30 Mistakes of New Mac Users
Below is a list of common mistakes made by new Mac users. Although the list is not my own material, I have taken the liberty to provide some comments. There seems to be no sense in pointing out common mistakes if there is no provision of solutions. Hopefully this article will alert some new Mac users to a few of their potential bad habits and also provide clarification.
1. Closing an application window, thinking it has quit.
When the red "x" is clicked in the top left hand corner of a window, the window closes. For the most part, that's all that happens. Rarely does it actually close the whole program (iPhoto and Photo Booth are some of the exceptions). As a result, you can clear your dekstop while the program continues to work in the background. This is great when the program takes a while to load, or if it's nice to keep it working in the background (e.g., iTunes playing music in the background).
2. Downloading an app and running it from the disk image.
My install guide gives a lot more information on this subject, but the rule of thumb with Mac programs is that they must always be installed inside the Applications folder.
3. Creating endless untitled folders.
I'm not sure why this is a problem. However, if you do make a lot of untitled folders by mistake, simply delete them.
4. Using Safari's Google search to get to a website.
This is more or less frustrating to watch. It's important to know that Google is a tool for searching for web addresses that you DO NOT know. If you know the address, type it into the address bar.
5. Confusing the concept of wallpaper with screensaver.
This is really quite straightforward! Your wallpaper (or Desktop background on a mac) is the image on your computer's desktop. By default, it's a blue design. Your screensaver on the other hand, is what turns on after you haven't touched the mouse or keyboard for a certain amount of time. Both can be changed by going to the Apple logo in the top left hand corner of the screen, and clicking "System Peferences" and then "Desktop & Screen Saver."
6. Double-clicking a window thinking it will maximise it, but instead sending it to the dock.
ln Windows, one can maximize a window by double clicking the top part of the window (title bar). However, doing the same in Macintosh minimizes the windows. Most Mac programs don't have a maximize functions. Maximizing every last window is a Windows thing. After using a mac for a while, you'll quickly learn that it's neither necessary nor functional to maximize all windows.
7. Not understanding the usefulness of column view and leaving everything in icon view
Using column view can greatly improve your efficiency when travelling between folders. Instead of allowing you to see the contents of only one folder at a time, column view lets you see multiple folders simultaneously. Thus, it allows you to see where you are, and see where you've come from. If you then decide to change the folder you chose three clicks ago, you can easily change it without backtracking.
8. Not using any keyboard shortcuts.
At work, we use a DOS-based system for inventory and sales. Although the interface is undeniably ugly, one can become extremely fast and effective using the keyboard. In fact, using the mouse isn't even possible. For some odd reason, when many of my fellow employees use any other program, they immediately revert back to using a mouse, even though using a quick keyboard shortcut could save them a lot of time. I know that because of Mac's well-thought out shortcut system, I am able to work much more quickly and efficiently. Whenever you click on a menu, take note of the shortcuts that appear immediately to the right. The clover leaf icon is the command/apple key on the keyboard. Once you understand what the symbols mean, the system is pretty easy!
9. Thinking that now they've got rid of Windows they won't have problems of any sort on their Mac.
Unfortunately, this is simply not true. There are still potential problems with Macs. There will still be glitches. Hey, this is not a perfect world. However, if you're looking for a less problem-prone system, then Macs are a good option. They're stable, intuitive, and overall, well-designed.
10. Renaming desktop icons to random characters because they don't understand the difference between the enter and the return key on Mac. (Enter puts an icon into rename mode).
I've never really had a problem with this. If you have an icon selected, pressing enter will allow you to rename the icon. If you hit command-O, then the file will open.
11. People trying to find the menus on a window, not realising they're always at the top of the screen
Yes, therein lies some of the difference between Windows and Mac. I don't think this requires any explanation. Mac menus are at the top of the screen while Windows menus are at the top of the screen.
12. Trying to resize windows from the edge rather than the drag area on the corner.
Yeah...this is a major pet peeve of my roommate, Jeremy. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's something that you get used to. If you want to resize a window, just grab the bottom right corner and go wild. (Jeremy here, you then have to move your window, resize, move your window, resize... it seems a bit... convoluted...)
13. Trying to use the CTRL key rather than CMD key for shortcuts.
Again, one is for windows (ctrl) and the other is exclusive to mac (Command/cloverleaf/apple key). If you're using a non-Mac keyboard on your Mac (e.g., Logitech), the command key will generally be the key next to the spacebar (i.e., Alt).
14. Thinking it'll be easy to get a stuck CD out.
If a CD doesn't want to eject regardless of what you do, shut off your Mac. Then, while holding down the left mouse button (or the main button on the trackpad), restart the computer. The CD will eject. If this doesn't work, it probably means that there is in fact no CD in the drive, or that the CD is physically stuck. In that case, it is wisest to bring your Mac to a certified Apple repair centre.
15. Installing a program every time they want to run it because they think the installer _is_ the program.
Please see my tutorial for instructions on this. However, here is one rule of thumb. If the application icon is not in the application folder, it's not installed.
16. Where's "the internet"? (looking for the Windows Internet Explorer "e" icon)
For anyone seriously wondering where the big blue "e" is on the Mac, allow me let you in on a little secret: Bill Gates invented the travesty known as Internet Explorer, but he did NOT invent the internet. Internet Explorer is only one program capable of browsing the web. On a Mac, the default browser is Safari. It's icon is a compass. However, since you're here on my website, I'm assuming you know at least this much.
17. Repeatedly hitting the Apple key expecting the Apple menu to pop up (confused with Windows Key and Start Menu concept)
Trust me, you don't want the Apple menu appearing every time you click the Apple logo. Quite frankly, the Apple menu doesn't do a whole lot. Oh, and by the way, it's called the "command key."
