New Macbook
Yep, I’ve got myself a Macbook!
I’m very happy with it, although it is taking me a little while to get used to the mac way of doing things… keyboard shortcuts for everything!!
I’m still going through the motions of copying of some music and photos, installing the programs I need and getting everything how I like it.
Thanks to all the people who have helped me out with it already, notably Mike and Andrew on flickr.
Any software suggestions are very welcome, I’ve already got Textmate, Adium, Growl, Lightbox, Firefox and Camino.
I’m looking for a good flickr uploader at the moment, something on a par with the windows one, uploadr.
It works so effortlessly, especially with the context menu entry (right click >> “send to flickr”), I have yet to find anything as good a that on the mac.
One thing I have found, I kinda already knew it, is that there are a small minority of apple users… lets call them “macboys” …. who can be more than a little over zealous.
I’ve been a windows user for nearly 10 years now, I know exactly how to use it, switching to a completely different OS is a big step, there are lots of little differences that slow me down, the lack of start menu and the fact the programs don’t close when you close them are two issues for me.
So when I ask for help or advise, don’t tell me I’m wrong to want a start menu, that I have been doing everything wrong for the past 10 years and actually accept that millions of people are just as productive and effective on their windows pc as you are on your mac!
I’ll stop ranting now.. after I make this point:
I think that OS’s can be like religion, if you criticize someones faith you tend to get their back up.
I’m an atheist, I don’t believe in organized religion, it’s the same with computer software, so don’t expect me to join your religion just because I bought a mac.
Onwards and upwards: my first concept drawing for a client
If you go onto Flickr.com there’s another Flickr Uploader for Mac
Congrats on your MacBook. I’ll be getting one when Leopard comes out
Robert Day on August 25, 2006 12:05 pm
-q quits the app. -w closes a window.
clicking the red x in the upper left closes the window NOT the app.
also if you’re -tabbing through the apps, you can hit q to quit the app that you’re on
and, if you go to the menu for an app, you can select Quit, which does the obvious
and the with regards to a start menu - the question to ask is what do you really want to do, rather than how-do-I-do-it-like-windows.
for the “apps” aspect of the start menu, you can drag apps onto the dock — and then they’re right there when you need them. or, if you’re more a typist than a pointer-and-clicker, then quicksilver is the answer: no hunting for apps anywhere, just a quick keystroke combo to bring up QS, then a couple of keys to get the app (or the contact, or the document, or the directory, etc.)
for the “control” aspects of the start menu, those are normally under the menu.
mike f on August 25, 2006 1:33 pm
I’m kinda the same as you, I don’t really have anything particular against Macs but if I was to buy one I would need to be able to do everything I want on it and be able to customise it how I like.
Close button should close a program, if i want it to hide away on the taskbar (or whatever its called on macs) then i’ll minimise it.
And when i maximise a program, i want it to fill the whole screen!
When i have tried friend’s macs I’ve always found it irritating that it doesn’t do as expected (though I guess THAT is to be expected).
The point is I would need to know I can get it to work how I like it BEFORE i buy one. I can’t afford to buy a new computer and be annoyed by it the whole time i’m using it.
There’s also the whole issue of windows, I still need it for certain programs/games/other people and i’m not sure a mac dual booting windows will do the job. At least not yet.
Infact, I would actually compare it to Firefox, I found that annoying and hard to customise and gave up once I found Opera (which you can arrange pretty much however you want).
Is there an Opera for OS’s… maybe thats Linux (Ubuntu), but I don’t think thats quite ready yet either.
Peter McCaffrey on August 25, 2006 1:36 pm
I am still finding mine a little slow to operate.
The lack of a “windows key”+E type shortcut to open finder is a real loss to me.
I think there is something that will do it for you - i will have to seek it out again.
I do like the way that alot of it is done by the keyboard. It makes you faster.
My favorite keyboard shortcut is Hide Others - Apple+shift+H i think it is. It makes all other apps hide apart from the one you are working on. Its useful when using apps like Photoshop that let you see right back to the desktop. It can get a little confusing!
And i am still double clicking title bars in an attempt to maximize them.
