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This wikibook contains characters (such as the Apple logo) that display only on Apple Macintosh computers. These characters will not appear on computers running Microsoft Windows.

[edit] Introduction

[edit] About the Mac's History

In the year 1984, a company called Apple Computer introduced a computer called the Macintosh. It was billed as the first computer that anyone could pick up and immediately understand. Rather than typing in arcane codes (as with previous computers), Mac users interacted with their computers using a device called a mouse. Using this device, they could manipulate visuals on the computer's display. To organize these visuals, The Macintosh used a system of overlapping squares called "windows".

While we take these innovations for granted today, they were big news when the Mac debuted.

Although the Mac was the first mass-market computer with one of these so-called "graphical user interfaces", it was soon joined by many imitators from competing companies. The most notable one was made by the company Microsoft, which added a Mac-like interface on top of their DOS system. It was called "Windows" after the graphical metaphor it "borrowed" from the Mac. The original version of Windows did not hold much popularity by users, but Microsoft continued to its developement of more versions.

By Microsoft's fourth major release of Windows for consumers, which was called Windows 95, Windows had surpassed the Mac technologically. Apple's maverick CEO, Steve Jobs, credited as the co-creator of the Mac, had been fired and was now running a high-end computing company called NeXT. Apple went through a long stretch of problematic management and failed to maintain the Mac OS, which stayed stagnant with only cosmetic improvements.

In 1997, Apple bought NeXT and its NeXTSTEP operating system, thereby bringing Steve Jobs back into the company. He started as an advisor to CEO Gil Amelio, but quickly moved up the ranks to interim CEO, and finally as Apple's full-time CEO. Under Steve, Apple began introducing very groundbreaking new computers, including the original iMac. But they were still powered by the antiquated Mac OS. Therefore, it came as no surprise when in the year 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled Mac OS X, an all-new Mac OS that would carry Apple into the new millennium.

[edit] About Mac OS X

Mac OS X (the "X" is pronounced "ten") looks a bit like its predecessor, Mac OS 9, but underneath this familiar skin, Mac OS X has nothing in common with Mac OS 9. Mac OS X has next to no code directly taken from Mac OS 9, and therefore cannot run Mac OS 9 applications without special software to assist it. In addition, Mac OS X sports a redesigned interface, which although inspired by previous versions of the Mac OS, is dramatically simplified and uses high-quality photorealistic graphics.

Since the original version of Mac OS X was introduced, it has gone from a futuristic concept to a full-fledged, feature-rich operating system that can handle home, business, and multimedia tasks with ease. The original version of Mac OS X, version 10.0 (code-named "Cheetah"), was very incomplete and was hard to use as a primary operating system. Since the original version, Apple has shipped major updates to Mac OS X -- each dramatically improving the last version, and adding interesting new features and ideas.

One version of the Mac OS is version 10.4 ("Tiger"). Tiger brought many interesting features to Mac OS X. Five new features in this groundbreaking release are:

• Spotlight, an amazing new search technology
• Dashboard, an environment for running tiny applications called "Widgets"
• Automator, an all-new application for performing repetitive tasks
• Multi-person AV Conferencing in the new version of iChat
• RSS, an emerging web standard supported in the new version of Safari

In total, Apple claims over 200 new features in Tiger over its predecessor Panther, although over half are hidden from view and help your Mac run faster and more reliably, and many others are updates to existing features.

BACKGROUND: Ever wonder why versions of the Mac OS have a jungle cat's name in their title? These are the project code names that Apple used to refer to the software while it was being developed. Apple's marketing department has been appending each Mac OS version's internal "code name" to it's title, making it much easier to tell versions apart. Version 10.0 was code-named "Cheetah", version 10.1 was named "Puma", version 10.2 was named "Jaguar", version 10.3 was named "Panther", 10.4 was named "Tiger", and the now released 10.5 is named "Leopard"

[edit] About this Wikibook

Although considered easier to use than the competition, learning to use a Mac is not without its challenges. Many everyday commands work differently on a Mac, and new users usually find they have much to learn before they can fully take advantage of their new operating system.

