Mac Operating System

The platform most creative and marketing work happens on. Worth knowing your way around.

Updates

Keep macOS reasonably current—security patches matter. But don't update day one. Wait a week for others to find bugs. Major version upgrades can break apps—check compatibility first.

Multiple Monitors

More screens = more productivity for most knowledge work. System Preferences > Displays to configure. Consider which screen is "primary" (menu bar lives there).

Screenshots

Cmd + Shift + 3 — Full screen
Cmd + Shift + 4 — Select area
Cmd + Shift + 5 — Options menu (including screen recording)

Screenshots go to Desktop by default. Change in Screenshot options.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Learn the basics: Cmd + Tab (switch apps), Cmd + Space (Spotlight search), Cmd + , (preferences in any app). Every shortcut learned saves hours over time. For iPhone users, text replacement shortcuts bring the same philosophy to mobile — short codes that expand into full URLs, addresses, or canned responses.

If remembering shortcuts isn't your thing, a Stream Deck turns them into labeled, visible buttons on your desk — with app-specific profiles that auto-switch when you change apps. Get one on Amazon →

Custom Shortcuts

You can create your own keyboard shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts. This is how you fix Mac's missing features—like the lack of a proper cut-and-paste for files. See How to Cut and Paste Files on Mac for a practical example of creating custom shortcuts.

Voice Dictation

Mac has built-in dictation, but it's limited. For serious voice-to-text work, Wispr Flow is worth the upgrade—AI-powered dictation that works across every app, handles technical terms, and removes your filler words automatically. If you type a lot, you can dictate 3x faster.

Speak faster than you type. Try Wispr Flow →

The Terminal

The Terminal app is one of the most powerful tools on your Mac, and most people never open it. It lets you navigate files, install software, and run commands — the same stuff you do in Finder, just faster and with more control. If you are curious about getting started, Your First Day With Claude Code includes a gentle introduction to Terminal basics like pwd, ls, and cd as part of setting up an AI coding assistant.

For Video Work

Macs handle Video Editing well. Make sure you have enough RAM and storage. External drives for footage. Use Chrome for web apps but Safari for better battery life.