Switching to a Mac For Dummies

Identify Special Key Symbols on a Mac Menu

Macintosh keyboards have a few keys that may be a mystery to users who are switching to a Mac from a PC. Get to know these standard symbols for special keys — it'll make using a Mac and its shortcuts quick and easy:

How Keyboard Shortcuts Work on Mac OS X

In Windows, you use keyboard shortcuts by pressing Ctrl and a letter. These shortcuts work on a Mac, too, if you press the Command key (the one with the fan-shaped symbol) instead. Thus, Command+C is copy, Command+X is cut, Command+V is paste, Command+Z is undo, and so on. Shortcuts unique to the Mac include:

Make Multitouch Gestures Work on a Mac Trackpad

Switching to a Mac from a PC requires a small learning curve; switching to a MacBook is no different. MacBooks use a trackpad (touchpad) instead of a mouse as a pointing device. On newer MacBooks, multitouch technology enables you to give your Mac commands with simple gestures on the trackpad. Here are some common commands that are helpful to know:

Top Mac Hints for Windows Users

If you're used to working in Windows, take a look at these hints on how to use a Mac. Practice using these Macintosh methods until they become automatic:

• To right-click when using a single-button mouse, hold down Control and then click.

• To right-click on a laptop, follow the previous instruction or click with two fingers resting on the trackpad.

• The top row on Mac keyboards is used for special controls, such as audio volume and brightness. To use them as function keys, hold down the Fn button. You can reverse this in System Preferences → Keyboard & Mouse, which also has a complete list of keyboard shortcuts.

• Closing an application’s last window usually doesn’t close the application.

• You can adjust window sizes by clicking and dragging the lower-right corner of the window.

• To rename a file in a Finder window, click the filename once and then press Return.