How the hell do mac's work?

Shostakovich

Shostakovich

Shostakovich

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How the hell do mac's work?

I am at the end of my tether already with these silly machines. I've used windows for 10 years and I simply can't get used to these things, especially as I continue to use windows all day at work...

Why on earth, whenever you install anything, do they "mount stuff" - what is happening there?

What is the "dock"? Where do I save general files? Ie. where is my c: drive?

I recently downloaded audacity, which as usual mounted, but did not do the usual drag into applications thing. And so all I had was the mounted thing on the desktop.... now how do I use it without keeping on my **** desktop forever more?

What are some of the basic file equivilent as on windows?

I assume a dmg is an exe, what is a sit?

How can I learn the intiutiive logic, in general, the way these things work, in a more systematic and comprehensive way instead of getting frustrated?>

Any help much apprecaited (note, I cant even type proprly on this darn keyboard)
 
stick with it mate


i think sit is a compressed file..... google it maybe?
 
wow, nice attitude dude.

zit = like a zip, need stuffit or some expander to open it.

Dock is quick and easy access to open required programs, once clicked on it disappears, bloody useful.

dmg is not a exe, .app = .exe dmg is just another way of compressing multiple files.

Once something mounted, copy it to where ever it needs to go, simple operation really isn't it?

Then drag the mounted file and the .dmg to the recycle bin.

I've used both platforms for 10 years now. OS X is the best system i've used. Period. By a long long long way, and i've used 10.0 to 10.4. and 7..6 to 9.2.2

Infact I wouldn't even have a windows PC right now if It wasn't for FS-X and games!
 
Shostakovich said:
How the hell do mac's work?
Why on earth, whenever you install anything, do they "mount stuff" - what is happening there?
Click to expand...

mac applications are formatted as disk images - you have to mount the image to read the image, just like in windows.

What is the "dock"? Where do I save general files? Ie. where is my c: drive?
Click to expand...

the dock is the row of icons on the bottom of the screen.

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i suppose the 'c' drive is 'Macintosh HD' or whatever you named it in finder.

For general stuff you can create a folder anywhere, say in your user folder in finder or the desktop.

I recently downloaded audacity, which as usual mounted, but did not do the usual drag into applications thing. And so all I had was the mounted thing on the desktop.... now how do I use it without keeping on my **** desktop forever more?
Click to expand...

you drag it your applications folder. If you want it on your desktop drag it to your dock after putting it in your aplpications folder. I prefer to keep my dock as empty as possible and open application using spotlight (cmd+space)

What are some of the basic file equivilent as on windows?

I assume a dmg is an exe, what is a sit?
Click to expand...

dmg is a disk image, dunno what a sit is - google.

How can I learn the intiutiive logic, in general, the way these things work, in a more systematic and comprehensive way instead of getting frustrated?>

Any help much apprecaited (note, I cant even type proprly on this darn keyboard)
Click to expand...

The more you use it the more you'll figure out, as well as asking questions on here, and maybe adding some people that use OS X to your msn and asking them there.

Also the help function is really good - go to 'help' on the menu bar when finder is selected. My favourite feature on OS X has to be all the shortcuts for everything.
 
Thanks so far guys, and apologies for my attitude.

I am just finding it suprisingly frustrating, I feel like a retarded 50 year old!!

I am going through all the help files on the computer - I think the biggest thing is simply not knowing what is what, in the sense of I don't know if what I am doing is the right thing, at any one moment..

Can you partition a drive? One of the fears/annoyances I am having is kinda putting files in propritary folders, like "my pictures" in windows, I don't want to do that, I want my own partition and own folders...
 
Hahaha i love this. But its so intuitive and awesome i hear the world cry.

I spent about 3 hours trying to figure what hardware was in it, then another 3hours trying to copy a dvd, then half an hour trying to turn it off.
 
EVH said:
Check this out dude, it's a complete guide to all things Mac.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17609685
Click to expand...

I have looked at that thread before, but it doesn't really tell you much in the way of use...

Couple of quick questions:

What is the keb=yboard shortcut for moving back a window - on XP I just used backspace, doesn't work on Mac :(

What is pg down key?