18. Thinking the green "+" button maximises a window to full screen (not realising that Apple's maximize philosophy is to only make a window as big as it needs to be to comfortably fit the width of content currently being displayed)
I see this mistake all the time. Here's yet another general rule of thumb: one does not maximize Macintosh Application windows. Although I know there are people who don't appreciate this, here's some reasons why I support this feature. First, Mac is a very drag-n-drop friendly environment. One can literally almost drag anything anywhere. When everything is in full-screen mode, dragging anywhere outside the application is much more limited. Also, with the large screen displays of today, there is no reason whatsoever to make a simple little text document full-screen. For applications such as iPhoto, Aperture, or Final Cut Pro where using the full screen is beneficial, the green "+" will function as a maximize button. In an application like Safari, however, the "+" button will simply resize the window so as to fit the content width.
19. Looking in vain for an uninstaller app, because they don't realise that uninstalling an application on Mac is as easy as dragging the program icon into the trash.
On a Mac programs are installed in one location: the Applications folder. There are no .dll's spread over the system. The only other files outside of the Applications folder are (generally) preference files in the Library. Programs are available that will find these related files and delete them. The best one is called AppZapper. Another one (free) is called AppDelete.
20. Minimising windows all the time rather than using "hide", leaving the document section of the doc littered with forgotten minimised windows (that are quietly occupying system resources).
Command-H will hide a window. Command-W will generally close a window. Either will generally do the same thing. Some programs (e.g., iPhoto) will close down entirely if the main window is closed. I will only use the minimize button once in a while. The dock is not really suited for minimizing programs. I prefer closing windows or using Exposé (F9, F10, F11) to navigate between different open programs.
21. Double-clicking dock icons.
Treat dock icons like links on a webpage. They only need to be clicked once. Elsewhere in the system (e.g., Finder), icons need to be double clicked in order to be activated. This is not unlike Windows. When icons appear in the start menu, one needs only to click them once.
22. Inadvertant click-drags and removing programs from the dock in the process.
I've seen this happen many times to people who are not used to the mechanics of the dock. However, if it does happen, don't worry. Click on Finder (the blue face) > Applications and find the applications that has been inadvertently removed from the dock. Drag that icon back into the dock and resume work.
23. Saving everything to the desktop or somewhere on the hard drive other than their home folder.
Admitedly, this is one of my pet peeves. The desktop is not a permanent storage place for files. Although it can be used for temporary quick access of files, one should certainly get in the habit of organizing files and storing them in an appropriate location within the "Home" folder. Folders and documents lefts sitting on the desktop are just begging to be accidentally deleted.
24. Trying to load documents or programs multiple times because they don't recognise the progress indicators (sound of hard drive grinding, CD spinning, Mac spinning beachball, browser status bar)
Computers are always getting faster. However, they are not magic. Consequently, they still require a little time to perform their calculations. When a program is starting, its icon will bounce in the dock. Clicking the icon again will not speed up the process (it may in fact hinder it). Most other processes that take more than a fraction of a second will indicate that they are working by providing some sort of progress meter. Don't try to rush things too much.
25. Not understanding that the dock is used to both launch and return to a program …
Most people realise that the dock can be used to launch applications. However, if you have a program open, you can quickly make it reappear (or bring it to the forefront) by clicking its icon in the dock.
26. Inability to work with multiple documents on-screen at the same time, because they have only ever learned to use Windows' maximize mode which always makes everything full-screen.
Again, this is a common hangover that new Mac users hang onto from their days with Windows. As a student, I truly appreciated the ability to write in one window while simultaneously referencing information in another window (e.g., writing my paper with Pages while reviewing my outline in OmiOutliner). I can't stress enough the fact that little two-line emails needn't be maximised. Honestly, it doesn't make the text any larger.
27. Confusing "delete" with "backspace" (because Apple has two keys named "delete" on the keyboard, one of which does forward delete and the other backward delete. Way to go, usability geniuses).
Perhaps it would have been better if the folks at Mac had made on "backspace" and the other one "delete." There's not really much you can do about it (unless you replace your standard white Mac keyboard with a shiney new one from Logitech or Microsoft [as I did]), so just get used to it.
28. Expecting "home" and "end" keys to go the beginning and end of a line, rather than beginning and end of a document.
This is something that really tripped me up at the beginning. At first I loathed this difference. That is, until I found a replacement. The Mac equivalent for "Home" is Command-left arrow, while the equivalent for end is Command-right arrow. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's quite effective.
29. Not realising that when you copy a folder over an existing one, OS X -replaces- the destination folder rather than merging the contents, which is what Windows does.
Hmmm...quite honestly this is new to me. I knew that Mac will prompt you overwrite if a file or folder of the same name already exists, but I did not know that in Windows, it will merge the contents of the two folders. Interesting. I learn something new here too. ;-)
30. Looking for the "complicated" way of doing everything. For example, trying to go into system preferences and right-clicking on the networking icon in order to find available wireless networks, rather than just clicking on the Airport icon in the menu bar and selecting the relevant wireless network.
This too I have seen. This only comes with practice. Be sure to always be open to new ideas and new techniques. You'll be amazed at how you continue to improve. ;-)
This article has been adapted from a similar article located at http://danwarne.com/. This is not my own work. Although I have changed some minor things in this article, I feel the content is good enough to pass along. Dan Warne compiled this list after reading a similar article on http://tuaw.com/ (a favourite website of mine) and noting the comments that were left on that article. I suppose you could say that this article can be found in many different incarnations in many different places on the net. Please enjoy responsibly, please, don't drink and drive. (Edited by Jeremy. Any humour found in the above article can be attributed to me [Jer])