Macs^® For Seniors For Dummies^®, 4th Edition

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2019950020

ISBN: 978-1-119-60782-3

ISBN (ePDF): 978-1-119-60789-2; ISBN (ePub): 978-1-119-60785-4

Introduction

Is a Macintosh the computer for you? I can unequivocally answer “Yes!” Why am I so sure? Because Apple has been producing the best consumer computers and applications for many years now — desktops, laptops, and software that surpass anything else now offered on the market. (Yes, that includes other famous companies you’ve heard of, such as Dell and Microsoft.) Macs are designed to be easy and fun to use, and computing beginners will find that Apple has a knack for writing the best personal-computer software around.

Let me be honest: I’m not easily impressed when it comes to computers. As a cynical old computer programmer (and curmudgeon), I’ve used every version of Windows that His Gatesness has produced, including the latest, Windows 10. I’ve used many Mac versions all the way back to 1989. I’m very sure that you’ll have the same great experience I’ve had using a Mac. Macs are just easy and fun! (And yes, that’s coming from a fellow senior.)

The current operating system, macOS (now in version 10.15, called Catalina), performs like a Ferrari and looks as good too. And don’t let that term OS throw you. That’s just the name for the engine under the hood. See? Easy.

The book you hold in your hands is written especially for seniors, using the For Dummies design. You’ll find easy-to-follow and lighthearted step-by-step instructions for using the major features of both your computer and Catalina. What you don’t find in this book is wasted space or a bunch of intimidating computer terms. Everything is explained from the ground up, just in case you’ve never touched a computer, let alone one from Apple.

Foolish Assumptions

All you need to follow along with this book is a Mac running macOS version 10.15 (Catalina). (A desk, good light, and mouse pad are all up to you.) Even if you have a Mac running an earlier version of macOS, this book will still become a trusted friend, although some of the screenshots throughout the book will look a little different from what you’ll see on your screen, and some things I talk about may not quite jibe. If you’re at the point of buying your Mac — maybe you’re standing in a bookstore right now! — go right to Chapter 1 for some helpful advice on your choices and options.

Here’s the good news: You don’t require any of the following:

A degree in computer science: Apple designed Catalina and Macs for regular people, and I designed this book for people of various experience levels. Even if you’ve never used a Mac, you’ll find safe waters here.
A fortune spent on software: Almost every program covered in this book is included with macOS Catalina — and the size of this volume gives you a rough idea of just how complete Catalina is! Heck, many folks buy Macs just because of the free software they get, such as iMovie and Photos.
An Internet connection: Granted, you can’t do much with Apple Mail (email), FaceTime (video chatting) or Messages (instant messaging) without an Internet connection, but computers did exist before the Internet. You can still be productive with macOS without receiving buckets of junk email. And if you already have an Internet connection, this book helps you connect and become familiar with the best of what’s online!

I’m guessing that you probably do want an Internet connection (if you don’t already have one). See Part 4 for help on getting online. I also recommend using a power strip with a surge-protection feature for powering your Mac, but that’s your call, too.

About This Book

This book is organized in a straight-through, linear fashion, although you don’t have to read it that way (and certainly not in one session). Having said that, you can certainly hop right to whatever chapter fits the bill for you. If you do go to a more advanced topic — or just need a refresher on something — I give you lots of signposts to related chapters where you can find more information.

The book is divided into parts, each of which covers a different area of Mac knowledge. You’ll find parts on software, the Internet, and Mac maintenance, for example. And each chapter discusses a specific application, connection, or cool feature of your Mac. So feel free to begin reading anywhere or to skip chapters at will. I do recommend that you read this book from front to back, as you would any good mystery novel, but it’s your choice. (Watch out, though. Oncoming spoiler: For those who want to know right now, Microsoft did it.)

If you’ve read any other For Dummies books, you know that they come with a helpful, simple set of conventions. Here’s what you find in this book:

When I ask you to type a command (tell the computer to do something) or enter information (such as your name or phone number) in a text field, the text appears in bold like this: Type me. Then you just press the Return key (on the keyboard) to send the command or enter the text. Easy.
When I give you a set of menu commands to use in a certain order, they appear in the following format: Edit ⇒ Copy. In this example, you click the Edit menu and then choose the Copy menu item, in that order.
Sometimes when you tell the computer to do something — like make a word bold — you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of using a menu and clicking things. Keyboard shortcuts look something like this: ⌘ +B. You press and hold down the ⌘ key and then press B. (No need to press Shift to make a capital letter: Just press B or whatever.) You might also see three keys strung together, like this: ⌘ +Option+down arrow. That just means to press and hold the first one, press and hold the second one, and then press the third one (in this case, to mute sound in the Music application).
If I mention a specific message that you see on your screen, it looks like this: This message is displayed by an application.

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 margin icons for certain situations:

This icon is the most popular icon in the book. You find it parked next to suggestions I make to save you time and effort (and even cash!).

Always read this information before you take action! I’m discussing something that could harm your hardware or throw a plumber’s helper into your software.

Consider these nuggets to be highlighter stuff —I use this icon to reinforce what you should remember.

Beyond the Book

Like every For Dummies book, this one comes with a free Cheat Sheet that brings together some of the most commonly needed information for people learning to use, in this case, GoPro cameras. To get the Cheat Sheet, head for www.dummies.com and enter Macs For Seniors For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.

Where to Go from Here

I have just a few recommendations on how to proceed from here:

Whether you’re thinking about buying a new Mac or your new Mac is still in the box unopened in your living room, start with Part 1.
If you want help setting things up, start with Part 2.
If you already set up your Mac and you’re familiar with Catalina basics, start with Part 3.
If getting online and using email are your top priorities, start with Part 4. Just realize that you may need to go back through earlier chapters to set things up.
If you want to know how to protect your Mac from the dangers of the world or need to do some maintenance, check out Part 5.
For all other concerns, use the index or check out the table of contents to jump directly to the chapter you need.
I may update this book from time to time. If so, you can find those updates at www.dummies.com.

I want to thank you for buying this book, and I hope that you find that this edition of Macs For Seniors For Dummies answers the questions you have along the way! With this fearless guide in hand, I believe that you and your Mac will bond as I have with mine. (That sounds somewhat wrong, but it’s really not.)

Always remember this as you make your way through this book or come back to it for help: Take your time! Finding out how to use your computer isn’t a race, and if something doesn’t go quite right, don’t worry. You won’t break anything, there are no stupid questions, and learning new things takes practice and a little patience. You don’t have to be a graphic artist, professional photographer, or video editor. With your Mac and its software by your side, you don’t have to be a professional! All you “have to be” is ready to have fun and learn.

Macs® For Seniors For Dummies®

To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Macs For Seniors For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.