Getting started with macbook pro. From A to Z


You are reading the first line of the first, probably even “pilot” issue of a new series of articles called “From A to Z”. In this short series we will tell you all the most important information about the latest models of Apple computers from the following lines: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro. For some, this information will be useful for making a purchasing decision, for others to expand their own knowledge, and for others for crossword puzzles - it does not matter at all, as long as it is useful. In general, don’t judge strictly, let’s go.

The first MacBook Pro was introduced by Apple in early 2006. This model replaced the PowerBook G4 computers. The MacBook Pro was instantly able to win the hearts of its users, and many of us still look forward to each next update to this line, wondering what the new generation of firmware will have.

These were the first Intel laptops from the Apple company. Until the release of the first MacBook Pro, everything Apple laptops equipped with a PowerPC chip, which is a joint development of Apple, IBM and Motorola. This transition was very important for the entire company and its users. But the responsibility for this step was no less. Apple had to guarantee its users that their software and all of them would run on Intel Macs. The solution to this dilemma was Rossetta, an efficient dynamic translator that allowed Power PC applications to run on Apple computers using Intel processors.

Why was it necessary to switch to new processors at all? It's simple: speed. The first MacBook Pro amazed its users with a huge increase in speed in their work, compared to its predecessor, the PowerBook G4. Intel Core-Duo is, speaking in simple language, two processors in one, thanks to which it was possible to increase the speed of operation, but did not in any way affect the rate of depletion of the laptop battery. Of course, users responded positively to the new processors, although some still complained about compatibility issues with some older software. In general, for the most part, the new MacBook Pro received very positive ratings.

The target audience for the first MacBook Pro were users who required high speed and a decent amount of memory. So it's no coincidence that the first MacBook Pro looked roughly the same as the predecessor it replaced. Inside they were completely different.

In the seven years since its introduction, the MacBook Pro has undergone great amount changes: from software to Retina display.

In the good old days, Apple offered us three types of firmware (not to mention specific configurations): with a 13-inch display, with a 15-inch display and with a 17-inch display. But not long ago, Apple stopped producing the 17-inch MacBook Pro, concentrating on 13 and 15-inch models. Thanks to this, in June 2012 we saw a 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display, and already in October the junior model of the line was also equipped with a Retina display.

MacBook Pro Specifications

Let's divide all the “firmware” into two categories: those without a Retina display, that is, ordinary ones, and those that can boast of one. First, of course, let's talk about those that are ordinary.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro features a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with clock frequency 2.3 and 2.6 GHz ( Turbo acceleration Boost up to 3.6 GHz) with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. But if you want a faster laptop, you can get the MacBook Pro with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz) and 8MB cache. Moreover, you can complement your brand new firmware with a 512 GB third-generation semiconductor hard drive, which will work 4 times faster than traditional hard drives. To increase the amount of memory, you can install HDD even 1 TB.

The younger, 13-inch model also received significant improvements. For example, it was equipped with the fastest dual-core processors: Intel Core i5 with a clock frequency of 2.5 GHz and Intel Core i7 with a clock frequency of 2.9 GHz. And Turbo Boost technology accelerates the processor up to 3.6 GHz.

MacBook Pro 13/15 specifications:

  • Diagonal: 13.3 / 15.4
  • Screen resolution: 1280×800 pixels / 1440×900 pixels
  • Processor: Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz or Intel Core i7 2.9 GHz / Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz or Intel Core i7 2.6 GHz
  • Dimensions (height x width x depth): 2.41 x 32.5 x 22.7 cm / 2.41 x 36.4 x 24.9 cm
  • Weight: 2.06 kg / 2.56 kg
  • Memory: DDR3 1600 MHz SO-DIMM
  • Number of memory slots: 2, supports up to 8 GB
  • Memory installed: 4 or 8 GB (both slots occupied)
  • Storage: 500GB or 750GB HDD, 8x SuperDrive slot-loading optical drive
  • Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11n (supported backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards), Bluetooth 4.0
  • Ports and connectors: network port Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB 3.0 ports, FireWire 800 port, Thunderbolt port, SDXC memory card slot, Kensington security slot, MagSafe 2, headphone output
  • Battery capacity: 63.5 Wh / 77.5 Wh

As for the operating time, according to Apple, it is 7 hours. Both for the younger and for the older model. In principle, this is true, although, of course, it primarily depends on what you do and how you use your MacBook Pro. So, for example, if you are “walking” through web pages, then 7 hours is a reality, but if you play games or edit videos, then 4-5 hours is your maximum.

The package includes the MacBook Pro itself, a screen cleaning cloth, a MagSafe charger (electrical plug, power cable and unit) and documentation in printed and electronic form. The laptop itself is covered by an official worldwide warranty from Apple for a period of 1 year (warranty and post-warranty service at any authorized service center).

The 13-inch model with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor will cost you $1,199. The older model, with a 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, is offered for $1,499. As for the 15-inch models, the situation is as follows: Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.3 GHz costs $1,799, Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.6 GHz will cost you $2,199.

We deliberately indicate prices in dollars, since, unfortunately, in rubles there is a single price for Apple technology no: firstly, official resellers will have the same prices (and they may differ from each other), while “gray” sellers and stores will have different prices; secondly, prices in our market are constantly changing, so we will dance from the Apple online store.

MacBook Pro with Retina display specifications

Finally, we have reached firmware with a Retina display, a kind of standard among laptops from the Apple company. There are plenty of differences between the MacBook Pro with Retina display and the “regular” MacBook Pro.

So, let's start our acquaintance with these computers from the most important thing - the processors. With a dual-core Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processor in the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, you can run even the most demanding, performance-intensive apps without any hassle. Both the junior and senior models support such excellent technology as Hyper-Threading, which can improve performance by allowing each core to simultaneously process multiple processes at once. By the way, the well-known Turbo Boost technology increases the processor clock speed to 3.6 GHz. In general, it’s hard to call this model a “baby”.

It goes without saying that the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will surprise us even more. Inside, you'll find (just please don't try to open it yourself) third-generation Intel Core i7 processors, based on an advanced 22nm microarchitecture, delivering the best performance of any MacBook Pro laptop. And thanks to the fact that these processors boast clock speeds of up to 2.6 GHz, which, thanks to Turbo technology With boost speeds up to 3.7GHz and up to 8MB of shared L3 cache, these processors are essential for the most demanding tasks.