Apple includes a built-in help system with Tiger (you can access it at any time by pressing ⌘?), and maintains an online support website for it here. However, Apple's documentation, like most software manufacturers', has often been labeled as lacking. So what's a new Mac user to do?

Many new users will pay their local bookshop a visit, leaf through a couple books about Mac OS X, pick out the one they like best, fork over $30, and begin reading. But now, with the existence of this wikibook, this age-old new computer tradition is no longer necessary. You can use this site to learn all about Mac OS X for free. We promise that there are no hidden charges for using this site!

Wikibooks are edited by a community of writers. We encourage you to join this community and help out once you learn how to use the Mac OS. See a confusing explantation of how to do something? Once you figure out a better way to explain, come back and fix it for everyone else. In a traditional book, you can't help other readers understand something the author explained poorly. When an update comes out, books don't magically change to reflect the changes to the software. This is especially important for Mac OS X, because Apple introduces a large number of updates and products over the course of an operating system's life. A well-maintained wikibook is always up-to-date, so you can be sure you're reading the latest information.

NOTE: If you feel compelled to try your hand at editing this wikibook, your first step should be to get involved with the Mac user group on WikiBooks, which is called the WikiProject Macintosh.

Whether you're an average computer user who's decided that the grass is greener on the Mac side of the fence, a refugee from the security problems plaguing Microsoft Windows, a multimedia maven looking to take advantage of Apple's unparalled iLife suite, or are a Windows user who's been given a Mac at work, you'll find this wikibook to be your new best friend. It will thoroughly and clearly explain how to use Mac OS X and its included applications. It will also help you to fix problems that may arise while using your Mac. Even experienced Mac users can learn something.

If you're looking for help with Apple's iLife suite of digital media apps, check out this wikibook's companion title, iLife 06. This WikiBook will also skip over the very basics of personal computing (e.g. how to use a mouse), Mac OS X Server, Mac development, and the Mac's UNIX foundation, which is covered in the wikibook Advanced Mac OS X Tiger.

[edit] Using this Wikibook

The team of authors writing this wikibook use a few tricks to make things easier for you. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with them now. If you are confused about the concepts some of these tricks deal with, you'll probably pick them up as you become more comfortable using your computer.

[edit] Menu Arrows

Arrows > Like > These are used to show hierarchy in menus. For example, "Open the menu labeled File, open the menu inside labeled Opetitsn With, and then click on the item labeled Preview" could be abbreviated to "File > Open With > Preview".

[edit] The Filesystem

Likewise, slashes/like/these are used for file locations. "/Applications/Utilities" is shorthand for "Open your hard drive window. Inside is a folder labeled Applications. Open it. Inside the Applications folder is another another folder labeled Utilities. Open that."

If a file location begins with a slash, it means that the location is given from your main hard drive. If a file location begins with a tilde (~), it means that the location is given from your home folder. You'll learn about these places in Chapter 3.

[edit] Shortcut Shorthand

The second most important use of the keyboard (after inputting data) is executing "keyboard shortcuts". A keyboard shortcut, also known as a keystroke, is a sequence of keys that activates a command or feature in the frontmost program.

A keystroke is activated by holding down one or more "modifier keys" and then pressing another key, usually a letter. The combination of modifier keys changes (modifies) the function the letter keys on your keyboard.

There are four modifier keys on the Mac keyboard. Their names, markings, and the symbols used to represent them in this Wikibook are listed in the table below.

Table 1 - Mac Modifier Keys.

Name	Marked With	Symbol
Control	Control/ctrl	^
Command	⌘, 	⌘
Option	Option, Alt	⌥
Shift	Shift	⇧

NOTE: Some Mac laptop keyboards aren't quite large enough to fit every key on them. Apple solves this problem by doubling up two functions on one key. To switch a laptop key to its second meaning, hold down the special laptop-exclusive fifth modifier key, called "Function" and marked with "Fn".

Around the Mac OS and in this wikibook, keystrokes are written using shorthand. Modifier keys are represented by the symbols listed in Table 1. "Press the "B" key while holding down Command" is written as "⌘B". "Press the "B" key while holding down Command and Option simultaneously" is written as "⌘⌥B".

