Mac basics
January 4, 2012 6:34 PM Subscribe
Need to give mom some basic training on her new mac air – Like basic: how to use the track pad, clicking, selecting, saving docs, etc. Sites? Tutorials? Ideas?
If she's near an Apple store, both my mother and my in-laws, who bought Apple computers within the past year, have really enjoyed taking the free new user courses at their local stores. My mom was very PC-literate but is new to Apple, my in-laws are terrified of technology overall, and the courses seem to meet both where they live.
posted by padraigin at 6:59 PM on January 4, 2012
posted by padraigin at 6:59 PM on January 4, 2012
Mac 101 Get Started with a Mac
My New Mac, Lion Edition Simple Projects to Get You Started by Wallace Wang
The Little Mac Book, Lion Edition by Robin Williams
posted by plokent at 7:00 PM on January 4, 2012
My New Mac, Lion Edition Simple Projects to Get You Started by Wallace Wang
The Little Mac Book, Lion Edition by Robin Williams
posted by plokent at 7:00 PM on January 4, 2012
The Mac Missing Manual books are really good and people seem to like the name better than the Dummies versions even though I think both sets of books are good. If she's switching from a PC, be sure to check Apple's Switch pages. Also encourage her to fill out this cheat sheet.
I've been teaching a class in basic Mac stuff and I've found that having bookmarks to some of the basic stuff is helpful
- Help page with tutorials and findouthow which are specifically basics-oriented
- support forums for asking questions or reading others' questions
If some of her questions are internet-based and not strictly mac based, there are some good simple sites linked on this page here.
posted by jessamyn at 7:22 PM on January 4, 2012
I've been teaching a class in basic Mac stuff and I've found that having bookmarks to some of the basic stuff is helpful
- Help page with tutorials and findouthow which are specifically basics-oriented
- support forums for asking questions or reading others' questions
If some of her questions are internet-based and not strictly mac based, there are some good simple sites linked on this page here.
posted by jessamyn at 7:22 PM on January 4, 2012
Find a local Apple User Group and see if they can help a first time Mac user.
posted by plokent at 7:23 PM on January 4, 2012
posted by plokent at 7:23 PM on January 4, 2012
Call it the correct name, it's right there below the screen. MacBook Air.
Apple's Find Out How
posted by now i'm piste at 9:20 PM on January 4, 2012
Apple's Find Out How
posted by now i'm piste at 9:20 PM on January 4, 2012
Seconding the recommendation of taking Apple up on their offer of training. If you live near an Apple store, buying her a One-to-One membership to come in for a year of unlimited classes with a trainer is the best $99 you will ever spend!
posted by araisingirl at 11:28 PM on January 4, 2012
posted by araisingirl at 11:28 PM on January 4, 2012
I used to give a workshop where there were often folks who were unfamiliar with using computers, including mousing and clicking. I used to set them up with solitaire for a while to get them used to the feel of things.
posted by looli at 12:33 AM on January 5, 2012
posted by looli at 12:33 AM on January 5, 2012
Trackpad is pretty easy- click on the bottom to select things, move a single finger to move the cursor. Here's a basic tutorial. I would turn on "tap to click" and "secondary clicking"- you can still click the trackpad in the regular way, but secondary clicking for a "right" click is easy and intuitive.
Also:
Click on the background, so the menu bar says "Finder". Go to the far right, to "help". Click on "mac help". It will bring up a little window with very basic topics. Have her start from the beginning with Your computer's desktop, how your computer is organized, and navigating your computer.
The nice thing about the tiny window is that she can see everything else on the screen. Knowing where this "help" menu is means that she always has a reference right at her fingertips.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2012
Also:
Click on the background, so the menu bar says "Finder". Go to the far right, to "help". Click on "mac help". It will bring up a little window with very basic topics. Have her start from the beginning with Your computer's desktop, how your computer is organized, and navigating your computer.
The nice thing about the tiny window is that she can see everything else on the screen. Knowing where this "help" menu is means that she always has a reference right at her fingertips.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:01 PM on January 5, 2012
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posted by backwards guitar at 6:52 PM on January 4, 2012 [1 favorite]