Do you have some Windows-suffering friends and/or family? It’s about time the madness ended. Help stamp out PC Stockholm Syndrome once and for all.
“It’s About Time” to learn the Switch to Mac, from “It’s About Time” Products, is the first and only completely interactive learning tool that guides users through a typical day in Windows (idealized, without the crashes, security issues, virus scanning, etc.); then, teaches the equivalent on your Mac. So in about an hour, Windows to Mac switchers can become familiar with the basics of using their new Macs.
As users progress through the learning tool, the onscreen instructor shows them the steps they went through to complete a task in Windows; then, teaches how the same task is performed on a Mac. The best part is, right after the instructor walks the user through a lesson, they can try it themselves and receive immediate feedback.
Here’s what’s covered:
• Using Mail to configure and check e-mail
• Scheduling events with e-mail alarms in iCal
• Adding contacts to your Address Book
• Changing your desktop background and right-clicking
• Organizing files in your home folder
• Locating all of your applications
• Using the Dock to quickly open your favorite applications
• Browsing the web using Safari
• Finding anything on your Mac with Spotlight
• Exposé
• Dashboard and Widgets
“It’s About Time” to learn the Switch to Mac retails for US$29.95.
System Requirements
• Mac OS X v10.4.4 or later
• 1.25 GHz or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 or Intel Core Duo processor
• 512MB RAM
• 200MB free hard-disk space
• 1280 x 720 or higher display resolution
More info via Apple Store online: “It’s About Time” to learn the Switch to Mac.
“Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.”
– Francis Bacon
Big Mac, fat.
— Francis French Fry
I was trained in some new systems at my Windows-based workplace today. After mocking me as a Mac user, the trainer proceeded to take me through the systems, highlighting numerous functions that didn’t work as they should, and how no-one seemed to know why.
Sounds great, but it should be free, assuming Apple really does want people to switch.
“Sounds great, but it should be free, assuming Apple really does want people to switch.”
Agreed, I just convinced my cousin and his wife to buy an iMac and they are having a hell of a time with it and are actually regretting the purchase.. I’m at a bit of a loss since they live in a different state.. I’ve recommended David Pogue’s book. But I’ve realized just how many differences there are in basic operations and how difficult the switch can be for a life long Windows user…
“highlighting numerous functions that didn’t work as they should”
Yes, it’s sad when essential brain functions of a Windows trainer misfire or fail entirely. Gates blames Broca and Wernicke.
yeah this hould definitely be free, or at least shave off 20 bucks, windows users have stuck to windows, so they are a bit stupid, but thier not COMPLETE idiots to buy this for 30$
its too easy to learn to use a mac, those windows zombies need this to switch? after theyve been using a error prone, bloated, backwards and hideous OS? (since luna cant hold a candle to aqua, and vista’s new ‘aero’ look looks to kiddy color-y compared to the balanced look of aqua. although, tiger has some inconsistensies with its themes loll- cant spell check that sorry) =P
“System Requirements
• Mac OS X v10.4.4 or later”
If this is meant to help educate and persuade Windows users, shouldn’t it be usable on a Windows machine? I guess it assumes the user has already made the switch.
[/scratching head]
MikeK, Boot Camp/Parallels mean they should have no regrets. But if they take a week or so to unlearn their bad Windows habits, they might have a change of heart.
Hey – if you and/or they are savvy enough …. you should set up a remote desktop session with them and walk through features.
I have done that with numerous family and friends, it worked! They were so pleased, of course i carried on a phone conversation simultaneously … i would try this. When i ‘convince’ others to switch, i feel responsible to help them adjust … ya know ?
” Boot Camp/Parallels mean they should have no regrets. But if they take a week or so to unlearn their bad Windows habits, they might have a change of heart.”
@Connor MacBook. Yes, but they are not to keen on dropping another $200 to $400 to buy copies of parallels and XP when that’s what they were switching from…
They’ve had the iMac for about 3 weeks now.. I just wish that Apple provided more (free) documentation/training/support.