MacBook Pro with Retina 13/15 display specifications:

  • Diagonal: 13.3 / 15.4
  • Screen resolution: 2560×1600 pixels / 2880×1800 pixels
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000
  • Processor: Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 2.5 GHz / Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7 2.3 GHz or Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7 2.6 GHz
  • Dimensions (height x width x depth): 1.9 x 31.4 x 21.9 cm / 1.8 x 35.9 x 24.7 cm
  • Weight: 1.62kg / 2.02kg
  • Memory: 8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz memory, memory soldered into the motherboard
  • Storage: 128GB or 256GB Flash / 256GB or 512GB Flash
  • Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11n (backwards compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards), Bluetooth 4.0
  • Ports: 2 Thunderbolt, 2 USB 3.0, HDMI, MagSafe 2, SDXC memory card slot, headphone output
  • Battery capacity: 74 Wh / 95 Wh

The configuration of these “firmwares” is no different from those that are not equipped with a Retina display, so we won’t describe it a second time. The same applies to the stated operating time. Moreover, the stated time is one, but in fact it is completely different. And, of course, the situation is exactly the same with the guarantee.

The younger 13-inch model with an Intel Core i5 processor will cost you $1,699, the older – $1,999. As for the 15-inch models, the situation is as follows: Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.3 GHz costs $2,199, Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.6 GHz will cost you $2,799.

Software

As for questions about firmware software, then, regardless of the presence of a Retina display, everything is identical.

Every MacBook Pro comes pre-installed with OS X Mountain Lion. The Mountain Lion operating system has turned out to be quite controversial: some people praise it to the skies and see something truly revolutionary in it, while others, on the contrary, believe that the difference with OS X Lion is not so great. In fact, the new operating system turned out to be very good. Of course, it cannot be called revolutionary, but it has a lot of advantages. The only negative that comes to my mind is that the operating time of MacBooks running this system is slightly reduced compared to working under OS X Lion.

When you turn on your brand new MacBook for the first time, you will find that the following applications and programs are already installed on it: Mail, Messages, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Safari web browser, Notification Center, Notes, Time Machine, FaceTime, Photo Booth, iTunes, Game Center, Gatekeeper, Mac App Store, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand and others. In addition, the Mountain Lion operating system is almost fully integrated with iCloud, Twitter and Facebook.

The iWork suite, which includes programs like Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, will need to be downloaded from the Mac App Store. Each of these programs will cost you 649 rubles. In principle, a quite adequate and affordable price for such a product.

One thing: if you're expecting the MacBook Pro to be a great gaming computer, it's not. Of course, in terms of technical characteristics it's perfect (well, probably), but the problem is that there are very few games for OS X. Very few.

Another small, or maybe not so small, problem is that some office and business applications are not available on computers running operating system OS X. But if necessary, you can install the Windows operating system on your MacBook Pro. This can be done, for example, with using Parallels Desktop - this will probably be the best and simple option.

Accessories for MacBook Pro

Many users, when making a decision to purchase a particular device, including laptops such as the MacBook Pro, are concerned about the number of existing accessories for this very device. Therefore, it is impossible to skip this point.

There are more than enough accessories for the MacBook Pro. For example, if you are not very comfortable using a trackpad all the time (for example, due to the specifics of your work), you can buy a regular mouse for your firmware. This can be either Apple's Magic Mouse or any other mouse from any other manufacturer.

Not counting mice, there are a huge number of all kinds of stands, holders, protective films for screens and even vinyl stickers on its cover. And, of course, you can find a suitable case for your aluminum pet, of which there are a dime a dozen in online and offline stores.

Moreover, you can connect to your MacBook Pro both additional storage (“let’s call it hard drives”) and additional screens if even 15 inches is not enough for you.

In general, as you already understand, there are no problems with this. The only problem with accessories for the MacBook Pro is that they are usually very expensive, but, as they say, if there is a desire, there will be opportunities.

Results

If you read everything very carefully, you should have realized that the MacBook Pro is not a toy. This is a serious laptop for serious people. He is capable of much, if, of course, you yourself are capable of much. Before purchasing, think carefully about whether you need just such a laptop and whether you will use all its resources. If not, and you really want a laptop from Apple, then it’s better to take a closer look at the MacBook Air: it’s cheaper, simpler, and smaller.

For those who are sure that they will use absolutely all (or at least most) of the resources of the MacBook Pro, but still doubt whether to take it, we inform you: take it, you will not regret it.

The MacBook Pro is a true leader in its market segment, one step above most of its competitors in my opinion. But it also costs more than many similar PCs running an operating system. Windows systems. But you have something to overpay for. Probably, now many PC owners will be ready to argue with me, but I will still say this: the MacBook Pro is more reliable than any PC, so it will last you much longer (both in terms of hardware and in terms of the operating system).

Of course, the final choice will always be yours, but you can rest assured that the MacBook Pro is worth every dollar you spend on it. This is a beautiful, powerful and prestigious laptop.

P.S. If you have any comments and suggestions, do not forget to indicate them in the comments, we will definitely take them into account in the next issue of the “From A to Z” series. In addition, you can write in the comments your wishes regarding which device the next material should be devoted to.

Hi guys! I just remembered that a long time ago, when dragons were still flying in the sky, there was a section on my blog called “Friday Relaxation.” On Fridays, I tried to write on abstract topics so as not to burden the heads of my faithful and friendly readers. I will try to restore the tradition and on Fridays present you with information that would not overload your brain, but, on the contrary, would make it relax, smile or dream.

I would like to talk about another dream of mine, which came true back in December last year. But I still couldn’t tell you more about it. And, to be more specific, I bought myself Macbook Air(this is a laptop with a glowing apple 🙂). I've really been dreaming about this for a long time.

Where did it all start?

In general, my love for Apple products awoke after (3 years ago), which was a very serious acquisition for me. Then I was just starting to get into the ropes with the Internet. For a long time I despised all these Apple fanatics; I never understood why buy these devices when similar ones with the same characteristics are 2-3 times cheaper. These “Yabloko” people constantly made me smile (I thought they were stupid), and probably also made me jealous. But, whatever one may say, these devices could impress others; because of their price, they distinguished their “owner” well. It's Apple all around now.

It took me a long time to decide whether to buy an iPhone or something else. My brother, who owned an iPhone 3G, persuaded me to take this pretentious thing of the 4th model. She had just left then. And from the first days I began to fall in love with this magnificent technique.

After the iPhone, I wanted an iPad. Moreover, I was sorry for the money for it, I kept trying to win it in competitions. On my 3rd attempt, I still read books and use the navigator.

