| Macintosh computers come complete with almost | | | | find this application also has excellent integration with |
| everything you need built into the computer. Let's | | | | other applications on your system and is more useful |
| take a minute to check out just what comes with a | | | | in other applications more than on it's own. |
| Mac right "out of the box". With the built in software | | | | Next up you'll have iCal. iCal has become the standard |
| included, you can edit movies, pictures and music, as | | | | for calendaring applications on the internet. iCal lets |
| well as manage your email, calendars and contacts. In | | | | you easily manage your upcoming events and easily |
| fact, so much is included pre-loaded with the | | | | syncs with your iPod, iPhone, the web and other |
| computer that you probably won't have to buy a lot | | | | computers you may have. Preview is another |
| of additional programs later on. Let's go over what | | | | application that is fairly desecrate within your |
| you'll see on your dock at the bottom of the screen | | | | computing experiences. Preview is what opens |
| when you turn your computer on. | | | | whenever you open a PDF document or an image. |
| First thing you'll notice is the Finder. The Finder is the | | | | You probably won't open this from the Dock very |
| windowing system for the computer, however, you'll | | | | often, but it is most likely crucial to normal computing. |
| notice it most with the translucent bar at the top of | | | | Next up we have the iLife suite. The iLife suite is |
| your screen. The Finder lets you quit applications, as | | | | probably the most interesting part of your new Mac. |
| well as access preferences, the file, edit, etc. menus. | | | | iLife includes iMovie, Garage Band, iPhoto and iDVD. |
| The next application you'll see on your dock is | | | | iPhoto is a photo management application, whenever |
| Dashboard. Dashboard allows you to access Widgets. | | | | you hook up a camera, iPhoto is what you'll see. |
| You can access Dashboard by clicking on the icon in | | | | iMovie is a video editing application, if you ever have |
| the Dock or pressing F12 on your keyboard. You can | | | | a camcorder that is digital and you hook it up to your |
| add and delete widgets by clicking on the "+" sign at | | | | computer, this is what you'll see, as well as if you |
| the lesser left hand side of your screen as well as | | | | ever want to manipulate video. Garage Band is a |
| download new widgets on apple. | | | | music creation and editing app. Garage Band comes |
| Mail is the next application you'll see, it's the basic mail | | | | with many built in instruments, loops and many useful |
| application. You'll be prompted to input your email | | | | features that you can use for your music creation. |
| account's information into the application when you | | | | iDVD is just what it sounds like, it lets you take |
| launch it for the first time. Mail also allows you to | | | | videos and convert them and dress them up so you |
| keep notes and make To Do lists along with the | | | | can simply insert a DVD and have it burn so you can |
| usual, compose, send and automatically receive email | | | | play it on any DVD player.iTunes is probably the most |
| from your account. | | | | well known application on both the Mac and Windows |
| Next you'll see Safari. Safari is one of the Mac's | | | | computers. iTunes is the largest music store in the |
| premier web browsers. Safari is considered to be one | | | | world as well as an excellent music management |
| of the fastest browsers out there, and allows you to | | | | application, if you have a music file, iTunes can |
| keep RSS feeds in order, make RSS feeds of | | | | probably play it. Next you'll see Spaces. Spaces can |
| selected parts of a web page as well as having | | | | be used to form virtual desktops, which can help you |
| excellent integration with the operating system. | | | | split up where your applications are on your Mac and |
| Address Book is the next app you'll see. Address | | | | help free you from screen clutter. Spaces can be |
| Book lets you input all of your information for | | | | accessed by pressing the icon on your Dock, pressing |
| contacts for anyone you know, including phone | | | | F8 or assigning a hot corner in System Preferences. |
| numbers, web pages and, of course, addresses. You'll | | | | |