Apple / Mac OS X basics & Getting answers

So those who know me personally know that I am an Apple brand advocate. (That is an attempt to say "I am a fan, but try not to be a jerk about it.")
I feel that I am unbiased in that (whether we are talking about computers or absolutely anything) I understand that there is no one right way for everyone.
Mac users are quickly labeled (usually "snobby," "placing style over substance," and any other descriptor you feel like coming up with), and I understand that.
Going on about the validity of these labels will be saved for a different time or forum.

Today I want to cover some basics about Mac OS X [Operating System 10, for the uninitiated]. Since I am “one of those Apple guys” I tend to get asked a lot of questions as friends and family either switch to a Mac or get an iPhone. I am happy to help, but since I only have answers from being a Mac user (as opposed to having formal training) I usually have to help by trial-and-error or looking up the answers from somewhere else.

Perhaps under-utilized, Apple’s web site has some great information for new Mac users at Mac 101 that would be useful to current Mac users of varying levels as well as non Mac users who are interested in seeing what all the hype is about.

Switch 101 is a great resource for those who just got a new Mac because everyone was saying how great it was, but now what? - but the information there is still relevant to me because I can’t know absolutely everything about the Mac .... yet! I kid.

Honestly, I learn what I need to learn - I get good at the things I do repetitively. Having resources like these sites is invaluable because I know where to go if I hit a stumbling block or get to a spot where "I know I should be able to do ______, but how?"
I take this for granted - this way of getting answers. Sometimes coworkers, friends, family, etc. ask me "how do I do this?" If I know, then no biggie. But if I don’t know, I search online. No joke - I type in the gist of what they need help with (search engine of choice) and see what it says. I don't say this in that I think I am on to some big secret - it is just fascinating to me that not everyone thinks this way.  There are times, however, when I will amaze you with the trivial stuff I just know.

You may or may not be interested in OS X - I will be covering all kinds of stuff in the future. I try to keep my blogs relatively short and provide links so that there is some relevance other than me talking to space. If you have comments or related links/information, please participate.