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- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+26This article was great for people like me who have NO IDEA what will happen when we switch from PC to Mac!
I'll admit it, I'm tempted but scared to switch. If I just knew that everything I use now WILL work on Mac, I'd be good to go! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16This is not a comprehensive list, but some stuff off the top of my head that is only currently available in OS X, in no particular order:
FONTS
- Many people feel that OS X renders fonts in a more appealing way, particularly at small sizes.
- OS X supports advanced typesetting features and ligatures that are not available on Windows or Linux.
- Note: Vista will have better font support that is more on par with OS X.
PDF
- You can natively copy and paste snippets of PDF documents and images between all applications. (Very handy for students!)
- Any application can print to PDF.
UNIVERSAL SPELL CHECKING, DICTIONARY, and THESAURUS
The operating system has built-in spell-checking functionality that is available to all applications:
- All editable fields in any application support in-line spellchecking
- All applications use the same custom word list.
- In addition to the bundled dictionary application, you can mouse over a word in any application and press Command+Ctrl+D to pop up a definition of the word.
PERSISTENT FILE HANDLES (My Favorite!)
A shortcut (or reference, or link) to a file refers not only to the file path but the actual file ID on the disk. So, when a file or application is renamed or moved, all existing links to that file still work. This feature manifests itself in a number of ways:
- You can create a shortcut to a file and place it on your Desktop or in your dock, then you can move or rename the file and the shortcut still works.
- If you have a document open in an application, you can move or rename the file and the application will know that the file has been renamed or moved.
- Say you open a document in MS-Word, that file appears in the "Recent Files" menu. You can then move or rename that file and the reference in MS-Word's "Recent Files" menu still works.
- Generally speaking, you can move or rename documents and applications without breaking anything.
CONSISTENT MDI INTERFACE
OS X defines and supports a modern Multiple Document Interface (MDI) that virtually all OS X applications consistently adhere to. This allows the following:
- The menu commands are always at the top of the screen. Document windows contain the name of the document.
- Command-clicking a window reveals the file path to the document.
- Applications are immediately notified when an open document is renamed or moved.
- Allows the user to switch between (or hide) whole applications, as well as documents, making an application with many open documents a more manageable scenario. Yet, at the same time it still allows windows from different application to inter-mingle on the screen.
- Consistent menu locations and keyboard shortcuts for modern application features (e.g. Preferences, Recent Items, Hide Application)
- Note: Microsoft is introducing more modern interface guidelines, starting with Vista and the upcoming version of Office, but it remains to be seen how quickly other applications follow the lead.
UBIQUITOUS FILE METADATA
Any file can contain metadata that defines how the file appears or behaves in your system. For example:
- You can assign a unique icon to any specific document or a folder.
- You can assign file/application associations on a per-document basis. For example, you have two .html documents in a folder. You can have one open in Firefox by default, and the other open in TextEdit.
- You can instruct a specific file to hide or show its file extension. For example, you download a file named "doc11w.pdf", you can rename this file to "My Super Document" and OS X will automatically hide the PDF extension for you on that particular file.
MODERN FILESYSTEM ORGANIZATION and BUNDLES
OS X uses a file system structure that is more applicable to modern applications and users than Windows or Linux
- OS X hides the standard Unix folders like /usr and /tmp that are irrelevant to the GUI user.
- OS X uses application and framework bundles to hide the complexity of application and library installation and management. A bundle is simply a folder that is treated as a single file. For example, when you download Firefox, it appears as a single application file rather than a folder with a bunch of crap in it; you double-click it to run, and you can move, rename, and delete the application just as any other file.
- Note: Microsoft is providing a more modern filesystem structure for Vista, but still requires the start menu and application installers for even the simplest of application.
CUSTOMIZABLE MENU SHORTCUTS (Second favorite feature)
In every application virtually all common and uncommon menu commands have a corresponding keyboard shortcut, using the aptly named "Command" key. OS X also allows you to customize the keyboard shortcut for any menu command, either at the global level, or on a per-application basis.
