You are reading the first line of the first, probably even “pilot” issue of a new series of articles called “From A to Z”. In this short series, we will tell you all the most important information about the latest models of Apple computers from the following lines: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro. For some, this information will be useful for making a purchasing decision, for others to expand their own knowledge, and for others for crossword puzzles - it does not matter at all, as long as it is useful. In general, don’t judge strictly, let’s go.

The first MacBook Pro was introduced by Apple in early 2006. This model replaced the PowerBook G4 computers. The MacBook Pro was instantly able to win the hearts of its users, and many of us still look forward to each next update to this line, wondering what the new generation of firmware will have.

These were the first Intel laptops from the Apple company. Until the release of the first MacBook Pro, all Apple laptops were equipped with a PowerPC chip, which was a joint development of Apple, IBM and Motorola. This transition was very important for the entire company and its users. But the responsibility for this step was no less. Apple had to guarantee its users that their software and all of them would run on Intel Macs. The solution to this dilemma was Rossetta, an efficient dynamic translator that allowed Power PC applications to run on Apple computers using Intel processors.

Why was it necessary to switch to new processors at all? It's simple: speed. The first MacBook Pro amazed its users with a huge increase in speed in their work, compared to its predecessor, the PowerBook G4. Intel Core-Duo is, in simple terms, two processors in one, thanks to which it was possible to increase the speed of operation, but in no way affect the rate at which the laptop’s battery drains. Of course, users responded positively to the new processors, although some still complained about compatibility issues with some older software. In general, for the most part, the new MacBook Pro received very positive ratings.

The target audience for the first MacBook Pro were users who required high speed and a decent amount of memory. So it's no coincidence that the first MacBook Pro looked roughly the same as the predecessor it replaced. Inside they were completely different.

In the seven years since its introduction, the MacBook Pro has undergone a huge number of changes: from software to the Retina display.

In the good old days, Apple offered us three types of firmware (not to mention specific configurations): with a 13-inch display, with a 15-inch display and with a 17-inch display. But not long ago, Apple stopped producing the 17-inch MacBook Pro, concentrating on 13 and 15-inch models. Thanks to this, in June 2012 we saw a 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display, and already in October the junior model of the line was also equipped with a Retina display.

Let's divide all the “firmware” into two categories: those without a Retina display, that is, ordinary ones, and those that can boast of one. First, of course, let's talk about those that are ordinary.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro features a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz), with a shared 6 MB of L3 cache. But if you want a faster laptop, you can get the MacBook Pro with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz) and 8MB cache. Moreover, you can complement your brand new firmware with a 512 GB third-generation semiconductor hard drive, which will work 4 times faster than traditional hard drives. To increase the amount of memory, you can install a hard drive with a capacity of even 1 TB.

The younger, 13-inch model also received significant improvements. For example, it was equipped with the fastest dual-core processors: Intel Core i5 with a clock frequency of 2.5 GHz and Intel Core i7 with a clock frequency of 2.9 GHz. And Turbo Boost technology accelerates the processor up to 3.6 GHz.

MacBook Pro 13/15 specifications:

• Diagonal: 13.3 / 15.4
• Screen resolution: 1280×800 pixels / 1440×900 pixels
• Processor: Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz or Intel Core i7 2.9 GHz / Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz or Intel Core i7 2.6 GHz
• Dimensions (height x width x depth): 2.41 x 32.5 x 22.7 cm / 2.41 x 36.4 x 24.9 cm
• Weight: 2.06 kg / 2.56 kg
• Memory: DDR3 1600 MHz SO-DIMM
• Number of memory slots: 2, supports up to 8 GB
• Memory installed: 4 or 8 GB (both slots occupied)
• Storage: 500GB or 750GB HDD, 8x SuperDrive slot-loading optical drive
• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11n (backwards compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards), Bluetooth 4.0
• Ports: Gigabit Ethernet network port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, FireWire 800 port, Thunderbolt port, SDXC memory card slot, Kensington security slot, MagSafe 2, headphone output
• Battery capacity: 63.5 Wh / 77.5 Wh

As for the operating time, according to Apple, it is 7 hours. Both for the younger and for the older model. In principle, this is true, although, of course, it primarily depends on what you do and how you use your MacBook Pro. So, for example, if you are “walking” through web pages, then 7 hours is a reality, but if you play games or edit videos, then 4-5 hours is your maximum.

