How to Undo Computer Mistakes in Apple Mac OS X

The intro before the step-by-step part of the video is important for people to watch if they are computer challenged and need the extra help, but if you want, you can jump to the step-by-step part of the video by fast-forwarding to about 3:25 (depending on your Internet connection speed you may need to wait a few moments before you can do this). Note: this is the Apple Mac version of this lesson.  If you have a Windows computer you’ll want to watch: How to Undo Computer Mistakes in Microsoft Windows.  If you’re getting this via my podcast, you should get both videos automatically. In the step-by-step part of the lesson I’ll show you an example of how to undo when writing something, which is probably the best-known way to use this simple but powerful computer skill.  I’ll also show you how to use it when working with files and folders, something which can be a real life saver but which so many people don’t know how to do. In the over a decade and a half I’ve been helping people with their computers, I’ve noticed a pattern that affects the majority of computer users to one degree or another: being afraid of making computer mistakes holds people back from making progress. I want to help you become more  confident and skilled with your computer so I recorded this video which gives you some words of encouragement, plus I show you a simple technique you can use in the majority of programs to reverse (or “undo”) mistakes you’ve made. Now while many people are familiar with the undo function of their computer, many more people are not familiar with it. Those who do know about it often don’t know you can use it in as many ways as you can.   Want to learn the fundamental computer skills that make the rest easy? Take a look at my easy video lesson CDs. I have a simple computer course covering exactly those basic skills that empower you with the confidence you deserve:  Basic Apple Mac Skills

2 Comments

  1. avatar Nightlight says:
    July 12, 2010 at 7:11 am

    You seem like a nice guy, but I will tell you I was SEVERELY AGGRAVATED waiting for you to get to the point. It took you way too long to say what should have taken 30 seconds. I would never buy a training video from you in fear I would have to listen to you ramble.

    Thanks for the help, though. I would recommend trying to be more concise.

  2. avatar Worth Godwin says:
    July 12, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    @Nightlight,
    “Severely aggravated”? Wow. Remind me not to drive on the same road as you… Might be dangerous if you get worked up that easily. ;)

    Seriously, though, while I appreciate the feedback, it seems clear to me that you’re not the intended audience for this video, and you’ve missed the point.

    The purpose of the video is to help those people who are computer challenged and who never progress because they’re afraid of messing something up.

    While you may not be one of those people, there are many many people out there who really need help with this.

    The intro to the video (as I mention in the description above) is designed to give encouragement, explain the concept of “undo” for those who are not familiar with it, and to relate a real-world example of how this computer skill can be useful and how knowing it can help reduce the stress many people experience with the computer.

    The “fast food” approach most computer lessons take where they rush through the steps as quickly as possible is utterly unhelpful to basic computer users, and I’d be doing a huge disservice to the people who most need my help if I rushed through just like everybody else does.

    I am basing what I do on working with clients for over a decade and a half, and my lessons are designed not just to give steps but also to help with understanding and context, something some people impatiently try to skip over, which ultimately is a mistake and limits their results.

    I’ve seen this a lot — people just want to memorize a set of steps without the understanding, and then get completely lost and frustrated if the slightest thing changes. That can only happen when people parrot steps without understanding.

    So if you’re advanced enough you don’t need the additional help, that’s great!

    Just remember there is a huge number of people out there who really need a more personable style of lesson, where time is taken to encourage, explain, and make people more comfortable and confident with the computer.

    That may not be to everyone’s liking, but it really helps the people I’m recording the lesson for. Hope that makes sense, and thanks again for the comment.

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