OS X Tutorials links!

[Child of Cupertino]

EDIT, SEPT 30, 2008:

As this sticky thread was created over two years ago, some links might be dead and some info, interface appearance within OS X or updates to software may well have changed to varying degrees. Having said that, use judgement when hitting some tutorials that may be dated, or adapt what's presented to your current OS X or application versions.

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As several TCMers have recently acquired Apple computers, I thought I would offer up several tutorial websites. What is nice about these sites is that most of them have Quicktime movies showing the procedures! My wife -- previously a computer luddite -- has been going through them over the past two weeks and is learning A LOT. So, if you're new to Mac OS X, these links will help you get up on the learning curve pretty fast:

This one covers a lot of the basics and is very easy to navigate (even though it covers the previous major OS X release, Panther, it is still very current):
http://poets.sfsu.edu/osx/OSX3/index.html

This series is not free, but has many free samples. Page down and around to see all kinds of different tutorials:
http://www.atomiclearning.com/macintosh

Ditto with these two links -- from a Canadian company!
http://www.vtc.com/products/osxtiger.htm

http://www.vtc.com/multi.htm

Apple's own "Mac 101" tutorials (not Quicktime; text-based):
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

Other basics (some REALLY basic):
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/o..._macintosh.htm

Apple's iLife feature tour:
http://www.apple.com/ilife/quicktour/

Apple's iLife tutorials:
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/itunes/index.html
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/iphoto/index.html
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/imovie/index.html
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials...and/index.html
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/idvd/index.html
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/iweb/index.html

And, although this site attempts to compare the qualitative aspects of Mac OS X and Windows XP, it can also serve as an unbelievably detailed orientation guide. If you know one of the operating systems in the comparison, you'll definitely know the other one by the time you've referenced this site:
http://www.xvsxp.com/

[Mandy]

Many thanks for all these links, Child of C.

Have bookmarked most of them and intend to check them out very thoroughly as soon as I can.

Have been checking out the features of the MacMini, and will soon be editing a video on it.

[Child of Cupertino]

Many thanks for all these links, Child of C.

You're welcome

Have been checking out the features of the MacMini, and will soon be editing a video on it.

Awesome!

[Ottawaman]

Apple has a large array of online seminars, which are free for you to view. Simply register for them, and you can watch the seminars on demand for as long as they are available.

The two part, 'New to the Mac and Compatibility with Windows' is very helpful. Clearly aimed at Mac neophytes, this seminar does a good job of making corollaries between Macs and PCs, and assuring the small business owner that the Mac works with a number of industry standards.
http://www.seminars.apple.com/
http://www.seminars.apple.com/semina...dex.html?s=203

[Child of Cupertino]

Here's another one I found:
http://www.stedwards.edu/it_dept/com...windowsmac.htm

And more:
http://its.uwrf.edu/support/computing/macos/

[Vexel]

Thought I would chime in with one of my favs.

For those of you who are new to iChat and probably have many friends using AIM on the PC, here's a great tutorial on how to get it working between the two. It also applies to iChat in general, so you should have a look.

I've suggested this site to many people and once they've done everything in the tutorial, they've never had an issue.

http://www.mvldesign.com/video_conference_tutorial.html

[Child of Cupertino]

Excellent, Vexel. Keep it up!

You know, I feel that this manner of providing tutorials -- even more complex ones if members want to do more than just reference off-site pages -- is easier to do than a dedicated Wiki like they want to do at ehMac. A wiki is too much effort, whereas threads and posts could be transported to a dedicated "tips 'n tutorials" forum (even though this here is just a thread). A Tips 'n Tricks forum could be developed just by people asking their own questions and threads being transported in... as well as members writing tutorials and posting to off-site pages.

[Vexel]

Excellent, Vexel. Keep it up!

You know, I feel that this manner of providing tutorials -- even more complex ones if members want to do more than just reference off-site pages -- is easier to do than a dedicated Wiki like they want to do at ehMac. A wiki is too much effort, whereas threads and posts could be transported to a dedicated "tips 'n tutorials" forum (even though this here is just a thread). A Tips 'n Tricks forum could be developed just by people asking their own questions and threads being transported in... as well as members writing tutorials and posting to off-site pages.

I agree, a Tips and Tricks forum would have served well. But, I think the Wiki will serve its purpose as well. I think a forum dedicated would fill up very quickly and not prove to be as friendly as a wiki for people searching for specific things.

That said, I think both would do well in their own right, the wiki isn't going to be just for tips and tricks.. it's also going to be for troubleshooting and so on.. so, I think being able to browse through a forum of "Tips and Tricks" in this regard would be easier for the end user. The whole point would be to 'discover' new ideas/tips/tricks. Wiki, you'd have to know what you're searching for.

