Switching From Windows to Mac by Scott La Counte

Switching from Windows to Mac
     
    The Unofficial Guide to Making a Seamless Switch to Mac OS Yosemite
     
     
    By Scott La Counte
     
    © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
     
    Cover © porbital @ Fotolia.com
    Table of Contents
    Introduction
    Mac? Is It Worth It?
    Installation
    OS X 10.9 Mavericks
    OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion or Below
    Mac vs. Windows
    Transferring Documents
    Compatibility
    Setup Assistant
    Part I: Mac OS Crash Course
    Keyboard
    Apple Key
    Delete (Backspace)
    Magic Mouse / Trackpad
    The Desktop
    Menu Bar
    Menulets
    Dock
    Trash
    App Buttons
    Finder
    Views in Finder
    Sorting in Finder
    File Management
    Favorites
    Tabbed Browsing
    Tags
    Launchpad
    Notifications
    Internet
    Setting Up With Ethernet
    Setting Up Wireless Networks
    Airport Express / Airport Extreme
    Safari
    Mail
    Adding Accounts
    Sending an Email
    Contacts
    Messaging / Phone Calls
    iMessage
    FaceTime
    Photo Booth
    Calendar
    Reminders
    Creating Single Reminders
    Creating New Lists
    Location Based Reminder
    Notes
    Creating and Editing Notes
    iTunes
    Adding Music to your Library
    Playlists
    Using Genius
    Match
    Radio
    Creating a Radio Station
    iTunes Store
    App Store
    Lesser Used Apps
    Family Sharing
    Part 2: Making the Mac Yours
    System Preferences
    General
    Desktop & Screen Saver
    Dock
    Mission Control
    Social Networking, Mail, Contacts and Calendars
    Sound
    Users & Groups
    Parental Controls
    Accessibility
    Privacy and Security
    Part 3: Maintenance
    Preserving Battery Life
    iCloud
    Time Machine
    Software Updates
    Appendix A: Keyboard Shortcuts
    Please note, while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, this book is not endorsed by Apple and should be consider unofficial.
     
Introduction
     
    Every year or so you hear the big pitch: Windows is finally going to be awesome again. The new update is big, grander and a huge overhaul. And then it comes and it’s more buggy, weirder, and less functional than the version that came before! That’s probably what made you consider making the switch—you’re tired of the excuses and you want a computer that just works!
     
    Whether you are a new convert to Mac, still thinking about making the switch, or just want to learn more about Macs, this book will guide you through the Mac OS and help you see how making the switch really isn’t the great leap that you once thought it was.
     
    This book will show you the basics and show you how to do the common day tasks you know on Windows (like right clicking). It will also show you how to get your Mac in sync with your iPad or iPhone, and how to do everyday tasks like change background, find files, and performance tweaks to keep your Mac running like new.
     
     
Mac? Is It Worth It?
     
    Before diving into the actual software, let’s address the obvious: why pick Mac?
     
    I was in the Windows camp for a long time; I’d see the Mac and think it was just a computer for hipsters. Sure they were nice to look at—they were shiny and didn’t look plastic-y and cheap…but they were also expensive.
     
    But then I actually used one, and I was blown away. Here’s why…
     
    Fewer Viruses
    You’ve probably heard someone say they use a Mac because they don’t get viruses. That’s not true.  Any computer can get a virus. But it is true that Macs are generally less prone to viruses and are more secure.
    The reason you don’t hear about Mac viruses very often is twofold:
While it’s hard to pinpoint just how many computers there are in the world, most estimates say less than 10% of the world’s computers are Macs. Most computers are still Windows. So if you are a hacker wanting to wreak havoc into cyberspace, then your obvious target would be the one with the largest audience.
The second reason is Mac OS is built by Apple, for Apple. Windows builds their OS to be built for essentially any computer, which opens the door for vulnerabilities.
     
    I know a lot of Mac users, and rarely do I hear someone say they have a virus. If you are concerned, however, one popular