Deer Creek Schools: Macbook Pro Getting Started Guide
Your Macbook has both Windows 7 and Mac OS X. How do you get to these systems?
Selecting an Operating System During Startup
You can select which operating system to use during startup by holding down the
Option key. This displays icons for all available startup disks, and lets you override
the default setting for the startup disk in Startup Disk preferences (Mac OS X) or the
Boot Camp control panel (Windows) without changing that setting.
To select an operating system during startup:
1. Restart your computer and hold down the Option key until disk icons appear onscreen.
2. Select the startup disk with the operating system you want to use, and then click the
arrow beneath the icon
Setting the Default Operating System
To set the default operating system in Mac OS X, use the Startup Disk pane of System
Preferences in Mac OS X. To set it in Windows, use the Boot Camp control panel.
To set the default operating system in Mac OS X:
1. In Mac OS X, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and then click Startup Disk.
2. Select the startup disk with the operating system you want to use by default.
3. If you want to start up that operating system now, click Restart.
How do I save documents to my Macbook Pro?
Because we want your Macbook to be as mobile as possible, when you save, you will be saving “locally” to your device. This will allow you to have access to the document both at school and at home or off campus.
What does this mean?
This means that wherever you are, if you have your Macbook, you will have access to your saved documents on this device. But, this also means that unless you choose to save a copy of your work to your server folder on the desktop, you may lose documents if your computer malfunctions. Your network folder is your insurance that all of your documents are safe and backed up.
How can I save to my network folder? Why would I want to save to my network folder?
It is so easy to save to your network folder.
On the Mac OS X side, you can just drag your document to the network folder icon on your desktop . On the Windows side, you can choose “File” and then “Save As. . .” and select the u://dcps-fs01/facultyandstaff/yourname
Can I access my network folder at home or off-campus?
Unfortunately, you cannot access your network folder off of the Deer Creek campus. If you know you will need a document that is currently in your network folder when you leave, just drag it to your HD and you will have a local copy. When you return to campus, you can drag the new local version back to your network folder and replace the old with the new version.
If I don’t put my documents in my network folder, are they still being backed up?
We will run regular back-ups of your documents to the network server, but these back-ups may not coincide with your local saves. For this reason, if your computer malfunctions or you choose to log into another computer, you may not be able to access some of your work. It will be your responsibility to save locally to your computer device and to your network folder.
Why aren’t we storing everything in the cloud?
Currently, we are building a Deer Creek Cloud. When the cloud is complete, all of our documents will live in our cloud. This means you will always save to the cloud and your data will be accessible anywhere without having to save it in two places.
What is included with my Macbook Pro?
You will be responsible for returning each of these items with your Macbook at the end of each Academic Year. Summer checkout of your device will be possible but will require an additional summer check out agreement.
What are each of these items?
Protective Case: This is a simple bag with both handle and carrying strap that should be used to transport your Macbook. If you choose to purchase another style bag, please be sure that it is both protective and designed for laptop use. Any damage to the Macbook resulting from improper carrying cases will be your responsibility.
Power Adaptor and AC Power Cord: Your power adaptor and power cord allow you to charge your Macbook. We do NOT have extra power cords or adaptors. Please keep track of this item or you will be responsible for replacement.
DVI to VGA Adaptor: This very important adaptor allows you to connect your Macbook to your Smartboard. We do NOT have extra adaptors. Without this item, you will not be able to connect to your smartboard.
Getting Started:
1. To turn on the MacBook Pro, press the power button briefly (up to 1 second).
Do not continue to hold down or press the power button after the startup tone or you
might cause the computer to shut down again.
When you turn on the computer, you should see the sleep indicator light turn on (and
stay on), and you should hear a tone.
2. Use your Macbook trackpad to select and move items on the screen, just like you use a mouse with a desktop computer. To move the arrow pointer on the screen, slide your finger across the trackpad. *If you would rather use a mouse, we have plenty of mouse available for use. Please place a technology ticket or come by the technology office.
Important: Use only one finger on the trackpad to move the pointer. The trackpad is designed to allow scrolling when you use two fingers. Use the trackpad button to select, click, or double-click items on the screen.
Basic Features of your Macbook
Keyboard Features
Brightness controls
Increase or decrease the brightness of your MacBook Pro display.
Mute control
Mute the volume of the sound coming from the built-in speakers and headphone port.
Volume controls
Increase or decrease the volume of the sound coming from the speakers and headphone port.
Num Lock key
Activate the numeric keypad embedded in the MacBook Pro keyboard. When the numeric keypad is activated, a green light glows on the key.
Video Mode Toggle key
Switch between dual-display mode (extending your desktop across the built-in and an external display) and video-mirroring mode (presenting the same information on both the built-in and an external display).
Keyboard illumination controls
Increase, decrease or turn off the brightness of your keyboard illumination.
F11, F12
F11 is preset to open Exposé and F12 opens Dashboard.
Media Eject key
Press and hold this key to eject a disc.
How to Connect Your Macbook Pro to Your Smartboard:
1. First connect the black VGA cable that comes from the wall to the white Apple VGA Adapter in your Macbook bag. (See the contents diagram if you do not know what this is.) Connect the VGA adapter into the Thunderbolt port on the right side of the MacBook Air (or left side of a MacBook Pro).
