[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Never used one before, but tomorrow a new 15" MacBook Air is arriving. Please be patient with me because I most likely will have some really dumb questions.

1st Question. Any advice on the initial setup?

As someone suggested, you might consider attending a getting started with Mac event at a nearly Apple Store. Below is a link to nearby events. I see some events in Orlando.

Get Started: Mac - Apple

Alternatively, you have lots of YouTube videos available. Some are good and some not. The Tech Talk America channel on YouTube has many good instructional videos on Mac.

In addition to initial set up, you will need to decide which applications (programs) to install and get them installed. Some apps can be found on Apple’s App Store for Mac. That source is considered safe from viruses and malware. On your Mac, press CMD key + Space Bar to open your local search window (called Spotlight) and type ‘App’ to get to the App Store.

Some of the biggest initial challenges (easily overcome with time) include differences from the ways of the Windows operating system and Windows computers such as:
(i) different ways to change you local computer settings,
(ii) different file manager interface (it’s called ‘Finder’),
(iii) Mac has no ‘Alt’ key; Mac has a ‘Cmd’ (called ‘command’) key,
(iv) the Delete key deletes backwards, not forward (you will get used to it),
(v) the Mac operating system has a good file back-up system called Time Machine; I suggest that you use it with a local external drive and schedule back ups at least daily,
(vi) Apple will encourage you to use their iCloud service. It’s handy for many things Apple but not necessary for storing documents if you already have another cloud storage service such as Google Drive or OneDrive,
(vii) On a Mac, the Chrome browser is considered a memory hog by many people. That may or may not be relevant for your case.

This is a start. You will quickly love the simplicity of the Mac compared to Windows (‘it just works’). Be patient during the first week. If you run into questions, a Google search will often lead to Apple’s very good online help documentation. Have fun.

[rsmurano]

Welcome to the 21st century of technology. I started with Apple back in the 70’s while I started my high tech career. Never ever used windows because it was a flawed system even up until now. I worked for some web companies that banned Microsoft products and I also worked for high tech companies that I had to get a VP sign off for me to use a Mac instead of windows, it was either get a signature or I wouldn’t work for them.

You don’t need to learn any keyboard commands, just learn how to use the mouse/trackpad and you’ll be fine (left click, right click, 2 finger movements).
But, learning how to use the shift or command keys with the mouse are a necessity if you want to increase productivity. The key commands that you will use often are: command-c, command-v, shift-command-3 or 4 or 5.

Make sure you get a large hard disk for backup and then configure Time Machine to start your backups. You can use iCloud for backups but I would only recommend d this if you have a fiber network, not a copper network like xfinity or spectrum, fiber gives you the same network speeds for both uploads and downloads where xfinity/spectrum only gives you 20-30Mb uploads.

After setting up the backup, change all of your iPhones/iPads to backup to this Mac and setup photos on the Mac so you can transfer all of your photos to the Mac and then they will be backed up and only keep the photos on your phone/ipad that you want to handy.
Search online for MS Office and you can get a non-365 version for $50-$60, or just learn the Apple equivalent apps that you get for free.
Try out Apple mail, and safari 1st, and if you want something different, you can always download Firefox/duck duck go/chrome for a browser and outlook or spark for mail. I’ve tried all of these and still use Mac mail and safari.
I use Mac servers along with Mac user machines in my home because my whole house is automated using Apple HomeKit and I stream music from the server to all my music systems in my house plus to my cars while on the road.
Good luck

[Triker]

Years ago when I switched I called apple, told them it was my first mac and they emailed me some links that helped with the windows to apple conversion. Knowing what windows called it vs not knowing what apple called it was the worst part.

Years later still with mac, will never go back to windows

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Never used one before, but tomorrow a new 15" MacBook Air is arriving. Please be patient with me because I most likely will have some really dumb questions.

1st Question. Any advice on the initial setup?

Good luck.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Never used one before, but tomorrow a new 15" MacBook Air is arriving. Please be patient with me because I most likely will have some really dumb questions.

1st Question. Any advice on the initial setup?

Congratulations! Your first Mac is like moving up from some Chevy to a BMW in feel, but unlike a BMW, they don’t often break. I bought a 512K Macintosh in 1987, and I’ve used only Apple products ever since. I’m not smart enough to use other computers, but with my Mac I’ve published over twenty books.

Your MacBook is like a HUB for all your needs. I use mine when I need to type a document with Microsoft Word (or Office, actually) or or do the layout for a book. I have a $40 CD/DVD player from Amazon that plugs into the Mac when needed and lets me download all of my CDs onto Apple Music. (I did that and then sold over 400 CDs last fall.) I have 11,000 songs on my Apple Music app that comes with the computer. I also use it when I use the iMovie app that comes with it to create YouTube videos. I have around 10,000 family photos on my Mac, too. (I pay $12 a month to also pay for a huge amount of backup for all this in the Apple Cloud. If you don’t have a huge amount, you can get by with the free version. But for me, if my computer was stolen or destroyed, all those precious things are backed up and easy to recover.)

