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Tutorials | Desktop
To view the Desktop Tutorial video click on the image above.
So what is the Desktop? Well the desktop is the large space that takes up most of the screen. It is where you will do most of your work. Your files, folder and applications will open in this area.
At the top of the screen is the menu bar. (Fig 1) On the left hand side you will see a number of options, File, Edit, View, etc. These are the options for the application that the user is currently using, these options will change when a different application is opened. Example, if you open Safari you you can see the finder option has changed to Safari and there are now extra options, bookmarks, history, etc. (Fig 2)
The only item that will not change on the left hand side is the apple logo (Fig 3). When selected it will give you all your shutdown, reset and sleep options. Also it shows the software update, so you can check that you are using the most up to date software. , Next is the system preferences, this is the control panel to all the windows users out there. This is where you can edit the settings for your display, printers, network, etc.
On the right hand side of the menu bar are more symbols (Fig 4) for items that are on your computer, for example the time, your airport status and volume control. In the far right is your spotlight. This is your search tool to find files anywhere on your hard drive.
The Dock (Fig 5), by default it sits at the bottom of the screen, it provides easy access to some of the applications on your mac, Mail, Safari ,iTunes, iPhoto.
Applications that are ready open have a small white glow underneath the their logo. See the TextEdit logo in Fig 6.
The dock is split into two by what I call a zebra crossing, everything on the left of this line is an application. Anything on the right can be folders, minimized windows and the trash can. (Fig 6)
When a folder in the dock is selected it will animate out in a fan effect, this is one of Apple's cool new features “Stacks” this is to keep the desktop from becoming cluttered and a way to access your files easier. For example, anything you download off the Internet using Safari will go into the download folder, instead of the desktop.
Finally the desktop icons, these icons are other ways to get access to files folders and applications. The desktop will also show what drives you can get access to, the main icon being the Main hard drive, but if you have a CD or pen driver inserted into your computer they will also automatically appear on the desktop. (Fig 8)
To safely eject either of these click and drag them into the trash can. The trash can logo will change to an eject logo. You can also eject your CD/ DVD’s by pressing the eject button on your keyboard, which is found on the top right hand side of your keyboard.
That's the Desktop tutorial finished. You now have a basic understanding of what each item is on your Mac desktop, if you any further questions please Contact Us or join our Online forum and someone there will be happy to help.
Desktop
iTunes
Finder
Copyright of i-Love-Mac 2008