Are you trying to figure out how to get the most out of mac? Read this article to learn the best tips for mac for beginners.
Apple is one of the largest companies in the world. What are they worth? More than $1 trillion.
Based in California, they sell a variety of devices from smartwatches to tablets. Their most popular product, however, is the iPhone, which has sold more than 2 billion units over the years.
Their computers aka Macs are popular as well. They might be a bit more expensive than their Window counterparts but most would argue that they’re worth it.
Are you thinking of getting one? Looking for a Mac for beginners’ guide? If so, you’re on the right page! Keep reading for some must-know tips.
What is a Mac?
Mac stands for Macintosh, a series of personal computers produced by Apple. Currently, there are three varieties that are available—the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.
Powered by macOS, it’s capable of all the same functions as a PC. However, there are a few differences. For one thing, Macs are generally more resistant to malware.
Not only that, but it comes with a wide range of preinstalled apps that you can use!
Mac For Beginners: 9 Tips That’ll Improve Your Experience
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In the meantime, here are some tips if you want to get the most out of your Mac:
1. Force Quitting Apps
Every now and then, one of your applications will stall and come to a standstill. How can you tell if that’s happening? The pinwheel of death will appear.
Don’t worry, though—there’s an easy way to force quit apps. Simply press Command + Option + Esc and a list of all running apps will come up. From there, you can select the one that you’d like to force quit.
2. Using Spotlight
Mac has an all-encompassing search engine called Spotlight. You can use it to search for files, launch applications, find emails, and more.
To use it, click on the magnifying glass icon on the top-right hand corner of the screen. You can also bring it up by using the shortcut Command + Space.
3. Backing Up With Time Machine
All Macs come with Time Machine, a built-in software that lets you back up your files such as apps, music, photos, and documents. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can easily restore everything.
Keep in mind, however, that the initial back up can take some time. Also, it might be a good idea to use an external drive if you have a lot of files as it can take up a bit of space.
4. Taking Screenshots
Mac keyboards don’t have a “print screen” button but you can still take screenshots. To capture the entire screen, use the shortcut Command + Shift + 3.
If you want to capture just a portion of the screen, press Command + Shift + 4. A crosshair will appear and you can use it to select the area that you want to capture.
5. Looking Up a Word
Macs come with a built-in dictionary that you can use to instantly look up any word. The best part is that you can access it from just about anywhere.
All you have to do is select the word that you’d like to look up and press Command + Control + D. Alternatively, you can click the word with three fingers if you’re using the trackpad.
6. Recording Your Screen
Sometimes a screenshot isn’t enough. Fortunately, there’s a feature that lets you record your screen.
To do that, open up QuickTime (you can search for it using Spotlight). From there, select File > New screen recording. That will allow you to record your screen or a part of it. Of course, it’ll also capture sound.
7. Installing Programs
Installing a program can be confusing, especially if you’re used to Windows. Once you get used to it, however, it’s very simple.
Assuming that you have a DMG file, all you have to do is drag the icon to your Applications folder. That’s it! The program will automatically be installed.
It’s worth mentioning that you can also download different applications through the App Store. Just click on the “Get” button and the app will automatically download.
8. Using Activity Monitor
Activity Monitor shows all the processes that are currently running on your Mac. You can use it to analyze your computer usage and fix potential issues.
For example, you can use it to force quit non-responding programs. You can quickly tell which ones they are as they’ll be highlighted in red.
9. Making a Keyboard Shortcut
Did you know that you can make your own keyboard shortcuts? If anything, they can save you a lot of time!
To add a new shortcut, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > App Shortcuts. From there, click on the “+” symbol near the bottom.
Choose which application you’d like to use it for and type in the exact name of the menu command (the one that you’d like to create a shortcut for).
From there, all that’s left is to type in the shortcut. When you’re finished, click “Add.”
Getting the Most Out Of Your Mac
And there we have it—a short Mac for beginners guide. As you can see, there are various things that you can do with these computers. It might take some getting used to, but it’s not that difficult at all!
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