What to expect in this post:
- How to Use Windows on a Mac
- VMs
- How to Get Used to Mac
- Mouse
- Print to PDF
- Command Instead of Control Key
- Programs Run in Themselves
- Uninstalling Programs
- OSX Meaning
- Delete
- Eject Button
- Start Up Bootcamp to Choose Windows or Mac
- Benefits of a Mac
- Syncing
- Speed
- No Virus Protection Needed
- Both Worlds
- How to Use Windows on a Mac
- VMs
- How to Get Used to Mac
- Mouse
- Print to PDF
- Command Instead of Control Key
- Programs Run in Themselves
- Uninstalling Programs
- OSX Meaning
- Delete
- Eject Button
- Start Up Bootcamp to Choose Windows or Mac
- Benefits of a Mac
- Syncing
- Speed
- No Virus Protection Needed
- Both Worlds
You are finally making the switch to Mac/Apple products after years of only using Windows. What do you do? How do you use a Mac? What are the main differences? What are some programs you can use for Mac that replace your Windows programs that you loved.
How to Use Windows on a Mac
You would be suprised how many things you can do natively on a Mac that Windows couldn't do. Example, I use a virtual printer to make my life paperless. I used to use a Print to PDF program to do this on Windows. Mac has this built in.
The first thing to do would make a list of all the programs you need to run on your computer. The main ones would be Microsoft Excel or Word. These are easy since now the make a program for the Mac and Apple devices. I would suggest learning how to use Numbers and Pages which are the Mac native programs.
You would be suprised how many things you can do natively on a Mac that Windows couldn't do. Example, I use a virtual printer to make my life paperless. I used to use a Print to PDF program to do this on Windows. Mac has this built in.
The first thing to do would make a list of all the programs you need to run on your computer. The main ones would be Microsoft Excel or Word. These are easy since now the make a program for the Mac and Apple devices. I would suggest learning how to use Numbers and Pages which are the Mac native programs.
Windows Conversion to Mac Programs
Once I switched over to Mac I really tried to just use native apps/programs for Apple. Until you get to that point though, here are some ways to still use some of your programs on your Mac.
There are some Virtual Machine (VM) Software that mimics or emulates Windows for you. You can use your Windows programs here till you can find a Mac alternative.
There are some Virtual Machine (VM) Software that mimics or emulates Windows for you. You can use your Windows programs here till you can find a Mac alternative.
Here are some examples of VM Software to run Windows on a Mac:
Virtual Box (Free) - https://www.virtualbox.org/
|
Wine (Free) - http://wiki.winehq.org/
(This allows you to run many programs without installing Windows at all) |
Crossover Mac - http://www.codeweavers.com/
|
Parallels - http://www.parallels.com/
|
VMWare Fusion - http://www.vmware.com/
|
Many programs have made Mac versions now of their software that work just fine. Examples are Microsoft Office and Autodesk's AutoCAD. Sometimes you just need to run Windows for that special program that your employer requires you to run or that you just can't let go of yet.
Getting Used to Mac
Some things to get used to are the look and feel of a Mac. If you start with or already have an iPhone/iPad/iPod then you have a nice jump start to understanding how a Mac works. The icons are the same so you know what to look for. There are some pretty powerful features of a Mac that you can learn later. For right now we will touch on a few of the basics.
Mouse - The mouse can be more natural by being switched the direction of the scroll wheel. Its more like a touch screen as if you were on a tablet. The trackpad will be "backwards" also. Once you get used to it, it makes a lot of sense. Just remember when you are switching back to Windows, you might get a little confused. Another thing with the mouse, at first you may realize there is not right-mouse button. You just need to go into settings and turn it on possibly. Once you set that up then it's a lot easier to get used to.
PDFs - "Print-to-PDF" is something that I always had to download on a Windows computer. I try to go paperless so I always have things saved as PDF instead of printing and killing trees. This is a built-in feature with Apple computers. You just press down CMD and P to print and there is an option at the bottom left that will allow you to save the document as a PDF. This brings me to the next thing that is different on a Mac.
Command Button - This is basically the Control (Ctrl) button on your keyboard in Windows. It functions exactly the same as the Crtl button.
Programs Run In Themselves - You may not even realize this until you delete a program on accident. So each program basically runs within itself. If you take the program out of the application folder and drag it into the trash, you are not deleting a shortcut of the application, you are actually removing the program from your computer. There is no "Uninstall" feature, it is not needed. I remember googling "How to uninstall a program on a Mac." There really is no need for this the way a Mac is set up.
OS X- What does OS X mean? OS stands for Operating System. OS X is pronounced OS "Ten". Apple uses different names like other companies for their operating systems. The most recent were Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite.
Backspace - There is no "backspace" button, it is called the Delete button on an Apple Keyboard. The only thing that is noticable with it is that when trying to "delete" a shortcut on the desktop you actually have to right-click and click trash.
Eject Button - To eject CDs and DVDs there is a button that you can press on the Apple Keyboard that will let you do that. To eject a disk during the startup of the computer you can actually hold down the left mouse button during the start up sound and it will eventually eject your disc.
Bootcamp - When having bootcamp on your machine if you want to switch between your Windows and the Mac part of your computer you will need to hold down the option button while starting up your computer.
Some things to get used to are the look and feel of a Mac. If you start with or already have an iPhone/iPad/iPod then you have a nice jump start to understanding how a Mac works. The icons are the same so you know what to look for. There are some pretty powerful features of a Mac that you can learn later. For right now we will touch on a few of the basics.
