Technology questions

[aidenfire]

Hi guys! Some techy questions...

First of all, is there any way on DW to choose which tags display on your sidebar? Or choose only tags used more than x times?

In other news, my computer bit the big one a little before Christmas. My dad very kindly let me use his old laptop. However, it's a Mac, and as a staunch PC user, I've been having some issues. I'm willing to be converted, but does anyone have any suggestions on dealing with these minor annoyances that are cumulatively driving me nuts?

-Hitting the red x doesn't actually close the program? You have to go into the file menu and click quit?
-Highlighting a file and pressing the delete key doesn't, in fact, delete the file
-No differentiated delete and backspace key?
-No right click but many functions that are only visible upon right clicking????
-How do I view my network, to connect to a printer or whatever?
-Why does firefox only come up with my previous tabs 50% of the time, despite me having that setting chosen?
-How can I tell how strong/fast my internet connection is?
-Why can't I play .avi files in iTunes?
-Why does iTunes mirror all my music files, so my computer has them all on the drive twice?
-I wish I could see what windows I have open on the dock, not just the dot that says the program is running.
-Is there a one-click way to get to the desktop?

Anyway, I'm going to stop bitching and get over myself now, I just had to get that out there. Especially when macs are always touted as the best thing since sliced bread. There are some good features that I like, but it's not the perfect machine from the gods that some apple-diehards believe it is.

*cranky*

ETA: No offense meant to those of you who do love your macs! I know my mileage often varies from the general population. :)

Comments

[aeslis]

As a Mac user, I can answer many questions!

I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts, because they are simple and lovely and so very helpful.

- The red x closes the window but not the program. To quickly close the program, cmd+q will work.
- Similarly, cmd+delete sends highlighted files to the trash.
- I believe laptops don't have delete keys, unfortunately. I do miss that. Desktop keyboards--larger ones, with number pads on the side--do, though.
- I don't ever really fuss with the network, but you can open system preferences (via the Apple menu) and click on 'Print & Fax' to see your printer options.
- I don't know why firefox does that for you, because it certainly doesn't for me. That doesn't sound like a Mac issue so much as... your browser being weird. Maybe a fresh re-install? Does it need upgrading?
- This is another thing I don't really bother with, haha. There must be a way--you might have to Google it.
- I actually didn't know you couldn't! But I don't use iTunes for video very much.
- iTunes has different settings that you can change. You can tell it to stop moving/organizing files into an iTunes folder when you import them. Then they'll just remain at their original location. I have my iTunes folder stored on my external and then, after importing, I delete the original files.
- I don't know what your OS is, but if it's Snow Leopard (or Lion, perhaps?) and you have a touch-pad you can use a four-fingered touch to drag down on the trackpad, and your windows will all shrink and organize themselves in a grid so you can see the open windows and select the one you want to go to. This is called Exposé. (There's also a keyboard button that does the same thing.) I also use Spaces, which gives me multiple desktops, so my programs are open in separate windows. Using Exposé only shows you the windows that are open on that particular desktop.
- To get to the desktop you do the opposite of Exposé: four fingers sliding upwards. There is also a hotkey for that, too, I believe, or you can program a keystroke to do it.

If you're not used to it, of course you'll be cranky! But also, just because you're not used to it doesn't mean that people who love it are in the wrong.

[chrestomanci]

If your Mac is so old you can't do multitouch (like mine) you can set expose so that if you swipe the mouse to a certain corner it reveals the desktop. that's what I do :) I have a different corner swipe to reveal all open windows.

Also to use delete, hit fn+delete. at least I think that's the combo! Annnd that's about all I can add to that comment. I honestly never use iTunes for video, both iTunes and QuickTime kinda suck in that department, so just install VLC. it can play anything.

[aidenfire]

I definitely don't think and did not mean to imply that people who love Macs are in the wrong! To be honest I've been grumpy about something else and kinda took it out on my poor macbook. :) Thanks so much for the info and no offense meant! :)

[sadie_cocopuff]

To right-click, you can do a two-finger tap -- you might have to enable this in System Preferences > Trackpad > Point and Click > Secondary Click.

Also, for some of these questions, it would be helpful to know what operating system you're running. Mission Control is new to Lion (10.7) and has all the fancy four-finger swipes to reveal the desktop, etc. If you're using something earlier -- and actually, I still prefer my hot corners to the weird four-finger flick -- you can set hot corners to reveal the desktop, sleep the display, etc.

I am a big fan of MacWorld if I can't figure out how to do something: http://www.macworld.com/howto.html

Hope it becomes less frustrating soon!

[aidenfire]

Thanks for the help! I really am just doing my curmedgen i-hate-change routine, haha.