Mac folks, most have tricks, tips, apps for Mac OS

[masraum]

I've got a new iMac, and I'm essentially new to Mac (other than helping the missus with hers from time to time).

Are there any tips, tricks, hints or must have apps that you existing and/or long time Mac guys would recommend?

I have a trackpad, and love the gestures. It's going to take me a while to not initially go the wrong direction every time when scrolling up/down or right/left. I tried reversing the direction, but went back to standard.

I'm also not a huge fan of Mac Mail, but I'll get used to it, I'm sure.

Other than that, so far so good.

[Cajundaddy]

Completely dependent on your interests. I have been a Mac user since 2009 and am still on the same laptop with one refresh in 2015. It just works.

Open Office is shareware that replicates Microsoft Office. A very useful productivity app.
https://www.openoffice.org/

For musicians, Garageband is a surprisingly full featured recording and production software suited for occasional users or pros.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Ft-vgM7Rw

Lots of photo and video creative apps that run great on a Mac without crashing like my Windows equivalents seemed to do.

[RANDY P]

Remember that Finder is customizable. You can have it open up different views for different folders.

Makes a big difference when you're coming from Windoze

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Lots of photo and video creative apps that run great on a Mac without crashing like my Windows equivalents seemed to do.

I'll probably mostly use the Canon App for photo work, but is there a free app that's also good for photos/images?

The PC that I just moved from is a 2011 model. It wouldn't die, so we finally just replaced it. I'm going to wipe it and give it to my son.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Remember that Finder is customizable. You can have it open up different views for different folders.

Makes a big difference when you're coming from Windoze

Good to know, thanks.

I did go through and find the settings to show me everything on the hard drive instead of hiding stuff and to also show me the extensions of everything.

Soon I'll be digging into terminal and the CLI. I'm no *nix expert, but I've done shell scripting and I'm knowledgeable enough to be dangerous in *nix.

[RWebb]

you can set Finder to show the pics in your pics folders as um... small pics

have other folder alphabetical or by date

I keep 4-5 folders "homed in on" in Finder all the time; don't use Spotlight much as I want to search my files not all sorts of stuff

-----

Apple Notes is very worthwhile and automatically syncs across iPhone, laptop, desktop anywhere you are as long as you are near cell towers or log onto the internet with WiFi for a computer

[stealthn]

Learn the keystrokes, Apple C, Apple V, etc, very useful, or you can use Siri and just say do this...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you can set Finder to show the pics in your pics folders as um... small pics

have other folder alphabetical or by date

I keep 4-5 folders "homed in on" in Finder all the time; don't use Spotlight much as I want to search my files not all sorts of stuff

-----

Apple Notes is very worthwhile and automatically syncs across iPhone, laptop, desktop anywhere you are as long as you are near cell towers or log onto the internet with WiFi for a computer

Thanks. I usually had a handful of explorer windows open on my PC to various folders, so I'm sure I'll be the same in Mac. Can you set the finder to always open certain folders in a specific way or is it each time?

I've been using Notes on my phone for a while. Having it on my PC now will add useful functionality I'm sure.

Originally Posted by stealthn

Learn the keystrokes, Apple C, Apple V, etc, very useful, or you can use Siri and just say do this...

Yes, fortunately, many of the most common are common between Mac and Win, ie C, V, A, X, etc....

I've got a couple of tabs open in my browser to lists of shortcut keystrokes.

[RWebb]

yes, it will stay sorted the way you had it

Preview has some tricks too - e.g. there is limited ability to edit pdfs, edit jpgs, convert to other types, reduce size, draw on the pic etc.

Sadly, I have to say that you will eventually need to do things like:


Reset SMC of an iMac
1. Shut down your Mac
2. Disconnect the power cord
3. Press and hold the Mac’s power button for 5 seconds
4. Release the button
5. Reattach the power cables and boot the Mac as usual

Resetting the PRAM, NVRAM
* Reboot a Mac and then immediately hold down the*Command+Option+P+R keys

to restore the thing to normalcy

It's better than a Windoz PC, but not the gift from Siva that some acolytes make it out to be...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Reset SMC of an iMac

Resetting the PRAM, NVRAM

It's better than a Windoz PC, but not the gift from Siva that some acolytes make it out to be...