After two Apple devices, I desperately wanted a laptop from the same company. I don't need a desktop computer; I often change my location. I wanted to have a universal device in which I would be comfortable working at home, in my office, or while traveling. As a result, I set a goal: if I can increase my company’s sales by the Nth amount (let me remind you), then I will get myself a Macbook. You won’t believe it, but in 1 week we managed to reach this level, which seemed impossible. I wanted him that much. 🙂

In general, MacBooks come in the following models: Air and Pro. Air is a lighter version, weaker relative to the firmware, but the battery lasts longer and is much better in price. Pro is for those who need strong performance for video editing, huge image sizes and more. I realized that I need Air.

And the next stage was to choose hard memory SSD drive. 128 GB or 256 GB. The price difference between these models is almost 8,000 rubles. Too much, I thought, in the end I bought myself a Macbook Air 13" 128 GB. And, in order not to worry about hard drive memory, I bought myself an external 1 TB HDD hard drive for 3,000 rubles with USB 3.0 support. It also works very fast .

I quickly figured out the secret of why I'm obsessed with Apple products. It's not about the characteristics, but about its OS X operating system. It is so coherent, thoughtful and convenient. When I had desktop computer, after 2-3 months Windows installations the thought arose: “Eh, I should install another 4 GB of RAM, and update the processor.” So, with the advent of the MacBook, such thoughts disappeared altogether: everything works smoothly, without any delays or “blue screens of death.” I don’t even know what the characteristics of my favorite device are, because its performance really satisfies me.

Out of curiosity, I came to look at the characteristics, and I will say that they are:

  • Monitor - 13 inches.
  • Processor - 1.3 Ghz Intel Core i5.
  • Memory - 4 GB 1600 Ghz DDR 3.
  • Graphics - Intel HD 5000
  • Hard drive - 128 GB SSD.
  • A full description is available.

Macbook Air took a new model, which was released in mid-2013. It cost me 43,000 rubles (as of December 2013). Now many will wake up like: “Yes, for the same money you could buy 2 laptops with similar characteristics!” Yes, I don't argue. But I get a thrill from working with this device, I don’t regret a single ruble that I invested in it.

First impressions

Bought! I'm running home! We need to unpack the box quickly! I carefully open it and immediately this very smell hits my nose. The smell of a new device, which should bring a lot of positive impressions. I gently lift the lid. I look at my new silver friend. How handsome he is!

The main advantages are immediately noticeable:


The first week after the purchase there were still doubts about the necessity of this very purchase. Main question, which tormented me - what is it? Do I really need this? Everything didn’t seem so convenient; I was already quite used to Windows. But only a week passed and I began to feel all the charm. I figured out the software and began to enjoy working with this laptop.

I especially like writing. You can expand the WordPress post editor to full screen, just White screen and text, soft buttons that your fingers play like a piano, and if you add to this the fact that I type blindly, then typing text is a pleasure. My thoughts don’t run away, my fingers keep up with them, I don’t have to press the key twice, everything works clearly and correctly. In a word - a thrill.

The MacBook was created in order to create and not be nervous about all sorts of “brakes”, “glitches”, “ blue screens"and other rubbish. Especially if you like to write texts or draw, then you will like it. Imagine, I always thought that the background on my site was just white, but it turns out there are also horizontal stripes that are very visible on a Mac ", in general, my site has now become much more beautiful for me, I get satisfaction:

I don’t know if it’s noticeable on your computer, but imagine: for 2 years I didn’t know that my website background was not white. Something like this, gentlemen. 🙂 I repeat, “Mac” is an ideal option for writers, designers, and people involved in video. That is, if you are a creative person, you will remain mega-satisfied. The only people who probably won't like Apple products are programmers. My suggestion.

I repeat, I bought the device for 43,000 rubles. I don’t regret a single ruble that I spent on it. Don’t think that if you buy a MacBook, you will start earning 2 times more. Although this is also possible. When I really wanted a car, I couldn’t work normally, it was constantly in my thoughts, I couldn’t really concentrate. As soon as I bought it, my head was unloaded and work began. This is also possible here if you really want it.

What's installed on my Macbook Air

1. Publishing blog posts.

I wrote posts on Windows using the program. Loved her very much. As it turns out, the Mac doesn't have it. I started looking for a replacement. I tried a bunch of options, nothing was right. The solution turned out to be outrageously simple. Writing through the WordPress admin panel, as it turns out, is incredibly convenient! I expand the screen to full screen and just write. Even WordPress itself says briefly and clearly: “Write.”:

And the hotkeys make the work much easier; in front of me there is just a white screen and text, nothing more. I also recommend that owners of Windows computers try it. this method writing articles. After the 3rd post you will start to have great fun. Verified.

So Windows loss Live Writer turned out to be even positive for me. I get more joy out of the standard editor. I focus completely on the text.

2. Text editor.

I also use Microsoft Word and Excel at home. There is no dispute here; indeed, these programs are practically irreplaceable. Just as I had them on Windows, they also migrated to Mac.

3. Browser.

On Windows. But, if you surf the Internet using Google Chrome, the battery life is significantly reduced. Willy-nilly I had to switch to Safari. And, after several months of working with it, I can confidently say: Safari is the best browser. By at least for Os X. It was hard to part with Chrome, but now I don’t even want to go back to it. Everything is conveniently implemented, everything “flies”, excellent synchronization with my other devices (iPhone and iPad).

4. FTP client

For quite a long time I was looking for a similar worthy replacement for my Mac. Found. This is the Yummy FTP program. Almost 100% coincidence with Total Commander (at least in those functions that I need for work):

5. PHP editor.

Oh, how. It turns out that on the Mac it was quite easy to find a replacement for your loved one PHP editor. This is TextWrangler:

6. Antivirus.

There is no need to install antiviruses at all. All the chicks and farts. 🙂 Don’t worry.

7. Virtual machine.

Unfortunately, there are some programs that I simply need in my work, but they cannot be replaced and they currently only work in Windows. In these cases, a so-called “virtual machine” comes to the rescue. I’ll tell you what it is below, but first I’ll list the programs that I need, but they don’t exist for Os X:

  • Webmoney - yes, there is no full version on Mac for a reason unknown to me. Of course, you can do without a client, operations can be carried out by confirmation by phone, but still. Updated: The Webmoney app is now available on Mac, hooray! Link - https://itunes.apple.com/ru/app/my-webmoney/id807337125?mt=12
  • - my favorite SEO program for working with keywords.
  • - favorite program for taking positions.