Here’s what I mean by it being a Hub. I also have two iPads (one with an 8 1/2x11” screen I use for musical activities) and an iPhone. They are all SYNCED together. This is easy to do the first time if you follow the directions. Your Mac will download all of your photos, music, games, apps, etc. onto you iPad and iPhone. Once you tell it to do it, it does it. You don’t have to transfer those files a bit at a time. Thereafter, if you buy a CD on iTunes or download one using a CD drive, your Mac will Sync with your iPhone and/or iPad and you will have them on all your devices. They also serve as backup.

I used to carry my Mac everywhere, but for years, I’ve carried my iPad instead, as it is much lighter and in some ways more convenient, though if I’m writing an article, I use the Mac with its full-size keyboard and great word processing ability. I only use my iPhone for phone calls if I can, as I like the bigger screen of an iPad for visuals. I buy things online a lot, and I nearly always use my iPad. I also use it for watching YouTube videos, checking my bank account, etc., as it’s so much easier to see things.

So if you want to make the best use of your new Mac, get an iPad and an iPhone, too. And welcome to the family.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

Welcome to the 21st century of technology. I started with Apple back in the 70’s while I started my high tech career. Never ever used windows

You don’t need to learn any keyboard commands, just learn how to use the mouse/trackpad and you’ll be fine (left click, right click, 2 finger movements).
But, learning how to use the shift or command keys with the mouse are a necessity if you want to increase productivity. The key commands that you will use often are: command-c, command-v, shift-command-3 or 4 or 5.

I figured a real Mac person would show up in the thread, eventually. I laughed when I saw the post about "Keyboard Commands" and the list on the Apple site. 90% of them, I had no clue and would never use them. They're way more convoluted than Apple's simple graphical interface.

Command C, Command D, Command V &, Option,+Command Escape is about all you need to use. Function Keys? WTH are they?

Unless of course, you got into real trouble and needed to grow another hand, so you can use the old Command+Option+P+R

[New Englander]

I want to thank all of you for your advise. Truth be known, I'm not great with computers and smartphones. I'm so looking forward to this new experience. Amazon messaged me it's out for delivery.

[Mlundberg]

i bought a new Mac Book Air 15 M3 last week. I have been an Apple user for many years but the Migration Assistant makes it easy to setup. Open the Mac book and the computer powers up immediately. Follow the prompts and Migration Assistant. I had an external drive set up thru Time Machine and the data transfer was complete and easy. You can also manually go thru each item in the setup.

[USNA87]

Originally Posted by La lamy

Once you go Mac, you'll never go back. Enjoy!!

Fact!!

[New Englander]

The message they sent me this morning stated I had to sign for this at delivery. I was sitting here waiting for it and I just looked outside and it was sitting in my entrance way for anybody to see. No signing, I'm flabbergasted. Should I complain? Oh well. I'll open the Mac now.

[Wondering]

Call the Apple 800 number. Ask for a test and they will run you through the whole process and answer any questions. 800-692-7753.
easy to remember 800- MYAPPLE

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by New Englander

The message they sent me this morning stated I had to sign for this at delivery. I was sitting here waiting for it and I just looked outside and it was sitting in my entrance way for anybody to see. No signing, I'm flabbergasted. Should I complain? Oh well. I'll open the Mac now.

No need to complain and no need to be flabbergasted. It happens all the time. If someone stole the computer, then you could complain, and the carrier would be responsible to replace the item.

[JohnnyP]

You may also find some of The Villages clubs to be beneficial:

Apple Users Drop In | Lady Lake, Florida
MUD Macintosh Users Dropin - meets every 2nd Wednesday at Paradise from 9 to noon.
AUDI Apple Users Drop In - meets every 3rd Friday at Paradise from 9 to noon.

MUD (Mac Users Drop-in)
"This site is the idea of MUD founder Tony Cottell. He wants new Apple (Macintosh & iOS) users to be able to learn the Apple simply and easily. No fancy books, no hard-to-follow videos, just Apple users helping Apple users."

The Villages Apple User Group | Learn - Share - Teach
The Villages Apple User Group
"Join TVAUG to attend our in-person and Zoom meetings, see our library of presentations, and have access to our Support Forum where you can get your Apple questions answered."

[WingedFoot78]

Apple Care is a great source for help. Their phone number is (800) 275-2273.

[deej012160]

There is an apple users group in the villages. You should be able to find it by googling.