How to Connect your Mac to PCs over a network

Connect to PCs over a network.

The Finder not only lets you browse files on your Mac, it also makes it easy to find files on other computers — both Mac and PC — on your home network. Computers that allow file sharing automatically show up in the Shared section of the Finder sidebar, allowing you to browse files and folders you have permission to view.

Accessibility built in.

OS X comes standard with a wide range of assistive technologies that help people with disabilities experience what the Mac has to offer, including many features you won’t find in other operating systems — at any price. For example, the built-in VoiceOver screen reader, available in over 30 languages, makes it possible for those who are blind or have low vision to control their computers using key commands or gestures on a Multi‑Touch trackpad. Switch Control makes it easier to navigate menus and operate basic controls such as volume, brightness, eject, and media playback. OS X also offers out-of-the-box support for more than 40 braille displays (including Bluetooth displays) and many other accessibility features, such as dynamic full-screen magnification, playback of closed captions, and a scalable screen.

Works on OS X

• Microsoft Office for Mac and Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents created on a Mac or PC
• Windows using Boot Camp or third-party software
• Access to Microsoft Exchange Server in Mail, Contacts, and Calendar
• Virtually all email services and providers

• Popular file types such as PDF, JPG, ZIP, MP3, PSD, and more
• Digital cameras, printers, hard drives, mice, and keyboards with USB connections
• Wi‑Fi hotspots and Windows networks
• Instant messaging with AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more

OS X Yosemite can run Windows on Mac

Have a Windows application you need to use once in a while? No problem. Every new Mac lets you install and run Windows at native speeds, using a built-in utility called Boot Camp.



OS X is the operating system that powers every Mac. Built on a rock-solid UNIX foundation, it’s engineered to take full advantage of what the hardware is capable of. It’s designed to be as easy to use as it is beautiful to look at. It comes with an amazing collection of apps you’ll use — and love — every day. And it enables your Mac and iOS devices to work wonderfully together.

Setup is simple and safe for your Mac files. After you’ve completed the installation, you can boot up your Mac using either OS X or Windows. (That’s why it’s called Boot Camp.) Or if you want to run Windows and Mac applications at the same time — without rebooting — you can install Windows using VMware or Parallels software.Relax. Your camera, printer, and mouse work, too.

Almost any device that connects to a computer via USB, audio cable, or Bluetooth will work with a Mac. That includes digital cameras, external hard drives, printers, keyboards, speakers, and more.



You can even use a right-click mouse with a Mac. And with thousands of device drivers included with OS X, you can start using these devices as soon as you plug them in — no need to manually download additional software.

OS X Yosemite Access your files from anywhere with iCloud

Access your files from anywhere with iCloud.

Your Mac comes with iCloud Drive, which lets you safely store all your presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, and any other kind of document in iCloud. Then you can access them from any device, including your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. You can sign in to iCloud.com to see your files. And there’s even an app you can install on your PC to give you direct access to your iCloud Drive.

Work with anyone.

Every Mac now comes with Pages, Numbers, and Keynote — powerful productivity apps from Apple that help you create stunning documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. And because you can open, edit, and save Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with these apps, you can easily work with others, regardless of whether they’re on a Mac or PC. Or share a document link via iCloud and make edits at the same time from any Mac or PC browser.

Mac OS X security features and enhancements GateKeeper and FileVault 2

Every Mac is designed with advanced technologies that work together to constantly scrutinize, encrypt, update — and ultimately keep your Mac safer. For starters, OS X includes a host of features designed to protect your Mac and the information on it. Gatekeeper makes it safer to download and install apps. FileVault safeguards data using powerful encryption. Sandboxing protects your system by isolating apps from each other, as well as from your system and your data. Find My Mac helps you locate your missing Mac on a map, set a passcode remotely, and more. Customizable privacy settings keep your personal information under your control.

The best way to keep your Mac up to date with the latest security features? Just install software updates — the Mac App Store notifies you when you have an update. And because OS X Yosemite is available as a free upgrade, it’s easier than ever to keep your Mac safe with the latest security features and enhancements.Learn more about OS X security features.



Privacy controls protectyour privacy.



System Preferences contains privacy controls for location sharing and diagnostic information sharing. And Safari preferences include a privacy pane that allows you to limit or block cookies and limit website access to location services.



iCloud Keychain stores your passwords.



Once you have a unique, strong password, iCloud Keychain will remember it so you don’t have to. iCloud Keychain stores your user names and passwords and syncs them between the devices you choose — Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. When you visit a site, iCloud Keychain will fill in your login information to give you access to your online accounts, and it can also autofill your credit card information when you’re checking out online. And your information is always protected with robust, 256-bit AES encryption.

More ways to keep your Mac safe.

While no system can be 100 percent immune from every threat, OS X lets you do even more to keep your information as safe as possible. You’ll find most of these additional security features in the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences. Here are just a few of the things you can do:

• Turn on a firewall to prevent other machines from accessing services running on your Mac.


• Control access to your Mac by locking your screen after a period of inactivity.


• Set up secure file sharing.

• Securely delete outdated sensitive files with the Secure Empty Trash command.


• Use Password Assistant to create stronger passwords for local utilities like Users & Groups.


• Make sure you’re only running sharing services that you really need.

OS X Yosemite Force Touch- How it Works

With OS X Yosemite Go way beyond a click with Force Touch. 

The Force Touch trackpad on the new MacBook and MacBook Pro with Retina display adds a whole new dimension to interacting with your Mac. With Force Touch, the trackpad now detects variations in downward pressure and reacts accordingly. When you add a little more pressure to a click — a gesture called a force click — you can reveal the definition of a word or look it up on Wikipedia. When you force click an address, a map will pop up. And when you force click a date, you can quickly add a new event in Calendar. You can also use your trackpad as an accelerator to fast-forward through a QuickTime movie at varying speeds based on how hard you press. In addition, the Force Touch trackpad responds with haptic feedback when you do certain things, like aligning annotations on a PDF, which allows you not just to see what’s happening on screen, but to feel it.

Mac now Received Text (SMS) with OS X Yosemite

More ways to get your message across.

With OS X Yosemite and an iPhone running iOS 8, you can send and receive SMS and MMS text messages right from your Mac. So when friends text you — regardless of what phone they have — you can respond from whichever device is closest. All the messages that appear on your iPhone now appear on your Mac, too. You can also initiate a text message conversation on your Mac by clicking a phone number in Safari, Contacts, or Calendar.