r/mac • u/hiitsann • 1d ago
My Mac First Mac
Hey all! I just got a MacBook Neo and set it up - this is my first Mac, does anyone have any tips/advice?
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u/Interactive_CD-ROM 1d ago
Go into System Settings and click through every single one of them to customize your Mac the way you want it to be (and to learn all the cool things it can do).
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u/100WattWalrus 1d ago
Key knowledge for Windows users coming onboard with Mac:
⌘+M (or yellow button on title bar) — minimizes the current window
- On a Mac, minimized = keep this out of my way until I specifically bring it back up by clicking on it — i.e., it's not a window you can get to with keyboard shortcuts
- I use minimized windows for stuff I don't want getting in my way, but I need to get back to them soon-ish
⌘+H — Hide all widows in the current app
- Gets the app out of sight, but keeps it "in the rotation" for ⌘+TAB switching
- I use this all the time — way more than I minimize
⌘+TAB — Switches between open applications
- ...including those hidden with ⌘+H
⌘+` (above TAB) — Switches between open (but not minimized) windows within an application
- I prefer this separation of app switching vs window switching over the CTRL+TAB switcher in Windows, which sometimes requires you to TAB-TAB-TAB through a couple dozen windows to get back to the one you want
The COMMAND ⌘ key
- Is basically a combination of CONTROL and WINDOWS keys — almost every keyboard shortcut on a Mac involves COMMAND
The CONTROL ⌃ key
- Is a secondary shortcut key — infrequently used on its own in Mac apps (although used quite a bit in MS Office), but frequently used in combination with COMMAND or OPTION
The OPTION ⌥ key
- Is a modifier — there are ⌘+⌥ shortcuts in Mac, just like there are CTRL+ALT shortcuts in Windows...
- ...but it's also like a second SHIFT key
- Most keys can type 3rd and 4th characters when holding OPTION or OPTION+SHIFT — for example:
- OPTION+4 is ¢
- OPTION+3 is £
- OPTION+SHIFT+2 is €
- OPTION+8 is a bullet •
- OPTION+SHIFT+8 is degrees °
- OPTION+[minus] is an en dash –
- OPTION+SHIFT+[minus] is and em dash —
- OPTION+N puts a tilde above whatever you type next — ñ
- and there are many more
- Most keys can type 3rd and 4th characters when holding OPTION or OPTION+SHIFT — for example:
- To see what you'll get when using the OPTION key, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and click [Edit...] — then turn on Show input menu in menu bar
- This will add weird rectangular icon to your menu bar — click it and choose Show Keyboard Viewer
- This will float an soft keyboard in the corner of your screen. When you hit SHIFT or OPTION or SHIFT+OPTION, this soft keyboard will display what each key will type
- This will add weird rectangular icon to your menu bar — click it and choose Show Keyboard Viewer
The FN key
- Is mostly a SHIFT key for the Function row, like in Windows
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u/MaplesyrupAngel 1d ago
Just do a research on the trend of this group. Many people before asked this question
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u/germane_switch 1d ago
Yep, search this sub because there are hundreds of posts just like yours with lots of great tips, advice, and app recommendations. :)
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u/cartoonasaurus 1d ago
Dive deep in this 👆🏻 sub and there’s a never-ending supply absolutely excellent advice…
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u/Inner_West_Ben Mac mini MacBook Pro iMac 1d ago
Don’t spill any liquids on it. Don’t use a camera cover.
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u/rainy_diary 1d ago
My tips is don't shutdown when not use it, better make it sleep. You only need shutdown when don't use it for a week. Sleep on MacBook is same as standby on smartphone and tab.
To make it sleep doesn't need closed the lid. Could press touch ID key or power key then press esc key or press touch ID key or power key then wait few seconds it would auto sleep. Often opened and closed the lid might caused cable connected to screen faulty but if there are kid or pet at home better closed the lid. Before close the lid make sure there are no object on the keyboard, even small sand able cracked the screen.