I need to get http://ianhenderson.org/megazoomer.html
Taoski on August 25, 2006 2:23 pm
Mine is also going slightly brown on the front edge just to the right of the trackpad.
But as that’s where i seem to rest my hand quite alot when using it I assume that it’s peanut butter on there rather than heat making it burn from the inside out!
Taoski on August 25, 2006 2:41 pm
forgot to mention: http://virtuedesktops.info/ virtual desktops. not quite spaces, but still pretty good for keeping related apps together, and away from other groups.
doc or -tab bring you to the right desktop. still a little funky in that adium windows pop open in the current desktop rather than the desktop where the contacts panel is… but that’s pretty minor (and you can minimize the chant window, then switch desktops & unminimize, if need be)
mike f on August 25, 2006 2:42 pm
I agree with Toaski- It’s hard to maximize windows because the yellow button never does what you want it to do.
Try Apple-key + Q for exiting programs Andrew.
Daniel Swiecki on August 25, 2006 4:02 pm
it’s neither heat nor peanut butter, but a known discoloration issue.
you can get the top panel replaced through an apple store (or over the phone)
windows games, I understand (though have no experience with) should be run via bootcamp. otherwise, just use the Parallels app and run your favorite version of Windows in a mac window (complete with ‘maximize’ button). Everything works, and you can suspend, rather than shutting down… so you can put it away when you don’t need it, then come right back to where you were later.
lastly, why would anyone buy a mac/OS-X expecting/hoping it would act in exactly the same way as a computer running Windows? if you’re happy with windows, then … great, just keep using it.
mike f on August 25, 2006 4:54 pm
congrats on the purchase–i’m still waiting for mine.
stabani on August 25, 2006 9:53 pm
Hooray, another macbook sold, one day apple will rule…
Billytheradponi (Nick Barrett) on August 26, 2006 12:53 am
Aye nice 1 Andrew, i got one back in may and i too found the ‘Switch’ a little wierd but now i love it. I went to the ‘Apple store’ yesterday and bought a few jam packs for ‘Garage band’ and a Mighty mouse. The vibe in the store is a little strange but a positive one.
Enjoy your new toy.
Nick.
P.S. Welcome to the club… lol
Nick on August 27, 2006 1:46 pm
When I switched I found it easy to change, in fact I much prefered the OSX system and found it much simpler and user freindly (not that it matters to me really)…
Billytheradponi (Nick Barrett) on August 27, 2006 11:06 pm
Hey Andrew
Glad to hear you’ve got yourself a Mac at last
I can always give you a hand with any help you need when I’m back online. Two tips though to cover the things you mentioned so far:
You can start applications using Spotlight by typing the first few letters of them, then holding the Command key and pressing Return should launch the first app it finds that matches.
As for the applications not closing, as someone pointed out, you just have to get used to the fact that it is the window you have closed, not the application - its also rather useful as it makes them almost instantaneous next time you need them, and if you’re sure you won’t need them again, you can right-click them and close them in the dock, or just Cmd+Q them as you finish with them.
Anyway there are some software reviews of mine over on my blog which may or may not be of use, though I have had no time at all recently for my blog, hence the lack of updates.
Plus, worse of all, the MBP has started misbehaving again, and APple are now replacing it with a brand new one, so I’m without a proper computer again
Anyway, have fun with the MB
-Ryan
RyanC on August 28, 2006 12:21 am
PS
With regards to your comments regarding OS as a religion, I agree with you there - I personally find OS X better, but I know that not everyone will have the same experience, all I can do is try to let people know what it is like to use, and let them decide.
I feel very enthusiastic about my Mac, and it is difficult not to want to share this with other people. The problem is, a lot of ‘macboys’ tend to take it become a little over-zealous in their ‘quest’ to convert people, and the endless debating and flaming then begins!
Anyway hope you get used to it, and enjoy working with it!
RyanC on August 28, 2006 1:37 am
[…] I may well be without a connection for a few days. Being the expert at traveling light that I am, the Beast is staying at home. For the next month or so I’ll be Macbook only (which means very little DoD) […]
Teabass » I’ve got a train to catch on September 22, 2006 11:18 am