I was worried, wondering what to do with these programs. It turns out that everything can be solved very simply. We install a virtual machine on a Mac. Moreover, it is very easy to install and there are quite a lot of choices. I installed free VirtualBox, installed Windows 7 on it, allocated 512 MB of RAM and 20 GB of memory. That's all. Now I can run a full-fledged Windows on my Mac, and I don’t need to restart anything, everything opens in a convenient window as a separate application, or can be expanded to full screen. And transferring files from one system to another, using the clipboard, etc. is not a problem. In general, everything is simple:

It is generally very easy to launch it, Windows just flies there. The only thing is that I was a little sorry to allocate 512 MB of RAM and 20 GB of hard drive. But I note that I did not notice any deterioration in the speed of work.

8. Required software

All the main software is also on Os X. That's me, Skype, Firefox, Chrome, Photoshop. I’ll even say more: programs on Mac are made better and more convenient. They are also significantly faster (I remember how long it took me to run Photoshop on my desktop computer).

9. Software for everyone

I also have the following installed:

  • SelfControl - you can block URLs of different sites for a certain amount of time. VKontakte, Twitter, etc. while working so as not to be distracted. We launch it, set the timer for 2 hours and during this time it is impossible to log into VKontakte, etc.
  • Lightshot Screenshot is a very convenient program for webmasters when they need to share screenshots. By pressing a key, a screenshot of a certain area of ​​the monitor is taken, it is automatically uploaded to the server and a link to this picture is immediately displayed. We simply send the link to the interlocutor.
  • Snagit - I use this program to take screenshots for lessons, although you can get by with the previous one. The habit of "arrows".
  • Screenflick - I use it to make screencasts (video recordings from the monitor screen).
  • iMovie is a video editor. Moreover, it is an official Apple product. In my opinion, the best.
  • Mindjet - I use it to create mind maps.
  • PuntoSwitcher - automatic translation of a word if it is written in the wrong layout. A very convenient program from Yandex.
  • CheatSheet is a program that suggests hot keys in any program. Hold down cmd and that's it.
  • Super time management program. While I won’t say which one, I need to devote a whole post to it. In general, I said that after 4 years of searching I managed to find . I also, in my opinion, almost found the ideal program. I'll introduce you very soon.

All. I don't have anything else installed on my Mac, that's enough. For the rest I use standard software. If there are any good ones worthwhile programs, write in the comments, I'm interested.

Conclusion

I completely switched to Mac after about 2-3 weeks of use. He threw everything over and forced him to work only on it. At first it was uncomfortable. But now I don't turn on my desktop computer at all. I only work on one device. I carry it everywhere and always.

I’m writing this post and I’m in such ecstasy. Even if you start writing a book, it seems to me that it will write itself. Work should bring pleasure and you should not be distracted by all sorts of little things. Hooray!

I remembered myself when all the SEO people around were using Macs. Even then I thought: these are show-offs, braggarts and majors! 🙂

If you want to buy a Windows laptop in the near future, think about it. It might be better to wait another six months and save up for this miracle device. But I warn you: once you get hooked on Apple technology, you won’t be able to “jump off” it. Believe me.

Now for me Macbook Air is not a tool, but a real friend.

If you became the proud owner of a Mac computer during the period New Year's holidays, and this is your first Apple computer, then congratulations! Mac computers are incredibly powerful and easy to use, but it's best to make sure you're getting the most out of your device. For this purpose, MacDigger offers instructions for beginners, which will be a start for them on the path to an advanced level of Mac proficiency.

1. Set up backup

Time Machine is a reliable system backup tool that makes it easy to restore data on your computer as a result of failures. Time Machine can also help you migrate your system to a new Mac.



If you are worried about possible problems or deleting important files, Time Machine takes that uncertainty away. The utility allows you to view and restore files or changes that were made after the backups were created.

Time Machine works with external hard drives and Apple's Time Capsule (a Wi-Fi base station with a built-in backup drive). To turn on backup, turn the Time Machine switch to the “On” position, setting the frequency of creating backups and specifying the location to save them. This way, your Mac will always be ready to restore the system to working condition.

2. Connect iCloud

If by the time Mac purchases you already use an iPhone or iPad, you can use yours Apple data ID. To plug account iCloud can be set up during initial setup or later through system properties.

The iCloud cloud service allows you to share photos, contacts, calendars and much more between devices without a physical connection or manual synchronization.

If you don't have an Apple ID, be sure to register.

3. Use the Help menu

Macs don't come with thick brochures and computer manuals. In fact, such guidance is already in the system itself. This section can be accessed through context menu or menu bar. Help content may vary depending on the application you have open.

The Help menu contains an input field search query, useful tips and step-by-step instructions, often accompanied by visual cues. If suddenly you don’t understand how to work with running program, then feel free to refer to the help menu.

4. Check out the Menu 

Menu  is on the left top corner your Mac screen. It allows you to instantly access your computer properties, Mac App Store, recently open applications and documents. This menu can be used to restart or shut down your computer.


If an application is unstable or unresponsive, you can find Force Quit in the  menu, which will force quit the selected application and allow you to get back to work.

5. Go to the Mac App Store

Mac App Store - convenient and safe way to download software for your Mac. To use the service you will need an Apple ID and password. The Mac App Store has thousands of apps, including free ones.


The Mac App Store allows you not only to download new programs, but also to update existing ones. Most often, updates include stability and security improvements. We recommend updating your software promptly.

However, before making changes to the system configuration, do not forget to create backup copies of Time Machine.

6. Set up your email

Using the standard Apple Mail application is much more convenient, including when working with multiple accounts, than checking letters in web versions of mail Gmail clients, Yahoo, Yandex and many others. Mail data also integrates with other basic Mac applications, such as Contacts, Calendar and Maps.


7. Install the printer

Most printers come with a CD or DVD that contains drivers and software from the manufacturer. Don't be upset if your Mac doesn't have a SuperDrive.


You need to physically connect the printer to your Mac or follow its built-in prompts to connect via home Wi-Fi networks. Open System Settings -> Printers and Scanners and click on the + button. If your computer recognizes the printer, the device will download drivers from Apple's website as needed and will be set up automatically.

8. Explore Spotlight

Spotlight technology is built into macOS and helps you quick search documents, applications, images, contacts, routes and other files. Moreover, when connected to the Internet, Spotlight searches for content from Wikipedia, news sites, movie posters and much more. You can use this tool to perform simple arithmetic operations.


