The Desktop and its manager: 'Finder' 
Your Mac is like a virtual desk. On the right top of the screen you have an enormous file drawer: the hard disk.
My hard disk is called Macintosh HD on the following illustrations (Mac users can give their disks any name they like)
A program called ‘Finder’ manages the desktop.
the friendly Finder icon
The hard disk is filled with folders. Folders who are filled with folders too, et-cetera. Compare it with a family tree or a file drawer.
Double-click on your hard disk and a so-called Finder Window will appear. This window has two columns. The left one is called the Sidebar:
One click on the House icon leads you to your own Home Folder. More details about the Home Folder in the 'User' chapter.
Three different Finder Window -settings
There are three ways to show the hierarchical structure of a folder or disk:
Icons (like in the picture above),
list and columns (like a horizontal family tree structure).
At the upper left you see the three small symbols that represent these settings. Click on one of them and the window will change.
Use 'list' for example to sort your files in an alphabetical order, date or size:
Use 'columns' to get a good overview of your files and folders.
And finally, new in Mac OS 10.5: Preview. You can easily navigate through your files and look at them. This even works with movies. Finder isn't just a file manager, it's also your eyes and ears!
TIP
Column tricks and tips
You can use the small 
II signs to extend a column horizontally. In case you want to keep al columns at the same length, use the Option key at the same time.
Double click on the sign to extend the column in a way that all file names become readable.
The Side bar
You can choose to use the Dock as a fast way to open your favorite files and folders. And you can also use the Side bar. Pull your favorite folders, files, programs, et-cetera into it and an alias of the document will appear:
Now a link (or alias) to this folder appears in your Side Bar. The folder can be opened in one click:
An alias is a link to the original file. If you want to get rid of an alias in the Dock or Sidebar just pull it out of the Side bar And let it loose. It will disappear in a cartoon-like cloud of dust! Don't worry, you didn't throw away the original file, just an alias.
TIPS
Undo
Made an error in the Finder? Undo your error with the Edit Menu = 'Undo'. This also works in most programs. Shortcut: Command+Z (I love that one!)
Selecting more files at once
To select more than one file in the Finder, use the Command key or the Shift key
Moving and copying files
If you want to move a file to another folder, just take it and drag & drop it at its new spot. To do that, you can open two Finder Windows at once. But this is not necessary. Just drag it through the hierarchy, all folders you 'll. touch will open instantly and close after you moved out of them or copied your file.
To copy a file automatically, drag it while using the Option key. A small green 
sign will appear to tell you that you are about to copy a file.
The Dock
The most eye-catching feature in Finder is the Dock:
The Dock is filled with icons. Move your mouse over them and you'll see the names of the programs (or files) the icons they represent. Like in the Sidebar, they are all aliases, except the trash and the Finder symbol itself.
If you choose an icon and click on it once, the program will start up. Its icon will jump up and down. Click again the icon and hold your mouse key. A small menu will appear. Choose 'show in Finder'.
Then the Mac will show you the place on the hard disc where this particular program is stored. Very handy in case you forget.
Default content of the Dock, from left to right:
Finder - the program that manages your files and desktop
Dashboard - small programs that appear on your screen in an instant (explained later)
Mail - E-mail program (explained later)
Safari - the default Internet browser
iChat - a chat program (based on AOL-messenger)
Address-book - a database of addresses
iTunes - play and convert audio to MP3, play c.d.'s, internet-radio, burn cd and buy music and movies online
iPhoto - manage, import and modify digital photographs
iMovie - movie-editing. (if you have a digital video camera with an Firewire/iLink, you can have lots of fun with this)
iDvD - put your home made movies on a dvd
Garageband - make music
iWeb - make your own web-page
Agenda - speaks for itself
QuickTime - play multimedia files with QT, mpg, avi (DivX? see the Software-chapter)
PhotoBooth - make pictures with the onboard iSight web-cam
System Preferences - we discussed this already
Apple button - shortcut to Apple's web-site
Trash - you'll only loose data if you empty this trash. In Finder, go to the Menu Bar at 'Finder' and choose 'empty was bin' from the menu. Or, click once on the Dock-icon and hold the mouse key. A menu will appear saying "empty trash":
You could call the Dock a 'go-there-fast-utility'. Handy for all your programs, and your favorite folders, or even files. Just 'drag & drop' the icon in the Dock. You can switch from one program / file to another by using the Dock: just click on its icon.
