MacBook Air

Preparing for your new MacBook Air

It is important that you save all of the files on your current computer that you wish to keep onto your Google Drive.

You may already be backing up your files on Google Drive. If so, that’s great! Be sure that you have the latest version of your documents.

Otherwise, you will find most of your files on your Desktop, in your Documents folder, Downloads folder, Photos folder, and User/Home folder.

It is recommended that you do this backup process while you are at school where the internet is likely faster than at home. It still may take some time.

Saving your data from your computer:

Open your Google Drive by clicking on the 9 dots in the upper right corner of your email and then clicking on Drive .

Drag all of the files, folders, photos, and videos that you’d like to keep, from your desktop right into your Google Drive.

Note: You must use Chrome browser as it has the drag and drop feature.

In your Hard Drive, click on Documents, and click and drag the files you’d like to keep into your Google Drive.

In your Downloads folder, click and drag the files you’d like to keep into your Google Drive.

In Finder, click on your Home icon . It may also be your name. There, you will find other files you may want to keep, including photos. Click and drag them to your Google Drive.

Click on this link to learn more about how to

Upload files and folders to Google Drive.

Once you have your new MacBook Air in hand

When you open your new computer, you will be prompted to set it up. Click here for instructions on Setting up your new Macbook Air.

Note: DO NOT “Restore” your computer from Time Machine or other back up systems as this may affect the management settings and create issues for you.

You will also need to set up your computer account. Please follow the instructions below:

Create your account: Enter your full name, (ie: Pat Smith).
Create your Username: first initial last name (ie: psmith).
ENABLE Location services. This will set the date and time correctly, and allow for the device to be located if the need arises.

Note: Access to your screen, cursor or camera will not be possible by anyone remotely. The management software in which all SU76 computers are enrolled, allows for the management of the operating system, apps, and to conduct software updates only. Tech support "Screensharing" will be done through Google Meet if the need arises.

Your new Macbook Air is equipped with a USB C port which needs an adapter for USB connections. You will be provided an adaptor and a hub in order for you to plug in your camera, soundbar, printer, etc.

SU76 Technology Support Website

Hub info link: (Anker was the recommended brand by Trey)

https://us.anker.com/products/a8334

Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Anker-High-Speed-Transfer-Notebook/dp/B08HZ6PS61/ref=sxin_13_ac_d_rm?ac_md=2-2-YW5rZXIgdXNiIGMgYWRhcHRlcg%3D%3D-ac_d_rm_rm_rm&crid=24AXFWNI4XY9A&cv_ct_cx=anker+usb+c+hub&dchild=1&keywords=anker+usb+c+hub&pd_rd_i=B08HZ6PS61&pd_rd_r=8921ce69-1848-4082-918b-dae43616c269&pd_rd_w=7ERwL&pd_rd_wg=QP09P&pf_rd_p=de2528a5-aaee-45ae-afe7-277ddc135414&pf_rd_r=F9GFBZPWSG2DB3SQT7W1&psc=1&qid=1628764962&sprefix=anker+usb%2Caps%2C176&sr=1-3-12d4272d-8adb-4121-8624-135149aa9081

Apps (I think we were told no apps on computers?)

If you have apps that you would like on your new computer, you can download the apps directly to your computer, or you can fill out The App Request Form to request that an app be downloaded onto your computer.

Things you need to know for Online Learning

Ports

Headphone Jack - This is where you would plug in your headphones, or external speakers. Speakers can also be plugged in to the projector

MagSafe 2 - Your charger port. This is magentic, so if you're having trouble charging your computer, check to see if any metal has stuck itself to the port and remove anything not attached to the computer.

USB 3 - This is a multi-purpose port, used for printers, thumb drives, external hard drives, external cameras and more. There are two on the computer, one on the left and one on the right side. This is the port where your ceiling or wall mounted camera connects to - through the wall plate near a teacher's desk.

Thunderbolt 2 - This port can be used for the dual purpose of attaching an external hard drive, as well as an external display. A display could be a projector, or a monitor.

SD Card Slot - A way to transfer files from an SD Card, a popular format for digital cameras.

There are display adapters for connecting MacBooks to different cables.

Thunderbolt->HDMI and Thunderbolt->VGA are the most common types.

The majority of our projectors have an HDMI port, but we tend to use our wireless method, (AirPlay or Chromecast) to connect to our projectors.

System Preferences

With System Preferences, you can adjust your computer's settings. This includes various system configuration settings, as well as options to personalize some functions of your computer.

Displays, Sound and Bluetooth

With System Preferences, you can adjust your computer's settings. This includes various system configuration settings, as well as options to personalize some functions of your computer.

For Online Learning, we will focus just a few important preference panes.

Sound
Display
Bluetooth

Sound Input

The Sound preference pane has three tabs, Sound Effects (we'll leave that one alone for now), Output, and Input.

The INPUT tab does what it sounds like, it tells the computer which source the sound is coming IN to the computer.

In the example here you can see there are two sources, the 'internal microphone' which is on the side of the MacBook Air, and 'Ben's Airpods', which have a microphone built into them.

The Airpods as you will see, can also be chosen as the output.

In thise case, the input has the AirPods selected as the source, so the sound coming in to the computer is coming from that device.

How to put AirPods into your ears.

Sound INPUT chosen 'AirPods' microphone

Sound Output

The Sound OUTPUT tab controls where sound comes OUT of the computer.

You can choose 'Internal Speakers' (Built-In).

NOTE: This is tricky, because if you plug a pair of headphones (OR SPEAKERS) in, it no longer says 'Internal Speakers', but instead says 'Headphones'.

You can also choose to have the sound come out of connected Bluetooth headphones. In this instance, you can see it says that 'Ben's AirPods' are selected. This means that sound coming OUT of the computer would play through the AirPods only.

There are options for balance left/right, volume, mute and 'show volume in menu bar'. It's a good idea to click this ON so you can quickly adjust the volume at the top of your desktop window.

Displays

The Displays preference pane controls how and what is shown on the computer screen, as well as what is shown on an external screen (monitor) or over the projector. This also relates to the way in which AirPlay connects your computer to the AppleTV (see more at this link).

There are three tabs on this preference, Display, Color and Night Shift. The one you will need to know for Online Learning relates only to the Display tab.

A few terms you should know when working with your Display preferences.

Resolution: The amount of detail your display shows. Select “Default for display” to automatically use the best resolution for the display, or select Scaled to manually select a resolution.

AirPlay Display: Choose the AppleTV in your classroom to AirPlay to wirelessly show what’s on your Mac on your projector. This can also be done in the menu bar when 'Show Mirroring Options' is checked.

Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available: Shows devices available for AirPlay Mirroring in the menu bar. This makes it easier to find and connect to your AppleTV.

Options for Airpods

Bluetooth

The Bluetooth preference pane has only a few options to choose from.

First, you'll want to turn on 'Show Bluetooth in menu bar' at the bottom.

You can 'Connect' to your AirPods or other Bluetooth devices in this preference. Once connected you will see the 'Options' tab. You can leave these settings as the default, or customize them if you choose.