Spotlight can be launched using the icon that looks like magnifying glass, which is located on the menu bar. You can also launch a search without using keys: hold down the Command button, press Space, and you will see a text input field.


Once you get used to Spotlight, it's the fastest way to launch apps and find documents.

9. Set up your Dock

The Dock is the row of icons at the bottom of your Mac screen. By clicking on these icons you can launch standard macOS apps: Safari, Mail, Contacts, Calendar and Notes. But you can customize the dock for your own tasks by adding other applications, files and folders.


Just drag them into the dock. You can remove shortcuts from the Dock by dragging them until you see the label. Icons in the Dock aren't apps, so don't be intimidated by adding, moving, or removing them.

In the system settings, you can change the dock settings by setting the size of the icons, change the scale when hovering the cursor and the position of the dock itself on the screen.


10. Learn your keyboard shortcuts

Managing applications on a Mac is based on simple and familiar menus, such as File or Edit. Do you want to print a document? To do this, select File -> Print. But you can save a lot of time by using keyboard shortcuts. For example, to start printing, just press the P key while holding down the Command button.

Each application on your Mac may have its own keyboard shortcuts, which can be found in the relevant Help topics.

The author hopes that these tips will help you get comfortable with new Mac. The most important thing is more confidence. Mac is for active work, and Apple is doing everything possible to make this work more enjoyable and easier.

I have been using Apple technology and OS for a long time and very successfully. At the same time, I constantly see how the people around me: novice users, and often very experienced ones, are not very well versed in the rich capabilities of this software and hardware. Therefore, I decided to help and translate several Western articles with tips and secrets. I believe that Apple's native press does the best job of unlocking the potential of OS X.

Have you ever seen someone who actually knows how to use a Mac computer and the OS X operating system? Sometimes it's almost magical how they make windows move, images appear, apps launch, and all sorts of other cool things - all while their fingers never seem to leave the keyboard. I don't know much about Mac tips and tricks, however. I have a few tips in stock that you might find useful. Some of them are quite common, some are not so well known, but all of them will do something important, bringing you one step closer to the rank of Jedi Master on your Mac.

Yes, Padawan, here are my top 10 Mac OS X tips:

1. Shift+Click the Maximize button to fill the screen

You know that the red button closes the window, the yellow button minimizes and the green button maximizes, right? Okay, you also know that some apps (like Chrome and Word) don't fill the entire screen when you press the maximize button. I'm sure this is fine most of the time, but sometimes you want the window to go full screen. Next time you want to maximize the current window to full screen, just hold Shift key when you press a button. Here! Big window!

2. Tips from the Terminal application - purge (cleaning)

One of the most important tools in the Mac Jedi toolbox is Terminal. Oh Terminal, what power you have over the entire system. Many people are very unsure about using Terminal. All these horror stories of those who write rm* in the wrong places and overwrite the entire Mac have the desired effect on people. Yes, it looks plausible, but there is simple command, which... is pretty cool! The command is called purge and performs a fairly simple operation - it frees up the RAM of the higher computer. When your Mac is running and you run applications, surf the web, and do normal activities on your Mac, RAM (memory) is used to do so. Sometimes, when an application has been running for a while, it does not release all the memory provided by RAM, even though it is no longer needed. Before I learned this method, I would simply reboot my Mac if I ran out of memory (and I would close any apps I wasn't using), but with purge... Purge forces apps to free up RAM that they might be taking up (and that they don't need) . All you need to do is launch Terminal from the Utilities folder, write "purge" (without the quotes) on the line and press enter. It is 100% safe and can free up a ton of memory. I went from several megabytes to several gigabytes in seconds! (Important: When the cleanup is running, your Mac will not respond for about a minute. Don't worry! This is normal!)

3. Launch Spotlight by pressing CTRL-Spacebar

Looking for something? You know that Spotlight can help you quickly find files, email, check words, even launch apps... But did you know that a quick Command-Spacebar will open Spotlight in the menu bar so you can start typing? It's easy because you can quickly press CTRL-SPACE and then type something like safari, press enter and launch Safari... without your fingers even touching the mouse! Want to make this your eleventh tip? Then just download the free Alfred app from the Mac App store and get all this and more! Once you've downloaded it, don't forget my 10 Great Alfred Tips!

4. Drag files to the toolbar and open them in the application

I like to use Preview as my default app for opening images. Preview is pretty fast and easy when I need to take a quick look at something (or quickly resize an image), but if I want to edit an image, I use Acorn. So how do I open an image in Acorn? You think, launch Acorn, open the File menu... No, it's easier. Acorn is in the toolbar all the time, so all you have to do is drag the image file onto the icon and... Acorn will launch (or come to the fore) and the image is open! This trick works with almost all applications and can save you a ton of time.

5. Separate App Stack for applications

My dock was starting to fall into disarray. Lots of apps that are “necessary” but that I haven’t used all that often. So I made a separate App Stack for them. This process consists of several stages:
Create a folder somewhere (I created it in ~/Applications, which is different from the system-wide Applications folder (see tip 7 for all of these directories)
Open your Applications folder in another Finder window.
In this step, you are going to create shortcuts for your actual applications. Hold command and option and drag the application you need quick access to into the created folder.
Repeat for as many applications as you wish.
Drag the folder with all applications to the right side of your toolbar, to the left of the Trash.
Enjoy! Everything is ready, the folder will contain shortcuts to all your applications!

6. Removing icons from the Menu

I know it's nice to see icons on our menu, but sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. For some icons in our menu (most often related to the system), just hold Command, click on the icon and drag it from the menu! Try it, you don't need a speaker volume icon, right?

7. Access to the Library folder

Thanks to one of the “improvements” in Lion, the Library folder is hidden from you. Okay, I get it. You don't need to dig through your library too often, but sometimes you do. Sometimes you need to clean up stubborn files or something like that. Here is an easy way to access the Library folder (as well as the Applications folder from step 5). With Finder enabled, press Command-Shift-G and the Go to folder window will open. Just type “~ /Library/” (without quotes) and click OK. Ready! To go to applications, type ~/Applications/.

8. Finder Sidebar

Since we're talking about file manager I'm sure you've noticed all those folders and sections on the left side of your Finder windows (if not, go to Finder and select “Show Toolbar” from the View menu). You know you can add your own folders there, right? Yes, just drag any folders to the side and you're done. Now you not only have one-click access to this folder, but anything you drag and drop will be copied or moved into it! Not bad!