The package includes the MacBook Pro itself, a screen cleaning cloth, a MagSafe charger (electrical plug, power cable and unit) and documentation in printed and electronic form. The laptop itself is covered by an official worldwide warranty from Apple for a period of 1 year (warranty and post-warranty service at any authorized service center).

The 13-inch model with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor will cost you $1,199. The older model, with a 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, is offered for $1,499. As for the 15-inch models, the situation is as follows: Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.3 GHz costs $1,799, Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.6 GHz will cost you $2,199.

We deliberately indicate prices in dollars, since, unfortunately, there is no single price for Apple equipment in rubles: firstly, official resellers will have the same prices (and may differ from each other), while “gray” sellers and stores will have the same prices. other; secondly, prices in our market are constantly changing, so we will dance from the Apple online store.

MacBook Pro with Retina display specifications

Finally, we have reached firmware with a Retina display, a kind of standard among laptops from the Apple company. There are plenty of differences between the MacBook Pro with Retina display and the “regular” MacBook Pro.

So, let's start our acquaintance with these computers from the most important thing - the processors. With a dual-core Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processor in the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, you can run even the most demanding, performance-intensive apps without any hassle. Both the junior and senior models support such excellent technology as Hyper-Threading, which can improve performance by allowing each core to simultaneously process multiple processes at once. By the way, the well-known Turbo Boost technology increases the processor clock speed to 3.6 GHz. In general, it’s hard to call this model a “baby”.

It goes without saying that the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will surprise us even more. Inside, you'll find (just please don't try to open it yourself) third-generation Intel Core i7 processors, based on an advanced 22nm microarchitecture, delivering the best performance of any MacBook Pro laptop. And with clock speeds of up to 2.6 GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz, and up to 8MB of shared L3 cache, these processors are essential for the most demanding tasks. .

MacBook Pro with Retina 13/15 display specifications:

• Diagonal: 13.3 / 15.4
• Screen resolution: 2560×1600 pixels / 2880×1800 pixels
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000
• Processor: Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 2.5 GHz / Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7 2.3 GHz or Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7 2.6 GHz
• Dimensions (height x width x depth): 1.9 x 31.4 x 21.9 cm / 1.8 x 35.9 x 24.7 cm
• Weight: 1.62kg / 2.02kg
• Memory: 8 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz memory, memory soldered into the motherboard
• Storage: 128GB or 256GB Flash / 256GB or 512GB Flash
• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11n (backwards compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards), Bluetooth 4.0
• Ports: 2 Thunderbolt, 2 USB 3.0, HDMI, MagSafe 2, SDXC memory card slot, headphone output
• Battery capacity: 74 Wh / 95 Wh

The configuration of these “firmwares” is no different from those that are not equipped with a Retina display, so we won’t describe it a second time. The same applies to the stated operating time. Moreover, the stated time is one, but in fact it is completely different. And, of course, the situation is exactly the same with the guarantee.

The younger 13-inch model with an Intel Core i5 processor will cost you $1,699, the older one – $1,999. As for the 15-inch models, the situation is as follows: Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.3 GHz costs $2,199, Intel Core i7 with a frequency of 2.6 GHz will cost you $2,799.

Software

As for questions about firmware software, then, regardless of the presence of a Retina display, everything is identical.

Every MacBook Pro comes pre-installed with OS X Mountain Lion. The Mountain Lion operating system has turned out to be quite controversial: some people praise it to the skies and see something truly revolutionary in it, while others, on the contrary, believe that the difference with OS X Lion is not so great. In fact, the new operating system turned out to be very good. Of course, it cannot be called revolutionary, but it has a lot of advantages. The only negative that comes to my mind is that the operating time of MacBooks running this system is slightly reduced compared to working under OS X Lion.

When you turn on your brand new MacBook for the first time, you will find that the following applications and programs are already installed on it: Mail, Messages, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Safari web browser, Notification Center, Notes, Time Machine, FaceTime, Photo Booth, iTunes, Game Center, Gatekeeper, Mac App Store, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand and others. In addition, the Mountain Lion operating system is almost fully integrated with iCloud, Twitter and Facebook.

The iWork suite, which includes programs like Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, will need to be downloaded from the Mac App Store. Each of these programs will cost you 649 rubles. In principle, a quite adequate and affordable price for such a product.

One thing: if you're expecting the MacBook Pro to be a great gaming computer, it's not. Of course, in terms of technical characteristics it is ideal (well, probably), but the whole problem is that there are very few games for OS X. Very few.

