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Macworld Mac Basics Superguide, Snow Leopard Edition
Firm up your Mac know-how with help from the experts at Macworld!
Hey, What's This? If you're familiar with our ebooks, you've probably noticed that this one is different. It was written by our friends (some of whom also write for Take Control) at Macworld. Since they did a great job, we saw no reason to do something similar, so we're selling their ebook next to ours.
Written for folks who want to master more of the basics, the Macworld Mac Basics Superguide covers finding your way around on a Mac, using the Dock, configuring your Mac, printing, searching, security, troubleshooting, running Windows, and more. You'll find getting-started tips on using Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat, Preview, QuickTime Player, Image Capture, among others, and you'll learn how to install and update software. Bonus! Includes descriptions of 20 useful third-party utilities that can enhance your Macintosh experience!
More Info
Contents & Intro
FAQ
Read this ebook to learn the answers to questions such as:
How do I add and remove items from the Dock?
What's the deal with user accounts and logging in?
How do I set up my screen saver?
Can I hide an application instead of quitting it?
What are the best places to save files?
What should I do if an application crashes?
What should I do about viruses and other security problems?
We encourage you to download the free sample to see what it looks like, since it is rather different from our Take Control design. If you plan to print, print a few test pages from the sample first in case you wish to consider Macworld's $24.99 print version, which has higher-resolution images than are feasible in an ebook.
Book Info
128 pages
Version 1.0
Published 05-Jan-10
10.1 MB download
ISBN: 0982262159
Free sample with Table of Contents, Intro, Quick Start, and section starts.
About the Authors
The Snow Leopard edition of the Macworld Mac Basics Superguide was written by Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes, Glenn Fleishman, Rob Griffiths, Adam Goldstein, Joe Kissell, Ted Landau, Harry McCracken, Kirk McElhearn, and Ben Waldie.
We're very lucky here at Macworld. In both print and on the Web, we've got an amazingly diverse readership. Among our readers there are some incredibly geeky, tech-savvy people who can write programming code in their heads and disassemble a MacBook Pro with a paper clip. But we've also got a lot of readers who consider themselves novice Mac users and who avidly read what we write in order to flex and improve their Mac skills.
Believe it or not, this book is for both kinds of readers. If you're one of the newer users struggling with the fundamentals of operating a Mac, the Mac Basics Superguide will get you up to speed.
This book is filled with easy-to-follow, detailed tips and information about using the Finder and the Dock, switching between programs, using Apple's Spotlight search tool, opening and saving your files, and setting up system preferences and user accounts. We've tossed in some basic security and troubleshooting advice to keep your Mac up and running smoothly. And our own Dan Frakes, who pens the Mac Gems column in print and on the Web, has assembled a list of great low-cost programs that will enhance your Mac experience.
So that covers the novice users. But what about those geeky Mac experts? Why is this book for them?
The answer is simple: It's for them because it helps everyone they know. It's for all of their friends and family members who use them as the be-all, end-all Mac resource. The reality is, a Mac expert can only be in one place at any given time. This Mac Basics Superguide can always be around as a handy reference when there's no flesh-and-blood expert nearby. And with any luck, the expert will also be getting fewer calls as his or her friends and family start to master their Macs on their own.
Or to put it another way, this is the book I gave to my mom so that she could figure things out on her Mac when I'm not available to help.
With this edition of the Mac Basics Superguide, we've updated the entire book to reflect the changes in Apple's latest version of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard. And if you find yourself wanting more, please consider the other books in our Superguide series, Total Snow Leopard and Mac OS X Hints.
I hope you enjoy the book—no matter which kind of Mac user you are.
—Jason Snell, Editorial Director, Macworld
San Francisco, December 2009
Table of Contents
Mac OS X at a Glance
Cheat Sheet
Wondering where your applications are? Not sure where to find your Home folder? This cheat sheet will help you identify OS X's main interface elements.
The Finder
Parts of the Finder
The Finder is the navigation portal into your Mac. Discover how it works and what its different elements do. Get to know the Finder's various view options: cover flow, icon, list, and column.
Get Oriented
Use the Finder to keep your files and folders organized, locate applications, and be more efficient with your Mac. To get started, become familiar with your Mac's user folder structure.
Easy Finder Tricks
Once you know the basics of the Finder, you can add these fun and helpful Finder tricks to your arsenal. Get more information about files, preview their contents, and set up shortcuts.
The Dock
Deploy the Dock
Access important files and applications quickly by storing them in the Dock-- the thin reflective shelf filled with icons at the bottom of your screen.
Customize the Dock
Make your Dock work for you by customizing it: pick what applications, files, and folders you can access from there. You can even change the icon sizes and move your Dock around the screen.
System Preferences
Working with Preferences
One of the best parts of a Mac is how customizable it is. We'll show you how to access and use preferences and adjust them to suit your setup.