9. Take a screenshot

Ever been faced with the need to take a screenshot of what's currently on your screen? It could either be a bug or just a graph and you need it... but how? Just. Command-Shift-3 will keep an image of the entire screen, and command-shift-4 will allow you to select a portion of the screen or window. Of course, if you want more advanced features, download Skitch for free and add variety to your screenshots.

10. Control the apps that load at startup

Have you noticed that over time your Mac takes longer and longer to start up? At first you see the desktop, but then applications start loading one after another. You can control this process. Just go to System Preferences -> Users and Groups. Then find the Login Items button. Yes, these are all the applications that launch for me. But if I'm tired of waiting for an application to load, I'll simply select it in the list and click “-“. Ready! I have achieved more quick launch!

These are just some of the tricks up my sleeve. I'm sure you've learned a few over the years too, so...

What are your favorite OS X tricks? Tell us about them in the comments.

The simple idea that software is the main point when choosing a computer cannot be refuted. Even the selection of the desired configuration is carried out with an eye to specific tasks. Whether it’s toys, working with graphics, sound, and so on. Software is paramount, and only then you can pay attention to the quality of the display, battery life, design and other points. A separate item worth considering is the standard operating system programs. Usually, after purchasing a computer with Windows, a long and difficult process of installing programs begins that will replace standard software in operation. The first step is to replace the browser, then the picture viewer, since the standard one is “no problem,” then the music and video player. Everyone pursues their own goals, but in one case or another there is a replacement for old software. This is all called customizing the computer for yourself and this process takes an average day. Remember, a few years ago, CDs containing collections of all kinds of software for all occasions were especially popular? Now the situation has changed radically, and everything you need can be found on the Internet, but here the second problem is viruses. In a nutshell, there are many problems, and today we will talk about how things are on computers with Mac OS X.

Standard programs

The first step, of course, is to evaluate the capabilities of the pre-installed software in order to understand what is worth changing and what is not. And the first thing I look at is the browser.

Browser choice is a religion. You can argue here endlessly. Some people use Internet Explorer based on the fact that it is a standard. Some people find it more pleasant Google Chrome, which is considered fast and easy (which I don't agree with).



Firefox has a wealth of different settings and plugins to offer.



Personally, I have been using Opera since time immemorial only because I find it comfortable for me. However, his work on the Mac cannot be called flawless. On the standard configuration of the MacBook Pro 13, it tends to “slow down” under certain conditions.



The standard browser for Mac OS X is Safari, which can also be installed on a PC.



Which one is better? You can argue for a very long time, present performance graphs, the correctness of page display, and so on, but in the end you will not come to anything. Therefore, it is impossible to give unambiguous advice here. One thing I can say is that few of my friends with an Apple computer use the Safari browser. Again, I don't want to say that Safari is bad - it's just that the choice of browser is individual.

Next we should talk about mail. I'm too lazy to install third party programs or setting up the default ones, so I check my email in the browser. I answer letters there, sort them, and so on. For simple tasks, a Gmail account is enough for me. Plus, I’m confident in the safety of my correspondence - it’s easy to delete an email archive on a computer, but with Gmail I don’t have to think about it. Plus, virus scanning is present by default. Many people use Microsoft Outlook, including me - for corporate mail. The feeling is generally negative, since it all works through CommuniGate with virus scanning on the server, which results in noticeable slowdowns when receiving mail. But again, it’s worth recognizing that Outlook is a corporate standard, so it’s pointless to criticize this program. The standard Mail client on Mac turned out to be surprisingly pleasant - I simply entered my login and password into it, and the emails started downloading immediately. You can start working from the very first minutes. The program’s interface is such that you’ll be left wondering, “Where should I click?” no need to. Everything is simple and clear. In my opinion, it is worth using this program. Convenient, functional, easy to use, pleasant for the user. Poppy farmers love this one mail client not in vain.




Of course, you can try Thunderbird, which is also available for Mac OS. If you initially worked with this program, then there is no need to move - install and use. This will be easier for the soul and body.




The next item is the address book. You only think about its necessity when you use an offline mail client. Majority Russian users PCs don't use it or don't even know it exists. Mac users are fundamentally different from them in that they use this functionality or at least have a contact list on their Mac. Where?



It's all about the popularity of the iPhone, after purchasing which you should buying a MacBook or at least the desire to buy it. You connect your phone to your computer, synchronize the data, and your address book is full of contacts. Without any settings or other hassles. It all works automatically, and this joy makes you want to cry and laugh - everything is so good and convenient. After a couple of days of using the MacBook + iPhone combination, you start using and by standard mail, and the address book, and after it the calendar, the data of which is also synchronized.




Questions: “Why is an Apple computer so convenient?” no longer occurs. It is convenient precisely because, in conjunction with the iPhone, it gives new level facilities.

I can already see how the army of Windows Mobile users have prepared rotten tomatoes for my face. Calm, just calm. I know that all this happened in ancient times, I know how well data is synchronized there. But where is WM now and where is iPhone? Time has put everything in its place.

Here I will draw intermediate conclusions. Over the years of working with PCs, I have never had to use such an extensive set of standard functionality. In my years of working as a laboratory assistant at a university, I have never seen students who used all this. With rich installation experience, Windows settings on the computers of friends, acquaintances, acquaintances of friends, and so on, I have never heard the requests “Help me set up Outlook”, “Show me how to use the calendar” and “Where is the address book?” The conclusion is banal - most people don’t use all this on their home PC. But you shouldn’t think that because they don’t use it, that means people don’t need it. This is wrong. The main problem lies in the fact that synchronization in the PC world requires a lot of body movements. With Mac + iPhone the situation is completely different. It is from this moment that you understand what the Apple ecosystem is and what advantages there are in pairing devices from Cupertino. The glands “communicate” with each other independently. You don't have to do anything and just use it all. It's difficult to describe emotions - it's worth a try. And if you have an iPhone, “God himself ordered it.”

