some of the macs mice have provision for right click, and others I believe allow you to hold-click for a 'right click' so everything is pretty much the same.

Depending on what mac you get, and your budget you can use bootcamp to install and run windows on your mac if it makes life easier, I was going to do this, but in the end found that after a few days of using it I was zipping along with the MAC OS and didnt really need to switch to windows at all.

There are plenty of good tutorials online, especially the video tutorials on YouTube for individual things which you may struggle with during the switchover, but in general the new OSX layout is pretty intuitive, just follow all the demos, and use the help file if you get stuck.

Hope you enjoy your new crash-free computer

[Juju]

I found when I switched to Mac that they have now incorporated most of the features of intel based systems (including an actual intel based system now)

Some of the macs mice have provision for right click, and others I believe allow you to hold-click for a 'right click' so everything is pretty much the same.

Oooh. That's useful.

Depending on what mac you get, and your budget you can use bootcamp to install and run windows on your mac if it makes life easier, I was going to do this, but in the end found that after a few days of using it I was zipping along with the MAC OS and didnt really need to switch to windows at all.

I'm going to have to run VMWare Fusion in parallel (which is going to be even more confusing) as most of my analysis packages aren't Mac compatible. So image processing, email, web browsing & document handling will be Apple-based, most of the other work I do will be in Virtual Windows. Zoikes!!

There are plenty of good tutorials online, especially the video tutorials on YouTube for individual things which you may struggle with during the switchover, but in general the new OSX layout is pretty intuitive, just follow all the demos, and use the help file if you get stuck.

Cool, thanks. I shall have a look at the tutorials.

[oli8925]

i changed from dell to mac a few months ago for uni, just the basic macbook pro, and its so easy to use its unbelievable. the new snow leopard OS is great. left click is one finger, to right click you use to fingers, to navigate forwards and backwards on pages you swipe 3 fingers across, to switch between windows you swipe 4 fingers down, to go to desktop you swipe 4 fingers up. now tell me all that doesnt sound fun

but as maryquant said, they have integrated a lot of normal pc features so it is really easy to just pick up and use (and its soooooo much faster!) good choice juju!

[hazpalmer14]

i have the basic macbook and i lve it, its a great bit of kit

[Nick Warwick]

the apple site has all the shortcuts for you to look at, they will help you out alot, good choice on the mac

[bakker110]

Most of the short cuts you are used to such as CTRL + C for copy, can be done on a mac using the same letter keys but pressing the apple key (sometimes looking like a four leaf clover) instead of CTRL.

Like already mentioned check the apple website for all the short cuts.

[minisilverbullet]

I highly recommend bootcamp! it comes installed on the mac when you buy it and allows you to split the hard drive between mac and windows!

you choose which system you want on start up!

I use both for different things, like having 2 computers!!

[davidv]

Good luck adam with the apple. Dells are good tak. and dirt cheap now with good spec . I only use Windows Media on 2 pcs and Vista mod2 with 64 bit here. Apple always have been tops on work pcs but the software costs. O and glue glue.xxx

[Juju]

Well, I have it. I am typing on it right now. It's wicked! It looks ace, I know I can do everything on it that I need to but I'm not sure how!

I'm more confused than a blind lesbian in a fishmongers. This is gonna take me a while to get used to....

[davidv]

JuJU you have cheered me up with that pc post i would tie you to it you will soon get the swing of it you old 100 watt bulb.Not sure about you cumming fishing i use a pike rode on the river

[Bean]

Well, I have it. I am typing on it right now. It's wicked! It looks ace, I know I can do everything on it that I need to but I'm not sure how!

I'm more confused than a blind lesbian in a fishmongers. This is gonna take me a while to get used to....

You'll find your right click menu if you press CTRL + click!!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Macs!!

If you need any help, just let me know!!


Once you go Mac, you won't ever go back!

[Nick Warwick]

Once you go Mac, you won't ever go back!

thats gotta be the best quote of the moment lol