07-05-2007, 07:19 AM

So I've just bought a white 2.16GHz MacBook and having used Windows (with bouts of Linux and AmigaOS) my whole life I've got a couple of questions about doing stuff I'm used to doing, but can't find in OS X. I'm not fussed if there's certain stuff I just can't do at all (the pleasure of moving to such a fantastic operating system far outweigh any disadvantages in having to re-learn minor things) but I may just be being a dumbass and missing obvious stuff, namely:

1) In FF on Windows I could use Ctrl(+Shift)+Tab to switch between tabs; is there a similar keyboard shortcut on OS X? I'm using Camino instead on OS X, would that make a difference?
2) Is there any way I can maximize any window to fill the screen, or will the green dot just do that for programs that are most likely to need to fill the screen?
3) Is there any way I can change copy/paste to Ctrl+C/V from Option+C/V?
4) There's talk of iLife '07 being released sooner rather than later; is there a period of time after you've bought a Mac where you're entitled to an upgrade if they release a new version (it seems silly, but I'm sure I've heard of this before)?

That's all for now, I'll probably think of more stuff as I go along.

07-05-2007, 07:54 AM

1.) Ctrl(+Shift)+Tab works with Safari here. I don't know if Camino has that feature or not.
2.) Only if you manually drag the windows. OS X does this on purpose though - Windows works with one window filling the screen, which was fine when everyone was on 15" CRTs, but it's an inefficient way to work on a hulking great widescreen monitor. OS X is a bit more fluid - it's designed so you can have different portions of the screen allocated the various windows.
3.) No. It's something you'll get used to! It actually easier with your left thumb on option. Use your left thumb on ctrl and there's a lot of stretching involved unless you use your other hand.
4.) I'm not sure about this. Pricing will be announced when the porduct hits the Apple Store.

07-05-2007, 08:39 AM

Thanks for your reply. I understand the idea behind the multi-window environment, there are just some things that I like to have full screen (namely things where I'm working only within that piece of software, such as code editing and audio/video editors). I use my left hand little finger + C/V with copy/paste on windows, which is why Option is currently awkward but I'm going to have to get used to it.

One thing I forgot: I use the Home/End/Page Up/Page Down keys a lot in Windows, but in OS X they don't appear to perform the same function. Is there a way to get OS X to imitate the Windows behaviour? The equivalent keys on my MacBook keyboard seem a bit non-descriptive, just kind of arrows that don't appear to do very much when I'm typing (I mainly use Home to jump to the start of the line, and Page Up/Page Down to flick through browser pages a block at a time)...