I just got myself a new Powerbook and I'm a Windows XP user.

I haven't gotten the hang of Mac OS X.

Tips and trix...

what is the shortcut to minimize all windows? on xp, i do the windows key + D. i use this quite often.

how do i get the web address on a pic? in windows, i just right click properties.

anything else cool to know?

i'm generally like OS X, but i don't get the hype. it's just easy to use and pretty which is cool, but windows vista is going to kick some ass too.

 

I'm not a mac person so I'm not 100% sure.

"what is the shortcut to minimize all windows? on xp, i do the windows key + D. i use this quite often."

options key + click on minimize

"how do i get the web address on a pic? in windows, i just right click properties."

options key + mouse click

This might work aswell. CLick and hold on the pic and drag it into the Address bar

 

Depends. The Apple key is called command (cmd). Cmd+H will hide the open app, cmd+option+H will hide all the other apps. If you double click the top of the window, it will slide into the dock and be minimized too.

Apple has Expose though, which works better. Defaults keys are F9, which will show you all the open visible windows on your computer, so you can quickly pick which on you want, F10, which will show you all the open windows in one application so you can quickly choose, and F11, which moves all windows out of the way so you can see the desktop.

You can click and drag objects between all these windows too, which makes moving things around very easy.

Which browser? For a Mac, you should use Safari or Firefox. In Safari you have to open the image in a new window to see the address in the address bar (ctrl+click and choose "open image in new window"). Firefox is easier. Option-clicking will auto-download the image in Safari.

Good sources of info for new Mac users and old alike:

www.macnn.com - Good tech people in the forums.
Missing Manual Site - good for any OS or application you want to really be able to use, from NYT tech writer David Pogue
Apple's feature pages like Expose's
Apple's support site
Also, Apple's training pages: http://train.apple.com/

Also, Help in OSX is very useful, click the menu item on your computer. (Its better than Windows Help imo)

Fwiw, my Expose keys are F1, F2, & F3 so I can mouse with my right hand and manage windows with my left, but I am a power user. Also, on my three-button mouse, my third button is option+click, which will hide the application I am currently in. This plus the usual cmd+tab to scroll through apps allows me to quickly move between apps when I work. Oh yeah, if you hold down cmd+tab, you can use the mouse to pick the application you want too.

 

Pick up box, place in iTrashcan, go buy Windows machine, and put linux on it.

I kid, I kid.

 

linux sux

thx for the tips saki. that f9 thing is pretty sweet. i'm learning to appreciate the mac's simplicity by the day. it just works reliably and cleanly.

 

i think f11 hides everything

 

More tips...

Like in windows, you can move the cursor around with the home/end/pg up/pg dn keys, but you can also use cmd+the arrow keys to move the cursor quickly. Also, shift+arrow keys will allow you to select a section of text, and option+arrow keys will move the cursor between words/paragraphs.

To navigate in the finder, you don't need to use a mouse. cmd+N opens a new Finder window, cmd+shift+N will make a new folder. Use the arrow keys to navigate between folders, and press cmd+down/up arrow keys to go into the folder or go up one level. If you get to an application or a file in the Finder, cmd+down arrow key will launch it.

Also in Finder, cmd+1/2/3 will change the views between icons, details, and horizontal columns.

Cmd+W will close a window, cmd+Q will quit an application, and there are a whole bunch more shortcuts you can use. Cmd +` will toggle between open windows in an app. You can actually use a Mac without a mouse.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459

Plus, you can create your own in system prefs.

Also, if you have a microphone, you can turn on speakable items, you can talk to your computer and give it orders. Once you learn the syntax, its a really easy way to open apps, switch tasks, etc. You can even tell it to tell you jokes.

If you have any other questions, you can PM me too.