Introduction
Skeptical about your new anodized aluminum iMac, with that supercharged Intel quad-core processor? Perhaps you’re thinking it’s too doggone thin, or you’re wondering where all the buttons are. Shouldn’t there be places to plug in cables?
Ladies and gentlemen, I have great news for you: Not only did you make The Right Decision about which computer to buy — you shot a hole in one! The latest incarnation of the iMac has everything a computer power user could want: speed, the latest in hardware and standards, a top-of-the-line LED screen, and all the connectors you need to add just about any device meant for today’s computers.
I wrote this book especially for the proud Intel iMac owner who wants to make the most of this new stunning aluminum computer, so this book is a guide to both the iMac hardware and Mavericks, Apple’s superb OS X operating system. I start by describing the basics that every iMac owner should know. Then I move on to chapters devoted to the software that comes with your iMac. Along the way, you come across a generous sprinkling of power-user tips and tricks that save you time, effort, and money.
Foolish Assumptions
So who is the target audience for this book? As in past editions, I make no assumptions about your previous knowledge of computers and software. I figure you’ve either just bought a brand-new iMac or you’re considering buying one — perhaps you’ve found a great bargain on a gently-used older iMac model, and you’d like guidance as you learn the ropes. Those are the only assumptions I make… and unlike other books that require all sorts of technical experience to understand, the only requirement between these covers is your desire to become an iMac power user (someone who produces the best work in the least amount of time and has the most fun doing it)!
By the way, if your friends and family told you that you’re going to spend half your life savings on software — or that no “decent” software is available for Mac computers — just smile quietly to yourself! The iMac comes complete with about a ton more software than any Windows box, and the iLife and iWork software suites are better than anything available on a PC!
This book was written using the latest Intel quad-core iMac computer, so owners of older iMac computers might not be able to follow along with everything I cover. However, if you’ve upgraded an older Intel iMac with OS X Mavericks (and the iLife and iWork application suites), you should be able to use most of the book with no problem.
About This Book
In writing about the iMac, I’ve kept one precept firmly in mind: OS X Mavericks, the operating system you’ll run, is just as important as the actual iMac computer itself. Therefore, you’ll find that iMac For Dummies is just as much about familiarizing you with all the software you get as it is with introducing you to hardware features like your keyboard and mouse. After all, it’s relatively easy to connect an entire forest of cables and turn on any new computer — what comes next is the challenging part!
As in my other For Dummies titles, I respect and use the same English language you do, avoiding jargon, ridiculous computer acronyms, and confusing techno-babble whenever possible.
If you’re upgrading from a PC running the Windows operating system, I’ve got tips, tricks, and entire sections devoted to those hardy pioneers called Switchers! You’ll discover both the similarities and differences between the iMac running Mavericks and the PC running Windows. I also show you how to make the switch as easy and quick as possible.
A word about the conventions I use: Even with an absolute minimum of techno-speak, this book needs to cover the special keys that you have to press or menu commands that you have to choose to make things work. Therefore, please keep this short list of conventions in mind as you read:
- Stuff you type: If I ask you to type (or enter) something, such as in a text box or field, that text appears in bold, like this:
Type me.
If I ask you to type a command within an application, that text appears like this (and note that you usually have to press the Return key before anything happens):
Type me.
- Menu commands: I list menu paths and commands using another format. For example, this instruction indicates that you should click the Edit menu and then choose the Copy menu item:
Edit⇒Copy
- Web addresses: No up-to-date book on a computer would be complete without a bag full of web addresses for you to check out. When you see these in the text, they look like this: www.mlcbooks.com.
- For the technically curious: Tangential techy stuff is presented in sidebars, and you don’t have to read them unless you want to know what makes things tick.
Icons Used in This Book
Like other technology authors, I firmly believe that important nuggets of wisdom should stand out on the page! With that in mind, this For Dummies book includes a number of margin icons for certain situations:
This is the most popular icon in the book, and you find it parked next to suggestions that I make to save you time and effort (and even cash!).
You don’t have to know this stuff, but the technologically curious love high-tech details. (Of course, we’re great fun at parties, too.)
Always read the information before you take action! I’m discussing something that could actually harm your hardware or throw a plumber’s helper into your software.
Consider these nuggets to be highlighter stuff — not quite as universally accepted (or as important to the author) as a Mark’s Maxim (described next), but good reminders nonetheless. I use these icons to reinforce what you should remember.
These gold-plated truisms are easily spotted; just look for the likeness of my rugged, iMac-lovin’ mug. These are MFRs (short for My Favorite Recommendations). In fact, I’ll bet just about any iMac power user would tell you the same. Follow my Maxims to avoid the quicksand and pitfalls that I’ve encountered with all sorts of Macs for well over two decades!
Beyond the Book
Thanks to my good friends at Wiley, there’s a ton of extra content to accompany this book that you won’t find between the covers! Fire up your Safari browser and go online to find the following:
- Cheat Sheet: I’ve created a number of Cheat Sheet pages that cover things like common keystrokes and maintenance procedures that every iMac owner should follow on a regular basis, and you’ll find them on the web at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/imac.
- Dummies.com online articles: At the beginning of each major section of the book, you’ll find links to Dummies.com and articles that extend the content covered in this book. This additional content includes all sorts of different topics: tips on network troubleshooting, a discussion of the Unix foundation that supports OS X, information on managing and expanding your iCloud storage, and even my history of Data Elves! (You’ll have to read online to learn more about the Elves.) These articles appear on the book’s Extras page (www.dummies.com/extras/imac).
- Bonus Chapters: If you’re dying to find out how to share data among wireless devices via Bluetooth technology, check out the handy Bluetooth bonus chapter at the Wiley website (www.dummies.com/extras/imac) as well as at my website (www.mlcbooks.com). You’ll also find a spiffy bonus chapter dedicated to running Windows on your iMac using Boot Camp!
- Updates to this book, if we have any, are at
Where to Go from Here
Each chapter in this book is written as a reference on a specific hardware or software topic. You can begin reading anywhere you like because each chapter is self-contained. However, I recommend that you read the book from front to back because the order of this book makes a great deal of sense.