I just somehow feel responsible when my cousin sends me an email saying he’s ready to throw the damn thing out the window…
yeah when i made my switch, i looked at X vs XP entirely (having to print out hundreds of pages of comparisons) i came up with the decision that overall, OS X is much simpler and more sophisticated (in terms of dialog boxes explanations, help ect.) than windows.
im starting to convince my cousins to switch over to mac, i dont even have to say anything, they just crowd around my mac when i use it and stare for hours, lol my cousin running vista in his VAIO, glances at my macbook with ALOT and he is the ULTIMATE windows user, lover, would never convert becuase “macs suck” ect. wait till he has a iMac in the living room of his house in the next coming weeks, thatll be a surprise! lol =P
Why should it be free when they are accustomed to paying a whole lot more? Compare the cost of the nicotine patch to the cost of smoking.
I say it’s a bargain.
MikeK:
I swiched my “Windows only”, non-techie Dad over more than two years ago when he was 75. He bought himself a “Teach Yourself Visually” book. Between that book and the half-dozen or so questions he has asked me, he has been getting along just fine and loves his Mac Mini. I would also suggest they check out the training DVD’s from DMTS http://www.digitalmediatraining.com. I have recommended them to others and they have been very thankful. They will cut down the learning curve in a hurry!
@Comment on remote desktop
…Sounds like a good idea. I’ll have to look into how to set this up.
Thanks.
Apple has quite a few (free) tutorials, just type “tutorials” into the search field on apple.com and take a look at the results.
For example, did you try any of these yet?
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://www.apple.com/support/quickassist/
@J. Scott,
Yes, I also got my (non-techie) dad set up on a Mac several years ago.. However, I think it’s much easier for a non-techie person to make the switch.. My cousin on the other hand is fairly proficient in the Windows world, which I think makes the switch that much more difficult.
MikeK:
If they live near an Apple store there are free workshops and One to One training which I highly recommend (it is only $99 for One to One, that is 52 hour long sessions per year).
Why would you pay 400$ for parallels? $89 for the software and then clone the pc the mac is replacing. I’ve switched many people I know. Three weeks and they don’t like it? Must be challenged..
This is a third party developer putting out a program to teach Windows users how to use a Mac.
There’s money to be made switching Windows users to Mac. I’d say that’s a good sign.
@Somebody,
I meant the cost of Parallels and XP. Funnily enough, their PC died! Ha..
But seriously, the “challenged” comment is ridiculous. They are both in their 30’s and computer literate. There are a lot of differences between the two OS’s and it can take some time for someone who has been using nothing but Windows for 20+ years.
The problem is that Windows users think too hard about how to do something as Windows is not the least bit intuitive. If you switch to a Mac you have to just do things and don’t have to even think about them..
Way back in the days of Mac Yore, Macs used to come with a built-in tutorial that you could run to familiarize yourself with using the basics of the computer. Why they don’t do that now is beyond me. Even the “What’s it called on my Mac” help menu (which is meant for switchers) is hidden and doesn’t even show up when you enter “Windows” as a query.
I just somehow feel responsible when my cousin sends me an email saying he’s ready to throw the damn thing out the window… —MikeK
My two cents: They’re grown people who need to take just a tiny bit of responsibility for their own decision. No one with even a little sense would expect a Mac to work exactly like a PC… If it did that, it would be a PC!
Nor do I understand wanting to throw a Mac out the window in frustration. I’ve helped really elderly people with no computer experience whatsoever learn to use their first Mac. The level of frustration you’re describing comes from your cousin’s head, not from the iMac and certainly not from your efforts to help him. The kid needs to grow up and get some help if he can’t cope with the differences himself.
“If you switch to a Mac you have to just do things and don’t have to even think about them..”
That explains the design of some of the Mac news sites.
