Using your brand new MacBook for the very first time

MacBooks are ready to go out of the box. With just a few steps, you can be up and surfing the Internet or writing a report in no time at all.

Connecting your MacBook to a power source

One thing that isn't usually ready right out of the box is the laptop battery. It must be fully charged before you start whisking your computer away to the local coffee shop. Remove the plastic covering from the AC adapter and locate an available plug near your primary workspace.

Apple uses a magnetic power cord, and as you bring the adapter close to the computer's power outlet, you'll feel the pull. Just remember when detaching your computer from the power cord to always remove it from the adapter and not to pull on the cord. Keep your laptop plugged in until the charging light on the MagSafe plug (where you connect it to your computer) turns green and the battery is fully charged.

Surge protectors should be mandatory for your computer or any other expensive piece of electrical equipment. A surge protector keeps your computer safe from power surges that can fry delicate circuitry. The surge protector prevents these spikes from harming your computer by absorbing the excess electricity and, in the end, could save you from having to buy a whole new computer!

Turn your MacBook on

You've probably already located the power button on your MacBook. It's located in the right-hand corner of your computer above the keyboard. Once you've connected to your power source, just press the button briefly and wait for the computer to start up. Once it does, the setup wizard will walk you through the basic setup procedures and customizations for your computer.

Follow your Mac's setup assistant

When you turn your Mac on for the very first time, you will automatically get started with Setup Assistant. Apple has provided this wizard to make it easy for you to set up the basic features of your computer.

Setup Assistant will lead you through setting up a user account, setting the computer's time, registering your new computer, and even transferring your files from another Mac computer. If you prefer to not go through Setup Assistant, you can quit it at any time by pressing command-q (simultaneously pressing the x and q keys) and then choosing Skip from the available options.

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