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Getting to Know Your Computer 25
What You Can Do
Mac OS X provides a powerful and elegant new user interface for your computer. With
Mac OS X, you don’t need to worry about the amount of memory to allot for an application
to run efficiently, or restarting your computer if something goes wrong with an application.
In addition to using Mac OS X software, you can still run Mac OS 9 versions of software in
Mac OS X using the Classic environment. Chapter 4, “Working With Your Operating
System,” on page 65 explains Classic in more detail. Mac OS X also supports Java
™
and
UNIX-based software.
To Get Started
System Preferences is your command center for all of your computer settings, from changing
the appearance of your desktop to setting up network access information. The Finder and
Dock provide easy access to folders, applications, documents, and other items on your
computer and network.
For details on the features of Mac OS X, see the Welcome to Mac OS X book that came with
your computer or choose Mac Help from the Help menu in Mac OS X.
Tips and Tricks
Personalize the Finder
You can select a picture or color for your desktop by choosing the Desktop pane of System
Preferences. You can also select and rearrange the items that appear in the Finder toolbar.
Choose Customize Toolbar from the View menu and drag items to the toolbar.
Personalize the Dock
You can change the size of the Dock icons, turn on magnification so that the icons under
your pointer become larger than the rest of the Dock, and position the Dock on the bottom,
left, or right of your screen. Choose Dock from the Apple (K) menu, then choose Dock
Preferences. You can also open your computer’s System Preferences and click Dock.
Keep your desktop organized
Reduce the clutter on your desktop by minimizing open windows, which puts them in the
Dock. Double-click a window’s title bar or click the middle button in the top-left corner of
the window to put it in the Dock. Click the window’s icon in the Dock to open it again. You
can also control some system settings using the status icons in the menu bar.
To Learn More
For instructions on how to customize your Mac OS X environment and for more information
about using Mac OS X, see the Welcome to Mac OS X book that came with your computer.