System Preferences is the macOS equivalent of the Control Panel in Windows. Swapping out the Apple Key for the Control Key will ease you into the basics, but some system-specific functionality will take a … Our handy guide will have you up to speed in no time! List of Contents . You won’t get iMac-like performance, nor are these machines armed with powerful GPUs, but you can beef up the RAM and processor selection at checkout if you want. Many applications, like Evernote and Google Drive, place icons here for easy access. Go cold turkey and quit that Mac completely: This tip is easier said than done, but it's also perhaps … If the first hit is already the one you want, simply hit enter to select it. I am looking to change copmputers and move to a new iMac. macOS has a robust notifications system, and this is where they all appear. Apple makes it difficult to “break” macOS on your own, so feel free to explore the operating system at your own pace. Sydney has been a professional technology writer for more than five years and covers topics such as VR, Gaming, Cyber security and Transhumanism. Switching to Mac is part of the AK Internet Consulting publishing family. You can also rebind any key (including the Windows key) on a keyboard with a free app called Karabiner-Elements. To the right of the menu bar is Apple’s equivalent of the Windows system tray (shown below). However, you can add NTFS write capability to your Mac with additional software. Any software you install via the Mac App Store is designed to conform with Apple’s app sandboxing guidelines. The basics. That’s Finder and it’s basically the file explorer for macOS. Going through every detail of switching from Windows to macOS or macOS to Windows would take forever, and the process is going to differ for everyone. Today I’m going to share my first-hand experience of switching from Windows (PC) to Mac after having used a PC daily for the past 20 years. It is located between Control and Command keys. Once the first window is split you can choose the other. Command-Q. The Mac has the same copy and paste features that you have on Windows. We hate spam too, unsubscribe at any time. There are three main methods to install software on a Mac: There’s one other method you can use that involves the free app Homebrew. You can go here to find out what else you can do with Time Machine. If you're in Windows, you can switch to the Mac OS X partition using the Boot Camp icon in the System Tray. At first, find the Option key. Before switching from Windows to Mac. You can also use natural language in your search, like, “PDF files I opened last week,” to further refine your results. You can also watch videos that show you how to use them. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without Spotlight Search. Learn more. Here you can store your frequently used apps and recent apps appear on the right hand of the dock separator. On the left, you find your applications, and on the right, folders, the Trash, and any minimized windows you have open. macOS uses a UNIX-like HFS+ or APFS filesystems. Switching from Mac to PC doesn't have to be confusing. The very first thing you should acquaint yourself with after switching from Windows to Mac is the Apple button at the top left corner of the screen. Forward delete. Copy link to clipboard. Click the gray diamond-shaped icon, and click "Restart in Mac OS" from the pop-up menu. Embrace that. Correct … You can use the box in the top-right corner to search for individual processes. It enables you to switch between Windows OS and Mac OS X within two clicks. One that might take a bit longer is the physical difference in the keyboard layout—most notably, three keys: Control, Option, and Command (shown below). Fn-Delete or . You also get expansion ports to add more RAM, a proper array of ports on the back, Apple’s decent keyboard, and its passable mouse. It’s how you get around the operating system, and its basic functions should be familiar to anyone who’s used Windows. By Mike Griggs 06 February 2019. How bad is the learning curve. Switching Open Apps with Ease. To automate this process, head to System Preferences > Software Update, and then enable automatic updates. If you’re going to store your main photo library on the machine, along with software like Office or Photoshop, you’ll need that extra space a few years down the line. Secondly, Been an android user since then, phone to tablet. Highlight Windows … He has two decades of experience as a freelance computer technician and more than a decade as a technologies researcher and instructor. To “cut” a file, you copy it first, and then use Command + Option + V to move it. Right-click an active application in the Dock, and then press the Option key. You use it for common shortcuts, like to copy (Command + C), to save your work (Command + S), and to switch between apps (Command + Tab). Switching Open Apps with Ease. Embrace that. You can also update macOS manually via the Software Update settings panel (shown above). Generally speaking, if you have to ask, you don’t really need either of these machines. Click "System Preferences," and then click "Startup Disk." The last feature we have to highlight for switching from Windows to Mac is quite possibly the best trick in all of macOS. Thanks in advance. For home and office users, the iMac is a great choice. Read Sydney's Full Bio. Over time, the menu bar can get cluttered and unwieldy, as shown above. It’s often used within apps for app-specific shortcuts, like Control + Tab to switch between tabs in Safari or Chrome. Unlike Windows, where drop-down menus like File and Edit appear docked to the window you’re using, macOS places these at the top of the screen at all times. Making the switch from Mac to Windows can be scary, but the systems are not that different. What Is Background App Refresh On iPhone? It’s one of the easiest ways to launch and access your applications. The process to install software on a Mac is slightly different than on a Windows machine, but it’s still straightforward. If you’ve maximized a window, it will get its own workspace. Thanks in advance. Here's a collection of Windows 10 tutorials for Mac users, plus useful tips and tricks. Just move the mouse pointer there and the menu should pop up. This is where you do things like connect to Wi-Fi networks or check your battery percentage. They’re stuffed with high-end components, like Intel Xeon server-grade