Windows user switching to Mac, finding everything and how to?

Hi, I'm currently a Windows 7 user. I'm happy with windows but I could be happier!
I have an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2 and I absolutly love how they work together (via iCloud etc) and also how everything looks and feels. One thing in my opinion that wipes W7 off the age is the fluidness of a Mac. Just how well and easily it works. As Steve Jobs said last year "it just works" and he's right!
Another big thing that I love about Mac is the connection between the iOS and OSX Lion (and upcoming Moutain Lion).
And I feel the need (or want) to switch to Mac because I want that connection with my mobile devices and my Laptop/ Home Computer.
But there's a few things that are stopping me from doing that and it's basically my lack of knowledge regarding OSX Lion etc...
It's simple things like Music. On windows, you press the start menu and you see music where you have all your folders regarding music (Albums, songs, or other audio) and also Photo's with all your photo albums etc etc etc...
Another thing holding me back is Software. For example, I burn a lot of CD's for DJ'ing. I use Nero 10 on my PC. Is there any Mac equivilant software that can let me name the CD, burn at different speeds etc etc....
It's simple things like that. I can't really find any video's on the internet showing me these kind of things.
I hope you can help. Thanks!!

See these:
Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
Mac 101: Mac Essentials,
Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts,
Anatomy of a Mac,
MacTips,
Switching to Mac Superguide, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Lion Edition.
Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:
Quick Assist,
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides,
Take Control E-books, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

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Windows User Switching to Mac – System Install/Setup Help

Hi All,
I’m a (very) long time windows user switching to Mac. I know nothing about Mac’s as in zero zip (I’ve been messing with an iMac for 2 weeks.) Buying a MacBook Pro (spec’s at bottom). I do creative work audio/video/graphics and use a lot of nonstandard peripherals e.g. audio interfaces, RAID, drawing tablets etc. Getting a new system setup is a long and laborious process.
When I get a new computer here’s my normal process:
Step 1
I reinstall windows to get rid of the junk software that’s always added by third parties.
Update all hardware drivers & software (OS and Auxiliary app’s)
Tweak Windows OS for my needs
Make full system backup
Step 2
Install all my major app’s e.g. adobe creative suite, audio programs etc.
Install non-standard peripherals such as audio interfaces, RAIDs etc.
Make full system backup
Step 3
Open up all major app’s and customize e.g. set preferences etc.
Set-up and test app specific peripherals, tweak as necessary
Make full system backup
Step 4
Install virus software and unimportant apps/hardware. No backup.
Is this basically what I should do with the mac? What kind of issues might I expect? Are there steps or issues I’m worrying about that don’t apply to the Mac? Finally, is there an equivalent to the windows Blue Screen of Death? Does the system every get so jammed up that a complete wipe out and re-install of OS and software is required?
I know these are very open questions so I’m only looking for general information.
Thanks
Here’s the machine I’m going to buy:
15” MacBook Pro (Late 2013) | 2.3GHz i7 Quad | 512GB PCIe-Based SSD | 16GB Ram - GeForce GT 750M (2GB)

Just to clarify the Mac includes anti-virus software and updates with no additional software purchase required?
Yes. Unlike Windows OS X was designed from its inception to be a secure multiuser operating system incorporating many protections specifically intended to isolate one user's space from another. Each succeeding release has only added more protections, and Apple updates its virus / malware database regularly.
Third party "anti-virus" products abound, but none of them improve upon anything OS X already includes. Most of them are simply worthless junk. Some will only cause problems, while others are arguably malicious. No one knows more about Macs and how to protect them than the company that builds them.
Apple is the most famously secretive company since E-Systems, yet the vast majority of Mac related problems reported on this site are the direct result of using ill-conceived products from third party developers claiming unique knowledge of OS X's inner workings. The companies selling them are desperate to assert their continued relevance in a market that is seeing rapid contraction of Windows PCs in favor of iPads - and to a lesser extent, Macs - that have never had the need for their products. Many AV vendors have been reduced to sordid scare tactics as they see their market and revenue stream diminish. Unfortunately, scare tactics work, resulting in widespread misery among Mac users gullible enough to swallow them. That represents a threat all to itself.
If it were not for Windows' predilection for malicious alteration from viruses and malware we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Even though I’m doing some heavy lifting e.g. video editing, audio recording (full band), large folders of music files/video clips/animations etc. no system/drive maintenance is required by me or if it is the software to do so is already included?
Correct. As a professional you may not be satisfied with the bundled apps such as iMovie but Apple has professional video and audio recording apps as well. Even they are not very expensive. You can find out more about them in the Professional Applications forum.
A Mac needs no third party maintenance utilities. Like "anti-virus" products most of them are worthless also.
Time Capsule: I thought that was Apples hardware for backup, remote access, streaming etc.
Yes. The Time Capsule is Apple's combination wireless router and backup device. You can just as easily use any inexpensive hard disk to use in conjunction with Time Machine.
Time Machine is Apple's backup software and it's included with OS X. You can use either one, or both. You can also use inexpensive commercial "clone" software such as Carbon Copy Cloner. Each one has its advantages, as well as their limitations. In the interest of redundancy I use all of them.
B&H Photo is a highly reputable vendor, one of the few I recommend.