Another small, or maybe not so small, problem is that some office and business applications are not available on computers running the OS X operating system. But if necessary, you can install the operating system on your MacBook Pro Windows. This can be done, for example, using Parallels Desktop - this will probably be the best and easiest option.

Accessories for MacBook Pro

Many users, when making a decision to purchase a particular device, including laptops such as the MacBook Pro, are concerned about the number of existing accessories for this very device. Therefore, it is impossible to skip this point.

There are more than enough accessories for the MacBook Pro. For example, if you are not very comfortable using a trackpad all the time (for example, due to the specifics of your work), you can buy a regular mouse for your firmware. This can be either Apple's Magic Mouse or any other mouse from any other manufacturer.

Not counting mice, for firmware there is a huge number of all kinds of stands, holders, protective films for screens and even vinyl stickers on its cover. And, of course, you can find a suitable case for your aluminum pet, of which there are a dime a dozen in online and offline stores.

Moreover, you can connect to your MacBook Pro both additional storage (“let’s call it hard drives”) and additional screens if even 15 inches is not enough for you.

In general, as you already understand, there are no problems with this. The only problem with accessories for the MacBook Pro is that they are usually very expensive, but, as they say, if there is a desire, there will be opportunities.

Results

If you read everything very carefully, you should have realized that the MacBook Pro is not a toy. This is a serious laptop for serious people. He is capable of much, if, of course, you yourself are capable of much. Before purchasing, think carefully about whether you need just such a laptop and whether you will use all its resources. If not, and you really want a laptop from Apple, then it’s better to take a closer look at the MacBook Air: it’s cheaper, simpler, and smaller.

For those who are sure that they will use absolutely all (or at least most) of the resources of the MacBook Pro, but still doubt whether to take it, we inform you: take it, you will not regret it.

The MacBook Pro is a true leader in its market segment, one step above most of its competitors in my opinion. But it also costs more than many similar PCs running the Windows operating system. But you have something to overpay for. Probably, now many PC owners will be ready to argue with me, but I will still say this: the MacBook Pro is more reliable than any PC, so it will last you much longer (both in terms of hardware and in terms of the operating system).

Of course, the final choice will always be yours, but you can rest assured that the MacBook Pro is worth every dollar you spend on it. This is a beautiful, powerful and prestigious laptop.

P.S. If you have any comments and suggestions, do not forget to indicate them in the comments, we will definitely take them into account in the next issue of the “From A to Z” series. In addition, you can write in the comments your wishes regarding which device the next material should be devoted to.

Hi guys! I just remembered that a long time ago, when dragons were still flying in the sky, there was a “Friday Relaxation” section on my blog. On Fridays, I tried to write on abstract topics so as not to burden the heads of my faithful and friendly readers. I will try to restore the tradition and on Fridays present you with information that would not overload your brain, but, on the contrary, would make it relax, smile or dream.

I would like to talk about another dream of mine, which came true back in December last year. But I still couldn’t tell you more about it. And, to be more specific, I bought myself a Macbook Air (this is a laptop with a glowing apple :)). I've really been dreaming about this for a long time.

Where did it all start?

In general, my love for Apple products awoke after (3 years ago), which was a very serious acquisition for me. Then I was just starting to “get into the nitty-gritty” with the Internet. For a long time I despised all these Apple fanatics; I never understood why buy these devices when similar ones with the same characteristics are 2-3 times cheaper. These “Yabloko” people constantly made me smile (it seemed to me that they were stupid), and, probably, envy. But, whatever one may say, these devices could impress others; because of their price, they distinguished their “owner” well. It's Apple all around now.

It took me a long time to decide whether to buy an iPhone or something else. My brother, who owned an iPhone 3G, persuaded me to take this pretentious thing of the 4th model. She had just left then. And from the first days I began to fall in love with this magnificent technique.

After the iPhone, I wanted an iPad. Moreover, I was sorry for the money for it, I kept trying to win it in competitions. On my 3rd attempt, I still read books and use the navigator.

After two Apple devices, I desperately wanted a laptop from the same company. I don't need a desktop computer; I often change my location. I wanted to have a universal device in which I would be comfortable working at home, in my office, or while traveling. As a result, I set a goal: if I can increase my company’s sales by the Nth amount (let me remind you), then I will get myself a Macbook. You won’t believe it, but in 1 week we managed to reach this level, which seemed impossible. I wanted him that much. 🙂

In general, MacBooks come in the following models: Air and Pro. Air is a lighter version, weaker relative to the firmware, but the battery lasts longer and is much better in price. Pro is for those who need strong performance for video editing, huge image sizes and more. I realized that I need Air.

