Switching to Mac - At work and at home

Get a username and password prompt when you only have a user list

2008-10-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

Say you want to login as root or the administrator and you only have a list of users. Most experienced Mac users know the machine is full of keyboard shortcuts and this little shortcut can come in handy.

Option, Up Arrow, Enter will bring up the username and password prompt if the login window only has a list of users. This will allow you to login as a user not listed like root or local admin.

With one mouse button how do I right click?

2008-09-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

First time Mac users always notice that there is only one mouse button. There is a reason for that which will be explained later but there is a few simple things to remember to get back that "right click". Perhaps the easiest way right out of the box is use the control key. Holding the control key while clicking gives you a right click - now that's easy.

There are other options too. Click the Apple, then click System Preferences. Click Keyboard & Mouse then click the Trackpad tab. In this window you can change the pad settings. There is an option to right click by tapping with two fingers.

What am I doing? Switching to Mac? Never though I'd say it.

2008-09-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

For the years I have been working with computers both personally and professionally I never imagined that I would say I am switching to Mac at a personal level and especially at a professional level. But the saying "never say never" comes true again.

I work for a Pennsylvania public school district and a few months ago we applied for a Pennsylvania State Grant called Classrooms for the Future. This grant gives money to all 500 some PA school districts to purchase technology to increase classroom technology integration.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the grant only allows the purchase of two manufacturers. Apple or Lenovo (old IBM ThinkPad). When we evaluated the two the Apple stood out so much the choice was easy but the choice would open a can of worms like never before...