Simplicity is the boon of my existence. I love it! I seek out tools that make my life easier, from the pants that carry my everyday gear to the plants that remind me that life is precious.

And then there’s the Mac — and really everything Apple — designed by people who think about my likely needs and provide just enough choices to help me succeed with efficiency and flexibility.

Consistency Makes Learning Easy

Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines establish the overall design of the company’s software systems and provide a rubric for developers to design applications that achieve a consistent look and feel. Following these standards enables the software to get out of the way, empowering users to focus on their passions and digital pursuits.

These guidelines define the placement and arrangement of various screen elements. For example, take a look at the menu bar at the top of the screen on a Mac. No matter what application is active, the  menu is always on the left with commands for the whole Mac.

Then comes the application menu with commands for controlling, hiding, and quitting the app. Finally, there are other menus, generally beginning with File and Edit and ending with Window and Help. In between are other menus appropriate for each specific application.

In each application, menus of the same name contain the same sorts of commands as you might find in other apps. Keyboard shortcuts are also consistent across apps and you can easily create your own shortcuts to fill vacancies or change those provided.

Minimal Change Over Time

Last week, Apple celebrated 20 years since its release of the public beta of Mac OS X. I rewatched the introduction, which took place at Apple Expo in Paris, and Steve Jobs’ thorough demo of the new interface. Not much has changed.

Okay, a lot has been added to macOS that improves its functionality and makes it more useful, but the core interface is pretty much the same. The user experiences of the menu bar, Dock, window and toolbar design, view options, and more are roughly identical the original.

This ensures that users can continue to accomplish their goals and satisfy their needs in each subsequent version with minimal confusion or need for new learning.

Next Steps

Really, if you want to continue using your Mac the same way as you always did, you probably can. Occasionally, you’ll need to transition to a new application, like from iPhoto to Photos. And it’s okay to postpone upgrading to the latest version by a few months until the kinks get worked out.

It’s normal to replace your Mac every 5–10 years, depending on your technology needs. Transitioning is pretty simple, too, as long as you’re willing to be patient as data are transferred from one to the next.

Other than that, I recommend thinking about how you get help. After all, you have a unique set of needs, preferences, and expectations of how technology should work for you.

Whom do you turn to when things go wrong, or when you need advice or validation about a new purchase, or when you want a helping hand with … just about any interface you don’t understand? Do the tech savvy people in your life have the patience to help you when your devices misbehave and give you the tools to learn to help yourself?

Simple and straightforward as Apple’s devices and interfaces might be, maybe you never learned the basics. Perhaps you’re still using the operating system that came with your Mac when you bought it seven years ago. Is it time for something new?

Are you willing to face the slight learning curve of using an Apple and open to grasping the consistent user experience from device or application to another? You know where to find me to book your next lesson.