Active program's
When a program is active, a small light will appear below its dock-icon:
In previous versions of Mac OS X it's a small black triangle instead of a light
In case a program has something to tell you, it's icon will bounce up and down. (this can be terminated in the Dock System Preference)
Closing a Finder Window or any window
To close a Window, use the 'traffic light' at the upper left:
Note: Color-blind? Red's on the left, Green on the right and Yellow in the middle.
Red: close window
Yellow: minimize window and put it in the Dock temporary
Green: maximize window according to its content
TIP
Use the Shift key while clicking the yellow button and see the Dock effect in slow-motion!
SWITCH TIP
Quit
Windows users remember this: A program doesn't stop by just removing a program window. To quit a program, go to the Menu Bar and choose Quit or better known as the shortcut 'Command Q'.
TIP
Finder Preferences
Preferences for the use of folders et-cetera you can find at the Finder Menu at 'Preferences':
View Options
You can also specify the View Options for one particular window or all windows at the View Menu:
Some basic Finder actions:
To make a new folder: go to the Menu bar, choose 'Archive' and 'New Folder':
Or use the 'wheel' icon you'll find in every Finder Window:
Please get used to placing and saving all your files and folders in your Home-folder (more about this in the 'user' chapter). It's not forbidden not to, but this Tutorial intends to keep the spirit of the OS alive.
Name or rename a folder or document
Give a new folder a name by clicking on 'untitled folder' once. Wait until the text is blue and type a new name. Striking the 'Enter' or 'Return' key does this job too.
WARNING
Do never change:
- the name of your home folder
- the names of the standard folders in your home folder
- the names of folders at the first level of your hard disc
Using cd and DVD’s.
When you put a music cd or a DVD in the player, the programs that play them 'll. start automatically (iTunes for music and Dvdplayer for DVD’s). You can change this in System Preferences.
All removable discs appear on your desktop. To throw them out:
1. use the eject-key on your keyboard (c.d.'s and dvd's)
2. drag & drop them into the Trash,
3. click the eject-button in the Sidebar:
4. use the eject button within the program itself, for example in iTunes.
Fast program and window switching (10.3 and higher)
A feature called Exposé makes it possible to see all open windows together:
or let them disappear to get a clear view on the desktop:
You can use the F-keys, but also use the four corners of your screen to get the effect you want. Go to System Preferences => Exposé to configure both options:
TIP
Labeling files:
Give your files and folders a colored look in the Finder, like this:
How? Just control - click on a file to get a quick menu:
You can also get a quick menu by Control - clicking on the Desktop:
Note: in case you have a multi buttoned mouse, right-click will do the same trick as control-click.
Desktop pictures
Tired of your desktop picture? Go to System Preferences => Desktop and choose any picture you like:
Want to make a picture of your screen?
Use Command Shift 3 for a total picture
Use Command Shift 4 for a selection
You can also use the Grab program:
You can find Grab in Programs / Utilities
SWITCH TIP
Screen-shots / Print-Screen
A picture of your screen will be saved at the Desktop as 'Picture 1', 'Picture 2' et-cetera. From there you can open and edit them.
You can also use the 'Grab' program in the Utilities folder.
Shortcuts
As a newbie, you'll probably do everything with the mouse. But almost all mouse events you can be done also with the keyboard. This is a more efficient way to work and more ergonomic. Here are some of the shortcuts you'll use most :
Command W window aWay
Command A Select All
Command C Copy selected item
Command V Paste copied item
Command X remove selected item
Command S Save
Command - shift - S Save as = save document under a different name
Command N New window / new document
Command - shift - N New folder
Command O Open
Command - i Information/Ownership rights/Access privileges
Command ? Heeeeeeelp!
Command F Find
Command Z Undo
Command Q Quit program
Command - tab Switch between open programs
Command-backspace Throw selected item in Trash
Here's a list of Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459
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