Customize Your System
These are some of the more helpful systemwide preferences and hints on how to use them.
User Accounts
Types of Accounts
Wield the power of OS X's user accounts. Learn about the four kinds and see what each is capable of.
Creating Accounts
With these instructions it will be a breeze to create and modify user accounts on your Mac.
Work with Multiple Users
Once all of your accounts are set up you can share files between users, quickly switch between accounts, and retrieve lost passwords.
Set Parental Controls
If you share your Mac with kids, you'll want to take advantage of OS X's Parental Controls, which let you limit what they access and set time limits for how long they can use your computer.
Working with Files
Open and Save Files
Preview a file or open it with the application of your choice. You can also save a file, rename it, and get to know its custom menu-bar options.
Navigate Applications
Snow Leopard has three indispensable tools for managing and navigating between open applications: Spaces, Expose, and Application Switcher.
Automate with Services
Don't do more work than you have to. Automate those repetitive and click-intensive tasks with Services, a handy feature that has been greatly improved in Snow Leopard.
Printing
The Basics of Printing
This section shows you how to get your printer connected, tweak its settings, and share it with other computers on your network.
Solving Printer Problems
Even the simplest task, printing a document, can turn complicated fast. Find out how to troubleshoot your printer with these common fixes.
Get Started with OS X Apps
Installing, Deleting, and Updating Programs
While your Mac comes with many of Apple's great programs preinstalled, there's also a ton of great software you can add. Here are the basics on how to install, update, and delete programs on your Mac.
Safari
Apple's built-in Web browser Safari is your portal into the Internet. Get the most out of the new Safari 4 by learning how to use its many features, including managing top sites and bookmarks and browsing with tabs.
Mail
With OS X's e-mail program, you can manage multiple accounts, banish spam, and check the news with the built-in RSS feeder. Snow Leopard even offers support for Exchange accounts.
iCal
Keep on schedule with iCal. Create and share events and stay organized with To Do lists. iCal is even adept at managing multiple calendars.
iChat
Feeling talkative? iChat lets you share more than words with other users--you can also share photos, videos, and files.
Preview
Preview is the fast way to open images and PDFs. You can make minor edits, crop, and print from Preview, too.
QuickTime Player
With Snow Leopard's video playback application, QuickTime, you can enjoy movies, share videos, and record your Mac's screen.
Image Capture
OS X's Image Capture is surprisingly powerful. You can grab images from your digital camera, scanner, or memory cards.
Smaller Programs
Snow Leopard has many small but useful applications installed, including Dashboard, Dictionary, Font Book, Stickies, and Text Edit.
Searching Your Mac
Using the Spotlight Menu
The Spotlight menu is a one-stop Mac searching tool. Find files, applications, e-mails, and anything else you think of from your menu bar.
Creating Smart Queries
There are a lot of files on your Mac, and sorting through them can take time. Find what you're looking for quickly using phrases and Boolean operators.
Performing Advanced Searches with the Finder
Having trouble finding exactly what you want? For complex searches, switch to the Finder window, where you can set up multiple criteria.
Mac Security Essentials
Be Safe with Passwords
The most important step in keeping your data and computer safe is creating smart passwords. In OS X, that means using Keychain Access. Take advantage of these tips to protect your secrets and create unguessable passwords.
Lock Up Your Data
Encrypting your data is a smart way to keep your files hidden from prying eyes and computer thieves.
Make Safe Connections
Wi-Fi is convenient, but making the wrong kind of connection can open up your system to hackers and snoops. Here's how to protect your connections using the OS X firewall and common sense.
Protect Your Mac Online
Don't fall for phishers, hackers, or scammers. Follow these rules to make sure your interactions on the Internet don't end in disaster.
Troubleshooting Your Mac
Back Up with Time Machine
Running regular backups is the most important part of a Mac maintenance plan. If something goes wrong, you'll be able to get back up and running quickly. Thankfully, OS X's Time Machine program makes backing up all of your data easy.
Recover from Crashes
Backing up your files won't actually prevent disasters from happening. If your applications freeze or your computer crashes, try these time-tested remedies one at a time to revive your Mac.
Seek Outside Help
When Mac problems are beyond your repair abilities, turn to one of these dependable sources for help.
Switching from Windows
Transferring Your Data
Learn how to bring your files over from your PC.
Replacing Windows Software
You don't have to give up your favorite Windows programs just because you're switching to a Mac.
Bringing Windows with You
If you still need to use Windows from time to time, you don't need a second computer. You can now run Windows directly on your Mac.
Worthwhile Add-ons
Mac Gems
These inexpensive programs can pick up where OS X leaves off, helping you be more productive, keep an eye on your system, and save time.
Can I read this ebook on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch?
There are lots of great ways to read PDFs on these devices. For more details, please read our latest Device Advice.
Ask a Question
Feel free to ask us if you have a question about this book!
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by Macworld
