The easiest way to get up and running on any computer is to just start using it, a lot. MacBooks, in particular, are extremely user friendly and once you\u2019ve gotten used to OS X, you can quickly get up to speed on pretty much any machine. Still, if you\u2019re not familiar with Macs or you it\u2019s new to you,it can be a daunting task. Follow these steps to get started.<\/p>\n
1. \u00a0Start the setup process.<\/strong><\/p>\n When you turn on your MacBook for the first time, the Setup Assistant will lead you through start-up process, which includes selecting your country, creating an account (or multiple accounts if you\u2019ll be sharing the computer), connecting to a local Wi-Fi network, and choosing your privacy settings.<\/p>\n 2. \u00a0Enter your Apple ID.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Setup Assistant will prompt you to enter your Apple ID while you\u2019re logging on for the first time. This is the login and account that\u2019s associated with your iTunes account, if you have one. This will allow you to re-download apps and music that you\u2019ve previously purchased without paying for them again.<\/p>\n If you skip this step during setup, you can enter it later by clicking on \u201cSystem Preferences\u201d and then \u201ciCloud.\u201d <\/strong>You\u2019ll need to enter a credit card for the initial setup, but you can later change your preferred payment method to \u201cnone\u201d if you don\u2019t want a card linked to the account.<\/p>\n 3. \u00a0Beef up your security.<\/strong><\/p>\n As data and information become increasingly valuable to criminals, it\u2019s more important than ever for computer users to take precautions to protect themselves. Start by setting your MacBook to require a password once a screen saver kicks in, especially if you plan on using your MacBook often in public places.<\/p>\n Then, download apps only from the Mac store or other trusted Web sites, and turn on FireVault Disc Encryption, an option in Apple\u2019s newer operating systems that will automatically encrypt everything on your hard drive. Speaking of operating systems, make sure that you\u2019ve always got the latest one (see #5) to ensure you\u2019ve got any security fixes rolled out by Apple.<\/p>\n