Datasheet

attached to a cable or DSL modem as well as a local area network (LAN) via Ethernet. If none of
these options suffice, click My computer does not connect to the Internet, and you are taken to
the Personalize Your Settings screen. Later, revisit the Network preference pane within the System
Preferences application to configure your Network settings.
Enter Your Apple ID
Eerily reminiscent of Microsoft’s Passport, an Apple ID lets you make one-click purchases from
the iTunes Music, iPhoto, and Apple Stores. If you already possess a .Mac membership, use that as
your Apple ID; otherwise, have the Setup Assistant create one for you, or skip the process entirely.
If you do elect to create an Apple ID, you are also provided with a 60-day trial membership to
.Mac. .Mac is a combination of software and online tools that can enhance your “Internet experi-
ence” while using your Mac. After making your selections, click Continue. (For more details on
.Mac, see Chapter 14.)
Registration Information
This is the product registration that is automatically sent to Apple when you connect the Mac to
the Internet. You cannot leave anything blank except the e-mail address and the company or school.
You can skip this screen by pressing
Ô+Q and then pressing the Skip button, which takes you
directly to the Create Your Account screen and automatically configures your network settings for
DHCP. Otherwise, after completing the Registration Information screen, click Continue. There is
also a button for Shut Down, which can be used to shut down the Mac and allow it to be registered.
Personalize Your Settings
The Personalize Your Settings screen is where you select the keyboard layout that is appropriate
for the country or region in which the Macintosh will be used. You can change the preference later,
after you’re into the computer. Make your language selection and click Continue. If you don’t see
your language, click the box adjacent to the Show All label, located under the selection widow.
Create Your Account
After you’ve submitted the necessary registration information, you need to set up your user account.
Chapter 18 reviews user accounts in detail, but for now suffice it to say that the information you
provide is necessary to perform administrative functions within Mac OS X. When creating your
account, you’ll need to specify both a Name and a Short Name. A Short Name is exactly what it
sounds like—a short name. It alleviates the need for typing your whole name. You’ll appreciate
your short name when user authentication is requested by certain applications or during certain
administrative functions within OS X.
A Short Name is automatically generated when you tab from the Name field to the Short Name
field. But don’t worry — it can be changed. A short name is all lowercase, has a maximum of eight
characters, and cannot contain any spaces or the following characters: < > ' " * { } [ ] ( ) ^ ! \ # | &
$ ? ~.
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Introduction and Installation of Mac OS X
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