Smooth transition

While the majority of people use Windows-based PCs for work or personal purposes, the success of Apple's iPhone and iPad has made more consider purchasing a Mac personal computer.

Anyone hesitant about navigating their way around the operating system of a Mac should consider taking classes that could make the transition from being a Windows PC user a lot smoother.

Cynthia Lee has been working with Mac computers for more than 20 years and runs Mac workshops for the English Speaking Members Department of the YWCA (www.esmdywca.org.hk) at her studio, Digital Salon (www.digital salon.com.hk) in Wan Chai.

'The integrated system of Mac computers makes life a lot easier,' Lee explains. 'People can plan and organise their day before leaving home, then go out with their iPhone. Any changes to their schedule can be made through their phone. Their Mac at home can be automatically updated.'

Lee will be presenting a range of workshops on using Mac hardware and software with the first, called Mac Basics scheduled for Tuesday.

This workshop will teach participants how to set up and customise their Mac for multiple users, put parental controls in place and backing-up procedures.

It will also highlight the ease with which users can organise and present family photos and videos as it takes participants through the integrated software suite that includes iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie.

'When using a Mac desktop or notebook, the operating system enables people to work with multiple screens and jump in and out through the use of simple touch and gesture controls made possible by a touch pad,' Lee says.

For those who own a number of Apple devices, Lee's iPad, iPhone and iCloud workshop will outline the main features of each device.

It will provide information on how to keep all devices synchronised using iCloud, so that iWork documents, photos or favourite music can be stored, for downloading at anytime.

The Mac for Daily Workflow workshop introduces the features of Mail, Address Book and iCal (calendar) that enable users to do things such as operate more than one e-mail account, create calendars for each family member and publish travel schedules. Synchronising multiple devices will also be covered.

The iPhoto workshop will provide students with a step-by-step procedure that covers transferring your photos and videos from a digital camera, separating them into events, sorting places and faces into albums, and then creating final presentations such as slideshows, photo books, greeting cards and calendars.

The iWork workshop will illustrate how to use the software package that includes the Pages word processor, Keynotes presentation and Numbers spreadsheet programs.

Participants will discover how it can overcome some of the difficulties experienced by Windows PC users when managing photos in a word document or grappling with formulas when setting out a spreadsheet.

All workshops are presentation based, run for four hours and cost HK$780 for members and HK$840 for non-members.