Sorry if this is too long, I feel the need to explain my situation.

OK, well anyway I am a Windows power user, and have always been familiar with the Windows and DOS environments. I have also intended to become familiar with linux in the near future.

Anyway, my senior year in high school just started with me, and our school uses mostly all windows computers, so naturally, I've basically been able to run circles around the tech department and do whatever the hell I want on their computers. However, last year certain departments were granted with Macbooks and Smartboards, but I never had to use them. This year, however, in my special topics chemistry class, we all get to use the Macbooks. I've never been a fan of Macs, they're not my style, so I haven't really used them.

I currently find the Macbooks very annoying because I am not familiar with the user interface and I'm a complete n00b to Macs. I am open to learning new things (even though I'd rather not use the Macbooks), and I would like some tips on adjusting to using a Mac for the better part of the class.

I hope this isn't asking too much, but it would be nice if someone here could give me some tips on how to better adjust to using a Mac. You know, simple user interface tips and tricks so I can use Mac OS/X as easily as Windows XP. I am already annoyed at the lack of a right-click button, so yeah, I still even have to master "right clicking" in certain programs.

By Friday I need to have a simple keynote presentation completed and while Keynote is cool, I found it very annoying to use because I am so used to Windows. So anyway, if someone could maybe make a list of tips and tricks and things to know about a Macbook, it would be great for me and I'm sure other Totsean's curious about the same thing.

EDIT: Hehe I never really visit this forum soI just noticed the "quick tips" thread, oops. I'll read that as well but simple user interface advice would still be appreciated. I'm a complete n00b.

Uugh.

Goddamnit! Macs have the ability to right click! I'm doing it right now! I'm soooo sick & tired of hearing Windows users say this! Oh, and FUCK the supplied Apple mouse, okay.
Get yourself a good 'ol regular PC mouse with 2 buttons and a scroll wheel, and if you need a portable one, get a cheap RF mouse.

I don't see why Mac OS scares you away. I mean, I use Windows, and while I prefer the Mac OS, I don't find the GUI non-productive, just different . Most programs are accessed through the start button in Windows; On the Mac, you use the finder to navigate to your Applications folder, or like Windows, you put an Alias(shortcut) on the desktop. Or the Dock (like Objectdock for Windows: http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/ ). Just different is all. Like I did with Windows, just use it for awhile, play around with it, and you'll soon learn how to get around with ease.

There are programs for Mac that'll change the way your desktop looks; I'm sure there are a couple Windows themes out there. I'll look around and offer some suggestions later in an edit of this post.

Peace.

Well, thanks I guess. And I know you can right-click on a mac. It's just really annoying to use the macbook touchpad to do so. I'm bringing in my USB mouse to school to use on the macbooks to make things easier. I guess I'll just have to play around with the OS a bit and adjust.

It's really not THAT bad, just different, and I'm not sure why Apple designed some things the way they did. I guess to make stuff look pretty? Yeah that bugs me...

Control-click to bring up the typical right-click contextual menu.

Such as? Please explain.

Peace.

Single click touchpad. Haha. I'm on a school macbook right now. They're not so bad actually once you bring in a USB mouse...

I still prefer to use things not manufactured by Apple though. I'm learning my way around the mac, however, and they're not as bad as I used to think they were. Is there a "task manager" key combo in OS/X? Someone in my class has had the thing freeze on him at least five times now. They don't seem to work much better than Wind0ze in that department...

If people would just explore the system prefs.......

Don't hate cuz it's the cool thing to do.

Well, um...

Strange. I never had my Mac just "freeze" on me. Most likely it's the App they're working with. Could be a badly programmed App, a corrupt preference file, or a bad install. What program was it?
Could be the Mac itself. Most IT guys buy Macs, then ignore them, doing no maintenance on them. I regularly use a program called Cocktail (http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/index.php) to clean up my Mac. A good freeware alternative is Onyx (http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/english.html).

Peace.

Hehe he got the "colorful wheel of death" or whatever it's called when using Keynote multiple times. IDK what the fuck he was doing but it was pretty funny to watch him get frustrated with it. They actually aren't as bad as I originally thought them to be. The F8 key to switch desktops is pretty neat and useful and there's some other things that are pretty cool too.

I just don't like them because everything is so oversimplified on a mac in my opinion, it's harder to do basic administration on a mac than it is on Windows or Linux. Everyone has their own preferences though, so I'll try not to bash Mac users. I prefer Windows myself but I might eventually switch to Linux.

Is it easy to install Mac OS/X on a VMware PC in Windows? I might do that to become better accustomed to a Mac. If it works well I might do that to learn Linux better too. Dual booting is a pain in the ass if I'm not going to actively use the OS.

Try command+option+esc.

Nice that comes in handy. I'm on the mac now in my chem class. It's beginning to grow on me.