Ok. I see your point. So the page down key is actually the arrow down key. Would it have been so hard to color code the function and 'page' word with the same color to indicate an association that required both be pressed together? That's a pretty standard pc/notebook feature. C'mon. Be realistic. How is someone supposed to know 'function' has to be pressed at the same time without some sort of visual connection between them?
And I see yours, but I think you are still trying to shoehorn your Mac into your WinXP experience. No, the keys are not rainbow colored. Personally -- and it's just preference -- I like it much better this way. The Mac is much more elegant looking (not to mention lighter and
much slimmer) than a comparable Dell/Tosh/HP notebook.
So yes, it will take you a day or three to learn the tricks. Once you've learned them (like learning Alt+F4 closes windows in WinXP) it will work much more pleasantly.
I'll try Expose. Why do I need to install extra apps though to bring OS X to the same level of functionality as Windows?
(1) Exposé is part of OS X. You don't have to install anything. Expose is clearly discussed in the manual as I recall. Did you, ya know, RTFM?
(2) Exposé gives functionality that is
not present in Windows. F9: see all your windows at once; F10: see all the windows for the open application at once; F11: see your desktop (clear all windows to the edges); F12: open Dashboard.
Some manufacturers, like Dell and Sony, make 15" screens with SXGA+ resolution. This is 1440x1050, and it works wonderfully.
Can't argue with that. I haven't experienced any "lack of space" issues but again that's purely a matter of preference.
The minimise, maximise and close window buttons may be the same size, buf you look closely, you will see that because they are round, rather than square, they are smaller and harder to click on. I still think they are smaller on OS X than windows anyway.
This may really be a problem for you, but it's coming across as nit picking. OK, they have less clickable area than a comparable WinXP box. I haven't had a problem, and I haven't seen people (switchers or non-switchers) complain about it. I'm not saying it's
not a problem for you. But if it is, you're probably screwed because you're the only person vocalizing dissatisfaction about it.
The screen real-estate is an issue with OS X. It's not just yahoo that takes up a lot of screen space. The OS X apps themselves to do, and when you only have 900 vertical pixels, you need all the space you can get. How can I make my desktop icons smaller? Is there a way to do that?
Like I said, I've never had a problem with the screen resolution. I'm quite happy with it, in fact. But to make your desktop (or any folder's) icons smaller:
* "right" click (CTRL+click or two-finger tap your trackpad) the desktop or empty space in any folder.
* choose "Show View Options"
* make changes as you wish
Note: when doing this in a regular folder (as opposed to the desktop) you get the option to do it globablly or on a folder-by-folder basis. Be sure you choose the action you really want.
As I said, the install is not simple. It was NOT clear to me if I was supposed to drag the icon within the yahoo app or drag the icon with the file system. All it said was to the drag the file. It didn't say how to do it, yet gave you multiple ways to do it. I didn't know which way was the correct one.
Again, all I can say is that the ease of installation/uninstallation is a major selling point of OS X. The fact that you found it confusing suggests to me that you and the Mac just might never be friends. You're complaining that you didn't understand it, we've told you a half dozen times how to do it and you're still complaining.
It doesn't seem to matter to you that, now that you know, it really is easier.
I also did not realise that OS X does not automatically reorder icons inside a folder. The yahoo icon was there, but because it was way off to the right for some reason, I didn't notice it was there.
Just as with WinXP, this is an option you can set globally or folder-by-folder. You do it the same way you change icon and text size, explained above.
I don't agree that my complaints revolve around me saying that OS X isn't identical to Win XP. I was under the impression that OS X would just work out of the box, but when you add up stuff like firefox crashing, the vpn client not being able to skip the remote default gateway, the mail client not giving the option to leave mail on the server (Windows Outlook expres does), links inside safari not opening up yahoo chat, it's disappointing.
Firefox isn't a Mac OS X app. I know zippy about VPN.
To leave messages on server with Mail:
* Click Mail on the menu bar at top.
* Choose Preferences
* Choose Accounts
* Choose Advanced
* Un-click the third box
or change the settings to meet your personal needs. My accounts are set up to delete from the server after one day, because this works best to keep my Blackberry happy.
I also don't know about Yahoo Chat, but perhaps the program everyone else is recommending (Adium?) would solve that.
Performing the equivalent operations on windows did not require the assistance of a forum to get it working, so why should it require such assistance for OS X?
If you installed, configured, maintained, and operated WinXP (and
Unix I think you said?) systems without ever reading a manual, reading a help file, or getting instruction/help from anyone anywhere
but you find the Mac OS bewildering, all I can say is that you are incredibly intuitive when it comes to complex computer systems and suffering a mental block when it comes to OS X.
The Mac doesn't have to be for everyone. If you're that unhappy, the Apple Store has a 15 day return policy
I think and if not, you can probably recoup the majority of your cost by selling the thing on eBay. It doesn't make you a bad person.
(well ok yes it does, but I'm trying to be nice)