Macbook Pro... the basics?

[jaybeth88]

I am buying, in a few weeks, a Macbook Pro for college. I am also getting a pro for use of many Adobe programs, because I am a professional photographer and Photoshop is my elixer of life.

I have never, in my life, touched a Macbook (except for those few times in the Apple store I scrolled through its menu), and I know absolutely nothing about it. The Apple site gives you a basic knowledge of it, telling you how to transfer over your files and what Windows programs are compatible with a Macbook. what I would like, are real-life experiences of moving from PC to Mac, and your favorite programs and shortcut keys. Are there things very similar to Windows to help my switch? Certain things I can do on Windows that I can't on Mac?

Anything you have that could help me, would be greatly appreciated. I want to get very familiar with this Mac before I take it out of the box.

 

[bad.heron]

I am buying, in a few weeks, a Macbook Pro for college. I am also getting a pro for use of many Adobe programs, because I am a professional photographer and Photoshop is my elixer of life.

I have never, in my life, touched a Macbook (except for those few times in the Apple store I scrolled through its menu), and I know absolutely nothing about it. The Apple site gives you a basic knowledge of it, telling you how to transfer over your files and what Windows programs are compatible with a Macbook. what I would like, are real-life experiences of moving from PC to Mac, and your favorite programs and shortcut keys. Are there things very similar to Windows to help my switch? Certain things I can do on Windows that I can't on Mac?

Anything you have that could help me, would be greatly appreciated. I want to get very familiar with this Mac before I take it out of the box.

When I moved to the Mac I never read any guides, I got my mac and started using it straight away. The mac os is layed out in a simple and convenient manor and is very easy to pick up.

There is nothing you can do on a Windows machine that you can't do on a Mac.

You will love the way everything works together and how applications work so seamlessly with the OS.

Welcome to the Mac world.

 

[tcphoto]

If you already own Adobe products, you can call and ask for a cross platform upgrade. That way, the only thing you buy is an upgrade to CS4 when the Mac version is released. Photoshop is so last century I have never owned or worked on a PC but with a mac you just double click on the folder you want to open and launch the item. The key shortcuts will come with time.

 

[MacJuen]

I made my switch from PC to Mac last October. Concerning computers, best decision I've made, by far.

I've had 1 hick-up with my MBP but it resolved itself the next day. The OS is much faster than XP and I can't even imagine how much better Leopard is than Vista. Vista is a nightmare, from what I hear.

Concerning using Windows programs for Mac: I use Microsoft Office 2008 on my MBP without a problem in the world.

The shortcuts on Mac are by far, amazing and much easier to switch between programs than it is on a PC. CMD + Tab to switch between programs is much easier than minimizing on a PC or looking down at the start menu to open another program.

 

[walkum13]

This might sound weird but search YouTube and blogs. I learned a lot from playing with my first MacBook but YouTube showed me step by step visuals on how to use things such as Spaces and Expose...I just searched for Mac Tricks and just clicked on what looked interesting. Hope this helps!