And the next step was to select the SSD hard drive memory. 128 GB or 256 GB. The price difference between these models is almost 8,000 rubles. Too much, I thought, so I ended up getting a Macbook Air 13′ 128 GB. And, in order not to “sweat” the memory on the hard drive, I bought myself an external 1 TB HDD hard drive for 3,000 rubles with USB 3.0 support. It also works very quickly.

I quickly figured out the secret of why I'm obsessed with Apple products. It's not about the characteristics, but about its OS X operating system. It is so coherent, thoughtful and convenient. When I had a desktop computer, after 2-3 months of installing Windows, the thought arose: “Eh, I should install another 4 GB of RAM, and upgrade the processor.” So, with the advent of the MacBook, such thoughts disappeared altogether: everything works smoothly, without any delays, “blue screens of death.” I don’t even know what the characteristics of my favorite device are, because its performance really satisfies me.

Out of curiosity, I came to look at the characteristics, and I will say that they are:

• Monitor – 13 inches.
• Processor – 1.3 Ghz Intel Core i5.
• Memory – 4 GB 1600 Ghz DDR 3.
• Graphics – Intel HD 5000
• Hard drive – 128 GB SSD.
• A full description is available.

Macbook Air took a new model, which was released in mid-2013. It cost me 43,000 rubles (as of December 2013). Now many people will wake up like: “Yes, for the same money you could buy 2 laptops with similar characteristics!” Yes, I don't argue. But I get a thrill from working with this device, I don’t regret a single ruble that I invested in it.

First impressions

Bought! I'm running home! We need to unpack the box quickly! I carefully open it and immediately this very smell rushes into my nose. The smell of a new device, which should bring a lot of positive impressions. I gently lift the lid. I look at my new silver friend. How handsome he is!

The main advantages are immediately noticeable:

The first week after the purchase there were still doubts about the necessity of this very purchase. The main question that tormented me was: what is this? Do I really need this? Everything didn’t seem so convenient; I was already quite used to Windows. But only a week passed and I began to feel all the charm. I figured out the software and began to enjoy working with this laptop.

I especially like writing. You expand the WordPress post editor to full screen, just a white screen and text, soft buttons that your fingers play like a piano, and if you add to this the fact that I type touch-sensitive, then typing text is a pleasure. My thoughts don’t run away, my fingers keep up with them, I don’t have to press the key twice, everything works clearly and correctly. In a word - a thrill.

The MacBook was created in order to create and not be nervous about all sorts of “brakes”, “glitches”, “blue screens” and other rubbish. Especially if you like to write texts or draw, then you will like it. Imagine, I always thought that the background on my site was just white, but it turns out there are also horizontal stripes, which are very visible on a Mac, in general, my site has now become much more beautiful for me, I get satisfaction:

I don’t know if it’s noticeable on your computer, but imagine: for 2 years I didn’t know that my website background was not white. Something like this, gentlemen. 🙂 I repeat, “Mac” is an ideal option for writers, designers, and people involved in video. That is, if you are a creative person, you will remain mega-satisfied. The only people who probably won't like Apple products are programmers. My suggestion.

I repeat, I bought the device for 43,000 rubles. I don’t regret a single ruble that I spent on it. Don’t think that if you buy a MacBook, you will start earning 2 times more. Although this is also possible. When I really wanted a car, I couldn’t work normally, it was constantly in my thoughts, I couldn’t really concentrate. As soon as I bought it, my head was unloaded and work began. This is also possible here if you really want it.

What's installed on my Macbook Air

1. Publishing blog posts.

I wrote posts on Windows using the program. Loved her very much. As it turns out, the Mac doesn’t have it. I started looking for a replacement. I tried a bunch of options, nothing was right. The solution turned out to be outrageously simple. Writing through the WordPress admin panel, as it turns out, is incredibly convenient! I expand the screen to full screen and just write. Even WordPress itself says briefly and clearly: “Write.”:

And the hotkeys make the work much easier; in front of me there is just a white screen and text, nothing more. I also recommend that owners of Windows computers try this method of writing articles. After the 3rd post you will start to have great fun. Verified.

So the loss of Windows Live Writer was actually positive for me. I get more joy out of the standard editor. I focus completely on the text.

2. Text editor.

I also use Microsoft Word and Excel at home. There is no dispute here; indeed, these programs are practically irreplaceable. Just as I had them on Windows, they also migrated to Mac.