Music player or iTunes

I got acquainted with iTunes in 2005, after purchasing the legendary Motorola E398. Let me remind you that the first phone in the Apple ecosystem was not the iPhone at all, but the Motorola E1, which was practically no different from the E-shka, flashing it with special firmware, you could get real iTunes on the phone. Accordingly, music had to be uploaded to the device using a similar program on a computer. Oh, what a pain this process was, plus the stupid limit of 25 songs on the first firmware and 100 on the next ones. I became acquainted with the glitches of the program and the process at the same time. Years passed, glitches were corrected, but the ideology of the program and the synchronization process did not change much. Actually, I don’t like iTunes even now, and perhaps this is due to previous experience. There are many opinions here - some consider it brilliant, others simple and convenient, many quietly hate it. But it so happens that in Russia its popularity is much lower than in the rest of the world. This is due to the inaccessibility of our music store. It was Apple that changed the process of buying music, movies and software all over the world, which became so simple that it could not help but become popular. Therefore, before you “blame” this program, we must remember that you and I look at it from a slightly different angle than users in the rest of the world.




There is no particular point in describing all the advantages and disadvantages, just as there is no point in looking for a replacement for it. After several attempts, I came to a very simple conclusion - since you have to use iTunes to synchronize music on your player or phone, then it’s easier to accept and use it. After several days of hard work, you get used to everything and use it automatically. Negative emotions go to the side, and what seemed confusing and incomprehensible now looks ordinary. The process of addiction occurs when learning any software, but in the case of iTunes it takes a little longer. This is not surprising simply because iTunes is much more functional than any other music player. This is also worth remembering before scolding.

However, there are alternatives. For example, the Vox player is a fairly simple program at first glance, but this is far from true. It is enough to open additional options, where, in addition to the equalizer, you can find many various effects and their adjustments. Last.fm scrobbling is also present.


There is an excellent media harvester called SongBird. There are a lot of different services, the appearance of the program can be changed with different themes. Everything or almost everything is supported. My requirements for such programs are not the highest, since I don’t listen to music on the computer, but I think that the functionality of this program is enough for most people.



In fact, there are plenty of software players for OS X. You just have to dig deeper and you're sure to find something to suit your taste.

View photos

I perfectly understand those people who cannot live without sorting their content into folders. Music and photography come first here. It is extremely important for me to distribute all the photos for the material into folders and number them accordingly. After switching to Mac, you can usually hear a lot of negativity from such people about native software. And it's all about habits. Let's remember where this magical process - sorting - came from. Standard viewer Photos in Windows are a rather pitiful sight in terms of functionality. We find a folder with photos, double-click on any of them - a program is launched in which you can leaf through them. To view photos in another folder, you need, accordingly, to open the photo there or indicate to the program the path where they are located. necessary photos. How many people use the system’s standard “Pictures” folder is still a mystery to me. But the number of such, I am sure, is extremely small. Organizing content into folders has many advantages for the user, but is accompanied by a rather labor-intensive sorting process. On Mac computers the ideology is completely different. Please note that no one here uses paths like “C:\Photo\Vasya’s Party”. Why? Let's remember why we organize this content into folders?

  1. So that all photos are sorted by topic.
  2. To make it easy to find.
  3. So that you can quickly copy photos on a specific topic to external media.

Other options are possible, but all of them, in one way or another, are related to searching for content on the computer.

IN Mac search information on a computer is so fast and convenient that it is not possible to find anything better today. In addition, this search is integrated into all standard applications, providing the user with a new level of convenience, which I propose to evaluate using the iPhoto program as an example.

I received a computer with pre-installed content, for which I have to say thank you.

So, we see that the photos organized in albums are sorted by events. On the left side of the window you can sort them by faces (the program can recognize them), show them in a general list, or group them by places on the map (that’s what you need GPS receiver in the camera). You can create your own albums. Any of these albums can be quickly copied anywhere with a simple drag-and-drop, while having multiple sorting options. And what difference does it make where your photos are, in what folders, when everything is already at hand? What Apple has is simpler and more functional at the same time. You can argue here, you can give many examples in which sorting by folders will be indispensable, but for the average person, the functionality of iPhoto turns out to be much clearer and more convenient.

It’s another matter when sorting photographs is carried out on a specific topic and is related to work. IN in this case It’s much more convenient to use some kind of photo browser.

Google's Picasa application has the same functionality as the Windows version, so it is familiar to many readers. In addition to actually viewing photos, the program allows you to edit them.




Video

I don't like standard Quick Time, although I use it to watch movies. It successfully copes with basic formats, but due to the rather narrow “progress bar” it is not so convenient.

As an alternative, I recommend VLC Player, which will read all or almost all video formats, and its progress bar spans the entire width of the screen.



In general, using Apple computers and laptops in particular to watch movies is very good and correct, since they have a high-quality screen, good sound and operating time, which is easily enough for two or three movies. Plus, you can put it on the bed and not be afraid that something will burn due to overheating. And there are no “air intakes” on the body - there is no danger of closing the hole needed for ventilation. In this case, it will heat up decently - no one has canceled the laws of physics, but I have not had any reboots or freezes on the MacBook.

IM messengers

Standard iChat is quite suitable for an undemanding user of ICQ and Google Talk services. A fairly simple program that can also be used to make video calls with an iChat account. The problem is that this service not too common.



Therefore, I advise you to use the free program Adium, which you can download.


Of course, there is Skype, which is no different in functionality from what we can see in Windows. But now, it seems, there is a new trend - FaceTime. Who cares...

Torrents

I didn’t have to search for long, and I didn’t really look for it either. The main thing is that the content is downloaded and distributed, and that nothing glitches. I can’t imagine why fancy torrent clients are needed. Scheduled downloads, restrictions on upload speed, and so on. On my part, everything is much simpler - I downloaded the torrent file, launched it in the desired program, and everything went. There is a wonderful program for these purposes - Transmission. Its capabilities more than exceed my requirements, and if your experience of using torrents matches mine, you can safely download it. It works stably and without glitches.







FTP clients

There are quite a lot of them. My choice - free FileZilla, which I also use on Windows. Basic set the necessary tools are present here. If you need any advanced features, then navigate here yourself. Taste and color...


Now is the time to talk about additional software packages from Apple. The excursion will be quick, since their detailed consideration is worthy of a separate article. So, let's go.

Office applications

This is a software package for every day, which is used by schoolchildren, students, and men in suits. Three indispensable software are the Pages text editor, Numbers tables, and the Keynote presentation application. The first works great with Microsoft Word files, the second with Excel, and the third with PowerPoint.









As you understand, programs for every day. I use Pages most of all and I can say that it is no worse than Word, and in many ways even better. The interface is simple and clear - everything is at your fingertips. Very cool. There is support for tables, charts and everything your heart desires. This is such a very soulful product. Plus, there is integration with iPhoto, for example. It's very easy and convenient to add a photo from your gallery.

