First mac. What to install?

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Mad Scientist
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#2802533 28-Oct-2021 10:00

Handsomedan:

Batman: Ok. Will plugging on to both destroy the drive readability? I once plugged in drive/usb stick and after that Windows didn't like it anymore.

Also can I plug my Samsung phone in and transfer files?

You should be bale to just plug and play - file compatibility isn't what it used to be (which is a good thing), but you might want to do a backup just in case...

and the fact I can work 99% of the Mac (biggest issue at the moment seems to be confusing shortcuts, no idea what control option and command does) - it's pretty good. very seamless swap between the 2 system.

Behodar

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#2802542 28-Oct-2021 10:10

Batman: and the fact I can work 99% of the Mac (biggest issue at the moment seems to be confusing shortcuts, no idea what control option and command does) - it's pretty good. very seamless swap between the 2 system.

Command is the 'main' shortcut key and you'll find that most of these work in any app:

Cmd-Q to quit
Cmd-W to close a window
Cmd-Z to undo
Cmd-X/C/V to cut/copy/paste
Cmd-S to save

Most of those are pretty similar to Windows, just with Command instead of Control.

Option is typically used for special characters, although a handful of shortcuts use it too. It can also show additional options, for example if you open Finder's Go menu and hold Option, you'll see an extra entry for Library.

Groucho

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#2802639 28-Oct-2021 11:00

Behodar:

Command is the 'main' shortcut key and you'll find that most of these work in any app:

Most of those are pretty similar to Windows, just with Command instead of Control.

Command and Control functions are so similar you can plug a Mac USB keyboard into a PC and immediately use the Command key as the Windows key. I only know this because I have a spare Mac keyboard and use it on my work token PC because it's MUCH nicer to type with (the once I use it every couple of months).

Nate001

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#2802645 28-Oct-2021 11:02

CMD+Space for spotlight, which I find really useful for trivial things, eg Exchange Rates, Calculator, searching for files.

Dairyxox

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#2802659 28-Oct-2021 11:22

Which machine & spec did you get?

ada101

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#2802684 28-Oct-2021 11:57

to read and write to NTFS HD I use

https://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

works really well

Quic Broadband

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Batman

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#2802693 28-Oct-2021 12:27

Dairyxox:

Which machine & spec did you get?

the base 14". I think it's faster than any Intel PC out there, so it's more than what I need. didn't add anything as I didn't know if I'd need those too.

Hatch

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#2802694 28-Oct-2021 12:28

ada101:

to read and write to NTFS HD I use

https://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

works really well

Yeah unfortunate but Macs don't support writing to NTFS out of the box.

I use Tuxera NTFS for no particular reason other than I got it cheap.

Batman

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#2802695 28-Oct-2021 12:28

is it possible to move windows (sorry I know them as windows) without needing to hold down "left click"? on Windows you can simulate "hold left click" by double tapping and then the window will move .

FineWine

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#2802791 28-Oct-2021 13:40

Behodar:

Command is the 'main' shortcut key and you'll find that most of these work in any app:

Cmd-Q to quit
Cmd-W to close a window
Cmd-Z to undo
Cmd-X/C/V to cut/copy/paste
Cmd-S to save
Most of those are pretty similar to Windows, just with Command instead of Control.

Option is typically used for special characters, although a handful of shortcuts use it too. It can also show additional options, for example if you open Finder's Go menu and hold Option, you'll see an extra entry for Library.

Shift-Option-k for the Apple symbol: 

My Favourite app's

1 - CheatSheet is a neat little plug-in which runs in the background - https://www.mediaatelier.com/CheatSheet/

Just hold the ⌘-Key (cmd/command-key) a bit longer to get a list of all active short cuts of the current application. It's as simple as that.

2 - AppCleaner is a small application which allows you to thoroughly uninstall unwanted apps. http://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/

3 - Onyx from Titanium Software - https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html (ONLY DOWNLOAD THE VERSION FOR YOUR macOS)

There is also one other thing you can do and that is to use, what I call a "Grease & Oil Change" maintenance program called Onyx. This is a FREE program that is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the structure of the system files, to run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks, to configure parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and some of Apple's applications, to delete caches, to remove certain problematic folders and files, to rebuild various databases and indexes, and more. I always use it prior and post system OS updates and about once a month.

4 - HandBrake is a tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs and devices. It is free from: https://handbrake.fr/

Last BUT NOT Least - BACKUP BackUp backup I use two programs to do this. The built in Apple Time Machine using Apple Time Capsule (not made anymore) but checkout Backup disks you can use with Time Machine. I also use Carbon Copy Cloner for my OFF Site backups.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.