Welcome to the free online Mac OS X tutorial: learn and switch to Mac OS X!

Applications
Some beautiful software comes along with a Mac, but you'll like to have your own stuff as well. There's enough on the market; look at http://www.apple.com/downloads/Mac OS X or http://www.versiontracker.com
A lot of it is freeware (for free) or cheap (shareware).

Many programs do not need to be installed, just copied. Just drag them into the appropriate folder on your hard drive. Sometimes programs do need to be installed. This means that the program has to add more items to your Mac at different places. You'll see the word 'installer' or '.pkg' in the name of the program. Keep your administrator password at hand!

Some programs are packaged (.dmg) and when unpacked (double click) they become a virtual hard disk on your desktop:

After using, you just eject these disks or drag & drop them into the trash.

An example: downloading and installing MSN messenger
Let's assume you'd like to use Microsoft Messenger on your Mac.
iChat, the chat-program that comes with your Mac, uses the AOL messenger protocol. So you'll need to download an MSN client yourself.

1. download the program from the Microsoft Mac-website. After downloading, you'll find it as a .dmg on your Desktop:

2. Double-click on the .dmg to open it. A virtual disc will appear:

3. The program's on this disk. Just open the disk and drag & drop the program into you own 'Programs' folder:

4. Now Microsoft Messenger appears in the Applications folder:

That's it! Double-click the program to start it up.
The virtual disc you used can be drag & dropped into the trash, you don't need it anymore:

The .dmg you can store as a backup.

Note: Microsoft Messenger for Mac has less features than it's Windows-version. For example: you cannot use a web-cam.
For that, it's better to use an alternative MSN program, like Mercury Messenger (web-cam support) or aMSN and Fire. Just take a look at www.versiontracker.com to find the program that suits you.

Not all programs come as a .dmg. There are several methods to compress data:

In case of files with the .sit, .sitx, .torrent or .rar. extension you'll need free-ware programs like Stuffit Expander, Bit-Torrent or UnRarX.

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To compress files yourself
You can compress files yourself too. Control-click on the document and choose 'Create Archive of .....'. The Finder compresses the file to a .zip:

Zipping a file is the most common way of compressing data.

Downloading software
If you see any software you like, make sure that it is compatible with your Mac and it's operating system. (10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5).

Keep your software up-to-date
Apple's own software can be kept up-to-date in System Preferences => Software-update. (or in the Apple Menu). For third-party stuff: keep an eye on its manufacturer's website for the latest updates and patches.

Widgets
New in Mac OS 10.4 are Widgets. Small program's that appear in an instant and do their jobs at the background. These programs reside in the so-called 'Dashboard'.
Dashboard appears in an instant with the F12 key:

Note: You can also use Exposé to assign a specific corner of you screen to Dashboard.

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On default, you'll find a weather-widget, a clock, a calculator and a calendar. Click the + sign on the lower left to edit your Widgets. You can move the widgets around or remove them with the X key on the lower left.

Expand your Widgets collection here: http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/
Downloading and installing is very simple: just double click on the Widget-file on your Desktop:

and the Mac asks you if you would like to install it:

Voila:

PRE LEOPARD BACKUP-TIP
Where do I find my Widgets on my hard drive?

TIP
Fast program-switching
Command + Tab:

Utility programs
Here's a list of all Utilities:

Activity-monitor - see here how your programs and data affect the processor and the hard drive
Airport Admin Utility - configure your Airport network
Airport Setup Assistant - configure your Airport base-station
Audio MIDI Setup - configure your audio input and midi devices
Bluetooth File Exchange - configures the Bluetooth system
Colorsync Utility - calibrate your monitor and graphical designs (important to desktop publishers)
Console - here you can read all system and program logs
Digital-Color Meter - move your mouse around the screen to find out the Red Green and Blue configuration of the color it's moving on
Directory Access -
Disc Utility - format, restore, partition, hard drives
Grab - make a screenshot
Grapher - does math and makes graphic representations*
Installer - install program
Keychain Access - stores your passwords
Migration Assistant - helps import data when switching to a new Mac
Netinfo Manager - information and configuration about processes and users
Network Utility - ping, whois etc.
ODBC Administrator - OpenDataBaseConjectivity
Printer Setup Utility - configure and install printers
System Profiler - all the information about your Mac you need (memory, cards, system, programs)
Terminal - use text commands to control your Mac (for the Unix geeks among us)
VoiceOver Utility - command your Mac with your voice

Installing a printer
There are a lot of printer drivers present in Mac OS X, but make sure the printer you buy is suitable for the Mac (look at it's box for system requirements).
To use the printer drivers who came with the OS, go to System Preferences => Print and Fax:

Click the + symbol to add your printer.
If your printer does not appear in the list, you'll need to install its driver software. Mostly manufacturers add a cdrom with driver. Otherwise, visit the manufacturers website for the install software.
You'll need an administrator password to install a printer.

Faxing is also an option in case you have an analog modem:

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Alternative printer drivers.
The open source (free) program Guten-print (Gimp-print) contains hundreds of printer drivers. If your printer's manufacturer's too lazy to write a driver for the Mac, you probably can use Guten-print to make your printer work!

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Using a print-order to make universal PDF documents.
For example, you made a document you want to email somebody. However, that person doesn't have the program the document's made in. No problem at all, you can use the 'Print' command to make a PDF-file. PDF (Portable Document File) is such a common format, almost every computer can read it.
What to do:
Open your document and choose 'Print'. Please select "Save as PDF..." instead of "Print".

