"Mac isn't right for me"

[CoMo]

Yes there is (Unless you have the really old one button Apple mouse), the Mighty Mouse has a right click but is not enabled by default). Just enable secondary click on your right mouse button.

To do this, go to System Preferences/Keyboard and mouse/Click on the Mouse tab/Change right button to secondary click. You should now have the same right click function to which you are accustomed.

Thanks!

 

[Dysfunction]

I'm willing to learn, but I'm not willing to concede that Windows is inferior in all regards. I guess I'll have to swap my Mac Mouse with my Windows mouse because as a writer, I cut, copy and paste hundreds of times a day.

I spend my entire day editing code, scripts, etc mostly copying and pasting so I understand where you're coming from. That being said, I never use the mouse right click.. or cut to be honest. Cmd-c and cmd-v, just like windows (the only difference being the keyboard positions of cmd and ctrl)

Oh, and since I use about 5 different OS's on a daily basis.. nope.. don't think any are inherently inferior.. they just all have their strengths.. and of course, there are things they are all inferior doing

 

[baggss]

I'm willing to learn, but I'm not willing to concede that Windows is inferior in all regards. I guess I'll have to swap my Mac Mouse with my Windows mouse because as a writer, I cut, copy and paste hundreds of times a day.

I don't think I said Windows was inferior in any way in that post, although others may have said that in this thread. I simply said that the Mac is different and that the difference are neither right or wrong, they are simply different.

 

[Doug b]

You mean Cmd+X and Cmd+V? That cut and paste?

Hey Doug, often the same key patterns that work with Windows/DOS machines work with Macs. Just replace the control key with the Apple/Command/cloverleaf thingy key. Example command + x = cut, Cmmd + c = copy, Cmmnd + v = paste. Cmmnd + tab will do the same thing that Alt + tab will do on windows. There are tons more. Also, whenever you look at anything in a dropdown menu, the key patterns are right there just to the right of the menu item it's a shortcut for. I use the key commands all the time, rather than my mouse or trackpad. They let me do things a lot faster. Seems pretty efficient to me...

Also, it's not necessary to hold the command key while dragging. You can select a series of items with the shift key and a group of individual item not in a sequence with the command key. Then, without holding the command key, you can drag the whole lot to wherever you want it.

I meant that you can't use the mouse to highlight something and then right click to cut/copy and paste. Or is there a way to do that with the Mac mouse? I'm still learning the OS.

You guys all seem to be talking about text. I'm talking about file management. Cut and paste makes life easier to the point of where it's ridiculous to think of not having it handy. Moving folders with sub folders and such in finder is a chore and a half in OS X. Just to make sure I knew what I was talking about, I was just on my MBP and created a folder on the desktop, in which I wanted to simply cut and paste two existing folders (one called photos and one called music) and paste them into the untitled folder. This is obviously just a small example of what I consider to be a necessity.

This also falls in line with how I like to organize my files and folders. I hate database style programs for music and photo management, though some photo apps do a better job than others at keeping things tidy... But in OS X I found that the packaged programs such as iTunes and iPhoto love being redundant, in that they create a library which is populated by several different copies (different sizes) of the same file,(mainly talking iPhoto now) yet at the same time, you're limited to working with them, rather than being able to use the original file because why ? Because I'd be sorry that I edited the original file and would want to revert back to an untouched version in the future ? Well how about letting ME decide that ? Or give an option to do or not do that.. I like thinking for myself, thanks Steve Jobs..... But the point here is that I'd rather sort my files and folders via the file tree method, and I still plan on doing so for my own personal benefit.

And when I set up my external HD's to use as photo and music servers, (via a 4 port hub connected to the back of my Airport Extreme) I'm going to make sure that all of my photos are in folders according to their scenario. (actually, they already are. ie; family, friends, vacations, animals, landscapes, urban, etc.. ) Even my Linux photo app (digiKam) sees these folders, and sorts them in a tree, and still maintains a database to check for missing and added folders or photos. It's about the most logical system you can imagine. And thanks to cut and paste, I can have folders or files anywhere, and it's as simple as highlighting, cutting and pasting. With OS X, it would be a lot more time consuming than this, and I've got the scars on my fingers to prove it !