3D COMPOSITE RENDERING
Each window is rendered as a texture using the 3D capabilities of the video card. This allows the OS to more efficiently produce modern effects and enables such features as Exposé and global zoom.
- Note: Vista will have this, and Linux has experimental support for this as well.
DESKTOP SEARCH
OS X has built-in search technology that is incorporated into the system as well as most applications.
- Note 1: This is more usable and useful than 3rd-party searching tools simply because it's integrated into most applications as well as the desktop.
- Note 2: Vista will have a version of this.
OPTION KEY
You can use the Option key to enter non-latin symbols directly from the keyboard: π µ é ü î ø å ß ∂ ƒ Ω ç √ ñ. Another handy feature for students.
SEPARATE COMMAND KEY for GUI SHORTCUTS
- OS X doesn't use the Ctrl key for keyboard shortcuts. This ensures that modern GUI shortcuts don't conflict with legacy Unix applications that do use the Ctrl key. For example, Unix/Emacs key bindings don't interfere with standard GUI shortcuts; you can cut and paste in Terminal using standard Command-C/Command-V keystrokes without interfering with the application running inside the Terminal.
- The Command key is given preferential keyboard real estate, unlike the Ctrl key.
SCRIPTING and AUTOMATION
- Virtually all applications support AppleScript bindings that allow the user write scripts to automate their applications. Unlike COM/VBScript on Windows, this feature is actually utilized by many users, and there are scripts available for download to perform automated tasks in common applications like iTunes.
- OS X also provides Automator, a way to automate applications without writing any scripts.
Also: Linux is a better Unix than OS X, but OS X is a pretty good Unix too, with X11, bash, emacs, and standard development tools (gcc, java, perl, python) installed out of the box (unlike Ubuntu). Very handy for the Computer Science and Engineering students who need to work with the Unix servers and software provided by their school.
Also 2: Macs are bundled with a compelling suite of modern "digital lifestyle" applications, and very little "cruft" (Trials, Demos, and other marketing.) It's a very usable and useful system right out of the box. - stevelucky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13exactly. boot camp just lets you boot between Os X and windows (or linux or any other operating system, for that matter). but if you run parallels, you can run both operating systems simultaneously. switching back and forth with a keystroke. pretty genius.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11⌥ = Option
⇧ = Shift
⌃ = Ctrl
If you have trouble memorizing that list feel free to print it out.. - stevelucky, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9i'm in the same boat. i want to switch so bad but am a little nervous. but you've got to admin, with parallels and boot camp available it makes switching a whole lot easier.
- ub3rgeek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Actually out of all the app lists on Digg (and there have been a ***** ton) this is one of the absolute best I've seen
- angelp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9@Eldoo - I'm not sure how offering up a correction plus answering the question discredited anything.
- zyng, on 10/12/2007, -9/+15It's Mac not MAC, BTW, and yes, the files are cross-platform combatible. There are even a few cool features on the Mac version of Office that Windows doesn't have.
- nato64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6To answer your question, the files are TOTALLY coss-platform compatible. Even if you don't use Microsoft Word and instead use Apple's Pages (like I dot), you can export to a .doc format SUPER easily, which will work fine on Windows.
- derjazzmeister, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6There are a number of useful tools on this post for veteran mac users as well as the newbie. Thanks for the tip!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6VLC will play wmv files on Mac, yes.
- stevelucky, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8you won't believe the party we're going to have when you die.
- sigma419, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@stevelucky: Boot camp allows you to install Linux as well as Windows? Excellent...
- ExplodinBarrels, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7For those switchers interested in some free apps for the Mac:
http://www.explodingbarrels.net/2006/07/05/free-apps-for-mac-switchers/ - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Absolutely! Every command has a keyboard shortcut, and every keyboard shortcut is customizable in every application.