(to all desktop publishers: a file created like this doesn't fit to international PDF standards for offset printing)

Burning CD's
The moment you put an empty cd (or DVD) in the player, Finder will react with the following:

When you choose 'Open Finder', a cd-icon will appear on the Desktop. You can drag and drop you data on it:

If you want to burn the cd, just drag & drop it into the Trash: Finder will then ask you if you want to burn that cd:

Note: Excellent third party software for burning cd's is for example Toast Titanium, made by Roxio. You can use this along side the standard software. It is also possible to burn cd directly from the program you're working in. Like iTunes for music, iPhoto for photo's and iMovie for movies. Choosing the 'burn' command will automatically open the cd-tray and make the Mac ask for an empty disc.

SWITCH TIP
Don't search for a separate CD burning program; there isn't any!

Spotlight
"Search and You will find" is really true on a Mac with Mac OS 10.4. The search machine finds in real time file names and file content as you type. Just click the enlarging glass on the upper right of your screen and type:

=> =>

It is also possible to search in all Finder Windows:

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Preferences for Spotlight
You can find them in System Preferences => Spotlight:

Using special characters
alt + e = accent aigu
alt + ` = accent grave
alt + u = trema
alt + i = accent circonflexe

Where do I find this information?
Go in System Preferences to 'International'. Select 'Character Palette' and 'Keyboard Viewer'. Also select 'Show input menu in menu bar' at the bottom of International:

Now you'll find a Menu in the Menu Bar, just below the Flag. Select "Show Keyboard Viewer" to find out what keystrokes you should use:
=>

Depending on which Font you choose you can use the Shift, Ctrl, Command or Option key(s) to see what keys give what Character. You can also use the 'Character Palette' to choose different Characters:

Saving documents: the ins and outs
When you made a document in a program, for example Text-editor, mostly you'd like to save it.
You can find the 'Save' command at the File Menu.
Let's save a text-file:

Use the blue square to pull down the Save window. You'll find the same structure as in the Finder, including the Side Bar. It's also possible to choose the List or Column:

The difference between Save and Save As
'Save As' means that the document gets a totally new name. 'Save' means the document will be saved under the same name and will be overwritten. Mind this!
By the way, you can see whether a document has been saved or not:

Note that non-saved documents have a black dot in the red traffic light!

Removing software
Do you want to remove a program? Just drag & drop it into the trash.
However, there are program's that leave things on your hard drive. When there's no de-installer, use Spotlight. Just type the name of the program to find all remaining files. drag & drop them into the trash. If you are in doubt whether to throw things away or not, just leave it. Better safe than sorry, so to speak.
You can also use AppZapper

Login Items
It can be useful to have your favorite software up and running as soon as you start up your Mac. Go to System Preferences => Accounts => Login Items to specify:

or just click on the program's Dockling:

Some must-have software tips by MacMeep:
Firefox: internet browser
VLC: Video LAN Client, play ancient video-cd's and stuff that QuickTime can't handle, like DivX, and use subtitles.
Real-Player: plays the Real-Video and Real-Audio format
Stuffit: compress and uncompress program
Azureus: Bit-Torrent program
Lime-Wire: P2P program
NeoOffice - Open Office (free office program)
Wiretap: records any sound on your Mac

Using Fonts on the Mac
Using Fonts is easy in Mac OS X. These kinds of Fonts can be used:
MacPostScript1
MacTrueType
Open Type
WindowsTruetype
Multiple Master
System (dfonts)

Adding fonts
Go to 'Programs' => 'Font book'
Start the program and you'll see the following window:

Here you can see a preview of the fonts that are active.

To add a font, just push the + button.
You can make sets also.

PRE LEOPARD BACKUP TIP
Where are the Fonts located on my hard disc?
Pre 10.3 users will have to add their fonts manually.
Fonts to be used for you only:
Go to Home. Open the Library folder. You'll find the Fonts folder in here. Drag and drop fonts in here. Make folders if you like:

Fonts for all users:

Go to Computer => Library => Fonts

Other specific backup-places
Mail: Home => Library => Mail & Mail-downloads
Safari bookmarks: Home => Library => Safari
Widgets: Home => Library => Widgets

Removing software? "Drag and Drop"
In case you want to get rid of a program, just throw it into the Trash. However, there can be more files on your hard-drive than just the program file itself. Decent programmers do write de-installers. No de-installer? Type the program's name into Spotlight to find all remaining files.
In case of any doubt whether to throw away a file, just keep it.
There are also programs like AppZapper or CleanApp to do the work for you.

Some must-have software tips from Macmeep:
VLC (Video Lan Client) - plays any video except QuickTime
Flip4Mac - plug-in for QuickTime to play Windows Media
RealPlayer - player for the RealVideo en RealAudio format
Firefox - excellent web-browser
Stuffit - compress and decompress program
Azureus - Bittorrent program
LimeWire - p2p program
OnyX (of Yasu, Macaroni, Cocktail) - system utility program
NeoOffice - OpenOffice, the free version of MS Office
Skype - make phone-calls or chat with anyone in the world

You can find software like these at: www.versiontracker.com, www.macupdate.com, www.tucows.com, http://www.apple.com/downloads/Mac OS X/ and http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/

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