{"id":25512,"date":"2021-10-27T16:54:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T15:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.n-able.com\/?p=25512"},"modified":"2022-10-20T18:15:58","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T17:15:58","slug":"adding-mac-support-never-used-a-mac-before","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.n-able.com\/fr\/blog\/adding-mac-support-never-used-a-mac-before","title":{"rendered":"Adding Mac support, part 1: I\u2019ve never used a Mac, and now I need to manage them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being in IT can sometimes feel a bit like being a doctor\u2014<\/span>you\u2019re often called upon to give people the bad news that their beloved computer isn\u2019t going to make it. Other times, people think you\u2019ve performed a miracle just by doing your job and saving their data.<\/p>\n

Then, there\u2019s the Thanksgiving problem, where any time you\u2019re at a family gathering, you get cornered by a relative wanting to talk about their tech problems, regardless of your actual area of expertise. Because after all, you work with computers<\/i>, right?<\/p>\n

It can be annoying to always have to remind Uncle Stan about keeping his iMac up to date, but what if your customers are asking? Or your boss? You\u2019re a Windows admin, and you can wrangle the registry into submission with your eyes closed.<\/p>\n

Congratulations! Now you\u2019re responsible for managing a network of Macs.<\/p>\n

Wait, what?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need to panic. If you\u2019re new to Mac devices, here\u2019s a few tips to get you started on your admin journey.<\/p>\n

Get yourself a Mac<\/h2>\n

First, buy a Mac (better yet, get your company to buy you one). For the kind of work you\u2019ll be doing, you don\u2019t need the latest, fastest, most expensive machine. In fact, a base-model Mac Mini on a corner of your desk or in a server room, running headless with some form of screen sharing, might serve you best. Keep using your Windows daily driver as usual, and when you need to test an update or package up an installer for deployment, remote into the Mini.<\/p>\n

This also removes a frequent stumbling block for those switching between Windows and Mac\u2014<\/span>translating the physical interface. The MacBook trackpad has no buttons, so how do you right-click? The scrolling is backwards! None of my keyboard shortcuts work now!<\/i><\/p>\n

Depending on the screen sharing tools you use, most things can be translated automatically. For example, Control-C becomes Command-C (the Command key on the Mac is the one with the funny cloverleaf symbol \u2318<\/span>, and most of your Control+ keyboard shortcuts are the same, only with Command instead). If you\u2019re still struggling or want to get more familiar with using a Mac hands-on, Apple has a site dedicated to \u201cMac tips for Windows switchers\u201d https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT204216<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get together with like-minded others<\/h2>\n

Next, join the community. <\/span>In addition to the Apple support forums\u2014<\/span>and those of your favorite RMM and SaaS providers\u2014<\/span>bookmark these sites for when you have some time to burn and a beverage to sip:<\/p>\n