How do a Linux user switch to Mac and IPhoto

How do you as an Linux user switch to Mac and I Photo with example 30,8 GB 133 094 221 824 byte) photos 20 791 files , in 1 069 folders
How do I import them in a proper way that it make easy to find them in I Photo can I find them with the ease as it were in Google Picasa2 in Linux ? Or do you have to import folder by folder?

Svendus
As a new user I strongly suggest that you spend some time viewing the tutorials at
http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#iphoto
Secondly, I also suggest that you create a Library and import 100 or so pics and explore the app first. It's similar to Picasa, but also quite different. Best to get to know it.
How are your photos currently organised? In folders by date?
Date organisation is pretty pointless in iPhoto as you can find any pic taken on any day/month/year using the calendar tool or Smart Albums.
As you have 30k photos if you simply import them iPhoto will automatically split them into Events based on date. Expolore the options in iPhoto -> Preferences -> Events for how you might like them auto split: (Per day, per week etc.)
If you want to maintain your current organisation then simply uncheck 'Imported Items from Finder' and drag a folder of images to the Source (or left hand) pane in iPhoto. There the pics will be imported and an Album + an Event of the same name will be created. You can then create the enclosing folder (File -> New Folder) in iPhoto.
A note about Events and Albums:
Events in the iPhoto Window correspond exactly with the Folders in the Originals Folder in the iPhoto Library package file (Right click on it in the Pictures Folder -> Show Package Contents).
You can move photos between Events, you can rename Events, edit them, create them, as long as you do it via the iPhoto Window. Check out the Info Pane (wee 'i', lower left) the name and date fields are editable. Edit a Event Name using the Info Pane, the Event Folder in iPhoto Library/Originals will also have the new name.
Albums reference the pics in the iPhoto Library Folder. There fore a pic can be in 1, 10 or 100 albums with no wasted disk space.
Keywords are a very powerful tool for organising in iPhoto, and are very well integrated in to Smart Albums. Check them out.
Many folks who switch from other Operating Systems seem to prefer to manage their files themselves. However, I do not recommend this with iPhoto.
Simply go to iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> Advanced and uncheck 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library on Import'.
Now iPhoto will not copy the files, but rather simply reference them on your HD. It will create an alias to the Original file, a thumbnail and, if you modify the pics, a Modified version.
However, you need to be aware of a number of potential pitfalls using this system.
1. Import and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.
Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.
If disk space is an issue, you can run an entire iPhoto Library from an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library as an entity from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
If you're concerned about accessing the files, there are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS
Other options include:
1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
Your choice, obviously, but best to be aware of all the ramifications. By all means post back if you require more info.
Lastly: It is strongly advised that you do not move, change or in anyway alter things in the iPhoto Library Folder as this can cause the application to fail and even lead to data loss
By all means post back if you require more.
Regards
TD

PC user switching to Mac. getting MBP tomorrow. What I need to know?

Hi everybody. I am switching to Mac finally after doing research on Mac. I am a PC user switching to Mac! Pretty excited to get my MBP 13' entry level tomorrow. What do I need to know as far as:
MBP 13', 2.4ghz, 4gb ddr3, 250gb hdd
Battery life - how long does it usually last until I have to replace the battery? Do I leave it plugged in all the time or only charge it when need to? I have an iphone 4 and I only charge it when it need to be charge. Never over charge. is it the same for MBP? Does apple offer any battery replacement plan after the 1year limited warranty? if so how much?
Memory - it comes with 4gb memory, would you recommend upgrading to 8gb or stay with 4gb for now?
Case- do you guys have any invisible shield clear protection on it, or what protection methods do you have, if any?
Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully answer those questions. I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing as a first time Mac user and get the most out of my MBP..other advice and help are greatly appreciated. THank you for your time!

DanielTienBui wrote:
Hi everybody. I am switching to Mac finally after doing research on Mac. I am a PC user switching to Mac! Pretty excited to get my MBP 13' entry level tomorrow. What do I need to know as far as:
MBP 13', 2.4ghz, 4gb ddr3, 250gb hdd
Battery life - how long does it usually last until I have to replace the battery? Do I leave it plugged in all the time or only charge it when need to? I have an iphone 4 and I only charge it when it need to be charge. Never over charge. is it the same for MBP? Does apple offer any battery replacement plan after the 1year limited warranty? if so how much?
Depends on how you use it. Yes/no. You can't overcharge an iPhone. Can't overcharge an MBP. No replacement. Not sure how much it will cost.
Memory - it comes with 4gb memory, would you recommend upgrading to 8gb or stay with 4gb for now?
I recommend 8GB if you're doing anything heavy duty like photo editing. BUT, don't buy Apple's $400 version (and you can't get it at an Apple Store). For $100-150 you can do it yourself.
Case- do you guys have any invisible shield clear protection on it, or what protection methods do you have, if any?
Wouldn't waste your money.
Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully answer those questions. I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing as a first time Mac user and get the most out of my MBP..other advice and help are greatly appreciated. THank you for your time!
This should be a good read.

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Hi,
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Fred

Does it still charge when connected? You said it still works with headphones.
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I've tried to set up a new user on a mac book pro and i restarted it to create the new account but now all i can get is a white screen with the apple logo and the loading symbol what can i do ?

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I want to instal windows 7 using bootcamp on my mac book pro and how large do i have to make the partition if i want to use it for gaming?

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Windows user switching to Mac, finding everything and how to?

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