My first impression of OS X was that it does a much better job of catering to the power user than Windows, Gnome, or KDE. Ironic, considering how many people still toss around the 1980's myth that Macs are for noobs who don't know how to use computers (read: MS-DOS). - jonathanquinn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Lots of good questions all, I had made the swtich three months ago, to a powerbook g4 and now to a brand new blackbook. You'll have some brilliant moments on your mac, and some really frustrating ones. just remember there are always plenty of great resources, espeically from apple. most xp users are so used to microsofts maze of self help. to answer some of the questions here. any file made in mac:office will open for almost any p.c. user. before you save things, you get a prompt for compatability, the default is office 97 and up. any of your friends/workers who still use 97, really shoudln't be your friends. Boot camp is great and all, but if your a switcher, you wont want to use xp again. when you use windows machines, you feel dumb and alien. i highly reccomend expose. on XP i find myself always moving to the bottom right corner (show all windows) any questions hit me up at jonathanquinn@gmail.com
- berfmurret, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4the shortcuts are really what do it for me. expose, command tab, command q, command w.. they just make everday navigation such a pleasure.
- FreakyT, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5OpenOffice requires X11, and doesn't work very well, and NeoOffice is slow and lacking in features.
Personally, I like TexEdit.app, as it supports most basic word processing functions, but I'd say MS Office is the best solution out there for macs, at least for the moment. - kolywater, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"the home/end keys"
cmd-left, cmd-right (works on 95% of apps, though some refuse to comply with the standard)
"the ability to move back/forward a word (ctrl left/right)"
option-left, option-right
"and the delete key (removing the character right of the cursor)."
fn-delete on notebook keyboards
cmd is the button with the apple logo on it next to the space bar.
option is where the alt key is. - Thoth49, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4One thing Macs can do is make pdf files from any program's print dialog, without extra software, and display them super fast since pdf is built into the system. This one feature enhances my productivity immensely.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@ cfizzo
People are digging it because obviously SOMEBODY wants to read it. If you don't care then don't digg it. - KyleofAlberta, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Oh come now, Macs run a lot better than those terrible Dell computers.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Also one other (stupid) question. If I use Microsoft Office (Excel, Powerpoint, etc) in the MAC version, then can people with PC's open the files if I send them to them? In other words, can you open MAC Powerpoint files on Windows Machines?
- deusexmachina1, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7@Eldoo: There's a significant difference between MAC and Mac and the OP could save himself from much confusion by knowing the difference. The correction in no way "discredited" the advice given.
- Kypt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Oh, if I had known that list when i got my PBG4 it would've saved me hours of searching. One of most valuable apps there to me atleast is Quicksilver. Can't use my laptop w/o it lol
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Why don't you just bury it if you think it's pointless and offers nothing of value? Like I'll do with your comment.
- wilsonics, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3We've seen a lot of "top 10 mac software" lists these days. Frankly, it was starting to make me ill. Most of them were just touting a few favourite progs, but this one really takes the cake. This is a great read. It's a very in depth article covering everything you'll need to know when you dive into a mac.
I started on a mac a while back, and i had know idea what i was doing...it would have been a great help if i had this page back then. Now, that mac is gone, so...when i do buy my own mac to replace my now aging pc i'll keep this list around as a reference to learn again.
Thanks for the info! Great work! - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I can't think of any significant, specific tasks that can be done with OS X that can't be done with Windows and/or Linux. Many people say multimedia/audio/graphics production is 'better' on a Mac, but I don't really buy it. Windows (XP) is quite stable and I think nowadays it comes down to personal preference more than anything else.
- Ryzo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Honest Question, not trolling:
What does a mac do that Linux and Windows can't? - FuzzyNaval, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3There are still compatibility issues that do exist, such as specific font layouts, use of Quicktime, transitions, etc... I would be hesitant to use the word "TOTALLY"; however, for the most part the files are compatible.
