Switching between apps using the keyboard.

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Hey everyone, I'm coming from a PC world and need some help. I just got a 12" PowerBook and I LOVE IT. Was amazing in class today with the whole class using big ThinkPads and me with the little PowerBook. Anyway, I'm so used to using Alt-Tab in windows to switch between my open programs. Now I know I can do that with Mac Using Command Tab as well. However, say I have 5 msn windows open, and safari, Command Tab only switches between one msn window and safari. Is there a way to use the keyboard and switch between open windows in one program? I've just been using F10 to show all the windows and click the one I want. It's the only thing that I don't like! Also, when I minimize an app to the dock, when I command tab it shows the app but it won't maximize it, only switches to it. Is there a command to maximize that window? Another quick question, do you guys just use the arrow keys or click and drag the slider in programs to scroll? I miss my scroller on the mouse or on my thinkpads trackpoint. Thanks! Phew.
 
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m1k

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Hey,

Congrats on your new 12" PowerBook, they are awesome!

Spend a bit of time with expose (the f9, f10 and f11 feaures), and you really get used to them. I myself have F9 programmed to my upper right screen corner, so whenever I flick my mouse in the direction of the upper right corner, it shows me all windows. Again, this was awkward for me at first, but it gradually became natural, and now I use it instead of alt+tab because it's a lot more instinctive for me.

Try programming it to the top right or top left corner, you just flick your mouse in that direction and expose happens. It's very cool, and I guarantee you that after a few days you'll get used to it.

There really is no other way in OS X to see all your windows.


The shortcut for minimizing an app is cmd+m, but I don't think there's a shortcut for maximizing apps. I don't really minimize any apps, because with expose I just keep all my windows open and switch between them...

I just use the mouse. If you drag your Safari window (or whatever browser you use) to all the corners, so it's fullscreen, you can just move your mouse all the way to the right, and even if it's on the edge of the screen you can still drag the scroll wheel around (sorry if that didn't make any sense). I actually find the scroll wheel useless now, because you can get so much more accuracy out of dragging the slider. You just have to get used to it, that's all.


I know, I'm telling you to just get used to a whole bunch of things in OS X, but I guarantee you you'll get used to them pretty quick, and once you're used to them, they're instinctive, and you'll hate Windows XP even more ;)

Cheers,
m1k
 
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command+~ switches between open windows in the currently active app
 
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o, and I use the arrow keys ~_<
 
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Another nice feature is no need to shutdown between classes. Just close the lid and it auto sleeps :alien:
 
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How do you switch between multiple windows of the same app, such as Safari? Also, How do you go between tabs in Safari using the keyboard?
 
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yea, its command+~ switches etween windows of the frontmost app
 
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Thanks for the help that works! I actually just got used to the expose thing in the top corner now! Still getting used to everything here though. Is it okay to put it to sleep instead of shutting down? Doesn't it use battery when it's sleeping? I still really miss my scroller!
 
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yes, the battery does get used in sleep mode, and if its on too long, it can overheat. hteres also an expose blob, its like a button thats always on screen, a blue bubble, you click it, and it activates expose. it gets annoying after a while, but expose works just as well.
also, hold shift hile sending the cursor to the corner to activate expose and see it in slow motion.:mac:
 
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m1k

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yes, the battery does get used in sleep mode, and if its on too long, it can overheat

Not really. The laptop only uses the battery for keeping the RAM active. It cools down significantly in sleep mode, and I can't tell the difference in temperature between sleep and completely off.

It's completely fine to leave your 'Book in sleep mode. I've left mine for a week and it's been fine, it uses almost no battery (20% in a week, maybe less), and it's a helluva lot more convenient than shutting down and turning on every time you want to use your 'Book.

I've never actually shut down my PowerBook. I sometimes restart for new apps that require it, and I often just sleep. But sleeping is one of the great advantages of having a Mac laptop - it rocks!

Cheers,
m1k
 
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Well you can put PC laptops to sleep as well just so you know. I used to all the time with my ThinkPad but after a year or so my battery depleated and would last about 15 minutes. I had to call IBM and they mailed me a new one, just didn't want that to happen with my PowerBook.
 
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yeah, I use my iBook on campus all the time, and the sleep function is great for running between classes and just popping the lid and having it on instantly again.

PC laptops can do this, but it normally takes them quite a while to "wake-up" properly.

My friends Siemens laptop reminds me of a college student on monday morning with a bad hangover when it wakes up from sleep mode...
 
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I know I sound like a nag and I love my PowerBook but my ThinkPad honestly goes to sleep as soon as the lid is closed or I press FN-F4. To wake it up just open the lid or press Enter, it's back on instantly. I have to stop standing up for PCs on here!!! But then again, I do work for IBM so :p
 
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For your scrolling issue, you can download a freeware program called SideTrack from www.macupdate.com . I puts a virtual scrolling area on one edge of the trackpad and you can also designate a corner of your trackpad to simulate a right click of the mouse.
 
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also, shift+command+up arrow takes you to the top of a site in safari. same + down arrow takes you to the bottom.
 
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Wow thank you so much! That program is awesome, I've finally gotten used to expose and the first poster is right, once you get used to having it in a corner it's SO much better than windows. I never minimize anything. I love it for when I'm doing research and have like 10 safari windows open, in XP you open 8 IE's before finding the one you wanted. I REALLY missed my scroller though so that sidetrack program is amazing and a life safer, thanks so much!!!
 
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I also just got sidetrack, it really rocks, great free app!

As for PC notebooks sleeping quickly too:

All I can comment on is my previous experience, which was that the notebook would sleep quickly, but be quite slow to wake up again.

I would have to wait a few minutes for the system to be 'normal'...having said that, this system also needed a fair amount of time to boot...
 

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