Making The Switch From Windows To Mac

Whether you're new to Mac OS X or you're moving from Windows, you'll finish this course with a satisfied smile!

Last updated 2022-01-10 | 3.4

- Understand the similarities and differences between Mac OS X and Windows
- Be able to navigate around the Mac and carry out the tasks you need to complete with ease
- Be aware of many extraordinary features that are contained in Mac OS X that are often overlooked

What you'll learn

Understand the similarities and differences between Mac OS X and Windows

Be able to navigate around the Mac and carry out the tasks you need to complete with ease

Be aware of many extraordinary features that are contained in Mac OS X that are often overlooked

Get the most from your Mac and OS X!

* Requirements

* Access to a Mac running OS X would be useful but not required

Description

This course is intended to assist those that are currently considering moving from the Windows operating system to using Mac OS X. This move often causes concern and confusion leaving people apprehensive about making the decision to move and worrying about potentially investing a lot of money in hardware that they are afraid they mightn't be able to use. This course will allay those fears and demonstrate clearly what the similarities and differences are and how anyone can make a smooth transition from one operating system to the other, regardless of their skill level.

The course is delivered using screen recordings of both Mac and Windows environments, comparing the two and showing step by step how to complete tasks using Mac OS X that you would be familiar with on Windows.

The course is divided into 6 sections and will take less than 3 hours to complete. Each section is divided into lectures, most of which average 4-6 minutes in duration.

If you are considering making the move to Mac OS X, or have already done so and you are struggling with some basic differences, this is the course for you! By the time you have completed the course, you will be comfortable with your Mac and be glad you made the decision to move!

Who this course is for:

Those considering moving to Mac OS X
Those that have purchased a Mac and are struggling with the differences
No experience necessary, but knowledge of Windows is a bonus
Those with Windows knowledge and some basic computer skills will benefit most

Course content

7 sections • 30 lectures

Introduction & History 3 lectures

Introduction Preview 02:25

A short introduction which tells you a bit about me and my background, as well as a quick overview of what this course is about and how it will be taught.

A Mini History Lesson - The Mac vs Windows Debate Preview 12:38

Some history of the competition between Apple and Microsoft, how Windows and Mac OS X developed and why Mac OS X is the operating system to choose!

Common Questions & Answers Preview 06:15

Common questions that people ask when considering making the change to Mac and the honest answers that you've been looking for!

Key Concepts & Similarities 3 lectures

Right-Clicking & Scrolling Preview 01:40

This lecture covers the basic techniques of right clicking and scrolling which are common to both Mac and Windows, as well as some set up and configuration of the default Mac installation.

Desktop Configuration Preview 03:36

This lecture covers the basic configuration of your desktop so that it looks similar to your Windows desktop and is more usable.

Key Similarities & Familiar Items Preview 05:43

This lecture covers many of the basic features and functions of both operating systems that are similar and easy to identify.

The Finder & Desktop 9 lectures

The Command Key vs The Alt Key Preview 02:33

This lecture covers the important differences in modifier keys between Windows and Mac.

The Finder vs Windows Explorer Preview 04:42

This lecture takes a tour of the Finder in Mac OS X and compares and contrasts it with Windows Explorer.

The Dock vs The Taskbar Preview 05:19

This lecture takes a look at the Dock in Mac OS X and compares and contrasts it with the Taskbar in Windows.

Viewing Files using Finder Windows Preview 04:33

This lecture looks at the different ways of viewing your folders and files in the Finder in Mac OS X and compares and contrasts it with the same tasks in Windows Explorer.

Sorting with "Folders First" Preview 03:03

This lecture takes a closer look at a common Windows feature known as "Folders First" sorting and examines the options for doing this in Mac OS X.

The Location Bar & Spotlight Preview 04:37

This lecture looks at the concept of the Location bar in Windows and demonstrates the equivalent feature in Mac OS X, while also taking a brief look at the powerful search capabilities in Mac OS X called Spotlight.

Properties vs Get Info Preview 03:21

This lecture examines the method of inspecting properties in Windows and how to do this in Mac OS X.

Maximising Windows Preview 01:54

A common source of frustration for people changing from Windows to Mac is the "maximise" button. It works differently in Mac OS X and this lecture explains how.

Quick Access Icons Preview 01:35

This lecture provides a comparison of the quick access icons in Windows and Mac OS X and where to find them.

Key Differences Highlighted 6 lectures

The "Persistent" Menubar Preview 08:57

The concept of the menu bar and how it functions in Mac OS X is one of the main points of confusion for users coming from Windows. This is probably one of the most important lectures in the whole course.

The Apple Menu vs Start Menu Preview 08:05

This lecture explores the Apple Menu and how it compares to the Windows Start Menu.

System Preferences vs Control Panel Preview 11:37

In this lecture, we look at the System Preferences in Mac OS X and how it compares to the Control Panel in Windows.

Airport means Wifi Preview 05:16

This lecture discusses Wifi on the Mac and how it compares with using Wifi on Windows.

Print & Scan Setup Preview 07:51

In this lecture, we look at how Mac OS X handles printing and scanning and how it compares to Windows.

System Authentication Preview 06:20

This lecture covers the concept of System Authentication in Mac OS X, what it is and when it is used. It is a key security feature of Mac OS X.

Advanced Topics 7 lectures

Path Naming & Special Folders Preview 08:02

This lecture discusses the differences in how your write paths in Mac OS X and various special folders that are used by the system or protected in some way.

Accessing Network Resources Preview 04:51

This lecture looks at how to connect to network resources from Mac OS X and compares this with the procedure used on Windows.

Network Interface Management Preview 08:06

This lecture discusses how to configure the Ethernet and Wifi interfaces on your Mac and where to find the relevant settings that you may be looking for.

Using Multiple Monitors Preview 04:19

This lecture discusses how to tell Mac OS X about the monitors that are connected and how to arrange them so logically so that the configuration matches you physical display configuration. It also touches on Airplay Mirroring.

Setting the Startup Disk Preview 04:05

This lecture looks at how to tell Mac OS X which disk it should start up from and what to do in an emergency situation where your internal hard disk stops working.