BACKGROUND: Ever wonder why Apple uses that little cloverleaf (⌘) as the official symbol for the command key? In the original 1984 Mac, the plan was to use the Apple logo as the symbol for it, but this made menus full of keyboard shortcuts look very cluttered. So the lead Mac designer leafed through a book of symbols and found the squiggle we now know as the command key symbol, which is used on Swedish campground signs to mark places of interest.

[edit] Synonyms

There are a few sets of words used in this wikibook that mean the exact same thing and are used interchangeably. They are:

• Application, App, Program, Piece of Software
• Users, Accounts, and User Accounts
• Delete and Backspace - Both refer to the key without a ⌦ symbol

[edit] Commonly Confused Keys

Apple Keyboards have a few keys that are named differently from their PC counterparts, and many users call keys by unofficial names. This section will clarify different keys on the Apple Keyboard.

• PC keyboards have two enter keys. On the Mac, one of them is called Return. However, both keys do the same exact thing 99 percent of the time. Therefore, the terms "enter" and "return" are often used interchangeably.
• Most Mac keyboards have two delete keys. One has a ⌦ on it to indicate that it deletes the next character rather than the previous one. To avoid confusion between these two delete keys, it's acceptable to refer to the one with a ⌦ as "forward delete" and the one without as "backspace".
• The key with an Apple logo and a squiggle is often called the Apple key. This is incorrect. The correct name of the key is "Command".

NOTE: This wikibook assumes you are using an american keyboard. Apple's foreign keyboards often feature different keys and symbols than their american counterparts.

[edit] Windows versus windows

Windows with a capital "W" is the Mac OS competitor produced by Microsoft. A window with a lowercase "w" is the paradigm modern computer interfaces are built around, which is what Microsoft named its operating system after.

[edit] Info Boxes

A computer book mainstay, info boxes have called attention to important tips and warnings for ages. This wikibook is no exception, and it uses four different flavors of info box. These four kinds are shown below:

NOTE: These boxes contain handy "sidebar" information that doesn't quite mesh with the rest of the chapter. It's recommended that you read them, since they're often quite interesting.

WARNING: Look out! Not reading these yellow boxes could cause major headaches and the loss of time, data, or equipment!

TRICK: Essential? Maybe not. Fun? Of course. Learn about hidden features and keystrokes in these boxes.

BACKGROUND: Gather 'round a Background box for a bit of Macintosh history! These boxes are often quite interesting, and are a must for the budding Mac fanatic.

[edit] Contents

Wikibook Development Stages
Sparse	Developing	Maturing	Developed	Comprehensive

1. The Desktop

   A gentle first lesson in using your Mac.

2. The Mac Interface

   A follow-up to the first chapter that finishes explaining the Mac Interface.

3. Using the Finder

   An introduction to browsing files on your Mac using the Finder.

4. Advanced Finder Tricks

   An advanced chapter that helps you get the most out of the Finder.

5. Meet the Applications

   A complete look at all of the applications included with Tiger.

6. Utilities

   Instructions for using the various Utilities included with Mac OS X.

7. System Preferences

   Learn how to adjust your Mac's settings to your liking.

8. User Accounts

   Learn about accounts and understand the Mac OS X account system.

9. Networking your Mac

   A guide to connecting your Mac to other Macs, PCs, and the Internet.

10. Printing, Faxing, and Scanning

    Connect a printer and scanner to your Mac and learn how to send faxes.

11. Handwriting and Speech

    Teach your Mac how to recognize your voice and your writing.

12. Installing Tiger

    Learn how to upgrade an older version of Mac OS X to Tiger.

13. Appendices

    • A: The Keyboard Shortcut Cheat Sheet

      Learn keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow.

    • B: Mac OS X Troubleshooting

      Fix problems and determine what is causing your Mac or its applications to crash.

    • C: Directory of Mac Models

      A directory of all modern (G4, G5, or Intel) Mac models.

    • D: Top 30 Questions

      This appendix answers the top 30 questions people ask when using Mac OS X.

    • E: Top 30 Mistakes

      This appendix lists the top 30 mistakes new Mac users make.

14. Glossary

    Find a term you don't know? You might find it in the glossary.