Maximizing windows

I know this is a really minor concern, but it's something that's been bugging me so I thought I'd ask about it. i come from a Linux background, if that matters.

So far, I'm loving my new Macbook Pro, but there's a few niggling issues that aren't so much problems as they are differences of opinion. For example, me and Apple disagree on the meaning of "maximize". For me, maximizing a window means extending the borders to the edge of the screen given its current resolution. To Apple, at least the Safari dev team, it means to widen the window to the width of the largest thing on there. For example, if I maximize the Safari window of this page as I type this post, it only goes from the left edge of "Post new thread" to the right of the smiley box -- only about 40% of my actual screen width.

Is there any way to make OS X see eye to eye with me on this, or am I just going to have to get used to it? I've scoured system prefs, but I haven't found much.

Thanks in advance

There is no need to waste screen space by maximizing to a full screen. This is something you will have to deal with because its something apple is pretty proud of having instead of wasting a full screen

you can always drag the window (resize manually) to fit the size you want.

Thats what I learned the hard way after hitting the green button about 10 times today. You've just got to drag it to the edges

It took me a little while to accustom myself to my new 20" Widescreen. But I'm there. Maximising windows to fit the screen is possible but mostly I keep open windows alongside each other it works better that way for me.

Its funny because any seasoned Windows user lives by maximizing. It would REALLY bother me to see a non-max'd window before. Now I swear by Apples idea of not wasting all the space. Not sure why, but I felt the mac allowed me to learn to love another style. a maxed out window now just seems silly. the web page isnt that big!

PowerBookG4 said:

you can always drag the window (resize manually) to fit the size you want.

Click to expand...

This would be okay with me except for another Apple inconsistancy -- where I come from, I'm used to all four corners of a window (even the sides) being drag-able to resize. In OS X it seems only the bottom-right can do that. This is a pain because unless the window is already as far to the upper-left as it can go, I also have to MOVE the window in order to resize it. And since windows also don't snap to the edges of the screen, it may take several moves and drags to get it to the desired size.

Something else I'll have to get used to I guess

You call it an apple inconsistancy....why isn't it a Windows inconsistancy?

I think you should try out apples version of the maximize. You switched from PC's for a reason, so why not actually switch the way apple meant it to be?

trpnmonkey41 said:

You call it an apple inconsistancy....why isn't it a Windows inconsistancy?

Click to expand...

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear -- I'm not saying it's Apple's fault, I meant it's an inconsistancy with what I'm used to. It's *my* inconsistancy.

Also, just for the record, I've hardly used Windows, my previous experience comes from KDE and especially Gnome (which is actually pretty OS-X-like)

trpnmonkey41 said:

I think you should try out apples version of the maximize. You switched from PC's for a reason, so why not actually switch the way apple meant it to be?

Click to expand...

Also, since you bring that up, I'll mention the reason why I would like to fully maximize. See, I'm pretty clumsy, so if I have Safari taking up 40% of the screen, sooner or later (usually sooner) I'm going to misclick and select whatever window was behind Safari, essentially making it disappear until I find it in the dock.

In Gnome and KDE, I could, with one keystroke, designate a window to stay on top of all others regardless of whether it was selected or not. Does OS X have similar functionality? I could not find it in keyboard system prefs.

Hikaru79 said:

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear -- I'm not saying it's Apple's fault, I meant it's an inconsistancy with what I'm used to. It's *my* inconsistancy.

Also, just for the record, I've hardly used Windows, my previous experience comes from KDE and especially Gnome (which is actually pretty OS-X-like)

Click to expand...

Fair enough

Hikaru79 said:

Also, since you bring that up, I'll mention the reason why I would like to fully maximize. See, I'm pretty clumsy, so if I have Safari taking up 40% of the screen, sooner or later (usually sooner) I'm going to misclick and select whatever window was behind Safari, essentially making it disappear until I find it in the dock.

In Gnome and KDE, I could, with one keystroke, designate a window to stay on top of all others regardless of whether it was selected or not. Does OS X have similar functionality? I could not find it in keyboard system prefs.

Click to expand...

I don't know of any Keep on top function but you should try out Expose. System Preferences -> Expose. Set one of the corners on your screen as a hot corner to reveal all windows and you should have no problems managing your windows

trpnmonkey41 said:

I don't know of any Keep on top function but you should try out Expose. System Preferences -> Expose. Set one of the corners on your screen as a hot corner to reveal all windows and you should have no problems managing your windows

Click to expand...

Wow, neat! I'd given up on Expose when I couldn't get the keyboard shortcut working (It is set to F9 but whenever I use F9 it just tried to lower keyboard brightness. It turns out I have to Fn+F9).

But I tried it again now per your suggestion by setting it to the top-right corner, and it looks like it will be really useful. Thanks. tripn!

Expose incredibly useful for managing your windows. You can also use Apple+Tab to cycle through your active programs

http://mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21280&highlight=maximize

http://mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38771&highlight=maximize

http://mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38522&highlight=maximize

Hikaru79 said:

In Gnome and KDE, I could, with one keystroke, designate a window to stay on top of all others regardless of whether it was selected or not. Does OS X have similar functionality? I could not find it in keyboard system prefs.

Click to expand...

There is a third party app that adds the ability to keep windows on top. I've never used it but I thought I'd give you a link incase you wanted to try it out. Its called Afloat

Even though Im working on a 21" I often prefer maximizing windows. I find it gives you a more uncluttered workingspace. Just like the big relief when tabbed browsing was invented.

Found a solution at http://maclife.techactually.com/news.php?item.80.9:

"Megazoomer makes windows full-screen. Just press Command-Enter, and the front-most window grows to fill your entire monitor. Press the same keys, and it shrinks again. However, to make it work you need to install SIMBL plugins."

Megazoomer: http://ianhenderson.org/megazoomer.html
SIMBL: http://culater.net/software/SIMBL/SIMBL.php

Hikaru79 said:

Wow, neat! I'd given up on Expose when I couldn't get the keyboard shortcut working (It is set to F9 but whenever I use F9 it just tried to lower keyboard brightness. It turns out I have to Fn+F9).

But I tried it again now per your suggestion by setting it to the top-right corner, and it looks like it will be really useful. Thanks. tripn!

Click to expand...

I use Expose so frequently that I've assigned it to my middle, scroll-wheel mouse button. Much easier for me than using some key or key combination, or accidentally activating it when moving to a corner of my screen. Just my 2 cents worth.

Wow, this forum is just full of information. Thank you, everyone, for your extremely helpful replies

Good to see your problem solved, Hikaru79.