MacbookPro 17 inch beginner

I have just acquired a secondhand (Trusted source) Macbook PRO 17 inch 5.2 with operating system OSX 10.6.8 and shall be transfering from Windows.

Does anybody know where I can download an operating manual. I have downloaded the standard 17 inch manual but that does not look like my machine.

Also, a simple keyboard question. I have found the key with left arrow to delete characters to the left of the cursor, but on a WIN keyboard you get a delete key which deletes to the Right. Probably being very stupid not finding, is there a trick to that function on Mac?

Grateful for any input.
Richard

Here is the User Guide for the 5,2 MBP. You want the early 2009 version.

Apple - Support - Manuals

Go grab Mactracker
Mactracker - Get Info on any Mac
You will see a "This Mac" as a choice on the sidebar. From there you can figure out what exact manual you need. All manuals are available here
Apple - Support

Hold the Fn-key (bottom right corner) then hit delete -> this will make it act as a delete instead of a backspace.

EDIT:Too slow to the post button - Razormac

IvanLasston said:

Too slow to the post button - Razormac

Click to expand...

At last! I beat someone to the post. ;D

Beginner manual

Thank you so much guys, that is really helpful.
Richard

Now to start trying to transfer data from Windows. I'll be back on the forum I expect.

As long as you didn't go wonky and kept all your stuff in your user directory - Migration Assistant may be able to help you transfer your data.
OS X Mountain Lion: Transfer your info from a computer or disk

OK, so that is another thing I need to understand.......what is "mountain Lion". My OS X is 10.6.8, so do I need to upgrade and if so what cost is involved. I am only a basic user.
Richard

Snow Leopard = 10.6 (.8 is the latest update)
Lion = 10.7 (.3 is the latest update)
Mountain Lion = 10.8 (.2 is the latest update)

Mountain Lion is a $19.99 purchase through the Mac App Store and you can upgrade your MBP assuming it meets the specs.

To add to Raz0rEdge's excellent answer:

In your case you would skip Lion and go directly to Mountain Lion. Lion is no longer available.

ML should work great on your machine (it does on my 13" from the same era), but I would recommend 4GB or more (more!!) for an optimum experience. RAM is cheap.

and that's not a typo -- Mountain Lion is twenty bucks ($19.99). This is one of the nice surprises when switching to Macs .. new OS updates don't cost $150.

Hi, me again with another basic.
I have managed to get my email up and running, but the font size on screen is tiny.
I have found the trick of using CMD + to get progressively larger, but that works fine for just that message.

Is there a way that I can set a screen font size as default?
Richard

In Mail (I assume you're using Mail), go to Mail > Preferences > Fonts & Colours. You can change the font settings there.

That changes the "delivered" font, but the screen font is still tiny.
I have mailbox font set to Arial 12, Message list font to Lucida Grande 12, Message font to Arial 12, Note font to Marker Felt thin 16,.
Then there is "fixed width font" which is tiny at Monoco 10. I do not know what that is.
Richard

exgarymac said:

That changes the "delivered" font, but the screen font is still tiny.

Click to expand...

If you want the font size on the desktop to be larger…you need to go to:

- the desktop
- "View" drop down menu
- then select "Show View Options"
- then select the font size you would like (16 being the largest)

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. One thing to keep in mind. You have a 17" MacBook Pro. With a 17" MacBook Pro…you have a larger display…which also means a larger resolution/more screen real estate (1680 x 1050 or 1920 x 1080)…so text will appear smaller. You can make some adjustments…as suggested so far.

You are so helpful and quick responding I am so grateful.
Thank you so much and sorry to be so naive. I guess too many years of Windows cannot get to grips with the Mac intuitive operating.

Very grateful.
Richard