Getting Started With Mac OS X

By Ricky Buchanan • August 6, 2008

So you’ve got your first brand new Mac … what now? If you were a Windows user, the first thing you need to do is forget all the stuff you know about Windows. At least, forget it when you’re using the Mac - Mac OS X works differently to Windows. I suggest that you start with one of the beginner tutorials listed below.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then ask for help. Don’t worry that your questions seem “dumb” or “easy” - we’ve all been beginner Mac users at some point. For assistive technology users, knowing your Mac is even more important because getting the most out of your computer will make a huge difference. And unlike with Windows and JAWS, even VoiceOver screen reader users mostly use regular Mac OS X commands so they’re very much worth learning.

Here’s some of the best resources I have to recommend to new Mac users:

OS X Help uses “Insanely simple tutorials for the first time Macintosh user” as their tagline, and they live up to the name. If you start at the beginning and work through each webpage on their site you’ll get a very good introduction to OS X and the programs that came with your Mac and know how to make the most of them.

The Mac 101 category on TUAW has great basic information on a variety of topics. I would suggest browsing through it, as it’s not organised into a series like the OS X Help pages are.

Apple’s Leopard support pages are also surprisingly helpful, with their Mac 101 series and “how to” documents as well as message boards.

Are there any other websites you use when you need to learn something new in OS X? Share them in the comments!

- Ricky Buchanan

Categories: Information, Primary Switch Users, Supporters, Users, VoiceOver, Windows Users
Tags: beginners, easy, features, getting started with mac, Simple, starting, switching to the mac

About the Author

Ricky Buchanan

Ricky Buchanan is 34 years old and the founder and main writer for ATMac. She's bedridden with severe CFS/ME or perhaps a primary mitochondrial disorder - the doctors are not sure. When she's not working on ATMac or her other websites she composes music, listens to audio books, does other disability advocacy, watches TV with her flatmate, and enjoys her cat.

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