Switch 101: On Windows, I used to...

If you're using an Apple one-button mouse, Control-click items (press and hold the Control key while you click) to access commands or perform actions in a shortcut menu. Or you can opt to use a multibutton mouse, and right-click as usual.

To enable the secondary button on Mighty Mouse: From the Apple menu or the Dock, choose System Preferences. Select Keyboard & Mouse, click the Mouse tab and choose the Secondary Button from one of the Primary Button menus.

If you're using a MacBook or MacBook Pro computer: From the Apple menu or the Dock, choose System Preferences. Select Keyboard & Mouse, then click the Trackpad tab and select the checkbox "Place two fingers on trackpad and click button for secondary click." Now you can hold two fingers on the trackpad and click to use the shortcut menu. If you selected the Clicking option, then right-click is enabled simply by tapping two fingers simultaneously onto the trackpad.

Double-click your hard drive icon on the Desktop to see content and access all the software on your computer.

You can also use Spotlight to quickly and accurately locate anything on your computer.

Use the Finder to find applications, files, or folders on your computer.

To open a new Finder window, click the Finder icon on the Dock or double-click your hard drive icon on the Desktop.

• Shift key
• Control key
• Alt key
• Windows key
• Backspace key

• Shift key
• Control key
• Option key
• Command key
• Delete key

Press Command-Option-Escape (Esc) to force quit unresponsive applications. Once you press these keys, select any application from the Force Quit window and click Force Quit.

You can also Force Quit by Control-clicking the item on the Dock and select Force Quit.

From the application menu, choose Quit Application name, or press Command-Q, to quit an application.

Click the zoom button (the round, green one in the upper-left corner) to expand your window.

Drag the disc, disk, or volume icon to the Trash (it turns into an Eject icon) to eject or unmount items.

Or, in the Finder window click the Eject icon next to the volume to unmount it.

You can also press the Eject key on your keyboard (in the upper-right corner) to eject a CD or DVD.

Select any file, folder, or application and press the Enter key to display the name in a text box. Rename the item as anything you like by typing over the text.

To make an alias to an item, click it once and from the File menu choose Make Alias (or press Command-L). Or, drag the item and press the Command key and the Option key, a black arrow will appear, drop the item to make an alias.

To make a copy of an item, select it and from the File menu choose Duplicate (or press Command-D). Or, drag the item and press the Option key, a green Add circle will appear, drop the item to make a copy.

Store files and content in the Documents and Pictures folders in your Home folder.

To access your Home folder, double-click your hard drive icon on the Desktop, then double click the Users folder, and double-click the house icon that bears your user name in the resulting window's sidebar. You also have folders to store your music, movies, and more.

Use iPhoto to view and edit pictures, iMovie to edit your home movies, and iTunes or QuickTime Player to listen to tunes.

iTunes also allows you to rip music from CDs, buy music from the iTunes Store, burn CDs, and more.

Your Mac also comes with GarageBand to compose your own music and iDVD to make your own DVDs (if your Mac has a DVD burner), and iWeb to create your own website.

Use System Preferences to customize various settings.

To open it, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu or from the Dock. Then click an item that you'd like to configure.

Use Print & Fax preferences to set up your printer and fax tasks.

To open Print & Fax preferences, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Print & Fax.