Congratulations and congratulations. You are already a new member of those who have chosen the good for work and for leisure. Buying a Mac is a breakthrough compared to computers with an operating system. It doesn't matter if you were given (or given) a MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac or Mac Pro, they all have macOS. It is a big difference from Windows but with this little guide things will be easier for you.
After having started the Mac for the first time and following the instructions that Apple has marked for it, connecting it to the Internet, choosing a username and password and even updating the operating system, you already have the computer available. However, there are certain things you can do and thanks to this little guide everything will be easier for you. It is a basic guide, but it will help you a lot in your beginnings.
Apple Pay
Now is the time to set up Apple Pay on the Mac. We assume that you have already set up Touch ID at startup following Apple's instructions. Apple Pay is the safe and simple way to make payments through the Mac without having to enter the details of the payment method all the time. Very useful, but first you have to know what you are doing. Do not have problems configuring it because all the data is stored on a separate chip and it is not shared with anyone at any time.
Apple Pay uses a technology that generates a new virtual card associated with yours. When you pay, you do it with the virtual one, so your real data is not really shared at any time. It is also secured by Touch ID.
In order to configure it we must go to system preferences and choose the Apple Pay section and follow the instructions given by the computer. It is very simple and safe. Take a look at this article.
touch Bar
The touch bar is an OLED panel which sits across the top of the keyboard and replaces the row of function keys. It is contextual, which means that what appears in the panel will change, depending on the application you are currently using. It is also customizable, allowing you to configure different applications (including third-party applications that support customization) to improve your workflow.
See how it changes with each of the applications you have and see by pressing keys to see if it is really effective for your work. Even so, if you want to modify the bar, you just have to perform the following steps:
- We click on your desktop screen> View in the application menu bar at the top of your Mac screen.
- select Customize Touch Bar from the drop down menu.
- We choose and we drag a tool from the customization panel towards the bottom of the screen.
The dock
The Dock is what you might think of as the "favorites" section of your Mac. Stores all your most important apps, files, and folders for quick access. It also temporarily contains applications, files, and folders that are currently open, so you can access them with one click, instead of browsing through all your open windows and programs.
The menu bar
The menu bar is at the top of your Mac screen. It houses the Apple menu, which will take you to all your system settings, the application menu, which is specific to the application you are currently using, the computer status shortcuts, and third-party quick search tools, Spotlight and Siri.
Finder
Think of Finder as a place from where you can access any other on your Mac. Sometimes it's the best way to find what you're looking for (although Spotlight really gives it a try). The best part is that you also have direct access to cloud-based programs in Finder. So you don't have to search through the Dropbox or iCloud Drive app
Spotlight
Spotlight it is basically the most robust search program out there. It scans your personal files, folders, apps, emails, and other content to produce the results you were probably looking for in the first place. It also searches the web to cover all the bases. If you're looking for something, Spotlight is likely to find it. One way to quickly access it is by pressing the space bar and the Command key. You can customize it through the system preferences menu.
The Mac App Store
The Mac App Store is where you'll find some of the best applications and games for the Mac. It's also the go-to place when you need to update your Mac operating system and other software programs. You have to visit it from time to time to keep up to date. We will need an Apple ID in order to use it.
With these first basic lessons in this little guide, you can survive the first days with a new operating system and a brand-new Mac. Little by little you will gain confidence. Remember that "System Preferences" is where you can configure and customize your Mac.
Enjoy it!!