Differences between PCs and MACs

[LostinVA]

Okay, I'm serious... I need to know this for a job. I've always used a PC, but I'll have to be able to use a Mac in a new job... what the heck are the differences? Anyone give me a quick 101? I need to know this as soon as possible. Thanks.

[hobo_baggins]

1. well macs are alot cooler and easier to use

and they're built around unix, which rox

[LostinVA]

2. Gawd -- I need a serious answer

I know about unix, but what is the difference in usage. Like, if I sat down at a Mac my first day, what's the minimum I'll have to know?

[DS1]

3. Macs are very odd to me, if you 'X' a window that in no way means

you've actually exited the program. Safari is like that. Bring a two-button mouse to work, having to hold down the 'apple' button on a keyboard to get context options is just weak.

[bettyellen]

6. what X? what's a context option?

i guess you're not the right person to ask about my scanning softwear then?
:cry:

[DS1]

13. Depends what you're scanning I guess

:7

[bettyellen]

22. it's a boring question for a Mac geek... when i do get something

interesting scanned, then the question will go to you.

[billyskank]

4. With a macintosh, the menu appears at the top of the screen

not the top of the window. Always only one menu on the screen at once. When you switch application focus, the menu changes accordingly.

I have to admit, I have never seen OS X. Only OS 9. Other strange things: to eject a CDROM, you drag the CD icon to the rubbish bin. :)

[bettyellen]

5. less than you'd think. Mac are easy, have less virus problems....

use most of the same softwear programs as PC's and are pretty intuitive.
all i know is, i learned on Mac, and PCs over the years have become easier because they are more mac like.
do you have a rent a computer place where you can tool around with one for while? the stores are also great in letting you play with the machines too.
there's also a Mac forum here.

[bettyellen]

8. here's the forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=233

[LostinVA]

9. Okay, this helped

And, there's a friend of a friend who said I can "play" with his Mac this weekend... hopefully he does mean his computer.

[bettyellen]

23. you'll be fine then.

[NV Whino]

7. Macs are more visually oriented

But the new operating system lets you view files in several different ways. You can set it up to look almost like a PC. Being a visual person, myself, I prefer to look at and color code the icons, but you can set it up in lists if you are more verbally oriented. You can also arrange the files alphabetifcally, by date and I think by size.

The new Spotlight feature is an awesome search tool. Go to apple.com to OSX and take the Tiger tour. It will knock your socks off.

[BigMcLargehuge]

10. easy answers for an easy question

your programs are in the "applications" folder. To access it click "go" in the top toolbar of the finder (desktop) and select "applications".
You can take your most used/most important programs and make them accessible in the dock. Drag their icon from the "applications" folder to the dock. You can also drag folders/documents/projects to the Dock too.

A little arrow beside the icon in the dock tells you if a program is running.

apple+tab switches between applications
apple+~ switching between windows in an open application
apple+H hides the topmost application (i.e. the one you're working on)
apple + Q quits the topmost application
ctrl+mouse button = right mouse click

You can create and put folders anywhere, but OSX does offer standard Documents/Music/Movies/Pictures under your username in the finder.

Things in windows you will look for but not have -

Start button
start-programs-applications etc... file tree to access applications
button that quits program on the actual program interface (apple+q does just fine)
C: drive (in OSX it's your hard drive, or whatever you choose to name your hard drive)

[LostinVA]

14. Okay, this is PERFECT! But what's the dock?

[BigMcLargehuge]

15. the long strip of icons thing on the right side of this image

FYI, you can move the doc to top, bottom, left, or right. You can also hide it.

[LostinVA]

16. I love you Big, and your katana-wielding son

Kisses and hugs!

[BigMcLargehuge]

17. my pleasure :)

always happy to share a little knowledge!

[Crazy Dave]

11. I've never owned a MAC

But everyone I know who used to own a Windows PC and bought a MAC say that they will never go back to a Windows PC again.

[RebelOne]

12. You will find that a Mac is a lot easier to use.

It's not much different than the Windows environment on a PC.

[Benfea]

18. Going from PC to Mac is a lot easier than the other way around.

I woulnd't worry too much about it, as you should have little problem learning Macs.

One thing you might find useful: many PC applications have context-sensitive menus or functions associated with the right mouse button. Mac mice only have one mouse button, so when these apps get ported to Mac, the right-clicks are replaced with command-clicks (the command key is comparable to the control key on a PC).

The Windows "Start" button was a direct rip-off of the Apple menu, you just have to get used to it being at the top of the screen instead of the bottom.

Other than that, everything should be pretty much intuitive.

[nini]

19. Here's a intro tour on Apple's site

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

[pokerfan]

20. If you're like me, you will miss the right-click function

[evlbstrd]

21. It's easy enough to get it back.

Buy a two-button mouse.

[Ravenseye]

24. Watch This Video

http://www.happynowhere.net/mac_parody.php

Click on 'Mac parody'...It's a good background to all the annoying things that happen on Mac's...made by Mac users who actually love Mac's....

[SaveElmer]

25. Read today...speculation MAC is going to a Windows OS

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1923151,00.asp