3. Browser.

4. FTP client

5. PHP editor.

6. Antivirus.

There is no need to install antiviruses at all. All the “chicks and farts”. 🙂 Don’t worry.

7. Virtual machine.

Unfortunately, there are some programs that I simply need in my work, but they cannot be replaced and they currently only work in Windows. In these cases, a so-called “virtual machine” comes to the rescue. I’ll tell you what it is below, but first I’ll list the programs that I need, but they don’t exist for Os X:

• Webmoney - yes, there is no full version on Mac for a reason unknown to me. Of course, you can do without a client, operations can be carried out by confirmation by phone, but still. Updated: The Webmoney app is now available on Mac, hooray! Link – https://itunes.apple.com/ru/app/my-webmoney/id807337125?mt=12
• – my favorite SEO program for working with keywords.
• – favorite program for taking positions.

I was worried, wondering what to do with these programs. It turns out that everything can be solved very simply. We install a virtual machine on a Mac. Moreover, it is very easy to install and there are quite a lot of choices. I installed free VirtualBox, installed Windows 7 on it, allocated 512 MB of RAM and 20 GB of memory. That's all. Now I can run a full-fledged Windows on my Mac, and I don’t need to restart anything, everything opens in a convenient window as a separate application, or can be expanded to full screen. And transferring files from one system to another, using the clipboard, etc. is not a problem. In general, everything is simple:

It’s generally very easy to launch, Windows just flies there. The only thing is that I was a little sorry to allocate 512 MB of RAM and 20 GB of hard drive. But I note that I did not notice any deterioration in the speed of work.

8. Required software

All the main software is also on Os X. That's me, Skype, Firefox, Chrome, Photoshop. I’ll even say more: programs on Mac are made better and more convenient. They are also significantly faster (I remember how long it took me to run Photoshop on my desktop computer).

9. Software for everyone

I also have the following installed:

• SelfControl – you can block URLs of different sites for a certain amount of time. VKontakte, Twitter, etc. while working so as not to be distracted. We launch it, set the timer for 2 hours and during this time it is impossible to log into VKontakte, etc.
• Lightshot Screenshot is a very convenient program for webmasters when they need to share screenshots. By pressing a key, a screenshot of a certain area of ​​the monitor is taken, it is automatically uploaded to the server and a link to this picture is immediately displayed. We simply send the link to the interlocutor.
• Snagit – I use this program to take screenshots for lessons, although you can get by with the previous one. The habit of “arrows”.
• Screenflick – I use it to make screencasts (video recordings from the monitor screen).
• iMovie is a video editor. Moreover, it is an official Apple product. In my opinion, the best.
• Mindjet – I use it to create mind maps.
• PuntoSwitcher - automatic translation of a word if it is written in the wrong layout. A very convenient program from Yandex.
• CheatSheet is a program that suggests hot keys in any program. Hold down cmd and that's it.
• Super time management program. While I won’t say which one, I need to devote a whole post to it. In general, I said that after 4 years of searching I managed to find . I also, in my opinion, almost found the ideal program. I'll introduce you very soon.

All. I don't have anything else installed on my Mac, that's enough. For the rest I use standard software. If there are any good worthwhile programs, write in the comments, I’m interested.

Conclusion

I completely switched to Mac after about 2-3 weeks of use. He threw everything over and forced him to work only on it. At first it was uncomfortable. But now I don't turn on my desktop computer at all. I only work on one device. I carry it everywhere and always.

I’m writing this post and I’m in such ecstasy. Even if you start writing a book, it seems to me that it will write itself. Work should bring pleasure and you should not be distracted by all sorts of little things. Hooray!

I remembered myself when all the SEO people around were using Macs. Even then I thought: these are show-offs, braggarts and majors! 🙂

If you want to buy a Windows laptop in the near future, think about it. It might be better to wait another six months and save up for this miracle device. But I warn you: once you get hooked on Apple technology, you won’t be able to “jump off” it. Believe me.

Now for me Macbook Air is not a tool, but a real friend.

About a year ago I bought my first MacBook - a 13-inch Air. Until then, my familiarity with Apple desktop systems had remained at the “click a sample in a store” and “drool over MacBook reviews” level.

And so, in a solemn atmosphere, I turn on the brand new laptop for the first time and... I feel like a schoolboy who didn't learn his homework. What should I do? How to work here? Oops, I found the safari.

The guys who absorbed the Apple ecosystem with their mother's milk in any way chuckle. But this is not about me.

