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TECH: SETTING UP A NEW MAC (Part 1)

Many friends and people are buying their first Macs as of late and have asked me for advice on being a “New Mac Owner.”  Here’s what I do with a new Mac in chronological order.

Please add any other suggestions/ideas in the comments below!

 

 

SYSTEM PREFERENCES

  • RIGHT CLICK HEAVEN - System Preferences > Trackpad > Point & Click > Check Secondary Click (Click or tap with two fingers)

 

  • OLD FASHIONED SCROLLING - System Preferences > Trackpad > Scroll & Zoom > Uncheck Scroll direction: natural

 DOWNLOADS

  • download CHROME - I prefer Chrome more than Safari or Firefox, but I usually have all three opened.  Chrome let’s you google by typing directly into the URL unlike Safari & Firefox.  Additionally, you can sign into Chrome with your Gmail Account which will sync your bookmarks and settings on all PCs with Chrome installed.
  • download DROPBOX – All of my files that are not too large I keep in my Dropbox.
  • download LASTPASS – LastPass is the best password manager that can be installed on each browser you use.  It requires one password to remember all passwords.
  • download FLASH PLAYER – Chrome has it built-in, but you’ll need it for Firefox & Safari
  • download DIVX - DivX let’s you play (.avi and .mkv) video files
  • download FLIP4MAC WMV – play Windows Media Files in QuickTime
  • download GROWL – Growl is a notification tool that is useful – the newest version cost $, I just have the free version 1.2.2
  • download MACFUSE – MACFUSE allows you to open and write on different file formats – NFTS
  • download PERIAN – Perian makes every video file format work with QuickTime

MAC HOTKEYS

  • Command = Control
  • Add a Browser Tab – Command + T
  • Recover a Browser Tab – Command + Shift + T
  • Copy – Command + C
  • Paste – Command + V
  • Cut - Command + X
  • Undo - Command + Z
  • Redo - Command + Shift + Z
  • Highlight All Text - Command + A
  • Once Finder is Open – Open a new Finder Window - Command + N
  • Invert Colors - Command + Option + Control + 8
  • Windows Backspace = Delete & Windows Delete = Fn + Delete
  • X-ing out a program does not close the program like it does with Windows – it minimizes it.  Instead you can Quit a program by hitting Command + Q.

 

February 17, 2012 in Apps, Programs, and Such, Helpful Tricks with 4 Comments

Tech: Best Pandora App for Mac – Pianopub

I love using Pandora to discover new music and listen to music that I love.  However, it is a pain to have to sign in to Pandora every time to use it.  This actually reduced my Pandora usage dramatically.  Then I discovered a free app - Painopub.  Check it.  You download it, pull it to applications, throw it on your dock, and then you are always signed in and just have to click on PianoPub to have awesome, free, easy music.  It’s free and easy.

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December 25, 2011 in Apps, Programs, and Such with 0 Comments