noob waiting on ibook...many questions

long-time PC/windows user has some questions. i am very excited about my new (used) ibook that should be arriving in a few days. however, i have some concerns/questions:

* no right click? huh? can i use a scrolling mouse?
* i've been reading reviews and a handful of people have complained about the display not being as nice as PCs.
* some people have said the touchpad is very sluggish.
* cumbersome key combinations to do basic functions like jump to the beginning of a document.
* i use microsoft money to manage my finances. it's not available for a mac. that's a huge problem for me. suggestions?

any input would be greatly appreciated.

i am looking forward to getting my mac, but i am by no means a windows-hater. i've been a very content PC user for years, but i am longing for something different.

i am a little worried about going from an already-small 14" screen to a 12" screen! yikes!

No right click - wrong! Press the "ctrl" key and click to right click with the traditional bar touchpad clicker (no physical right click) or hook a two button mouse up (any Windows USB mouse will do) and get your right click fix.
I've got a macbook, so I get the glossier look, but I like the look of the ibook matte screen.
Touchpad is no worse then any PC laptop - but like I said, get an aftermarket two button muse.
Use "parallels", a program that allows you to run Windows within your Mac (all in the same screen without restarting or anything) and you can use your Windows software!

Good luck

taylorwilsdon said:

No right click - wrong! Press the "ctrl" key and click to right click with the traditional bar touchpad clicker (no physical right click) or hook a two button mouse up (any Windows USB mouse will do) and get your right click fix.
I've got a macbook, so I get the glossier look, but I like the look of the ibook matte screen.
Touchpad is no worse then any PC laptop - but like I said, get an aftermarket two button muse.
Use "parallels", a program that allows you to run Windows within your Mac (all in the same screen without restarting or anything) and you can use your Windows software!

Good luck

Click to expand...

thanks so much!

i am not really looking to run any windows software, per se, just looking for ways to do these things in mac OS. i am wondering about the page up/page down stuff though. are these buttons on a mac keyboard?

taylorwilsdon said:

Use "parallels", a program that allows you to run Windows within your Mac (all in the same screen without restarting or anything) and you can use your Windows software!

Click to expand...

Parallels is only available on macs with intel processors. The program you will need to use for the ibook is "Microsoft Virtual PC" it is a program that emulates a x86 processor so you can install windows in this environment. It is slow, but it will work.

still looking for answers to these questions:

* cumbersome key combinations to do basic functions like jump to the beginning of a document.
* i use microsoft money to manage my finances. it's not available for a mac. that's a huge problem for me. suggestions?

Use Quicken instead of Microsoft Money.
I dont think the key commands are cumbersome at all.
I have the same computer you are buying, and Ive had it and enjoyed for close to two years now. I was a long time PeeCee user as well, you wont regret your decision.

callisto9 said:

still looking for answers to these questions:

* cumbersome key combinations to do basic functions like jump to the beginning of a document.
* i use microsoft money to manage my finances. it's not available for a mac. that's a huge problem for me. suggestions?

Click to expand...

No way! All you have to do is press the "apple" key (next to the alt key) and press up, and it does the same thing as Pageup on a Windows keyboard.

Don't know about M$ money, but Quicken is available.

On my 1.33Ghz iBook, you press the Fn key to the very left bottom of the keyboard and then the Arrow keys. My Arrow keys have Home, End, Page Up & Page down on them. The Fn key triggers it just like on a PC Laptop with it's extra keys.

thanks everyone! i am starting to get warm fuzzies!