I used Office 2004 during college, and I did run into issues with Word and PowerPoint on a few occasions. However, Office 2004 does provide you with a compatibility checker that I would recommend using if you are aiming for 100% collaboration with Windows Office users. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Too bad Textpander isn't donationware anymore. Poor Textpander, being sold by a bogus shareware company. They've even changed your icon to a CEO-friendly smiley buttface :(
- benwaterworth, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4i wasn't gonna digg this cos i found out all this stuff within five minutes (slight exaggeration) of getting my first mac.
but then i saw the sneaky bit about textpander and that earned it a digg.
(i have always found the best way to learn about os x is to use os x) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7Honestly, I don't even know what boot camp really is. I mean basically you can decide if you want to run Mac or Windows and switch between the two? Is that basically it---so that I'm confident that even if I don't like running Mac I can just use the computer as I would a DELL anyway?
- radaneo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Abiword is pretty good for a word processor on OSX.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Now tell me, why is this being modded down? Because there's no phoney "shareware" in that list?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3> How's OpenOffice or NeoOffice for the Mac?
Not good at all, unfortunately. On the Mac they can only be considered as technology demos rather than usable applications.
It was only after suffering in OpenOffice for way too long that I decided on a whim to buy iWork (student discount) and I am absolutely impressed with Pages. It follows the OS X/NEXTSTEP tradition of cleanly separating commands from properties (i.e. the property inspector) and is a joy to use. - dezent, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3lots of us use osx ?
- MariusTh, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3just make a new user account with the name you desire under users in the system preferences
- eyreka, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Nissus Express, Mellel, Mariner Write or MarinerPak if you need a spreadsheet app, Ragtime (available for free as Ragtime Solo for non-commercial use).
- joemarus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2As a recent convert to Mac, and a longtime PC user, I'm going to have to say buddy, that something is very eff-ed up with your computer and that is not the typical Windows experience. I got two computers with XP and they have not blue-screened on me ever. They only have 512 MB of RAM and they run great 99% of the time. I can count on one hand the number of times I had to reset them because of freezups over the past three years. In fact one only had 128 MB on it and I ran it fine for a while until I needed to have a MSDE database running on it.
So I just wanted to break the stereotype that all Windows PCs crash multiple times a day and need gobs of memory and CPU just to run. - antitab, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4"I can't wait until Steve Jobs is dead. I'm going to have a big party :)"
Holy *****. Who the hell gets so worked up about a computing platform to wish death over it? The ***** is wrong with you? - boredzo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't forget ⌘ = Command.
- Synchro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I made the switch back in March, the only thing I miss are the games. I bought myself an XBOX 360 and play the heck out of that. Most everything I did on my PC I can do on my mac. for certain things I can do more. Since I got the Mac, I have not had a crash. I bought the wife a mac as well and she too has not had a crash. Something that used to happen every so often on my PC. Apps freeze up every so often, but that is the app's fault. i just kill it and keep going.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If your question is what does a 'Mac' do the answer is nothing - you can install Windows and/or Linux on your Mac as well as OS X. If your question is 'What does OS X do that Linux and Windows can't?', well every OS is different and certain applications are designed for certain OSs. What do you want to do?
- rlutterb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hmm... I'm just seeing "? =" (i.e. "question mark equals") are you trying to insert special chars here?
- dan4321, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For anyone interested in the very nice P2P app Acquisition but unwilling to pay, check out Acqlite (http://acqlite.sourceforge.net/)...
- strcmp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@radaneo
AbiWord has severe font rendering issues which make it unusable on Mac OS X. - michaelyurechko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1thanks for that, a lot of useful programs there, I will soon be switching to a mac, but I'm jumping right in, no windows, no parallels. Getting rid of my windows desktop too. Everything I can do on the pc, I can do on the mac, and most times the mac software is better. Thanks again.
- SuperHyperKid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I want a Mac, but cant afford it, and the Hackintosh platform isnt all bad :) Good list, my fav mac app is prob Fire.
- eleven59, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1oh i know it doesnt happen to all users, but i just never hear of mac users that i knwo personally going thru the same level of trouble. i know no system is full proof- they are after all programmed by humans right?
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