I need help, switching from windows, I think im gonna die

Too much to process... brain shorting out...

Are you talking about the downloaded installers or the actual application? The actual installed application should be saved in the Applications folder......which BTW is where you should find your Firefox installation.

Documents is normally where you store your um, documents.

As for your problem creating an "alias" (aka, Windows shortcut) you can either click on the file and then choose File >> Make Alias...then move it where ever, or you can drag the file while holding down the Option + Command keys.

OK, take a breath...
Then... take another breath...
Then talk a walk or do some meditation...



Calm yet? Relaxed?


Ok, now stay that way and start out by reading this.
Then play with your new mac and get a feel for the system.
No this is NOT windows and things WORK DIFFERENTLY, so take the time to learn your new OS and don't expect things to work the windows way. Soon enough it will grow on you that your new mac in lots of ways is actually way simpler to use than windows. You hold on and give it a fair chance. You will be rewarded. Anything unclear after? Come back here and ask away.....

Hint 1: on a mac, you install downloaded software by dragging the program from the .dmg (diskimage) file you just opened to the programs folder. The .dmg file is just a virtual installation disk.

Hint 2: command (the key with the small apple) + comma opens the preferences of any program.

Hint 3: learn the mac keyboard shortcuts.

Hint 4: drag'n drop. Know it, live it.

Disk images need to be unmounted (ejected) to remove. Right click and choose "Eject Firefox", or whatever it named it. The way applications are installed is different on a Mac than on Windows. A disk image is mounted, then you run the installer from the disk image. When the application is done installing, you eject the disk image. The application should then be in your Application folder.

Maybe this will help: Disk Image (.dmg) == virtual floppy/CD. You mount a CD, you copy from it, you eject it. You don't mount it and then keep it in your drive all the time.

If you run an application from a disk image, the Mac will keep looking for that disk image to launch it again... and if the disk image isn't there, it will automount it. You need to copy the application to your hard drive first, then eject the disk image using the same mechanisms you would use to eject a CD: Select the mounted volume and then Cmd-E, drag to Trash, or press the Eject key on the keyboard (above Delete).

As with most of the cases mac simplifies things, when windows has different ways to handle every media, mac usually has only one. So most applications are delivered on disk images, they work the same way as a CD would, USB sticks, firewire disks, pretty much every media would. They have to be inserted or mounted as Unix world calls it, and after use they need to be ejected.

If you want to put an app in the Dock ready for use, you don't have to use an alias. Drag the app from Applications to the Left side of the Dock. It won't have the alias arrow, but it ISN'T the app itself. That's still back in Applications. If later, you want to remove it from the Dock, drag it to the desk. It will vanish in a puff of smoke, but, again, the original is still safe back in Application..

Another way to have your frequently used apps all in one place is:
1. Start a folder in User. Call it something like "Current Apps" . Whatever would remind you what it is.
2. Put aliases of your frequently used apps in the folder
3. Drag the folder into the right side of the Dock (Leopard will have this as a feature)
4. When you want to boot an app that's in that folder, right click on it, and click on the app. The app will boot and the 'Current Apps' folder will close.
5. This will keep your Dock from being cluttered with all the apps you want easy access to.

To AI members: It's been a long time since I did this on my computer. If you find an error in the above, please advise.

Switch to decaf.

Being a power user on Windows equates to absolutely zip on the Mac. Get the "missing manual" book or some such and read.

Good idea to get a manual. When I got my first Mac, I found that a manual helped. Browsing through it will acquaint you with a load of stuff that you would never have known about - aside from the day to day cut and paste stuff. I tried several, but the best one (touted by the techs at my job) was written by Robin Williams (NO, not the comedian).

BTW, blackmajik2021, after a beginner's learning curve, you'll find that a lot of stuff is intuitive. Like everyone says: A Mac just works.

You haven't had your Mac long enough to warrant any wacky assumptions. Give it time. It takes a few days to adjust to this new (and superb, I must say) environment.

How to move music to new computer:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173

Use an External Hard Disk or DVD-Rs if you don't have a (large enough) iPod.

"Azureus" for torrents ... it's a resource hog, but a good interface, and it works well.

