Macbook pro for dummies: 15 essential tips MacBook / By admin / Leave a Comment Steve Jobs has spent a significant part of his life trying to make Mac as easy to use as possible. As you can see, these striking differences make the choice between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro very easy indeed. To wit: The Air is designed for the traveler who appreciates minimum weight and size but doesn’t want to sacrifice the full-size screen, and full-size keyboard of a typical MacBook. May 23, 2019 The Touch Bar. Apple added a big new feature to the latest model MacBook Pro. The Touch Bar is an OLED panel that sits at the top of the keyboard and replaces the row of function keys. It is contextual, meaning what appears on the panel will. About the Author. Chambers has been an author, computer consultant, BBS sysop, programmer, and hardware technician for over 30 years. Mark has written more than thirty computer books including Macs For Seniors For Dummies, 3rd Edition, and iMac For Dummies, 9th Edition.
As a senior citizen entering the world of Macs, you can use a few basic things: a guide to prices and uses for various types of Macs, helpful keyboard shortcuts that get you quickly where you want to go, and web resources that offer tips, tutorials, and products for your Mac. And you can never be too safe, so it pays to know how to avoid potential predators in on the Internet.
Macintosh Price and Power Guide
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You’re a senior wanting to take a bite out of a nice Macintosh Apple . . . computer. To help you compare and contrast Macs, the following table lists some Mac models and price ranges and tells you what they’re best suited to do.
Model | For | Price Range |
iMac desktop | Midrange to power user; built-in monitor | $1,099–$2,299 |
Mac mini desktop | Entry-level to typical home computing; no monitor or keyboard | $499–$999 |
MacBook Air laptop | Entry-level to home computing; especially good for travellers | $899–$1,199 |
MacBook laptop | Typical home computing | $1,299–$1,599 |
MacBook Pro laptop | Midrange to power user | $1,099–$2,499 |
Mac Pro desktop | Professional/power user; no monitor, keyboard, or mouse | $2,999–$3,999 |
Top 10 Mac Finder Keyboard Shortcuts
As a senior, you know that your time is valuable. The keyboard shortcuts available on any Mac computer can help you save time, and look like a pro! The following table lists some of the most helpful shortcuts on Apple products.
Key | What It Does |
Command+C | Copies selected items |
Command+T | Opens a new tab |
Command+I | Shows information for selected items |
Command+N | Opens a new Finder window |
Command+O | Opens (or launches) the selected item |
Command+V | Pastes an item from the Clipboard |
Command+X | Cuts the selected items |
Command+Z | Undoes the last action (if possible) |
Command+Shift+H | Opens your Home folder |
Command+Shift+Q | Logs you out |
Top 10 Internet Security Tips
![Pro Pro](/uploads/1/3/3/2/133279015/226135746.jpg)
Actually, the tips in the following list are worth following whether you’re a junior, a senior, a Mac user, or a PC person. The Internet is full of wondrous sites, but it’s also full of unsavory characters you need to guard against. Use the tips here as a guideline to things you should never do and use your own common sense as well.
- Never enter personal information in an email message when you don’t know the recipient.
- Never enter personal information on a website provided as a link in an email message.
- Never include personal information in an Internet forum, discussion group, or newsgroup message.
- Never use the same password for all your electronic business.
- Never divulge personal information to others over an instant message connection.
- Never use your MacBook on the road without turning on your El Capitan firewall.
- Never buy from an online store that doesn’t offer a secure, encrypted connection when you’re prompted for your personal information and credit card number.
- Never download a file from a site you don’t trust.
- Never allow a stranger to connect to your Mac using the Screen Sharing feature.
- Never allow children to use the Internet without guidance and supervision.
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Macbook Pro For Dummies Book Free Download
Your MacBook keyboard puts efficiency at your fingertips. Startup keys, shortcut key combinations, and special function keys invite you to perform different tasks with a single touch — from turning up the sound volume to deleting selected text.
