OS X for Linux people

So you just run into OS X Lion or some other animal. I just did, too. Let me share some simple things that took time. Some might call this "10 or so things to do with MAC OS X/Macbook Air/Pro/Mini after you got it".

This is mostly about OS X 10.7+ Lion, which is the current version at the time of this writing.

Impressions and differences

...the good

• I like how the keyboard responds
• Backlight for the keys is nice, and should probably be used in most devices of the class.
• Multitouch is nice and easy to get used to

...the bad, and sometimes ugly

• Now backspace key is called delete and does backspace (like in the old days). But where is the delete key...?

• I am too used to linux/win control and alt key functionality. This throws me off. For example, I just accidentally switched panes again when wanted to jump a word back (pressed Ctrl+Left instead of Option/alt+Left).

• Integrated AppStore is ok, but rather limited, understandably so, to approved software. Oh,well, one can find many precompiled alternative software choices that serve ready to install .dmg files.

Simple things

Right click?

Easy. Click two fingers.

Tired of pressing that click on the Macbook?

Switch to "tap to click". System Preferences -> Trackpad -> Point & Click -> check Tap with one finger. It is quieter, too.

Terminal

You could search most things by clicking on the search icon at top right corner. Then type "Terminal" and see the options below.

Or you can go and explore the Launcher. Slide two fingers right to get the left pane, and you see the system (preinstalled) apps. The right pane show the downloaded or purchased apps that are installed. Go to the left pane Utilities -> Terminal to get the terminal.

There is no place like home

Well, there is. It is not called home, but Users. For example, JOHN will have his home at /Users/JOHN, instead of /home/JOHN. Be prepared to love $HOME in your shell scripts instead of the explicit pathnames with "home" in them.

Where's my apt-get install?

Not there. But there is MacPorts, that you may want to install to ease the path to other open source software. Goto http://macports.org and install their package by following their instructions.

Where is my .bashrc ?

You want it - create it. You might also want to create and add the following to your .bash_profile

if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
        . ~/.bashrc
fi

Useful applications

There is a list of some applications or packages that I set up on my Mac.

...from the AppStore

• Keynote - for presentations. Beats Powerpoint at $20.
• Xcode - useful and free from apple for development or installing some other packages.
• The Unarchiver - to get them archives unfold

...from the Internet

• MacPorts - enables bunch of other software
• pspp - a statistical software like SPSS, but under GNU licence.