2. If you have a SMART Board, plug the USB cable for your SMART Board into one of the MacBook’s USB ports.
3. Plug the audio cable into the small, round audio port on the left side of the MacBook.
4. On your Mac, go to System Preferences>Displays and change the resolution to 1024x768 (you can change this when your projector is not connected).
5. Click on the “Arrangement” tab. In the bottom left corner of the window, you will see a check box marked “Mirror displays”. Your projector will then mirror your MacBook’s desktop.
6. If you have a SMART Board, you will also have to align the board by holding down the buttons on the tray and clicking the arrows.
What is the numeric keyboard feature?
Your MacBook Pro keyboard has a numeric keypad incorporated in the standard
keyboard keys. Keys used for the numeric keypad have a smaller secondary label.
To use the numeric keypad, press the Num Lock key. The Num Lock key glows green,
indicating that the keypad is active. When you finish using the keypad, press the Num
Lock key again to turn it off.
Important: If your keyboard doesn’t seem to be working correctly, check the Num Lock
key. When the numeric keypad is active, other keys and keyboard equivalents for menu
commands (such as x-Q to quit) are deactivated.
What can I do with the System’s Preference Pane?
You can quickly make your desktop look the way you want using System Preferences.
Choose Apple () > System Preferences from the menu bar.
Feel free to make changes and experiment with the following:
Appearance: Select this preferences pane to change the colors of buttons, menus,
windows, and highlight colors, among other options.
Dashboard & Exposé: Select this preferences pane to set active screen corners and
shortcuts for Dashboard, the desktop, your application windows, and all windows.
Desktop & Screen Saver: Select this preferences pane to change the background color
or pattern of your desktop, or change it to a photo or image you like. You can also choose an eye-catching screen effect that will appear on your screen when the computer is left idle.
Dock: Select this preferences pane to change the look, location, and behavior of your
Dock (the bar of icons along the edge of the screen).
What do I do when an application doesn’t respond?
On rare occasions, an application may “freeze” on the screen. Mac OS X provides a way to quit a frozen application without restarting your computer. Quitting a frozen application might allow you to save your work in other open applications.
To force an application to quit:
1 Press Command (x)-Option-Esc or choose Apple () > Force Quit from the menu bar.
The Force Quit Applications dialog appears with the application selected.
2 Click Force Quit.
The application quits, leaving all other applications open.
If you need to, you can also restart the Finder from this dialog.
How can I see all the applications on my Mac?
The Mission Contol Application in your dock allows you to see everything that is open on your computer and quickly move among the items. The dock also shows your open applications.
My Macbook won’t update without an Apple ID, what should I do?
You can enter your own Apple ID on your Macbook or create a new Apple ID for your Macbook. Using an Apple ID allows you to access iCloud if you would like. iCloud allows you to store information in your personal iCloud account. This information is then accessible with your other devices such as iPhones, iPads, etc. If you do not wish to enter your Apple ID or create a new Apple ID, please contact the technology department and we will enter an Apple ID for you to run updates as needed.
FUN THINGS TO TRY:
CALCULATOR:
FINDER—GO—APPLICATIONS—CALCULATOR
Calculator offers three different types of calculator faces in one app. The basic calculator handles basic mathematical operations that involve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The scientific calculator works with advanced computations, including trigonometric and logarithmic functions. The programmer’s calculator performs logical operations (such as AND, OR, XOR, and NOR) and handles calculations in hexadecimal, octal, or decimal systems. Calculator is also a handy tool for doing conversions, such as from miles to kilometers, or ounces to grams. Students can easily check and edit their basic and scientific calculations—they can display their calculations in a “paper tape” list as they enter them and then print or save the list.
Calculator is also designed to be accessible to all students. By choosing commands from
the Speech menu, students can hear the value or function of each button they press
and also hear the result of each calculation.
GRAPHER:
FINDER—GO—APPLICATIONS—UTILITIES—GRAPHER
With Grapher, students can create many types of two- and three-dimensional graphs and then analyze the results. They can create an equation by entering it from scratch or speed the process by choosing a template and making selections from an equation palette. The app can display graphs for a variety of equations, including parametric curves and surfaces, differential equations, and discrete series. Students can see examples of each type of graph before creating their own graphs.
Completed graphs can be exported as images or as PDF files. Students can also create an animation from any equation that uses a parameter they’ve defined and then save that animation as a QuickTime movie.
iBooks Author
With your new Macbook, you can download a free application called iBooks Author. It allows you to easily create and publish great Multi-Touch books for iPad using iBooks Author, a free app available from the Mac App Store.
With iBooks Author, you start by choosing from a collection of Apple-designed templates, each of which comes with a number of page layouts, including a table of contents and a glossary. They can then customize any of the templates.
Students can add text by typing or by dragging a word-processing document to their
iBooks Author book—iBooks Author automatically flows the text into the pages of the book and retains any formatting and styles from the document. Books come to life with interactive objects that are added to the book’s pages with widgets. For example, you can add a photo gallery to a page—a sequence of images that readers can swipe through, each with its own caption. You can add review questions—either multiple choice or drag-to-target questions—to the book, which can be a great tool to gauge understanding. You can also use widgets to add movie or audio files, presentations, interactive images (complete with labels and panning and zooming), 3D images, and web-linked data to the pages of their book.
In addition to Multi-Touch widgets, you can add other images and digital files, tables, charts, and shapes to the book. You can also easily add glossary terms along with images and related terms.