Here I would like to draw attention to the fact that before launching each program from Apple, you will be asked to watch a video on how to work with it. Definitely worth watching. Many questions are answered before you even start work.

Compatibility with Word documents is full or almost full. At least I didn’t have any problems with import and export.

I can say the same about the other two programs. Everything works, although, I admit, I only used them to test it. Therefore, worries about compatibility with the office standard are groundless.

The only negative is that this software package is paid and will cost at least 4 thousand rubles, which is not little. But every Mac owner has the opportunity to use this program for free for 30 days. Is it worth taking it? Before answering the question, I would like to introduce you to other options.

Microsoft Office 2011

It's finished! Finally, Microsoft office has made its way to the Mac. More precisely, it has been here for a long time, but this is the first release with localization. By the way, about her - they couldn’t help but distinguish themselves, so several points were translated in a new way. For example, instead of the usual “View” there is a new designation “View”. And so on.

There are two versions of this software package:

  • For home and study. Contains Word, Excel, Power Point. The license price for one user is 3,490 rubles.
  • For home and business. Contains Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook. Likewise, the price is 8,490 rubles.

I cannot call this release a full-fledged one, since there is neither Access nor Publisher. However, the main software package is there and you can use it, since the reviews of the first consumers of this product reassuring.

OpenOffice

An absolutely free software package that supports major formats (doc, docx, xls, ppt, and so on). The set includes six programs:










The first three can be used for work without worrying about compatibility. With databases, for example, the situation is not very rosy. Let's start with the fact that Access itself sometimes lives its own life - it can work on one computer, but not on another. What can we say about the support of Microsoft databases by third-party manufacturers? In this case, no one can guarantee trouble-free operation. It is advisable to use this set of programs if you don’t want to pay for other solutions at all, but you need similar functionality on your computer.

I have a separate complaint about the interface. It happens: you use a program or thing, everything is fine, but something doesn’t suit you. But you can’t understand what exactly. I can say the same about OpenOffice. I don’t know why, but I don’t like this software package. Not trying is a sin, since it’s free. So it would be interesting to know your opinion about this software.

After looking at three office suites, it's easy to conclude that OpenOffice.org is the best option. It is free, and its functionality is quite sufficient for most consumers. My personal opinion is that you should use iWork on a Mac. Firstly, this is software “native” to OS X, which in theory means high stability. Secondly, there is integration with others Apple programs. Thirdly, the Mac community is now growing by leaps and bounds; many work in Pages and exchange files in the extension native to this program. At least three advantages that, in my opinion, should not be neglected.

It's another matter when you just need a text editor, but you don't need tables and presentations. For these purposes it is quite possible to use standard application TextEdit.


Simple program like a notepad in Windows, with the corresponding capabilities. You can save the document as pdf file. For small texts with simple formatting, it is quite suitable. Among other free ones, focus on OpenOffice.org - looking for alternatives to it is almost useless.

iLife

The most creative software package. Here you have the legendary Garage Band, the video editor iMovie, the tool for creating web pages iWeb, and the above-mentioned iPhoto. The big plus is that all this is already pre-installed on your Mac and does not require any money. I won’t ramble on about the tree - I’ll briefly describe my impressions of each of them.

We have already talked about iPhoto before. It will be difficult to understand and penetrate the ideology of the program. But you need to try it. Just take and import your photos there, and then sit down and figure out how it works. As a photo viewer it is a very good and convenient thing.





The iMovie video editor is wonderful, first of all, for its simplicity and various templates. The first thing you need to do is watch the video when you start the program, and then try to repeat the same thing. The interface is very simple, almost all actions are carried out with the mouse. Combine two videos, make a signature and home screen, titles and so on. There is nothing simpler - believe me. Recently, I have been preparing all the videos for my materials in this program. Sergey Kuzmin also actively uses it. This is extremely necessary if you have a family video, for example. And there was no Windows Movie Maker nearby.



Garage Band

This is everything a beginning musician needs. Starting from video tutorials (which cost little money) to sequencers with effects and everything you need to work with music. For a beginner, there are plenty of possibilities. I even tried connecting my synth to a Mac and seeing what happened. Connected - Garage Band picked up the keys, and you could play. The process took about three seconds. The topic is very rich, in fact. If you realize that you have “grown up” from the capabilities of this program, then you can switch to Logic, which is a truly “adult”, professional musical instrument.






Frankly, since my student days I have disliked all the simplifications when creating web pages. There are very good ones text editors with support for the syntax of various languages. There is a CMS. You can write everything from scratch. Whichever is more convenient for you. Perhaps the program is of great interest to ordinary users due to its simplicity. Making a page using something like this is a matter of five minutes, even for a person who is far from programming.



Games

It’s worth talking about them separately. I’ll say right away that in this case the situation is terrible. In order to understand this, just type “buy games for Mac” in your browser. Several far from the latest “titles” plus a pack of Sims of all versions and variations. There are few solutions in this situation:

  • Use Boot Camp, that is, actually install Windows as a second operating system.
  • Use Wine - a program that allows you to execute Windows applications in Mac OS X environment.
  • Use ported games from Windows to Mac.

The first two options, in my opinion, are not a panacea. So let's talk about ported games. If you go to any torrent resource, you can easily find not only hits, but also new items. The problem is that not all of them work perfectly. You may encounter problems with controls, for example, or with displaying images. In addition, on my MacBook Pro 13 I have to play at minimum settings, but even in this case there may be some stuttering. To summarize, we can say that Mac is not a gaming platform at all.

Results

The address book, calendar and email client are fundamentally no different from what we can see in Windows. Quite sufficient functionality for everyday tasks. But the pre-installed iLife software package is truly unique. Everything is simple and convenient. A couple of hours will be enough to master each of the applications (with the possible exception of Garage Band). There are also a sufficient number of browsers - choose which one your heart desires. The standard iTunes audio player is a bone of contention, but there are alternatives to it. I recommend immediately changing the video player to VLC, so as not to stumble upon an “unclear” format in the future. ICQ, Skype, torrents - all this is present and works very well. There are also plenty of office software packages, and there should be no problems with compatibility, excluding Access, Visio, Publisher.

Therefore, it is impossible to say that the Mac has obvious problems with the software. If there is no specific program, which means there is software alternative to it. After all, there is Boot Camp, there is Wine - if you want, you can find and run everything you need on a Mac.

Ikonnikov Alexey (


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