I have been a Mac user for about a year and have gathered some shortcuts that I find to be real useful. A whole list can be found here on the Apple site, but the following are the ones I use regularly.

• Switch Applications = Command + Tab
• Spotlight Search – Command + Space Bar
• Print Screen = Command + Shift + 3
• Print Screen Selection = Command + Shift+ 4
• Print Screen Selection and Copy to Clipboard = Command + Shift + 4, then hold Ctrl while selecting.
• Using the Delete button like a PC Delete (where it deletes a character to the right, not left). I think I read that this works only on portable machines = Fn + Delete
• Move file to Trash = Command + Delete
• Hide / Show Dock = Command + Option + D
• When in the Finder, you can create a new folder = Shift + Command + N
• Put Computer to Sleep = Command + Option + Eject
• Force quit = Command + Option + Escape
• Turn on Zoom = Option + Command + 8
• Zoom In = Option + Command + Plus (+)
• Zoom out = Option + Command + Minus(-)

Apple has established a reputation for an integrated hardware and software resulting in high quality machine with few operating errors. Its performance and reliability are what make the computers so great… and (I believe) have increased the sales. I think there probably is some correlation (though slight) with iPod sales and Macs as the iPod helped to break down the consumer’s viewpoints of Apple being hard to use (I mean how can you operate a computer without a right mouse button?). Yet, the main increase most likely resulted from consumers wanting a reliable computer with in-store service rather than having to call India to wait on hold for hours. Why would Apple want to mess this reputation by installing Windows rather than the OSX? If the user really wanted Windows, why not just invest in the upcoming Bootcamp?

I believe the increase of Apple sales are due to consumers becoming more comfortable with the Apple products and Apple slowing reeling each consumer in with each new gadget release.

What are your thoughts? Will the bootcamp be too techy for the normal consumer to use?

The built-in tool is called the Automator and is esentially a list of macros that can be ran on a file without having to open the file. There are 212 actions available for all built-in application.

Since Microsoft Word was installed there are no actions available to turn a doc into a PDF, meaning that the doc will need to be opened in Microsoft word and saved as a PDF. Unlike Windows where a driver is necessary, the Mac version has the option already available in the print box as a button on the left corner.

Once all the files are saved as PDF’s, highlight them in the finder, ctrl+click, and choose Automator and Create Workflow. The Automator box pulls up and shows you all actions available. Find ‘Combine PDF Pages’ in the list of actions (easier to find by using the search box) and double click so that it is added to the workflow. Make sure that appending pages is marked. Then find the action ‘Open Finder Items’ and choose Default Application. This will open the combined file and allow you to save it.

From there, save the file with the name and in the directory of choice.

I love Apple!

Since I am short on time I am going to just highlight a section that I liked because I fall into this category (I started with a mini, upgraded to a nano, bought the stock, purchased a mac, convinced my sister to purchase a mac and am now a frequent user of the iTunes store).

“What does all this data mean? It means that a virtuous marketing cycle is dramatically improving Apple’s already robust business:

1. Apple brand awareness is driving increased iPod sales.

2. Those new iPod customers are creating additional Macintosh sales, driving up Apple’s market share in both categories.

3. Increasing Apple market share is driving more brand awareness and interest in new products.

4. Increasing interest in Apple products is driving iPhone demand in advance of its release.”

The whole entry is interesting and I would urge you to read it.