Switching over? Apple OS has hidden depths

Apple's Disclosure Trianges (circled in red).

Once upon a time, getting a new Mac wasn't such a big deal as far as the OS went. It looked like it did – things were laid out logically and new users could find themselves around in it pretty quickly.

Apple's ethos was like Canon's one of 'advanced simplicity': welcoming interface; intuitive design leading users to uncover things at their own pace; powerful capabilities.

However, advancement seems to have taken over from simplicity leading to a certain amount of bewilderment – especially for switchers.

Why does this matter? During Apple's last quarter's financial announcements, it was revealed that half of all sales of Macs from Apple's own stores were to non-Mac users. That's a staggering rise of those us Mac users call 'switchers': those who have come to the Mac after (often) years of using PCs.

If you use a system for years, you really get set in your ways, so changing can be quite demoralising. Apple could help more. I am not in the least suggesting that Apple's OS becomes more like Windows. Let's leave it up to Microsoft to, let's say, reflect interface cues from another company, and not the other way around. I'm more than happy for Apple to drive development here – why shouldn't PC users benefit from Apple's superior interface design?

The more that Windows took on Apple-like interface features, the easier it was to switch – however, I'm not sure that's still the case. Not because the systems look and act more similar, but because Apple's OS (and many apps, as we shall see) is actually, under it's slick looks, becoming bewilderingly powerful.

I only notice this because sometimes I train people at institutions who use Macs a lot, but what surprises me is how little they know about what I consider the basic functions of OS X.

For example, a folder. It's represented as an icon (has been since the early 1980s) which, double-clicked on, opens to reveal its contents (files, applications and documents). Fine – all well and good. But actually, in Tiger, Leopard and the Snow Leopard versions especially, Mac OS folders actually have all sorts of added features, and that feature list seems to keep expanding.

The sidebar of a folder is like a Dock, but one tied to folders. One huge advantage to the sidebar is that whatever you put in here is then available in Open and Save dialogue boxes from within applications – if you've figured out what the Disclosure Triangle does (see below). Customise one sidebar, and you've customised them all. But if you don't understand it, what use is it?

Another thing is that many interface features of the Finder aren't really named or pointed out. How many have not noticed what I call 'the lozenge'? Actually, what is it called? It's at the top right of Finder windows. Click it and you get a simple, no frills version of the folder view.

Here are some other example: Spotlight is Apple's universal search technology, across the system of the Mac it's on (and not the internet). That search window at top right of every folder taps the Spotlight technology, which can be customised in System Preferences.

But many don't know that pressing Command and F on the keyboard while in the Finder offers up a much more powerful iteration of Spotlight search. Worse, they don't realise that Command F works inside most applications, including Safari and Firefox, where it then searches the page you're on rather than the net. It's a great feature, but if you don't know …

And Disclosure Triangles ... say what? Exactly. This is one of Apple's favourite interface tricks – a little, not-particularly-standout triangle in many interfaces that reveals a wealth of options previously not even hinted at once clicked upon. No wonder some people have so much difficulty saving folders to logical places, then worse, remembering or finding where they put them.

It's the same in Print dialogues – click on the Disclosure Triangle to get much better access to print features.

The little tiny Disclosure Triangles in many other applications likewise hide great features. An example is GarageBand – the almost invisible triangles in track headers add all the automation features you need to really make professional mixes.

GarageBand is general case in point. Open it up and click Magic GarageBand and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a toy, albeit great looking and sounding. But that's a far, far cry between that and the automation, sophisticated effects, scoring, composing, loop browsing, foley, video-scoring, instrumentation and sample editing GarageBand can do once everything's opened up.

But who knows?

Likewise, iMovie. It's fine, simple, easy to use and good enough – but open Preferences and turn on Show Advanced Tools and you get green screen, picture in picture and all sorts of other sophisticated editing tricks that really puts it into another realm.

The Finder Dock is another issue too, actually – many have no idea the Dock doesn't contain actual applications, but just buttons leading to the real applications. The linked applications actually reside in the Hard Drive. Logical and understandable to most Mac users, I hope – yet I'm surprised how many don't get it.

Likewise, many have no idea they can add and subtract items from the Dock, and that the Dock icons in turn have all sorts of powers, like indicating they can or can't open files dragged onto them.

A dumber system?

Now I'm finding myself conflicted: Am I advocating for a dumber system? No.

I'd prefer new users are offered two-levels: simple, and advanced, which turns more features on. The more people who switch, the more need Apple has to lead them to system competence. It's not even a new idea – Apple used to put a Simple Finder option in.

With a two-tier system, experienced users could go to level 2 immediately, but new users could be prompted after weeks (or months?) to turn on advanced features – but this would need some sort of educative companion program.

By the way, 'switching' does seem a real trend – despite PCs being oh, so much cheaper, and oh, so much better (according to some), and Apple not reducing prices despite a recession, and despite the recession anyway, for that matter.

Why is that, PC fans? (Cue outrage and the usual blandishments about Apple being a great marketing company and adept at hoodwinking the world's most creative and powerful people, who almost all seem to be Apple users, into buying Apple products ... but I ask: what marketing, exactly? I hardly see any outside Apple's own online presence.)

Note to switchers: email newsletter@mac-nz.com for a free monthly newsletter that should really help you come to grips with your Mac.

- Mark Webster mac-nz.com