Mouse - The mouse can be more natural by being switched the direction of the scroll wheel. Its more like a touch screen as if you were on a tablet. The trackpad will be "backwards" also. Once you get used to it, it makes a lot of sense. Just remember when you are switching back to Windows, you might get a little confused. Another thing with the mouse, at first you may realize there is not right-mouse button. You just need to go into settings and turn it on possibly. Once you set that up then it's a lot easier to get used to.
PDFs - "Print-to-PDF" is something that I always had to download on a Windows computer. I try to go paperless so I always have things saved as PDF instead of printing and killing trees. This is a built-in feature with Apple computers. You just press down CMD and P to print and there is an option at the bottom left that will allow you to save the document as a PDF. This brings me to the next thing that is different on a Mac.
Command Button - This is basically the Control (Ctrl) button on your keyboard in Windows. It functions exactly the same as the Crtl button.
Programs Run In Themselves - You may not even realize this until you delete a program on accident. So each program basically runs within itself. If you take the program out of the application folder and drag it into the trash, you are not deleting a shortcut of the application, you are actually removing the program from your computer. There is no "Uninstall" feature, it is not needed. I remember googling "How to uninstall a program on a Mac." There really is no need for this the way a Mac is set up.
OS X- What does OS X mean? OS stands for Operating System. OS X is pronounced OS "Ten". Apple uses different names like other companies for their operating systems. The most recent were Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite.
Backspace - There is no "backspace" button, it is called the Delete button on an Apple Keyboard. The only thing that is noticable with it is that when trying to "delete" a shortcut on the desktop you actually have to right-click and click trash.
Eject Button - To eject CDs and DVDs there is a button that you can press on the Apple Keyboard that will let you do that. To eject a disk during the startup of the computer you can actually hold down the left mouse button during the start up sound and it will eventually eject your disc.
Bootcamp - When having bootcamp on your machine if you want to switch between your Windows and the Mac part of your computer you will need to hold down the option button while starting up your computer.
Benefits of Using a Mac
Why would someone want to move over to a Mac? Can't Windows do everything a Mac can do? Here are some reasons you may want to switch over:
Syncronization - If you have an iPhone or iPad you may want to switch to a Mac. Although Apple has made it easier to sync most things through a Windows computer, it still makes more sense to switch to Mac. There was one major reason I switched over, this was it. I used to have a normal phone, an iPod, and a wallet which overpowered my pockets. Now I just have an iPhone/Wallet that hold everything I need. I try to keep things simple. This is the simplest way to do it. I used to put a number in my phone and then find later that it wouldn't be updated on my iPod. Then I wouldn't know which one was the updated number. Very confusing and a big waste of time. Also on my computer the information wouldn't be updated. To have computer, phone, and any other device I had all in Sync, this was the way to do it.
Speed - The Mac computers are very fast. I have never invested as much in a Windows computer as I have in a Apple device. I remember building my first computer years ago and it cost me so much money to try to make a fast computer. It was not worth it at all. I now have Windows on both my iMac and my Macbook Air and Windows runs more beautifully than has ever run on a Windows PC that I have purchased in the past.
No Virus Protection - I had so many viruses on my Windows computers before and since I have had a Mac not one has had issues. You don't need to download virus protection software unless you really want to. If you only download programs that are through the app store than you really won't have problems. I am sure that there still might be issues if you download something that is illegal, so my recommendation, don't download illegal things. :)
Best of Both Worlds - A Mac makes it really easy to put Windows on your computer. It comes with Bootcamp that you can boot up to Windows or Mac. Windows on the other hand does not make it that easy to have Mac on your Windows PC. There is something called a "Hackintosh," however, it is not as simple as installing Windows on your Mac. Yet another reason why you may decide to buy a Mac.
Why would someone want to move over to a Mac? Can't Windows do everything a Mac can do? Here are some reasons you may want to switch over:
Syncronization - If you have an iPhone or iPad you may want to switch to a Mac. Although Apple has made it easier to sync most things through a Windows computer, it still makes more sense to switch to Mac. There was one major reason I switched over, this was it. I used to have a normal phone, an iPod, and a wallet which overpowered my pockets. Now I just have an iPhone/Wallet that hold everything I need. I try to keep things simple. This is the simplest way to do it. I used to put a number in my phone and then find later that it wouldn't be updated on my iPod. Then I wouldn't know which one was the updated number. Very confusing and a big waste of time. Also on my computer the information wouldn't be updated. To have computer, phone, and any other device I had all in Sync, this was the way to do it.
Speed - The Mac computers are very fast. I have never invested as much in a Windows computer as I have in a Apple device. I remember building my first computer years ago and it cost me so much money to try to make a fast computer. It was not worth it at all. I now have Windows on both my iMac and my Macbook Air and Windows runs more beautifully than has ever run on a Windows PC that I have purchased in the past.
No Virus Protection - I had so many viruses on my Windows computers before and since I have had a Mac not one has had issues. You don't need to download virus protection software unless you really want to. If you only download programs that are through the app store than you really won't have problems. I am sure that there still might be issues if you download something that is illegal, so my recommendation, don't download illegal things. :)
Best of Both Worlds - A Mac makes it really easy to put Windows on your computer. It comes with Bootcamp that you can boot up to Windows or Mac. Windows on the other hand does not make it that easy to have Mac on your Windows PC. There is something called a "Hackintosh," however, it is not as simple as installing Windows on your Mac. Yet another reason why you may decide to buy a Mac.