There's a "Help" menu at the top of your screen .... it's different depending on which App is active... (like "Finder" for instance.) ... It opens an Apple "Help" program ... for questions regarding OSX or iLife apps or your Mac (as opposed to internet/other software) this will get you more reliable/specific information than Google

Well that was the second option. I'm sure you have it all backed up to external drives anyhow.

Well, I'm not sure if this will work with windows/mac compatibility, but download this trial program and boot your mac in disk mode (hold 't' at boot) and plug it in via firewire, and you should be able to use your mac's HD as a removable HD. I tried this once, but it didn't work because this program has compatibility issues with daemon tools and Alchol120, both of which I had installed.

I just wanted to point out that you did switch OS's. It's not going to be a 2 hour process. It's going to take time, simply because it's different. Just take your time learning the new system, and you'll be groovin' like a pro.

quicksilver

So what's your back-up system?

Didn't you read his first post: "First off, Im a windows power user" Why would he need back-up?

Look in the library, in the main HD (not in your user folder). Or, do a spotlight search. You might find a utility for it somewhere online.


Drag the white disk images to the trash...they need to be unmounted. Before this, make sure you have dragged the applications (programs) to your system. Your Applications folder is a folder on your HD. You can drag it to the dock for quick access, and of course can put application icons in the dock directly.


Post specific problems in a calm manner, and we'll see what we can do. As another poster said, it's a new OS and things work differently. Give it a week and you'll love it.


Shouldn't be too hard, though I disagree iTunes is horrendous. There is very little about it I don't like, and I use Windows and Mac every day.


It's called an "alias"in OS X. Highlight the Icon and press command-L (apple key being command). Or, do it from the file menu...same deal.

He could also click on the file and click on "Make Alias" in the menu.

I think he's biting off too much to chew as a newbie. He should learn the'housekeeping' first. Of course, he's a "power user" and probably doesn't want to start at the bottom.

Plus, it appears that his debilitating amphetamine addiction makes it extremely difficult to concentrate.

I'm picturing a hotel room out by the interstate filled with dozens of smashed PCs and "all work and no play makes blackmajik a power user" scrawled on every available surface.

Here are a few things that helped me settle in when I switched over from a PC:

Application installing process
You download disk image (.dmg files).
You mount the disk image (by opening the .dmg file).
A disk should be mounted on your desktop (its usually a white icon)
All the contents of the application should be neatly packaged into a single folder/icon.
Drag the folder/icon into your Applications folder so its saved on your HD.
Eject the disk (being a power user, you can just click on the disk and push Command-E. There are even faster ways via an amazing app called Quicksilver).
*Don't think of the process as "installing the app". Its more like "copying/pasting the app onto your HD.

Customizing Adium
Adium is incredibly customizable.
Open the preferences window via Command-, (thats the shortcut for the preference window for almost all apps)
Adium > Preferences > Appearance > Contact List > List Layout > Customize
Alternatively, check out http://www.adiumxtras.com/ for a bunch of customization options.

The Dock
The dock is similar to the quicklaunch bar in Windows.
Applications in the dock are not the actual application, they're just shortcuts.
I drag all my favorite apps onto the Dock.
Alternatively, you can drag items you don't use often out of the dock (complete with a nice "poof" animation)

Finder
The white pill button on the top right of the Finder window changes the window to a minimalistic mode.
The items on the bottom left side are shortcuts as well (so you can drag things in and out of it).
By default, theres already a Home, Desktop, Documents, Music, Applications, etc... shortcut
The actual files are located in that harddrive folder on the top left.
Harddrive > Users > your home folder > (this is where all the
Desktop/Documents/Music/Application/etc.. folders are located)

Also:
System Preferences > Place Scroll Arrows: At top and bottom (Windows style)
I can't stand having the top/bottom arrows next to each other.

System Preferences > Dashboard & Expose > Active screen corners (Expose shortcuts. You may hate it, you may love it.)

Mess around with the System Preferences! I love how all the system preferences are in one easy-to-find location. I always got lost when messing with system preferences on a Windows machine.

Once you're settled in and comfortable, I'll introduce you to Quicksilver, the ULTIMATE power users app.

good luck
Eric