From Win XP Pro ----> Mac OSX ...questions / help please

[Paul Moran]

Hi All,

I am soon to start a 3d animation course using Maya v5, and the whole course is on Mac OSX ... i have never used a Mac and have used windows for 15 years .... (pity me the n00bie )

So, i have a few basic questions that i am hoping you can help me with...

- Task / Application switching ... in Windows it is simply Alt -> Tab, what is the OSX equivelant?

- Is NuBus a mac hardware expansion bus ?

- Keyboard shortcuts to recover from system crashes etc ?

- Adding and Removing software ?? Is there a utility for this as appossed to letting software auto run etc..

Cheers for your help!! heres to the learning curve

[kbata]

Command-Tab
No, PCI or PCI-X if you have a higher end G5
Option-Command-Esc will bring up a lost of applications and allow you to force quit them.
Many programs come on a disk image and it's just a matter of dragging the icon into your applications folder. To remove this type just drag it into the trash. Other programs use the systems installer. Some programs have an un-install option

[Paul Moran]

thanks mate

So, on the add/remove programs question...in OSX is there a central place for handling installing/uninstalling of software ??

Thanks again

Paul

[Arden]

No, thank goodness. Some programs come in disk images, often downloaded from the 'Net, and all you do is launch the image and drag the application package (a single, simple icon ) to wherever you want it. Other, more advanced programs like Photoshop have an installer program on the CD, which you simply run. And usually to uninstall, you simply delete the application folder (or icon, if it lacks one).

I recommend you check out

• www.macvspc.info
• www.xvsxp.com
• Mac OS X for Dummies (the physical book )
• and even www.apple.com

for more information.

[Arden]

Actually, there is the Installer program, which installs applications from .pkg package files, but it doesn't uninstall and it doesn't mess with anything but package files.

[Giaguara]

Most programs have the .dmg, disk image file. Click it, and then drag the program (opens in a new window) to your user/Applications folder. Uninstall with those programs installed from disk image: drag to trash (empty the trash). Done. Easy, isn't it?

Some programs; AppleWorks, Photoshop, Keynote etc have the installer. Those give also you how to uninstalll them. some with installer, some just trash.

Switching applications is fast with the dock.

I hope you enjoy the Mac world.

[Arden]

And stay in the Mac world.

[Paul Moran]

thanks alot guys for your help ..im an avid windows user, but i have a very open mind...lets see what these Macs are all about

Cheers
Paul