The first steps on the Mac: beginners on OS X

How it works in OS X are slightly different from Microsoft Windows, so users who have recently purchased the Mac, to replace the computer with the Redmond OS are experiencing some difficulties. If the US and Europe Getting to know your people start with both PC and Macs with, in our country and the CIS special there is no alternative. With probability of 99% the first computer experience will Windows. Retrained, as we know, it is much harder than to learn anew, but by following our simple tips, you can keep all the difficulties of the transition to a minimum.

Installing and removing applications

Your first search query in Safari is likely to be: "How do I install the program on Mac?». This simple operation to which you are bound to encounter, is fundamentally different from that of the operating system from Microsoft. And remarkably, the application installation will take less time than you spend on a search request.

Most programs are distributed in the dmg-archives (images) and set just a couple of clicks:

• open the downloaded .dmg-file (it will be visible in the Finder as a removable disk);
• drag the directory with the application in the system folder named "Program";
• after a couple of seconds, the application will appear on the Launchpad (gesture "pinch" to open) and will be immediately ready for use;
• Now you can remove the image from the distribution in the sidebar of the Finder and delete the .dmg-file;

Install the app from the .dmg-file can be in any convenient location for you, but then the program icon appears in Launchpad. Therefore, I recommend to use the folder "Programs", especially since it is designed for this and.

Some applications have their own installer and installed through it. In this case, you will see with the "Accept" button in the dialog box, "Next", "Set" (Hello, Windows!).

Starting with version 10.7, OS X appeared in the store Mac App Store application, the same App Store on iOS. Working with him is even easier to install - simply click "Install" button on the application page.

By analogy with the installation, uninstall the application it is removed from the folder "Programs". Drag the directory with the application in the "shopping cart" - and it's done. If the program has its own installer, the uninstallation going through it, too.

Interaction with windows. Close or collapse?

Windows users for the first time in a shock: not only that the window control buttons are on the left, so they also work differently. In fact, the "X" button does not close the program, and only closes its window. This is due to the fact that in OS X applications can have multiple windows, and after we closed the window the program continues to run. The button "+" does not expand the window to full screen, and scales it to the size of the displayed content.

In order to complete the application, press the «Cmd + Q», or to right-click on the icon in the Dock, and select "Finish".

Running the program is convenient to monitor the indicator in the Dock. This function is enabled in the system settings, in the "Doc."

Also with version 10.7 OS X applications can run in full-screen mode when the hidden dock and menu bar. To activate this mode you need to press the icon arrow right top corner of the screen.

We use multi-touch gestures

One of the main features of OS X is to support multi-touch gestures. They are very much (I counted more than 10 gestures), and most importantly, thanks to a wonderful trackpad - they work simply gorgeous.

Open System Preferences and go to the "Trackpad" ( "Mouse") section, include the necessary gestures and watch a demonstration of their work. In addition to the banal imitation of the right mouse button, scrolling and dragging windows with the help of gestures, we can: search for the selected word; rotate, scale image; open the Launchpad, Mission Control, the Notifications Center.

Spending a few minutes to study the sign - you do your work in OS X productivity and much more pleasant.

«Fn» key useful features

With the help of the Fn button, you can get quick access to many functions of the system. Here are some useful shortcuts:

• Fn + Ctrl + F2 allows you to navigate through the menus without using the mouse;
• Fn + Backspace replaces the Delete button;
• Fn + F11 to show the desktop;
• Fn + up arrow replaces the Page Up button;
• Fn + down arrow replaces the Page down button;
• Fn + left arrow replaces the Home button;
• Fn + right arrow replaces the End button;

Such shortcuts are very easy to remember, and I recommend using them on a daily basis. By the way, there is a tiny utility CheatSheetThat will help you remember and use all of the available reductions. Once installed, it is integrated into the system and when the key «Cmd» pressed displays a complete list of abbreviations is available in an open application.

Add the application in the "Startup"

Some applications during the installation immediately added to the list of programs that are loaded automatically at system startup. You can edit this list at their own discretion, to fine-tune for themselves.

Open the "Settings" - "Users and Groups" on the tab "Login Items" edit the list using the "+" and "-". On the elderly Macs makes sense to remove the unnecessary elements, this will speed up the loading of the system.

Detailed information about your Mac

In a Windows environment, in order to obtain full information about the "hardware" of the computer is necessary to use a third-party utility, such as AIDA 64. Operating system from Apple, in this respect compares favorably with competitors. The structure of OS X includes a tool "System Information", which gives us a detailed account absolutely all the equipment and softvarnoy part. Here we can see the processor frequency, the number of slots and memory type, MAC-address wifi and bluetooth, as well as many other service information.

"System Information" can be found in the folder "Utilities" in the "Launchpad" or by clicking on the icon "Apple's" in the menu bar and selecting "About This Mac».

Quick view files

My favorite feature is the built-in OS X is a "Browse". In the Finder, on any file or folder by pressing the space bar opens a Quick Look window. It supports all file types known to the system: images, videos, and documents. Closes the window view by pressing the space bar. Fast, easy and convenient.

Force Quit Applications

It happens that the program may stop responding, or more simply hang up. For example, you open a large number of tabs in Chrome or launched several "heavy" applications. Windows users are familiar shortcut «Ctrl + Alt + Delete», which they regularly use. In OS X to bring up the completion of the dialogue applications need to click «Command + Option + Esc», here we choose stale program and click "Finish".

Let Mac OS that seldom happens, but if it does - you'll know what to do.

Includes support for all video formats

Built QuickTime supports major video formats and for most of the needs of users this is enough with his head. But if you are the owner motley video collection - you will have to expand the list of supported formats. This can be done with a codec pack Perian or install third party media player, for example VLC. Both solutions are free.

Do not forget to make backups

Last advice trite and beaten, which nevertheless is constantly neglected. To ensure that your data is always in complete safety using backup, and take regular backups using Time Machine. This will also not afraid to experiment with the system, which will inevitably be at the beginning.

Here are the key recommendations, so to speak, a necessary minimum. I can add, add your own tips in the comments.