Weird!

My previous Windows box was very trouble-free. I would occasionally have an issue, usually after an update, but that was probably only every 2 or 3 years, and was usually cleared up in anywhere from minutes to a couple/few hours.

[RWebb]

my macs might be in the same range - but it does happen

you also have all the power of Eunuchs if you drop into Terminal

[Gus Berges]

Don't forget to hook up an external drive for Time Machine. It's saved me a few times when I have erroneously deleted items or sometimes I wish I had a file from months ago that I purposely deleted. Customizing the dock also helps with productivity.

I've been an "Apple Fan Boy" since the 80s, but lately I've been extremely disappointed with the reliability of their laptops, the lastest one being the MacBook Pro I currently have (non operational) that its battery died 13 months after purchase and now. costs ±50% of a replacement new laptop.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Gus Berges

Don't forget to hook up an external drive for Time Machine. It's saved me a few times when I have erroneously deleted items or sometimes I wish I had a file from months ago that I purposely deleted. Customizing the dock also helps with productivity.

Excellent. I back-up with Time Machine every Sunday morning, religiously

The reminder is in my calendar.

Two Macs, one that sits, one that travels but they are essentially the same machine.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Gus Berges

Don't forget to hook up an external drive for Time Machine. It's saved me a few times when I have erroneously deleted items or sometimes I wish I had a file from months ago that I purposely deleted. Customizing the dock also helps with productivity.

I've been an "Apple Fan Boy" since the 80s, but lately I've been extremely disappointed with the reliability of their laptops, the lastest one being the MacBook Pro I currently have (non operational) that its battery died 13 months after purchase and now. costs ±50% of a replacement new laptop.

I've got a NAS that I'll be scheduling a regular backup to.

The wife's got a macbook air that's 7 years old and still kicking.

[Seahawk]

Get Office Whatever they are calling it these days for Mac...pretty seamless and we have to have it for out government customers.

[Gus Berges]

My Time Machine is permanently hooked up to my laptop unless I'm traveling with it. No reminders needed.

My MacBook Air (2013) is still alive and well, but the late 2018 Pro's battery died on January 2020 (Apple refuses to warranty it and claims no battery issues, but the web says otherwise). Also, look into the keyboard, battery, and flex cable issues on not too old laptops. I don't mean to bash on Apple, but they are not what they used to be.

Another tip/trick is to try and get as many as possible AirPlay devices, that way you can easily stream your audio to it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Get Office Whatever they are calling it these days for Mac...pretty seamless and we have to have it for out government customers.

I already got Office. I'd considered one of the compatible alternatives, but went with the real thing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Gus Berges

My Time Machine is permanently hooked up to my laptop unless I'm traveling with it. No reminders needed.

My MacBook Air (2013) is still alive and well, but the late 2018 Pro's battery died on January 2020 (Apple refuses to warranty it and claims no battery issues, but the web says otherwise). Also, look into the keyboard, battery, and flex cable issues on not too old laptops. I don't mean to bash on Apple, but they are not what they used to be.

Another tip/trick is to try and get as many as possible AirPlay devices, that way you can easily stream your audio to it.

Glad I didn't get a laptop, but then I've never owned one that wasn't provided to me by a workplace.

[masraum]

Anyone use any virus / malware programs?

I did NOT use any anti-virus software (a mask) on my old Windows PC other than the free from Microsoft malware thing, Defender or Security or whatever it was. I do have Pi-hole and No Script and uBlock on the browser. I don't want to add any bloaty crap to this if I don't have to.

[stomachmonkey]

No malware or AV needed.

GIMP for 80% Photoshop features but its free.

Spacebar, it's your friend, click file, any file of any type, press spacebar. Select multiple files, hit spacebar.

Apple Mail I never liked, if you have office use Outlook.