Finder Shortcuts for Your MacBook Keyboard
Keyboard shortcuts help you make quick, efficient use of the OS X Finder on your MacBook, providing all kinds of options for performing common tasks within El Capitan.
Key | Function |
---|---|
Command+A | Selects all items in the active window (icon view), all items in the column (column view), or all items in the list (list view and Cover Flow view) |
Command+C | Copies the selected items |
Command+D | Duplicates the selected item or items |
Command+E | Ejects the selected volume |
Command+F | Displays the Find controls in a new Finder window |
Command+H | Hides All Finder windows |
Command+I | Shows info for the selected item or items |
Command+J | Shows the view options for the active window |
Command+K | Displays the Connect to Server dialog |
Command+L | Creates an alias for the selected item |
Command+M | Minimizes the active window |
Command+N | Opens a new Finder window |
Command+O | Opens (or launches) the selected item |
Command+R | Shows the original for the selected alias |
Command+T | Opens a new Finder tab |
Command+V | Pastes items from the Clipboard |
Command+W | Closes the active window |
Command+X | Cuts the selected items |
Command+Z | Undoes the last action (if possible) |
Command+, | Displays Finder Preferences dialog |
Command+1 | Shows the active window in icon mode |
Command+2 | Shows the active window in list mode |
Command+3 | Shows the active window in column mode |
Command+4 | Shows the active window in cover flow mode |
Command+[ | Moves back to the previous Finder location |
Command+] | Moves forward to the next Finder location |
Command+Delete | Moves selected items to the Trash |
Command+Up Arrow | Shows the enclosing folder |
Command+` | Cycles through windows |
Command+/ | Shows/Hides Status bar |
Command+? | Displays OS X Help Viewer |
Command+Shift+A | Goes to your Applications folder |
Command+Shift+C | Goes to the top-level Computer location |
Command+Shift+G | Goes to the specified folder |
Command+Shift+H | Goes to your Home folder |
Command+Shift+Q | Logs you out |
Command+Shift+N | Creates a new untitled folder in the active window |
Command+Shift+P | Shows/Hides Preview pane |
Command+Shift+T | Shows/Hides Tab bar |
Command+Shift+U | Goes to your Utilities folder |
Command+Shift+Del | Deletes the contents of the Trash |
Command+Option+H | Hides all windows (except Finder windows) |
Command+Option+I | Opens the Inspector for the selected items |
Command+Option+N | Creates a new smart folder |
Command+Option+T | Shows/Hides the Finder window toolbar and sidebar |
Command+Space | Displays the Spotlight search box |
Control+Up Arrow | Displays the Mission Control screen |
Control+Down Arrow | Shows all open windows for the current application using Mission Control |
Command+F3 | Hides all windows to display the Desktop using Mission Control |
F4 | Displays your Dashboard widgets |
Spacebar | Displays the contents of a file using Quick Look |
Standard MacBook Function Keys You Should Know
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Some MacBook keys display symbols you may not have seen on a computer keyboard before. Here’s a handy reference for what those function keys can do for you on your Apple laptop.
Startup Keys: More Power to Your MacBook Keyboard
Some keys and keyboard combinations on your MacBook were born for Startup magic — either to get your Apple laptop booted up, help troubleshoot computer problems, or perform other technical tricks within El Capitan.
Key | Effect on Your Mac |
---|---|
C | Boots from the CD or DVD that’s loaded in your optical drive (if you have one) or a bootable USB flash drive |
Media Eject | Ejects the CD or DVD in your optical drive (if you have one) |
Option | Displays a system boot menu allowing you to choose the operating system and/or volume |
Shift | Runs your MacBook in Safe Mode, preventing your Login Items from running; runs a directory check |
T | Starts your laptop in FireWire or Thunderbolt Target Disk mode |
Command+R | Boots from the El Capitan Recovery HD |
Command+Option+R | Boots El Capitan Recovery using your Internet connection |
Command+V | Show OS X Console messages |
Command+S | Starts your MacBook in Single User Mode |
Command+Option+P+R | Resets Parameter RAM (PRAM) |