Mac help?

[unfaithfulsfan]

I've been drafted to teach a bunch of senior citizens how to use a computer to check email, create word processing docs, etc. Just general computer use. The computer is located in the Village Senior Center for public use (for the seniors not the general public) The problem is, the idiot trustee who was responsible for buying the computer for this project bought a friggin' Mac because she was responsible for teaching them (over a year ago, I might add) and she doesn't know how to use a PC. That also explains the $1900 cost for the computer. It goes without saying how much money could have been saved by purchasing a PC. But I digress.....

Anyway, I know very little about using a Mac. My ex had one which I used a couple of times then it got struck by lightning because the power strip "cluttered up" the area under her desk but again I digress. Damn morphine.

anyway, can someone point me towards an online tutorial for the basics of using a Mac? I know there's something funny with the mouse--one button--and there are some key strokes for certain functions (or I think I know it....) that are very useful.

It's obvious the stupid trustee (who has fallen from grace for this and other stunts) is not going to handle this and since I've become the village geek, I need to learn the fundamentals quick. Also, I plan to go play around with it, too, to try to learn as much as I can.

Thanks.
Jack

[DMB2000uk]

I don't know of any video tutorials, but I can give you a few pointers on how to get the basics working.

As you are aware, there is only left click (actually this is a lie, as you can plug in a two buttoned mouse and enable right click in the mouse preferences in the system options). If they are expected to pass this knowledge on to other computers that are windows, then it'd be a good idea to enable this feature.

To right click you have to hold down the control button and left click.

" Ctrl + 'key' " shortcuts in windows become " mac option key* + 'key' " (*it looks like a square with loops round the outside corners, and it's where the alt key should be)
(e.g. Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, windows + tab, etc)

The menu across the top is application sensitive, so whatever application is in focus, the menu's are all for that (apart from the 'apple logo' which is the system menu and remains the same)

There is no maximise window button, so get used to resizing all your windows to how big you want them by hand.

Pressing the 'x' on open windows (which is on the wrong side btw) doesn't quit the application, it sort of just minimises it to the dock thing.

Running applications in the dock have a little dot underneath them, ctrl click them, and quit or drag them to the trash.

To delete something (without ctrl clicking and selecting delete) you either have to press the backspace key (or the backspace key and either the mac option key or the ctrl key (I forget which it is))

Dan

PS. Is there no way to get windows installed on this thing?
It'd make a lot more sense for teaching people the basics of computers if they can use their learnt skills elsewhere

[DMB2000uk]

Double posting ftw!

Apparently mac have online basic tutorial things:
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

Dan

[martini161]

or linux
i tired learning how to use a mac, gave up after i found out clicking on something renames it instead of opening. i mean WTF

[skier]

you also close apps by clicking on the dock icon(if it was previously closed)-or if its already open, you press "apple key"+"Q" or apple-quit as some say it
i believe the force quit window is opened by like, apple+alt+esc i think, restart with the apple+shift+power buttons,

its pretty simple in general, just stupid in some aspects(like the one-button mouse BS, all apple mouse' are bad, the ones that also have the tiny scroll sphere are crap because you cant clean it, and it gets gummed up very easily)

also, the old ones are straight up stupid, at work i'm using a G3 just for its Power supply, sometimes it will turn on, others it will not, its entirely random, it also has VERY strange parts, such as a 12.25" card that has VGA out, but is under a video card that is 6.5" i can't even list all the weird aspects of it

[FZ1]

i tired learning how to use a mac, gave up after i found out clicking on something renames it instead of opening. i mean WTF

I've been using macs since the original in 1984 and I've never heard of such a thing. User error!

@ Jack - hook up a 2 button mouse (Logitech is typically compatible) and it acts just like a PC mouse. Otherwise, Mac OS X is just like Windows - as is should be since M$ ripped off the design

Anyway, most everything acts exactly the same but some things are named differently - i.e.

Windows------------Mac
Explorer------------Finder
Start Menu---------Apple Menu
Task Bar------------Dock

etc etc

The one thing that differs the most is that Mac OS X has no registry and for most apps, to install you literally drag the app into your applications folder and that's it. To uninstall, drag it to the trash.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Is there no smilie with a gun to his head?

I farted around for a few minutes tonight while we were at a dinner for the re-elected mayor and deputy mayor. Installing Windows is out of the question as it's Village property and I can't risk fubaring the warranty. It's one of those macs with everything built into the monitor which is cool. I hate the damn dock thing. Because as one of you pointed out, you have to manually resize windows and I couldn't get to the bottom right hand corner to resize. I thought there was a utility like with acrobat that dropped a box down with a % of how much you wanted to increase size. No such luck.

All the above was not helped by one of the seniors sitting beside me saying "try this, this might work, try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work,try this, this might work, ...................................................... No matter how civilized I kept trying to explain to him to shut the f up, he just kept on. Apparently the trustee DID come in after all and taught a couple of them just enough to be dangerous (and effing annoying! ) .

