BeginnerMac.com

It’s no lie that the Mac community is a colorful bunch. They have their own Expo, there are numerous magazines , books , and countless blogs and websites. So it’s not that far out that they would have their own language right? I mean, the computer industry itself has all these different terms, definitions, etc… just in order to communicate what’s going on with our beloved tech gadgets. So I thought I’d take a couple of minutes and hopefully be able to define some of the Mac jargon.

Apps: (applications) – sometimes referred to as “programs”. There are the actual components on your Mac that allow you to accomplish a task. Mail would be an app. iCal would be an app, and so on.

Bluetooth: a wireless technology used to create a temporary connection between two blue-tooth enabled devices. Bluetooth technology is used in instance where the two devices are in close proximity, such as a cell phone and headset or a mouse and your mac.

Dock: usually located on the bottom of a Mac’s desktop, the Dock holds icons, minimized and running applications.

Force quit: to force an application to shut down. On a PC, it’s known as Control+Alt+Delete. On a Mac the key combination is Option+Apple+Esc (but you won’t really have a use for it).

MobileMe: an online service offered by Apple. Having a MobileMe subscription allows you to have server/storage space online. It’s great for hosting pictures, files, syncing calendars, and even hosting a blog or website. More to come on this…

Screenshot: also referred to as a “screen grab” – to take a picture of what’s on your screen.

This is literally just the “tip of the iceberg”. There are a thousand other terms. Some are related specifically to the Mac platform, and others could be just general computing terms. So, I’d like to know what terms you are confused about. Click the “Comment” button on this post, leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to answer you question. If you like, you can subscribe to the newsletter by going up to the top of this page, and fill in your name and email. Make sure you check back, or subscribe to the RSS feed to stay updated. Another option is if you’re on Twitter, you can follow @beginnermac and speak your question there.

(The picture used at the top of this post is from a great book entitled “The Cult of Mac”. If you are interested in some of the genesis of the Mac culture, this is a great read.”

The Cult of Mac (Paperback edition)

This post is a continuation in a series of posts on Mac Hardware.  Here is the first part.

Is there a difference between a ‘laptop’ and a ‘notebook’?
That is a great question!  And the answer is……no.  They are one in the same.  So let’s take a look at the different Apple notebooks.

Apple MacBook Pro – my personal computer.  This computer is a workhorse packed up nicely in a very small and sexy notebook.  If you are looking to do some serious computing on the go, then the Apple MacBook Pro is your perfect companion.  As with all of the Macs, it is fully customizable in terms of hard drive, memory, etc… (yes, there will be a post on this later).  If you are a video editor, photographer, or anyone that works with multimedia of any sort, a MacBook Pro is your companion.

Apple MacBook Air – a true technological work of art.  The beauty of the Apple MacBook Air is that it is so thin, that you can literally fit it in a manila envelope.  In fact, that is how Steve Jobs introduced it to the world when Apple unveiled the MacBook Air for the first time.  Keep in mind that if you are looking to make your first Mac notebook purchase, the MacBook Air would probably not be the best choice.  There are some quirky things that were left out during development that, unless you know how to navigate around a computer, would probably leave you in a pool of frustration.  If you are a business person who is always on the go, and needs to do basic functions such as check email, surf the web, edit documents, etc… the MacBook Air would be a terrific choice for you.

Apple MacBook – this is your PERFECT introductory Mac notebook.  If you are looking for your basic, solid, reliable, portable computer, the Apple MacBook is the perfect choice for you.  This was my wife’s first Mac, and the transition for her from a PC to a MacBook was really easy.  If you are new to the world of Apple/Mac and are looking to get your first taste of a Mac notebook, then this is your best pick.  The link I have provided offers a very resonable price for this particular computer.

So tell me, what computer (Mac or PC) do you have, and what do you like/dislike about it?

This post will serve as the beginning of a series of posts on Mac Hardware.

