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.
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)!
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:
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.
Edit⇒Copy
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:
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:
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.