No, in general terms everything was clear, I had been using iOS for a long time, and standard Mac applications did not cause rejection. But the unusual interface seriously bothers me slowed down. Therefore, “how to jump from Windows to macOS and not slow down at the pace of work” is the most pressing question at that time.

And I found the answer. You need to customize the MacBook a little to suit your needs. Here is a set of programs that helped me:

• Tuxera

Teaching a Macbook to work with NTFS partitions is the first task on my list. It turned out that it was enough to install one program and... forget about it. Seriously, you don’t need to click anywhere or launch anything first, the flash drives are picked up by themselves, and the recording speed is quite decent. The Tuxera was enough for me, but they say the Paragon is faster.

• HyperDock

I installed this program for two reasons - folder previews and screen splitting.

Yes, SplitView appeared in El Capitan. But after Windows, in which I organized space on the desktop almost without looking, simply “throwing” a window to the edge of the screen, it is simply unrealistic to get used to the new method. It's much easier to install HyperDock and not even have to think about how to place two folders side by side.

By the way, the native Dock is three heads ahead of the notorious Start menu. Only previews of folders and running applications were frankly not enough. Instead of jumping through Chrome windows, you just hover over an icon and select the one you want. You can close applications in the same way, plus functional icons work, for example, switching tracks in iTunes.

• YouType

With my thirteen-inch screen I often have to work in full screen mode. And then, filling out the login/password forms becomes a lottery “what language is included.” The problem is solved by a small tweak that adds a checkbox with the selected keyboard layout right next to the cursor. It turns on when you enter text and works throughout the system.

• Amphetamine

The ADSL era has passed; you no longer need to leave Download Master overnight to download a track. Now at night we watch entire seasons of TV series. To be sure that the file would be downloaded by morning, I installed a program that prevents the MacBook from falling asleep. There are quite flexible settings; you can even link the schedule to a specific application.

• f.lux

One of the first tweaks for iOS has grown into one of the most useful applications on macOS. It simply corrects the color rendition of the screen, increasing the “temperature” of the picture at the right time. Very important, especially when you work late. Frankly, I didn’t bother much with this issue on Windows. But now my eyes are grateful to me.

• Clean my mac

In a few words, this is an upgraded version of Ccleaner from the Windows past. I was strongly advised to buy Clean my mac. As it turns out, she is truly irreplaceable. Cleans the system, removes duplicates - for my 128 GB MacBook it’s like the doctor ordered it.

• Serviio

A program that does not help me much in my work, rather the opposite. With Serviio, you can quickly set up your own personal DLNA server and watch movies from any TV that has access to the local network. Exactly to the local area, no hanging SmartTV, built-in browser and other things. You just turn on the MacBook, launch Serviio and select a different input on the TV.

What about Unarchiver?

I don’t specifically mention programs like Transmitter, VLC Player, Chrome, Photoshop or Office - they are already well-known and are included in any must-have collection. Of course I installed them first thing.

Don't think, I had no desire to make a Windows-like interface. It’s just that, in my opinion, even in Windows there are several really comfortable chips. So why not combine all the best?

Now I spend 80 percent of my working time not on a computer, but on a MacBook. Without a mouse, even on the sofa. Very comfortable and no brakes. The touchpad is generally a tower. Keyboard combinations are literally ingrained into the subcortex. Plus, I stopped looking for tables closer to outlets.

Apple is accustomed to surprising its consumers with amazing modern devices, the appearance of which is sometimes quite difficult to keep track of. It’s even more difficult to figure out how to use such gadgets and how to extract a lot of positive opportunities from them. If you have become the owner of a new MacBook, but you don’t understand anything about it, you don’t know even the most basic steps that should be taken to get started, it will be useful for you to read the instructions, which can guide even a beginner regarding many useful functionality.

MacBook Basics.

It is also important to take into account that the manufacturer does not leave MacBook owners alone with the device; the company's developers systematically update the software, adding new functions, as well as correcting identified deficiencies. Considering this circumstance, wanting to help your device work as efficiently as possible, you can update the software yourself. To do this, it is enough to select the “Program Update” option. With the updated version of the software, using your MacBook will be much more comfortable.

Initial information

Many users have problems when using a MacBook, since many have already had many years of practical experience in the most common operating environment, Windows. Unfortunately, on a MacBook you can be stunned not only by completely different rules, but even by the interface of system windows and the desktop.