In the land of computers and technology, there are two basic categories to which “stuff” falls into. Those categories are what we refer to as hardware and software. In this series, we will focus on some of the different facets of Mac hardware.

What is hardware?
Hardware refers to anything physical to the computer. It could be the actual computer itself, a keyboard, a mouse, a hard drive, a memory chip, etc… Anything that you can physically touch and pick up.

Dang, Macs are pricey!
It’s no lie that a new Mac will cost you more than if you are going to buy a new PC. Now, hold on…let me explain.
The old adage of “you get what you pay for” falls true for this exact point. If you compare a brand new Apple product to a brand new multi-brand PC product, it will be clear at first glance in terms of the craftsmanship and quality that goes into creating an Apple piece of hardware. But think of it this way, would you rather pay cheap up front and then have to go out and buy something in a short amount of time, or would you rather pay some good money up front and have it last?

I think we all know the answer.

Some different types of Mac Hardware

Apple Mac Pro – the “big daddy” of the Mac computers. The Mac Pro is desktop computer, meaning that it belongs at or under your desk. I guess the best way to think of it is that you can’t put it on your lap (i.e. laptop). The Mac Pro comes in all different configurations in terms of hard drive and memory. If you are looking to do any video editing or photo manipulation, and don’t plan on needing to take your computer on the road with you, then this is your workhorse.

Apple iMac – definitely the “luxury” Mac. This is the computer for you that doubles as an elegant piece of furniture. In terms of looks, it is absolutely gorgeous with a brushed metal finish and smooth curves. I have seen iMacs in people’s living rooms, in doctor’s front offices, as well as on desks in dorm rooms. Just like the Mac Pro, the iMac comes in different configurations as well. The beauty about the iMac is that it is pretty much “all-enclosed” in that you don’t need to buy a monitor because the monitor (screen) IS the computer. The only other pieces of hardware that you will need would be a keyboard and mouse. If you need a powerful computer that would still look good sitting out in the living room, this is your winner.

Apple Mac Mini – the little guy with a big punch.  Yes, that image there is the entire computer.  It really is amazing how small a footprint it leaves.  All you need to do is plug in a monitor, keyboard and mouse, and you are ready to go.  No wonder a lot of people are using the Mini as their home media system (more on that later).  If you need a beefy computer that is compact, yet elegant in style, the Mac Mini is the one for you.

Check back for Part II, where we will look at Mac laptops.

One of the major differences to new Mac owners is getting used to the trackpad. If you are PC/Windows user, you are accustomed to a two-button trackpad, or an embedded mouse cursor control usually in the form of an obnoxious red “pimple” in the middle of the keyboard. I personally found that very hard to navigate and pretty annoying to control. I’ll be honest, the trackpad on a Mac takes some getting used to, but once you do it is like you have been using it for a while.
For older laptops such as the Macbook or Macbook Pro, there is one big button located below the trackpad. This functions as the primary “click” or to former PC users, the “left-click”. When I first got my Mac, I was baffled as how to implement a “right-click” gesture. It turns out that I was actually making it harder than it has to be. Here is how you implement a “right-click”:

1. Place two fingers on the trackpad.
2. Click the button.

That’s all there is to it.

There are other basic movements that are very well described in the System Preferences panel. To go to this panel, navigate up to the apple in the top left corner, then go to “System Preferences”, then go to “Keyboard & Mouse” which is under the ‘Hardware’ header.

If you have one of the new Macbooks/Macbook Pro/Macbook Air, then you have a “buttonless” trackpad. However, in reality this trackpad really does have a button. Just use as normal. There are some other cool implemented features such as zooming, pinching, etc… which you can see visually demonstrated in the System Preferences panel. (More to come on this topic later)

If you are mouse lover and have a fear of the mouse pad or trackpad, then you very well could use an old “Windows” mouse (but why would you), or you can pick up an Apple Mouse or Mighty Mouse. I personally use a wireless Mighty Mouse and have been pretty happy with it other than it takes some good maintenance and upkeep in order to keep it functioning properly. (More to come on that as well).