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Windows to Mac OS migration tips/cheat sheet

When switching from Windows PC to a Mac, what tips should I give to a "normal" user (e.g. my Mother)?

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Should probably be Community Wiki, since you'll be getting various different types of answers, from various different types of perspectives. – Jonathan Sampson Jul 16 '09 at 18:20
Does "AIIIEEEE!!! Don't do it!" count for anything? Macs are fine for some things and some users. I don't know your Mother, but by "normal" I assume you mean "relatively computer illiterate". Would not give a Mac to someone like that as typically most of their friends/other people that get called upon as a support group have PC. So, you end up getting ALL the tech calls instead of just some of them. Plus having to explain that she can't do "xyz" that all her friends do because her computer is "better", etc... – Brian Knoblauch Jul 16 '09 at 18:29
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closed as exact duplicate by TheTXI Jul 16 '09 at 18:39

This question covers exactly the same ground as earlier questions on this topic; its answers may be merged with another identical question. See the FAQ.

4 Answers

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Help her set up Expose and Spaces so that when you drag your cursor the corner of the screen it triggers either Spaces or Expose.

Set up Firefox to automatically download to her files to the Desktop (or some other folder she wants).

Help her to understand the concept of a "root" user and have her install her applications on her own user account, rather than in the systems folders.

Set up a Stack to the Applications folder on her Dock. This way she doesn't have to browse through Finder, but can rather just get to what she needs from the desktop.

Configure her Dock so it has everything she needs on it.

EDIT: Thought of some more stuff

Take her to the Apple store when she gets her Mac or soon after it. They have free classes for people getting a first Mac and about switching from Windows. This will teach her how to use iLife, which has tons of stuff she'll want (Photos, IM, Movies, stuff like that). Actually, taking the free class (only about an hour or two I think) would probably be the most beneficial, because then people who are paid to know how to teach the Mac will be showing her how everything works.

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I think the most damaging thing that new mac users don't realize is the difference between copying a folder using Explorer or the Finder. In explorer copying a folder over another folder merges the two folders and any duplicate files are overwritten. In the Finder copying a folder over another folder replaces the old folder with the new one.

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If something is too small to read, press Command + scroll up/down to zoom the screen in and out.

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