The center's open from 9 am -2 pm MF so I'll sneak in some time when everyone's busy eating or something and finagle around with it. Thanks for all the tips and the link!

Jack

[vicaphit]

I would just give up myself. The only thing worse than teaching senior citizens how to use a computer is teaching senior citizens how to use a mac.

[hnzw_rui]

I don't see how you'll void warranty by installing Windows, assuming it's one of those Intel Macs. Didn't Apple release software that allows you to do this? At the very least, there's Parallels. Do yourself a favor, though, and buy a mouse with actual left and right-click buttons.

Also, how long is the warranty? Maybe it's already lapsed.

[Major_A]

Do you have an old PC that you can donate to the city? Along with being able to know the hardware inside the machine you can get a tax write off for more than the machine is worth.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Do you have an old PC that you can donate to the city? Along with being able to know the hardware inside the machine you can get a tax write off for more than the machine is worth.

Wish I did. At the very least, I suggested to the mayor that we put the Mac on Craig's list and let me build 2 pcs (INCLUDING printers!) with the proceeds that's another thing, how are they supposed to use it to print letters, etc. that they need to print (which was part of the whole idea!) without a printer?!? I'll talk to the mayor about putting XP (preferrably)vor Vista on it. How can I tell if it's an "Intel Mac?" Is it in the system properties somewhere?

Oh well, I guess it's easier to bitch about it than to just learn something new, right? Thanks again and keep the tips/advice coming!

Jack

[hnzw_rui]

How can I tell if it's an "Intel Mac?" Is it in the system properties somewhere?

Yep, should be in the system properties. Haven't booted into Hackintosh for so long I've forgotten where to find it, though. If it uses an Intel processor, then it's an Intel Mac. Iirc, if the Mac was bought from the Apple store from 2006 onwards, it should use an Intel processor.

Did a bit of research and found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Camp_(software)

See? It's sanctioned by Apple. Apple makes money by selling hardware. They can sell more computers by allowing people to install Windows.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Well the mayor has pretty much approved "craigslisting" the Mac but now the trustee who is responsible for this whole shindig has jumped back into things so THAT idea is temporarily on hold.

I'm on the Mac right now trying to get used to it. So far, as y'all have pointed out, it's not dissimilar to a PC. Haven't gotten the 2button mouse yet so struggling with the single button. Can't figure out how to cut and paste text. How effing hard can THAT be? Pretty damn hard comes the answer!!

If anyone is on who can shed some light on that, please do!!!

Thanks

[DMB2000uk]

" Ctrl + 'key' " shortcuts in windows become " mac option key* + 'key' " (*it looks like a square with loops round the outside corners, and it's where the alt key should be)
(e.g. Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, windows + tab, etc)

;)

(There's a whole bunch of other tips up top)

Dan

[unfaithfulsfan]

(There's a whole bunch of other tips up top)

Damn morphine

[unfaithfulsfan]

In my defense, however, I still cannot CUT and paste like if you decide to move a sentence or block of text. My understanding is you have to COPY and paste then delete the text?
Thanks!
Jack

[DMB2000uk]

So once the text is selected the mac key + x doesn't cut?

How about control + left clicking the selected text and choosing cut?

Dan

[Major_A]

Maybe this will help?
http://osxhelp.com/

I personally know nothing about OS X, nor do I honestly care to. The day I can assemble my own PC around the OS I might care, but until then I don't.

[hnzw_rui]

Well the mayor has pretty much approved "craigslisting" the Mac but now the trustee who is responsible for this whole shindig has jumped back into things so THAT idea is temporarily on hold.

Well, if she doesn't want to get rid of the Mac, why doesn't she teach the class this time around, too? Seriously, PC's are more common and are available at many price points. Macs (even the Mini) are just expensive. Besides, when these people do decide to buy their own computers, or if their family buys one for them, chances are they'll get a Windows-based PC and all the things taught to them regarding the Mac would be useless.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Well the mayor has pretty much approved "craigslisting" the Mac but now the trustee who is responsible for this whole shindig has jumped back into things so THAT idea is temporarily on hold.

Well, if she doesn't want to get rid of the Mac, why doesn't she teach the class this time around, too? Seriously, PC's are more common and are available at many price points. Macs (even the Mini) are just expensive. Besides, when these people do decide to buy their own computers, or if their family buys one for them, chances are they'll get a Windows-based PC and all the things taught to them regarding the Mac would be useless.

She is the official teacher but I'm volunteering to help out as well as learning the Mac since it's here.

I just figured out how to cut and I can't understand why it didn't work before.... command + x. Maybe I was trying option + x instead. Can't remember.

Sorry, lost my mind for a moment..

I was talking to her last night and I think we're going to set up two classes. One that I would teach just for the absolute basics such as exactly what a mouse is and what it does etc. So we'll see how that goes..

Anyway, I'll talk to you guys later.

Thanks again for all the help
Jack