You open things by double-clicking on them. They’re both window-based visual interfaces, operated by mouse and keyboard. Some of the basics of using macOS are similar to Windows. They also have the Option ( Opt) key where Windows keyboards have Alt. Mac keyboards do have Ctrl keys on them too, but they don’t do the same thing as in Windows. In macOS, you’ll use the Command ( Cmd) key for most Mac keyboard shortcuts, which will have either a picture of an Apple on it or a clover leaf symbol.

If you’re coming over from Windows, you’ll be accustomed to using the Ctrl key for most keyboard shortcuts like copying and pasting. Interestingly, there are third-party addons that add a Start menu to macOS, which might be worth checking out if you really can’t live without it. But there is no Start menu in macOS, so things are organized differently, and you don’t have anything like the Windows key. And you can open that menu using the Windows key on your keyboard. In Windows, you can access many of the features of your computer through the Start menu. You need to have a look around to find where everything is and what everything does. When you’re first learning how to use a Mac, it’s a bit like starting a new job. Based on Unix, this is different from Windows both inside and out. A different operating systemĪpple computers use their own operating system, called macOS, which used to be called Mac OS X. Because Mac software and peripherals only have to work with a small set of computers, they’re much less likely to have compatibility problems than Windows PCs. There are some drawbacks to this, but one big plus point is compatibility. It doesn’t sell macOS to anyone, so it only runs on computers that Apple itself makes. So it’s designed to run on hardware made by many different companies.

Microsoft licenses Windows to computer makers and sells it to individuals. And when they do, they’re going to notice a few big differences. But Macs have a strong following too, so many Windows users may eventually buy an Apple machine. Today, it still holds around 87% of the market. Microsoft Windows has been the dominant operating system for decades.

From finding your way around the operating system to troubleshooting any problems. In this Mac users’ guide, we’ll cover all the basics you’ll need to get started. But if you’ve never used one before, then there is a bit of a learning curve, especially if you’re accustomed to Windows. In fact, they’re generally seen as being more user friendly than Windows PCs.

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