[Vexel]

If you're a google calendar user and use iCal on your Mac, well.. look no further for complete integration and syncing.

http://spanningsync.com/

I've been using this faithfully for a month now.. not one issue. You can download the beta from their Blog, I highly recommend it. Sorry, it's not much of a tutorial.. but it's pretty self explanatory. :D

[Child of Cupertino]

Here is an easily digestible tour of O X basics:

http://org.elon.edu/digitalmedia/MAC...sxoverview.htm

[Child of Cupertino]

And another, more detailed. This is a goody!

http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/usd/cts/ol/o...her/index.html

[Ottawaman]

Apple’s get a mac site http://www.apple.com/getamac
Switch to a Mac http://www.switchtoamac.com/


http://flernk.blogspot.com/2006/07/g...switchers.html

-How to Switch Part One: Key Questions http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...questions.html
-How to Switch Part Two: Where To Start? http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...-to-start.html
-How to Switch Part Three: What Kind Of User Are You? http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...r-are-you.html
-How to Switch Part Four: Mac Hardware Benefits and Purchasing http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...urchasing.html
-How to Switch Part Five: The Misconception Macs Are Too Expensive http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...expensive.html
-How to Switch Part Six: Learn To Use Mac OS X http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...-mac-os-x.html
-How to Switch Part Seven: Easily Use Your Files On A Mac http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...-on-a-mac.html
-How to Switch Part Eight: Setup a New Mac http://switchtoamac.com/site/how-to-...a-new-mac.html

10 tips for new Mac users switching from Windows http://hyperreality.wordpress.com/20...-from-windows/

Tips For A Mac Switcher
A Guide to OS X Software for Switchers http://flernk.blogspot.com/2006/07/g...switchers.html

10 things you should know about connecting Macintosh OS X systems to Windows networks http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/abstrac...8&promo=200111
*The Switch From PC To Mac – A “Beginners” Perspective (Part 1) http://www.mostofmymac.com/articles/...ective-part-1/

[Child of Cupertino]

Holy shat! Rock on, OM!

[Vexel]

Speed Up Mail.app

For those of you who find Mail is sluggish, give it a shot.

[Tim]

thanks Vexel!

[Ottawaman]

My Mac Cheat Sheet

Whether your Mac asks you for certain information or you're seeking help from Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), there may come a time when you need to have your various passwords, dial-up numbers, mail server addresses, email addresses, hardware specifications, serial number, and other information handy. And then you discover that you've either forgotten or misplaced this information.

If you forget it, don't sweat it—pull up your Mac Cheat Sheet instead.

To make your Mac life a little easier, we created this little form for you (or your Mac-savvy family member or friend) to enter all that easy-to-forget information once, and then stow it safely away should you ever need it. Just download the PDF document below, print it out, fill out the fields with your information, and store it in a safe and secure place.


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

[Vexel]

Here's a quick hint for getting rid of mounted disk images and their corresponding .dmg files from the desktop when you're finished installing something.

If your image is mounted, usually you would drag this to the trash to eject it. And then, drag the .dmg file to the trash afterwards.

Well, do it in one step.

Hold command and select the disk image that's mounted, then while still holding command, select the .dmg file.

Let go of command and drag both to the trash. Simultaneously.

[Child of Cupertino]

http://www.thecomputermechanics.com/...d.php?p=177486

[Child of Cupertino]

Some more got refernced at ehMac.ca.

http://www.mac.com/1/learningcenter/...sx+macosxtiger

http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=158

[Child of Cupertino]

Excellent reference of Mac/Windows key command and program equivalents!

http://www.applematters.com/index.ph...d-differences/

[Child of Cupertino]

Just came across this website that specializes more in power user tips and making your system's workflow more efficient. Very good stuff:

http://macefficiency.com/index.html

EDIT: They offer an email notification service for when this site publishes new how-to articles. It wouldn't hurt to subscribe to it. Today's two are about hiding and minimizing windows to the Dock and also about handling Windows Media files.

[Child of Cupertino]

http://www.tuaw.com/2005/12/11/top-x...tcuts-in-os-x/

http://www.carareok.com/bluemint/index.php/osxkeys

http://www.applematters.com/index.ph...ful-os-x-tips/

[mash]

Thank you folks for the links. Coming to you this pm from my sons Mac Book Pro Core 2 Dual wireless. I rarely post in forums but these links help.

M

[Ottawaman]

Alltime high. Most used apps.

http://osx.iusethis.com/top

[Child of Cupertino]

Thank you folks for the links. Coming to you this pm from my sons Mac Book Pro Core 2 Dual wireless. I rarely post in forums but these links help.

Hey, we're happy to help

[Child of Cupertino]

A look at some complaints when moving from another platform to the Mac:

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.ph..._mac_adopters/

[Ottawaman]

some of the tutorials for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger videos
http://www.vtc.com/modules/products/...iliate=machelp

[Child of Cupertino]

Dude, they're third in the list of the OP. Worth repeating, tho!

[Ottawaman]

sorry

[Ottawaman]

a few basic hints that might just save you a lot of time.
http://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/...To%20The%20Mac