dunnjm

Q: I'm new to iMac, many questions.

I have, after 20 years of Windows, made the leap to everything Apple. I've had all the other devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.) for a few years and finally gotten an iMac. It's a mid-2011 21.5" low spec model as a starter for me. I've had it a few days and set everything up along with an El Capitan upgrade.

 

There will be many questions, so I will post them all in this thread instead of making several for each topic. The biggest problem is that I don't know anyone with an iMac to help me and even if I have a question I don't know the terminology to explain my question to an online audience. So, with that said, my questions will be very simplistic in the wording of the description.

 

The bar across the bottom, the dock I believe it's called, has icons (apps?) and under a few there is a black dot. What does this dot mean?

 

I was very surprised to see the word "Windows" in the menu across the bar at the top of the screen. What is that bar across the top of the screen called?

 

There are 18,000+ pictures on my Windows PC, if I move all of these pictures over to the iMac will the iCloud populate them to my other devices? Do I have a choice as to what pictures I want to be on each device?

 

I don't see a video app or reference  to video anywhere on the iMac. I have videos on an external hard drive that I'd like to import onto the iMac or do I have to keep them on the external drive? It's a Western Digital and I'm not even sure its format will work with Apple.

 

How do I turn off the monitor with the (2009) keyboard? Does it have an Alt+F4 function to close a window? The F4 key, I figured out what it does is called the Launchpad. However, the F3 key that spreads the windows out across the screen, what is that function called?

 

Where can I find my "recent items" like on the Windows start menu?

 

How do I get Numbers, Pages and Keynote onto the iMac as they are on my iPhone and iPad?

 

Well, that's it for a start but I know there will be a lot more questions so please be patient with me. Thank you for the help in advance!

iMac

Posted on Sep 3, 2016 7:21 AM

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Q: I'm new to iMac, many questions.

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  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Sep 6, 2016 9:48 AM in response to MichelPM
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 6, 2016 9:48 AM in response to MichelPM

    I think dunnjm may have been referring to my suggestion of going to the finder and clicking on help, then selecting "Get to know your Mac". The OS is apparently programmed to take you to the same web site as the link you provided.

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 9, 2016 3:55 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 9, 2016 3:55 AM in response to babowa

    It's a 300+ mile round trip to that place, so it's not an option. Also, I been there once and it was chaotic, cramped and loud which is probably exactly how Steve Jobs wanted it to be and I see no genius in that for a learning environment.

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 9, 2016 4:07 AM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 9, 2016 4:07 AM in response to Phil0124

    It is possible to put personal videos into iTunes? I don't really see the need because all I want is a folder to store them locally yet have that folder next to the Photo app on the dock with a graphical icon for that folder. I've tried and tired but it doesn't seem possible. I've done this on my Dell (Windows), made a folder, put videos in it, create a link on the desktop and drag it to the dock then change the icon to a fancy symbol for video. I just can't seem to figure out how to do that with the iMac and I think that's because it's not possible.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 9, 2016 4:09 AM in response to dunnjm
    Level 9 (50,252 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 9, 2016 4:09 AM in response to dunnjm

    Yes it is, but forget about the pretty picture icon, leave that to Windows (which looks like a cheap fairground ride already)

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 9, 2016 4:23 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 9, 2016 4:23 AM in response to Csound1

    No, I disagree, all it will let me do is put the folder next to the downloads folder and the icon is the same, a plain folder. A user should be able to move the folder around on the dock and have an icon. Actually, it should already have this feature built into the OS but I think the drive is to get people to use iTunes and buy movies. I really don't feel comfortable putting a wedding video and other personal videos on a server.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 9, 2016 4:32 AM in response to dunnjm
    Level 9 (50,252 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 9, 2016 4:32 AM in response to dunnjm

    I'll take the time to disagree with you.

     

    If you wanted pretty pictures all over the place you could have had that by sticking with Windows, and if you want to redesign OS X, tell Apple. Feedback Line

  • by pokey b,

    pokey b pokey b Sep 9, 2016 5:58 AM in response to dunnjm
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 9, 2016 5:58 AM in response to dunnjm

    Why not import the videos into the Photos app? You can set up a special folder for it if you like.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Sep 9, 2016 7:53 AM in response to dunnjm
    Level 7 (31,893 points)
    iPad
    Sep 9, 2016 7:53 AM in response to dunnjm

    A user should be able to move the folder around on the dock and have an icon.

     

    You can add applications anywhere in your dock; folders need to be to the right of the vertical division - that is how it is set up. A few OS versions ago, you were able to change system folder icons, but that was changed (you can still change an icon of any folder you're created). However, you can still choose other icons - it just requires a workaround. See my folder icons in my dock:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 7.43.10 AM.png

     

    What you see is the first entry/folder in the folder you put in the dock. You need to change the blue folder icon in your first subfolder into something you want - that is what will show up in the dock:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 7.44.21 AM.png

     

    The first folder on the left is the Documents folder which I changed. The red folder is the Applications folder - I simply changed the Adobe folder icon:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 7.50.48 AM.png

     

    And the black CD is my Music folder.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 9, 2016 8:03 AM in response to dunnjm
    Level 6 (13,660 points)
    iPad
    Sep 9, 2016 8:03 AM in response to dunnjm

    Anything you import/store into iTunes remains locally on your Mac.

    It gets stored into a folder called iTunes LIbrary.

    You aren't uploading ANYTHING to iCloud, unless you have gone into iTunes setup iTunes to use iCloud as a backup.

    By default setup, iTunes stores everything to your local drive.

    At some pont, you may want to consider some externally connected storage drive to store your iTunes content off of your iMac's internal drive when data space on your internal drive becomes low ( 20-25 GBs or less).

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 10, 2016 12:21 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 12:21 AM in response to Csound1

    Hum, that'd be like having a wife that's good in bed but ugly! Why not have them both, good OS usability and pretty. Anyway, go down a few replies and see what "badowa" posted, it solved the problem... so, no need to redesign the OS or tell Apple anything. He explained how I can archive what I wanted and I'm sure many others want too.

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 10, 2016 12:23 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 12:23 AM in response to babowa

    Fantastic! This is so good to know. Thank you very much.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 10, 2016 5:36 AM in response to dunnjm
    Level 9 (50,252 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 10, 2016 5:36 AM in response to dunnjm

    3rd party add-ons are not for me, so good luck

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 10, 2016 10:14 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 10:14 PM in response to Csound1

    I can certainly understand that. Thank you for your help thus far.

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 10, 2016 10:33 PM in response to pokey b
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 10:33 PM in response to pokey b

    I really liked this idea for its simplicity but when I would drag a file, .mov and .mp4, into the Photo app it would not import. I would drag it over to the Photo app and when I released the mouse it would just slide back to the Documents folder.

  • by dunnjm,

    dunnjm dunnjm Sep 10, 2016 11:14 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 11:14 PM in response to babowa

    Okay, that did it, it's a workaround as you said. It's awkward compared to how easy it is to do with Windows but it does achieve the same goal. Thanks.

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