Learning method

General points
Window
Files and Folders
The Finder
Softwares
Dock*
Apple menu*
Scanning panel
Mouse action
Internet
Electronic mail
Keyboard shortcuts
Markers
Tricks*
Preferences
System Preferences*
Researches*
Making scanning panels I*
Making scanning panels II*
Apple menu

The Apple menu appears when clicking the blue apple on the very left of the menu strip. 

About This Mac : when selecting it, a window opens showing what operating system is on your computer, the processor, which is the speed, and how much memory is in the computer. Clicking “More info” opens another window with all characteristics of the computer. The “About this Mac” window disappears when you scan the menu. 

Software update : when selecting it, the Software Update application opens and goes on internet fetching if updates of the Mac OS X operating system, are available, and proposes to do the updates ; it is recommended to do them fairly often. For applications which are not in the Mac OS X operating system, you have to go on the corresponding web sites.

Mac OS X softwares : when selecting it, it opens Safari which goes the Apple web site, from which you can download all Apple softwares. 

System Preferences : when selecting it, it opens the System Preferences application, which organizes your computer. In chapter “System Preferences”, I have just put the basic of what you have to know. For more details, either read the manual, given with the computer, or go on the Apple’s support web site :

http://www.apple.com/support/

Dock : I did a special chapter on the Dock.

Location : when selecting it, you can change the network configuration and choose one already installed on your computer. Choosing “Network Preferences”, opens the network section of the System Preferences application ; in the open window, click the second popup menu “Show”, and choose “Internal Modem” if you have a simple phone connection, or “Ethernet Intégré” if you have ADSL. The simplest way is to click the “Assist me” button, at the bottom of the window, and let yourself be guided through. If you have an AirPort base station or a Bluetooth system, you do it the same way.  

Recent Items : rapid way to find back files or applications on which you worked the days before.

Force Quit : if an application blocks, you generally have to restart your computer, which is impossible for a person who cannot press the restart button. One of the great advantages of the Mac OS X operating system, is that you have a way to force the blocked application to quit, without restarting : choose “Force Quit”, or type “Option Command Escape” ( ) keyboard shortcut (last key, before last row of the “Keyboard and Mouse bis” scanning panel), a window opens, with the list of all the opened applications, select the one you want to quit, with the up or down arrow (, ), and then type Return twice.  

Sleep : when you stop working and that you know you will come again to your computer, it is better to put the computer in sleep mode, so to darken the screen. When you come back, just give a switch. 

Restart : restarting makes the computer read all data inside. If you install a new software or do updates, you must restart, otherwise the computer cannot use the new items installed. Sometimes the computer works strangely, all comes back in order after restarting. If the computer blocks, which is very rare, you cannot restart it this way, you have to press at the same time Command, Control (CTRL) and the restart button, top right of keyboard. Of course this operation is impossible for whom uses SwitchXS, I think it is the only operation where a SwitchXS user needs help.

Shut down : selecting it, makes all open application quit, and then the computer  switches off.

Log out … : useful only if several persons use the same computer.