Why is there no general maximise button that just makes the window fill the whole screen? The green maximise button just seems to extend a browser width wise, but not all the way to the bottom of the screen..

What is the best MP3 Encoder program for use with LAME on the Mac?
 
Shostakovich said:
What is pg down key?
Click to expand...
Page Down

As for doing things.. have you checked out the help guides that come with your Mac? Try pressing Apple+? when you're on the desktop :)

As for maximising.. if you press the green + and then drag the window to the right size it will always remember the size
 
Chris1712 said:
Hahaha i love this. But its so intuitive and awesome i hear the world cry.

I spent about 3 hours trying to figure what hardware was in it, then another 3hours trying to copy a dvd, then half an hour trying to turn it off.
Click to expand...
poor you :p

Why turn a mac off? Sleep/suspend/justcomebackonlinein5secondswhenigetback inthemorning mode actually works on them ;)
 
Chris1712 said:
Hahaha i love this. But its so intuitive and awesome i hear the world cry.

I spent about 3 hours trying to figure what hardware was in it, then another 3hours trying to copy a dvd, then half an hour trying to turn it off.
Click to expand...

Im sorry, when I first had OS X it took me about 30 seconds to burn a CD, I still have my first ever burnt CD...

Apps --> Utilities --> System Profiler, not really difficult is it?

Turn it off, oh look Apple menu at the bottom.

Please note I was 12 when I got my OS X mac.

Either you were exaggerating or you have a major problem with technology because it baffles me how people can have so much trouble when I haven't had any or any that weren't solved by a 10 second google.

I think "Google it noob" should be posted on everyones keyboards! :p
 
for the shorcut lists look at mac help - there is a very long list.

there are different ways to open folders, to skip windows, go back windows, switch windows etc etc
 
EVH said:
Page Down

As for doing things.. have you checked out the help guides that come with your Mac? Try pressing Apple+? when you're on the desktop :)

As for maximising.. if you press the green + and then drag the window to the right size it will always remember the size
Click to expand...

No, the page down button merely works like the down arrow key - i mean page down in that it skips down more at once (but not page end, of course) as opposed to incrementally.
 
Last edited:
AJUK said:
You are making the classic mistake of still thinking as a Windows user. You will eventually get used to it, as mentioned above, just stick with it. These links may help:

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/cdb_whatcalled.html
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. And thats AJUK for these really great links. I think this is exactly what I need.

I think the problem is intensified in my case, as I have used my work laptop all day at work and for personal use in the evenings, too, for about a year.

This means that as well as the operating system, I am trying to get used to a new keyboard, trackpad, etc, which is making me more impatient and irritable, too!!
 
I understand how OS X can seem frustrating, but stick with it and you will like it more and more. Like other people have said remember this is not Windows and it was not designed to be like Windows. OS X does things differently (for better and in some cases worse).

Getting used to the Finder is a good step to take. Its a lot simpler than explorer windows in Windows (which you might find frustrating). The shortcuts down the left hand side are all I have ever needed and are all clearly labelled. You can add to this side bar too (just drag and drop a file to it). The Applications folder is where all my programs on my macs run from, but you can install (drag and drop again) a program in any file, its your choice.

Not all programs install my just dragging and dropping, some use a Windows style installation process.

Getting used to mounting .dmg files is another step. When you download a dmg it "mounts" onto your desktop and you then get two icons, one the original dmg and the other the virtual disk (much like when you put a usb stick in a computer, its there but you can eject it and take it out again). Install whats in the mounted disk then eject it (click the icon and press the Apple key and "e" for eject is the quickest way), then you can delete the .dmg file if you like, drag to trash or Apple key and the backspace key.

Just keep at it thats the best advice. Good luck :D
 
mounting is just great. It keeps running applications to a min and gives you a clean, fast and safe operating system.

It is worth taking time to learn and appreciate how they do the things you ask. It was never going to be like Windows..If it was, it wouldnt be worth buying one.
 
Yep, keep at it. Like many people say here, it is different thats all. Oh and a .sit file is the same as a .zip

Good luck and don't worry about posting questions, thats what forums are for :D
 
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