For anyone considering this training aid, you can download a brief demo here:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/home_learning/itsabouttimetolearntheswitchtomac.html
Some have criticized this tutorial for being too basic, but my feeling is that anyone who needs a tutorial to prevent new-computer-panic from setting in will probably be quite satisfied with the basics—at least in the beginning. And if they aren’t fortunate enough to have Mac-saavy friends to help them with the transition from Windows to Mac, spending a few bucks on learning aids is not unreasonable. A computer is not a toaster and never has been.
“System Requirements
• Mac OS X v10.4.4 or later”
Actually that is the first version of OSX that went universal/intel. I know the software runs both platforms, but Apple is not really looking for people scrubbing the used market for a Mac. Which makes it doubly a shame Apple doesn’t license it and offer it as a pre-installed freebie on a new or reconditioned Mac.
“A computer is not a toaster and never has been.”
But there was a close call:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Toaster
As has been mentioned, there’s One-to-One training – $99 for a one-hour session every week for a year, from the basics to the technical stuff.
There’s also the tutorials mentioned.
There’s also the Learning Center in .Mac – again, $99.
And, during the first 90 days – or for 3 years if they got AppleCare – they can call phone support all they want and ask tons of questions, the support specialist is supposed to take them step-by-step through doing things.
They can also just go to an Apple store and ask a bunch of questions. At some point, the Mac Specialist will want to recommend One-to-One and/or .Mac, but your cousin and his wife can say, “Thanks, we’re just looking.” if they don’t want to spend another $99 for some reason.
Does it go over installing apps? That always seems to be the biggest issue with switchers that I have seen.
There is a similar tutorial for Windoze but it is much shorter:
Chapter 1 – “Ctrl-alt-delete is your friend”
Chapter 2 – “Understanding the Blue Screen of Death”
Chapter 3 – “Rebooting your PC”
Chapter 4 – “Surviving .dll hell”
Chapter 5 – “Reinstalling Windoze”
Chapter 6 – “10 things to do with your dead PC”
Chapter 7 – “Where to buy a Mac”
thanks @MikeK for the free tutorial links that I can pass along.
MW: company as in “in the company of Mac users”
As a recent Mac buyer I am not frustrated by “converting” because I know it is just like a new language that will take a little time to master. My frustration comes from things that don’t work right. I have had repeated problems with projects printing only 1/3 of a page, or getting text to wrap around a picture in a newsletter. Advertising is also misleading by claiming things can be done right out of the box. I had to buy a word processing program and it looks like I will need to buy iPages to do a proper newsletter etc. The ads make it seem like there is no need to buy any software. Maybe I was naive.
As mentioned I recommend that if your familys near an Apple store they attend the Getting Started workshop. It’s a great resource. They can check apple.com/retail for their local store and times of the workshops.
I help switch a pal a few years ago and he would phone me wanting to throw his Mac out the window. Of course he refused to accept that he needed to look at the manual/help from time to time to sort out the little things he was doing wrong.
After about two months of difficulty everything seemed to click. I guess he ‘forget’ the PC stuff he had learnt. His wife now has an iMac. She adores it with a passion. As she had not been a PC user, I think she just took to it and had no preconceived notions as to how a computer ‘should’ work.
They are both now full of that proselytising zeal of the true Macolyte.
Friends don’t let friends use Windows.
I’m so happy to hear that there are some more resources available for Switchers, and at a good price too (although it could be cheaper). Anything that Apple can do to make X-Windows user more comfortable with their new Operating System is good in my book.
MikeK: Walk them through installing Vine Server (free) and you can use whatever VNC client you prefer such as Chicken of the VNC. It’s all free and in an hour you’ll have them over the hump. I agree with @MikeK, if we convince someone to switch ya gotta be there to hold their hand across the street.
MW light: ya gotta show them the light
There’s always Mac 101 and Switch 101.
(Ooops, shoulda read above posts more carefully)
One of the guys in my office just cannot seem to get that when you close a window, you leave the application running. By the time he’s lined up the cursor with the little red dot in the top right of an open window and clicked it, he could have closed four or five applications with Command + Q, Command + Tab.
Is it that hard?
John Davis