Wiley Mac OS X Lion For Dummies 978-1-1180-2205-4 Manuale Utente
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978-1-1180-2205-4
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Part I: Introducing OS X Lion: The Basics
Tantalized? Let’s rock.
If you’re about to upgrade to Lion from an earlier version of Mac OS X, I feel
obliged to mention a major pitfall to avoid: One very specific misplaced click,
done while installing your new OS, could erase every file on your hard drive.
The Appendix describes this situation in full and loving detail, and it contains
other important information about installing Lion that can make upgrading a
more pleasant experience.
obliged to mention a major pitfall to avoid: One very specific misplaced click,
done while installing your new OS, could erase every file on your hard drive.
The Appendix describes this situation in full and loving detail, and it contains
other important information about installing Lion that can make upgrading a
more pleasant experience.
Gnawing to the Core of OS X
The operating system (that is, the OS in Mac OS X) is what makes a Mac a
Mac. Without it, your Mac is a pile of silicon and circuits — no smarter than a
toaster.
Mac. Without it, your Mac is a pile of silicon and circuits — no smarter than a
toaster.
“So what does an operating system do?” you ask. Good question. The short
answer is that an operating system controls the basic and most important
functions of your computer. In the case of Mac OS X and your Mac, the oper-
ating system
answer is that an operating system controls the basic and most important
functions of your computer. In the case of Mac OS X and your Mac, the oper-
ating system
✓
Manages memory
✓
Controls how windows, icons, and menus work
✓
Keeps track of files
✓
Manages networking
✓
Does housekeeping (No kidding!)
Other forms of software, such as word processors and web browsers, rely on
the operating system to create and maintain the environment in which they
work their magic. When you create a memo, for example, the word processor
provides the tools for you to type and format the information. In the back-
ground, the operating system is the muscle for the word processor, perform-
ing crucial functions such as the following:
the operating system to create and maintain the environment in which they
work their magic. When you create a memo, for example, the word processor
provides the tools for you to type and format the information. In the back-
ground, the operating system is the muscle for the word processor, perform-
ing crucial functions such as the following:
✓
Providing the mechanism for drawing and moving the on-screen window
in which you write the memo
in which you write the memo
✓
Keeping track of a file when you save it
✓
Helping the word processor create drop-down menus and dialogs for
you to interact with
you to interact with
✓
Communicating with other programs
✓
And much, much more (stuff that only geeks could care about)
So, armed with a little background in operating systems, take a gander at the
next section before you do anything else with your Mac.
next section before you do anything else with your Mac.
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