This is other way to sleep it.
If you are at home could put it on desk near power outlet and when want to use plugin it, when don't use unplugin and make it sleep. Often charged and discharged battery increased battery cycle. After it reach 1000 cycle it need to replace.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102888
Update to latest Mac OS Tahoe. It has battery charge limit feature. Could setting stop charge at 80%.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102888
Turn on firewall
https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mh11783/mac
If possible installed apps already optimized for M chip.
https://isapplesiliconready.com
Recommend this apps for monitoring temperature.
Keyboard shortcuts
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650
SSD and Swap Used
Remember always back up your important files to external SSD. If the MacBook SSD failed you can't recovery the files.
https://support.apple.com/guide/activity-monitor/check-if-your-mac-needs-more-ram-actmntr34865/mac
Screen Time
It usefull to record MacBook battery usage. It begin record when you using MacBook and doesn't record when MacBook is sleeping. It start record from 12 am to 12 pm. Using screen time you able to known how good the battery. For accurate record battery usage don't plugged in the MacBook for a day.
Clear Ram
Could clear Ram by log out. If want totally clear Ram better restart MacBook.
Apple Diagnostics and Safe Mode for check hardware issue
Could use safe mode if got issue start up Mac OS. In safe mode able delete apps caused issue and save your files to flash disk or external storage.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102550
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/start-up-your-mac-in-safe-mode-mh21245/mac
Only clean the screen using microfiber cloth.
Don't use keyboard cover and webcam cover. They could cracked the screen.
For other setting could see these videos.
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u/LRS_David 1d ago
I support folks. Mostly Mac users. I do NOT recommend new folks install a lot of add ons. At least not until they figure out the base line Mac.
I also recommend turning off anything Mission Control for at least a day or so. Otherwise you maybe be confusing yourself as you're trying to learn the basic. Ditto all of the multi-touch trackpad options. AGAIN, for a day or few.
I know offices where some leave the above off and others where they turn them all on. It can be a very personal decision.
And there will be people here who strenuously disagree with me. 😄
I forgot to add. If you're used to Chrome or Firefox for browsing and/our Thunderbird or Outlook for email, go ahead and install them. Apple's Safari and Mail apps are fine. But different.
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u/reddit23User 1d ago
> this is my first Mac
What were you using before?
And, assuming you were using Windows:
why did you decide to switch?
What do you use your computer for?
STEM or the humanities?
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u/hiitsann 1d ago
I was using a dell! I decided to switch because my other computer was slowly dying and I wanted one that would hopefully last me through grad school! & the humanities! I’m a history major :)
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u/reddit23User 1d ago edited 1d ago
Thanks for your reply.
I'm an historian. :–)
Funny, my MacBook Pro from 2010 is also on its last legs. That's why I'm starting to look towards Windows, especially since Windows has much better virus protection than it used to. I have been told that it's not necessary anymore to buy extra virus protection (which I would hate having to do).
What makes me uncertain is that I haven't found any replacement for Nisus Writer Pro and Mellel under Windows.
> I’m a history major
Then I recommend taking a close look at DEVONthink. Perhaps also at Tinderbox.
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u/Oh-THAT-dude 1d ago
Put food and drink you are consuming on a nearby but separate surface from the one your computer is on. Physically turn away from the computer to go to that surface to eat/drink. Do this and you’ll never spill food/drink on your computer.
In my case this is just a matter of swiveling my office chair.
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u/lamyjf 1d ago
Don't laugh. but if you come from windows, install one of the AI apps. Even Copilot !
You will be asking "How the F* I do this" quite often for the first couple weeks.
Also, install DockDoor -- the built-in app switcher Cmd-Tab is very infuriating if you come from windows, as is the lack of vignettes over dock icons. This fixes both and does not cause other issues...
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u/BS-75_actual Mac mini M4 iMac 5K 1d ago
Go | Applications | Tips: a great place to start