Finding the Model Identifier on your Mac

This information is relevant if you are checking compatibility with hardware you were considering upgrading with. Otherwise, it's good to know how to access this information.

1. Open the “” menu

2. Click “About This Mac”

Note: You will be able to find the model at the top of this window.

3. Click “System Report…”

4. The “Model Identifier” will help you determine what upgrades will be  compatible with your mac. The numbers at the end are what determines the model identifier

Personalize Your Dock on your Mac

How to set up your Dock

System Preferences is awesome in that it allows targeted customization of specific features on a Mac.  The Dock is found on the side or bottom of the screen and is the bar that allows for quick access to your favorite applications, files, and folders.  This is one of the first things that you will want to customize on your system by allowing shortcuts and keeping clutter away from the desktop.  These are all just customization preferences, and there will be an explanation of what each one does and how they work.  In the end it is all up to your personal preference.

Opening Dock Preferences

1. Open the "" menu at the top left corner of your screen.
2. Select "System Preferences"



A faster way of opening "System Preferences" or any application is by performing a Spotlight Search

3. Open "Dock."

Size

• You can adjust the size of the applications that appear in the Dock

Magnification

• By enabling Magnification, you can have the Dock magnify the icon when you drag the mouse over it.  You can adjust just how much or little it magnifies.

Positioning

• You can choose whether your Dock appears on the left of the screen, the bottom center, or the right of the screen.  

Minimizing Windows Effect

• Genie vs. Scaled effect is purely aesthetic.  It is seen when you minimize a window to the Dock.  Scale is a little more bland in my opinion, but test them both to see what you prefer.

Other Preferences

• Double click the top of a window to minimize
• Shows whether you want an application to minimize to the dock or the application icon
• Lets you know when an application is open or needs your attention
• Hiding the dock gives extra desktop space
• "Indicator lights" tell which applications are open.  

Dock Organization

• Saving Applications to Dock
• You can either drag-and-drop and application to the Dock, OR if the application is already open, you can Right-click > Options > "Keep In Dock"
• Saving Folders to Dock
• If you want to keep a folder in your Dock, Simply drag-and-drop it to the Dock.  Applications and Folders are separated in the dock by a dividing line, make sure to drag it to the Folder part of the divide (the side with your recycling bin).
• Organization
• To organize your dock so that applications are near each other, just drag-and-drop them to where you want their position to be.
• Removing Items from Dock
• Just Drag the application or folder you want to remove from the Dock to outside the Dock.  Wait for the application to turn transparent and say "Remove."  Then let go of the mouse to remove it form the Dock.
• NOTE:  Doing this will only remove the application from your Dock, not from your computer.  you will still be able to find the removed application in the applications folder.  

Useful Mac Keyboard Shortcuts

Welcome to my office, today I’m going to teach some shortcuts on the keyboard that can give incredible control over your Mac.  Practicing and integrating these shortcuts can increase the speed in which you interact with your computer.  After mastering these shortcuts, you will find it's often faster than using your mouse!

Keyboard shortcuts

    Keyboard shortcuts will significantly increase the speed in which you can perform actions on your computer.  Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts that are useful for the average user.

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Cut, Copy, Paste.

The Ability to take text from one document and 'paste' it onto another document is one of the first commands I recommend learning and mastering. The difference between 'cut' and 'copy' is important when you are writing a document. 'Cut' removes the text to the clipboard, whereas 'copy' keeps the text and simultaneously copies it to the clipboard.

Copy:  "Command" + "C"

Cut:  "Command" + "X"

Paste: "Command" + "V"

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Text Manipulation

Manipulating text without using your mouse can be a very useful skill to have. These are just the basics, We'll get into more complex ways to highlight or manipulate your text in a later article.

Bold Text: "Command" + "B"

Italicize Text: "Command" + "I"

Underline Text: "Command" + "U"

Select all text: "Command" + "A"

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Window Manipulation

Knowing how to open new windows, or close windows without having to use your mouse can save boatloads of time. Again These are just some basics, there are many more ways to manipulate windows.

Open New Window: "Command" + "N"

Open New Tab: "Command" + "T"

Close Tab/Window: "Command" + "W"

Create New Folder (Finder): "Command" + "Shift" + "N"

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Application Manipulation

Applications can do some pretty cool things, but its always nice to know how to use them faster.

Open Preferences: "Command" + ","

Open Spotlight: "Command" + "Space"

Print: "Command" + "P"

Quit Application: "Command" + "Q"

Redo: "Command" + "Y"

Undo: "Command" + "Z"

Save: "Command" + "S"

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Screenshots

Whether you're having a problem with your computer and want to send a picture or just want to show someone a snippet of your screen, screenshots are a very useful ability to be aware of.

Whole Screenshot:  "Command" + "Shift" + "3"

Targeted Screenshot: "Command" + "Shift" + "4"

Find Anything Instantly on Your Mac!

Welcome to my office.  Today I'm going to discuss useful ways to search your mac for anything using a wonderful background application called 'Spotlight.'  Performing a Spotlight Search can drastically increase the speed in which you would be able to open things over searching for it manually.

The application "Spotlight" searches your mac for all relevant Files, Folders, and Applications to the keyword you type in.  This makes it very useful to quickly access anything as fast as you can type it!

Performing a Spotlight Search.

1. The little secret behind the power of searching at your very fingertips is found in the program on the menu bar called Spotlight! Spotlight is a powerful plug-in that lets you search your mac for anything (drum roll please).
2. Command + Space

3. Type to search

4. Enjoy