Intro to Macs for PC Users

Introduction to Macs for PC Users
Computing Resources >> Tutorials >> Getting Started >> Intro to Macs for PC Users

USB Ports

A variety of different devices, from a mouse to a digital camera, can be plugged into a Mac. Most of these connect to the computer via a USB port. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and it is truly becoming "universal" as more and more devices use this type of connector.

USB cables and ports generally have the USB symbol on them:

Take a look at the connecting end of a USB cable. This is the end that will plug into the computer:

Flash drives (also known as "thumb drives") also plug into USB ports. These relatively new small storage devices store a large amount of data and access it quickly. Just plug the drive into a USB port, and the Mac will automatically generate an icon for it on the Desktop.

Other types of external storage devices can also be accessed via a USB port. Firewire drives and Zip drives can store even more information than flash drives, but they still connect to the computer through the USB port.

PCs generally have USB ports on the back of the CPU (the main "box" of the computer). Macintosh has tried to make USB access more convenient. Some newer Macs have one USB port on the front of the CPU. Some Apple keyboards have ports on the back or side corners; no more crawling under the desk and struggling to find the port!

Some USB devices that require a great deal of power won't work properly when plugged into the keyboard. If this happens, locate the USB drive on your CPU (there will be at least one). These ports can handle more power-hungry devices.

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Photos courtesy of:
1 -- HowStuffWorks.com
2 -- BestBuy.com
3 -- Apple.com

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