If you have always used a PC, moving over to Mac will be an exciting prospect, but it can be overwhelming as well. Mac is secure and user-friendly, offers some great productivity tools and features out of the box, and has smooth and elegant functionality. It offers rapid improvements and updates that aim to make the OS better than the best. However, you will need to take a big leap to avail all the advantages that Mac has to offer. Everything boils down to making a seamless transition because the two operating systems differ more than you can imagine. Still, you can follow some actionable steps to make this move a smooth one.
List the applications you need
While you may be habitual to some Windows apps, they may not readily run on a Mac. Even before you switch, it would be right to find alternatives for these apps because you wouldn’t want to lose on productivity as you move over. The good thing is that you will probably find substitutes without much work. You may even eventually find that they are better than the ones you originally used for working on the PC.
Familiarize yourself with macOS
Since Macs are very different from PCs, knowing the system would give you a head start. You can do some research online or visit an Apple Store to check the latest models and the features they offer. Also, learn more about the updated version because you may want to start with macos Big Sur upgrade right from the first step. If a friend has a Mac, you can ask them for a small training session. The learning curve is not steep, but you will have to give yourself some time to get accustomed to the new operating system.
Backup your data and migrate
Migrating data to a Mac may seem like a humongous task, but it is far easier than you think. You can use a Migration Assistant to do it easily, but make sure that you take a complete backup before migrating. It keeps you extra safe in case something goes wrong during migration. As you move data, take the opportunity to get rid of the redundant files that you wouldn’t use in the future.
Memorize the shortcuts
One of the things that you would like about your Mac is the array of shortcuts it offers. These keyboard shortcuts can help you do things much faster, yet they can be quite a pain for beginners who are used to the PC shortcuts. The best advice is to prepare a checklist of shortcuts and memorize them thoroughly. Once you learn them, things will get much smoother and quicker.
Relearn right-click
Apart from keyboard shortcuts, the right-click feature is also different for Mac devices. Mac mouse and trackpad do not come with right and left buttons, but you can still use the right-click functionality. Holding down the Command key as you click the mouse gives access to right-click. For the trackpad, you only need to tap with two fingers to get the right-click effect.
Although you may require some time and effort to transition from PC to Mac, it is still manageable. The benefits of the move are immense, so you wouldn’t mind the work once you are comfortable with the new device.
[Image via: Google Images]
