MeetyourMac

Date: July 20, 2009 Presenter: Debbie Hudimac dhudimac@wsd.k12.pa.us Room: L07
 * Meet Your Mac.. Again **


 * Objective: To reacquaint users to the macbook by exploring the features of Mac OS X as well as sharing macbook tips and resources designed to increase productivity and improve the overall effective/efficient use of the macbook as an instructional tool in the classroom.**

Review of Macbook Hardware: Ports [|Macbook Care, Use & Safety Information]

Overview of Mac OS X (Leopard) Interface: [|PC to Mac: The Basics]
 * [|Desktop] - Comprised of the Menu Bar, Dock, Macintosh HD, and Apple Menu
 * [|Menu Bar] - Dropdown menu system that holds application menu headers and, depending on how it's customized, status indicators, clock, volume control, spotlight search, as well as access to network preferences.
 * __[|Dock]__ - Home of quick links to applications, folders, stacks, minimzed windows, dashboard, trash
 * __Macintosh HD__ - Defaut name of your macbooks hard drive
 * __Apple Menu__ - Provides access to log out/shutdown options; system preferences; software updates and more. Click on "About This Mac" to get "more info" about your macbook. [[file:my_mac_cheat_sheet.pdf]]

Customizing/Setting up Your Macbook: > > As a district policy, only the contents of the documents folder is synced to the user's H: drive on a district server. See for more information. Note: Syncing should be performed "in-district" as often as necessary to ensure recent changes to files/folders are backed up to the server. > >> > >
 * System Preferences - Similar to windows control panel - contains options to customize personal, hardware, network, system and other settings on your macbook; accessed via the apple menu. Within the system area, your WSD (teacher) macbook is setup with an admin/managed/mobile account with manual sync settings.
 * Connecting to the Internet
 * At School (WSD) - In order to sync files to the server; access the web/email; add networked printers - you must be connected to the WSD secure network (note: macbooks must be imaged (09-10)). In range, this is an automatic connection.
 * At home - Macbooks are designed for broadband internet - though slightly more expensive than dial-up, broadband offers many advantages. Once you have settled on a connection type (cable, ADSL) and have set up an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), click on the fan shaped icon in the menu bar to reveal available wireless networks in range and click one to connect, entering a password if required.
 * On the Move - wireless "hotspots" are now common in public restaurants/shops, airports, hotels, etc. Click on the fan shaped icon to see what networks are available (those that require a password to log in will display a padlock), so try those without when browsing outside school/home.
 * Connecting to Network Share Drives (at school)
 * Open Finder; click on GO>Connect to Server or cmd+K; enter the following string in the server address box: //wsdfile1/xx-share (where xx=school).
 * Adding Printers - Networked district printers are installed via a dashboard zidget widget; local home or network printer may be added via the system preferences "print & fax" option.
 * Finder Preferences - Change the default view of the finder/sidebar windows; spring loaded folders
 * Desktop - Besides screensaver and wallpaper changes via system preferences, click on the desktop and cmd+J to reveal icon size and sorting options
 * Windows - Right click on the window toolbar to "customize toolbar" with frequently used options; cmd+drag to remove
 * Menu Bar - Switch on/off notification icons and other symbols in system preferences or remove using cmd+drag

Navigating through your Macbook: >> Viewing options: icon, list, column or cover flow or NEW Quick Look (press spacebar) to view files without actually opening them. >> Close (red), minimize (yellow) or change the size (green) of files or applications using the circular buttons in the top menu. >> Use the gear to create new folders or "get info" on the file/folder (cmd I). [|Applications, Files & Folders] >  > > >
 * [|Finder] - Consists of title bar, sidebar, content area and provides navigational access to all files/folders/applications from within a single window
 * __Title bar__ - located along the top of the finder window; contains viewing options and commands
 * __Side bar__ - located on the far left of the finder window; provides access to the Macintosh hard drive, the home folder, Applications, and files (Documents, Movies, Music and Pictures).
 * __Content area__ - located in the middle of the finder window; displays the content of any item selected from the side bar.
 * Spotlight (cmd + spacebar) - (magnifying glass icon) located in menu bar for searching for files/folders, programs, email messages, pictures, movies....anything you type; also can be used for math calculations.
 * [|Keyboard Shortcuts] - Special combinations of keys that allow the user to quickly perform a function without using a mouse. Use of keyboard shortcuts greatly increase efficiency as well as reduce the chances of developing repetitive strain injury.

Organizing your Macbook: >> >>
 * Files & Folders
 * Creating Folders - File>New folder or cmd+shift+N or use cog-style action button in any Finder window.
 * Creating Files - Open any application, create some work and save (cmd+s)
 * Renaming files & folders - click in the text label and type or select a file, hit enter and start typing. Do not change the name of your home folder or any system/application folder!
 * Deleting files & folders - Drag to the trashcan in the dock or press cmd+delete
 * Selecting multiple files & folders - Hold cmd key while clicking items or to select a range of adjacent items, press shift + click first item and then click the last item in the range or drag over multiple files in a blank space.
 * Previewing files - without opening a file, select it in Finder and click File>quick look, cmd+y, or simply press the spacebar:). Select multiple files to preview in Quick Look and using the controls at the bottom of the panel for playing a slideshow/view an "Index Sheet" of all items selected. When previewing picture files, Quick Look displays a special button for adding selections to iPhoto too.
 * Browsing files & folders - Though you can search for files/folders, you will probably spend more time browsing for them using Finder. Try using the band and forward buttons on the Finder window toolbar to move between views or click View>Show path bar to reveal a strip at the bottom of the Finder window to navigate up through your folders.
 * Using the Info panel - to find more information about any file or folder (such as file size, name & extension, etc.), select it and press cmd+I or File>Get Info.
 * Moving/Copying files & folders
 * Dragging - Drag a file/folder from one location on your macbook HD to another, it will be moved; however, if you drag something to a separate drive or server, it will be copied. Drag a whole drive or drag a file onto a blank CD, and you will drag an alias rather than a copy. The mouse pointer will display a green + sign if the item is going to be copied, and a black arrow if an alias is being created.
 * Copy/paste - copy and paste files/folders by selecting the item to be copied, EDIT>COPY (or cmd+c); open the folder or drive where you want the file/folder to go and press PASTE (or cmd+v).
 * Entourage
 * Adding Folders
 * Creating a Signature Line
 * Archiving Mail
 * Local (On My Computer)
 * H: Drive

Tips & Tricks
 * [|The Five Most Under Used Finder Tools]
 * [|Desktop Performance Tip]
 * [|Ten Ways to Stay Out of Trouble]
 * [|50 Things Every Mac Geek Should Know]

Resources:
 * [|WSD Tech Support Page]
 * WSD etoolbox
 * Mac Help (cmd+shift+?)
 * Meet Your Mac eToolBox Page**

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