If you need to install some kind of program, you can afford it, but it is important to take into account that you need to download software from the Internet that is oriented specifically for the MacBook. Such programs are most often accompanied by dmg archives. Drag the downloaded program to the “Programs” folder, then extract it from the archive, and delete the downloaded file itself.

ADVICE. You will have to learn how to work with windows, because at first you will be confused due to the slightly different location of some buttons. In particular, the control buttons are located in the left corner, whereas in Windows we are used to finding them in the upper right corner.

However, it may also surprise you that when trying to close the program window, wanting to stop its work, you will press the “x” button, but you will not be able to completely close the program in this way. To do this, we recommend that you hold down two keys Cmd and Q at the same time. You can do it differently by right-clicking on the icon and then selecting the “Finish” option.

You can perform actions on a MacBook using a mouse or the unique trackpad that the device is equipped with. The trackpad is unique in that its operation is accompanied by support for gestures, and they can be configured directly by the user. To do this, just go to “Settings” and go to the “Trackpad” section. In this section, it will be enough for you to check the checkboxes next to the gestures that you would like to activate.

To have an idea of ​​which programs are active at a particular moment, we recommend that you activate two useful functions. A function such as Expose allows you to successfully demonstrate the windows of active programs, but if necessary, it can also demonstrate the desktop without any open tabs.

The second Spaces function allows the MacBook desktop to be conditionally divided into several parts. To speed up and facilitate the launch of these two functions, in the settings we suggest selecting and specifying keys for them, by pressing which the process of launching them will be carried out automatically.

Additional features

Using a MacBook, you can visit Internet sites and download any content in the same way. Of course, to do this you will need to install and then use some Internet browsers. We recommend that you do not overload the operating system and choose one of the browsers. Don’t forget to stay safe when working on the Internet; always remember that the global network is full of threats. To protect your device, install a firewall. It is he who will be able to monitor all network protocols, protecting your device from unwanted attacks.

Having a MacBook, you can successfully view videos, all kinds of images, and listen to your favorite audio files on it. And there are also no restrictions when working with archives, since the device successfully archives and unarchives any archives.

Creating folders

To keep your content organized on your MacBook, you need to learn how to create folders. After creating them, it is useful to assign each an appropriate name so that later finding the right folder would not be tedious for you. The creation of folders is provided by several methods; the simplest method, aimed at quickly creating a folder, is the Finder.

Go to the “File” menu, there you will find the “New Folder” option, as soon as you click on it, you will immediately be able to create the desired object.

By the way, there is an amazing feature in the MacBook that will definitely delight device users. In just a few seconds you can not only create a simple folder, but one oriented to specific files. To do this, first select the files that you would like to place in one folder, then hold down the keys: Control, Command and N.

All files you designate will be collected automatically into one folder called “New folder with elements”. Of course, it is better not to leave it in this form, because after a while it will be difficult for you to figure out where and what is stored. Accordingly, you will have to rename the folder, giving it any name that suits you. Renaming any object in a MacBook is not difficult, but it is important to take into account that there is no “Rename” item in the context menu, as in Windows.

ADVICE. To assign a new name to a folder, just click on the old name once, immediately click on the Enter key, then enter any name and click on the Enter key again. No further action is expected.

As you can see, even a beginner will be able to rename objects on a MacBook, since you are not expected to encounter any difficulties when performing such actions.

Working with removable drives

The modern user is accustomed to saving many documents on a flash drive, providing himself with the opportunity to always have them at hand and always use them quickly. However, many users are at a loss as to how to use a flash drive if they have a device equipped with Windows that is not familiar to everyone.

• X-plore File Manager;
• ES File Explorer.

Connect your flash drive to the USB connector, wait a few seconds, after which your removable drive will be displayed. Double-click on its icon, you will immediately be able to view all the content located on the drive.

If you are faced with a more complicated task, you need to connect and then immediately open the flash drive on which hidden files are saved, we recommend that you follow other steps. Initially, open the flash drive in the usual way, then find the “Service” section in the menu, enter it and find the “Folder Options” option. Next, you will need to make two more transitions, sequentially going to the “View” and “Advanced Settings” folders.

Now you will find several “tempting” offers, opposite which there will be empty and filled checkboxes. Clear the checkbox located next to the line “Hide protected system files”, but next to the other option “Show hidden files and folders”, we recommend that you check the box.

So, working on a MacBook will not be difficult for you if you carefully read the instructions and find out for yourself all the necessary nuances that are often encountered when working with such a device.