processors, Radeon Pro Vega GPUs, and more RAM than you know what to do with. Switching between Mac and Windows Operating System:- You can go back and forth between macOS and Windows on your Mac, but you can’t run both OS simultaneously under Boot Camp. While Windows is the dominant force in nearly every area of business, Apple and its macOS has for a long time been the weapon of choice … Considering switching to Windows? There is a lot more to learn about macOS if you’re switching from Windows to Mac, but the above features are the ones you’ll need to quickly start navigating and using your macOS computer. Save. For most people, an iMac or MacBook Air are the obvious choices. There are tabs to monitor CPU, Memory, Energy, Disk, and Network usage. We’re using macOS Catalina here, so some of the newer features may not apply to older versions such as Mojave or High Sierra. At the top of the screen, you see the Mac menu bar (shown below). Windows . Third-party applications might also install their own options panels here. Mac malware does exist—it’s naive to think otherwise. If both windows are on the same workspace and are not maximized, click and hold the green button and then select a left or right split. To access Siri, hold Command + Spacebar or click the Siri icon in the menu bar. For now, you’re staring at the macOS desktop and, while it sort of looks and feels like Windows, things are very much not where you expect them to be. You can also use the Alt/Option key to choose, if you power down and up your Mac. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know when switching from Mac to Windows. Innovation in the Windows world has a lot to offer Apple users. He's invested in the Apple ecosystem, with experience covering Macs, iPhones, and iPads for publications like Zapier and MakeUseOf. Many macOS shortcuts are similar to their Windows counterparts. Switching operating systems is the most frustrating thing ever. Sydney Butler is a social scientist and technology fanatic who tries to understand how people and technology coexist. Razer Blade: a … Copied. Unless you're going to be running Windows on your Mac, remember that Windows apps won't run on a Mac. Command–Space bar. The dock resides at the bottom of the screen, hiding if you don’t mouse into its zone. This is the most affordable computer Apple manufactures, partly due to the somewhat limited hardware. The platforms probably aren’t as different as you’ve heard. The Apple Button Is Your Friend The very first thing you should acquaint yourself with after switching from Windows to Mac is the Apple button at the top left corner of the screen. This is Mac’s all-encompassing search engine, and it’s the perfect way to launch applications—just type the name of the application, and then hit Enter. Here’s a cheat sheet to get you started: macOS works best with a trackpad. You can launch Activity Monitor (perform a Spotlight search for it or pin it to the Dock for easy access) to see exactly what’s happening on your Mac. This is ideal when you move from one Mac to another, or in the case of a catastrophic hardware failure. On Windows, holding Alt and clicking tab allows one to switch between different windows, even from the same app. The equivalent of Windows Update is found by clicking the Apple menu at the top left of the desktop, clicking App Store, and then clicking the Updates tab. You’re investing in a walled garden that is difficult to leave if you ever want to switch away from Mac, but for some, it’s entirely worth it. Advertisement. The positives and negatives, and some of my favorite apps. A Mac is simple to use because Apple has designed its applications to work in a similar way from windows pc. For example, a Mac user found a new job and his job requires him to use Windows. Secondly, Been an android user since then, phone to tablet. “Close” changes to “Force Quit.”. Finder is the macOS equivalent of Windows Explorer. Before switching from Windows to Mac. What’s it called on my Mac? If you're considering a switch from a Windows computer to a Mac, this starter FAQ guide will answer some of … While the Dock is one of the easiest ways to access applications, it’s not the most efficient. At this writing, the iMac Pro starts at $4,999, and the Mac Pro isn’t shipping until late 2019 (price to be announced). You can update any software you install from the Mac App Store in a single click on the “Updates” tab of the Mac App Store. I have Lightroom Classic CC on a PC running Windows 10. It changes what common shortcuts do (like Command + Option + V for Move instead of Paste). Step by step idiot-proof directions would be the most helpful. Disclaimer: Switching from Windows to Mac can be very confusing and frustrating, go ahead with patience & serenity. RELATED: How to Play Games on a Mac in 2019. If you want OS X or Windows to boot every time, choose app → System Preferences, click Startup Disk, and choose the OS you want to launch by default. At the top of the screen, you see the Mac menu bar (shown below). Windows is ultimately more powerful and gives you more control over your computing experience than macOS. One of the biggest challenges for anyone making the transition from Mac to Windows or vice versa is getting accustomed with keyboard shortcuts. Unlike Windows, where drop-down menus like File and Edit appear docked to the window you’re using, macOS places these at the top of the screen at all times. Quit app. Scroll to the bottom of the Today screen and click “Edit” to reorganize, and enable or disable widgets. The Option key is a modifier. In the world of Windows, many users are familiar with a feature often called “Task Switcher” that allows you to quickly switch between open applications by pressing Alt+Tab.This feature has been in Windows since Windows 2.0 in 1987, and macOS has a similar shortcut.. Been a windows user my whole life but now tired of it. Let me warn you, I’m pretty OCD, so this is a doozy! This can be confusing for people who are new to Mac. To pin an item to the Dock, you right-click it (or two-finger click on a trackpad), and then choose Options > Keep in Dock. Then, confirm your choice to reboot to Mac OS X and give the computer about a minute to make the switch. PART 1: Reasons You Might Want To Switch From Mac To Windows; PART 2: Steps You Need To Take When Migrating From Mac To Windows; PART 3: The Best Apps To Get When Moving From Mac To Windows ; PART 4: … It’s a very useful utility.