Getting Started with Mac OS X: First Steps

Article one: the beginning of the beginning

So you've made the decision to switch to Mac. However, there is an opinion among Microsoft Windows users that the Mac OS X operating system is difficult to learn and use. Many people believe that Mac OS X has many pitfalls and requires a huge amount of knowledge. Fortunately, this is not the case at all. My series of articles entitled “Getting Started with Mac OS X” will help you master this system and within a few days you will appreciate the simplicity and ease of use of it.

This article will focus on the latest version of the operating system from Apple at the time of writing, which is called Mac OS 10.4 "Tiger".

Part one: Interface and system management basics

Once the system starts, you will see something like this:

Let's take a closer look at each of the elements in this figure:

1. Actually, the desktop on which you, just like in other operating systems, can place your files and shortcuts (in Mac OS X the shortcut is not called shortcut, A alias).

2. Currently connected storage media. Their role can be logical removable and non-removable hard drives, CD/DVD/HD DVD/Blue Ray drives, Flash media, including flash media on various devices, such as digital cameras, players, etc. This area also displays mounted disk images (iso, dmg, etc.). You can read what disk images are in the article.

3. Menu bar of the active application. Unlike many operating systems, Mac OS X displays it at the top.

4. Dock panel. It contains icons of applications and files to which the user needs quick access, as well as icons of running applications. The strip located slightly to the left of the trash can separates application and file shortcuts.

In order to change the position and size of the dock panel on the screen, there are three ways:

a) The easiest way to the panel settings is the "Dock" remote control in the system settings ("System Preferences") There are all the settings for this panel, including size, magnification, position on the screen, the effect of minimizing windows to the dock, etc.

b) The second way is to change this setting using the Apple menu. By the way, it also contains almost all the dock settings and a quick transition to the dock control panel.

c) The third way to configure the dock is to use a vertical separator strip.

In order to place a shortcut to an application or file in the dock, you just need to drag it there. Accordingly, to remove a shortcut from the dock panel, simply drag it out of the panel and release the mouse button.

5. Spotlight menu - new search technology integrated into Mac OS X 10.4. To search for any information on your computer, simply call up the Spotlight menu and write a word about what you are looking for. For example, when I typed “MakTsentr”, in less than a second I saw all the files whose name or content contained the word “MakTsentr”.

6. Quick user change. A very convenient feature that allows you to change users without terminating the session. The current user's name appears in bold at the top. To resume (or start) another user's session, simply click on the name at the top and select the desired user from the list. The ability to quickly change users is installed in the “Users” console of the control panel. In the "Login options" section, use the "Enable fast user switching" checkbox.

7. Indicator area. This area displays miniature indicator icons. They can be swapped or removed from the panel altogether very simply: hold down the command key and drag the icon to the desired location, or drag it outside the panel, thereby removing it altogether. To restore the icon, use the appropriate remote control in the control panel.

8. Apple Menu. This menu contains a number of commands and settings:

About This Mac - allows you to get information about your computer and operating system (operating system version, processor, amount of installed RAM, boot disk). Also from this window you can get more detailed information about your computer by clicking the "More info..." button and update the software by clicking "Software update", in fact, for this there is a command in the Apple menu with the same name.

Software Update... - the item is responsible for updating the software installed on your computer. To perform it successfully, you must have an Internet connection. This will search for updated versions of programs, as well as the operating system itself. After that, to update, just mark the programs you need and click "Install".

Mac OS X Software... takes you to the Mac section of Apple.com.

System Preferences... - this item will simply open the control panel, with which you can fine-tune any system parameters.

Dock - setting up the dock panel, which is described above.

Location is a very convenient feature. Its essence is that if you work in different places and use different network settings in each of them, then for each place you can use your own settings package. Actually, such settings packages are called Locations. To create/change them, you can use the “Network” remote control of the control panel. From the Location menu you can quickly switch between created packages.

Recent Items - a menu that displays programs, documents, servers that you have recently used. Using the "Clear list" item you can clear this menu.

Force Quit... is a useful function that forces the program to terminate. This item is necessary in cases where the program freezes (which happens extremely rarely in Mac OS X) or does not respond for a long time. To do this, by calling this item in the appropriate window, simply select the name of the program that is not responding (its name may also be accompanied by the text “not responding”) and click “Force Quit”.

Sleep - puts the computer into sleep mode.

Restart... - restarts the computer.

Shut Down - shuts down the computer.

Log Out<Имя пользователя>... - end the session and go to the change user window.

9. Finder Window

Sources: MakTsentr