There are certainly other little annoyances which get my pants with OS X, but if I wasn't able or willing to try, then I'd just as soon shut up and just pack it in. Mostly, it's the lack of control, as well as the lack of choices in software that gets me. I found a total of two other music players aside from iTunes (Cog and Play), which to me is astounding. And I really don't care for the "but all you need is packaged in OS X" argument, because sincerely, I hate iTunes, and iPhoto is a bit of a toy for my needs, and it's also cumbersome when dealing with organizing photos within a folder structure.

But enough of that. It's over and done with. We own the MBP, and I'll try and learn more, and make the best of it. I just hope I get on well enough with Aperture 2 and Garage Band, to make me want to invest more time in learning about the "Mac way" of doing things.

It's likely that it will be the last Apple PC I purchase though. As for Windows, it's more likely that I'd buy a Mac first ! But we'll see. Check back with me next year, this time !

doug

 

[Dysfunction]

Doug, the command mv in terminal would make those sorts of movements trivial. Especially if you script it.

 

[Nevermore]

Just to clarify

(I am long winded for sure), my sympathies are with the OP in that it is hard not to fall into the trap of thinking that in Macworld the streets are paved with gold. It can be embarrassing to discover that is it just another country and not necessarily heaven. Having said that, I do concur with the general theme running through the thread that having immigrated here, better to set about learning the local customs and culture as best one can. To that end, I have just signed up to these forums (I always joined PC forums) as my gesture toward community. I already appreciate the advice I have gotten and the tips and links. When in Rome ;D I do have to note that this forum is incredibly well mannered compared to some places I have been and in the spirit of get on with it, I'll chalk that up as a Mac plus.

 

[Doug b]

Doug, the command mv in terminal would make those sorts of movements trivial. Especially if you script it.

I guess. And I'm sure you're right, but, if it is such an easy thing to script in the first place, then why wouldn't Apple want it to be a functional part of the OS ? Just to say that it's "different" ? Using the command line is fine and dandy for certain things I suppose, but to have to open up a terminal, then type commands and directories JUST for such a mundane purpose as cutting and pasting, seems like a very long way around the bush.

I understand your point however, so if need be, I might undertake that venture. (the script part) Thanks,

doug

 

[NumberSix]

Cut and paste makes life easier to the point of where it's ridiculous to think of not having it handy. Moving folders with sub folders and such in finder is a chore and a half in OS X. Just to make sure I knew what I was talking about, I was just on my MBP and created a folder on the desktop, in which I wanted to simply cut and paste two existing folders (one called photos and one called music) and paste them into the untitled folder.

i'm not sure i understand what you're saying. You can just move the folders without having to cut and paste ... i actually find it easier than in windows (i'm a recent switcher, just bought my first macbook last week)

 

[dtravis7]

I really do not see how holding down one little key before dragging the file to the new location is such a hard thing to do. It will MOVE it there and delete it from the source if that key is pressed. It's 2nd nature to me now. I don't even have to think about it.

I RARELY do move files though. I am always worried that if something happens on the destination drive that I will loose an important file forever so I usually use Copy and Paste then delete when I am sure the file is safe in it's new location.

 

[goddess_of_go]

I meant that you can't use the mouse to highlight something and then right click to cut/copy and paste. Or is there a way to do that with the Mac mouse? I'm still learning the OS.

Oh yes you can. The Mighty Mouse can be programed to right click.

Edit: After reading the entire thread it seems that the OP seems to think he can't copy and paste items in the finder. You can right click on items and choose to copy them from the contextual menu. Granted, you can't cut them. But as another poster pointed out, it is probably safer to copy to one location before deleting from another anyway. I used to do that in windows especially when I was dealing with more than one file at a time or an especially large file. I was always afraid that something might go wrong before an operation was completed. If that happened my file was still in the old location.

I am a switcher who was a PC user since 1983 or thereabouts. I have been a Mac user for four months. Initially the thing I had the hardest time adjusting to was the Finder. I liked my Explorer Plus from Windows. It took me awhile go get used to the Finder. It's slightly inconvenient to have to open multiple Finder Windows to manipulate files. In Explorer plus I could have two panels set as the default. And it took me awhile to adjust to the fact that folders don't sort at the top of the list. I found that maddening. There were a few other differences in file manipulation that took some getting used to.

But I actually prefer the Finder to Windows Explorer now, so much so that when moving files to and from my Mac and PC I always do it from within the Finder and pull files from the PC and push files to the PC rather than pushing and pulling them to and from the Mac from the PC side.


Terri

 

[Doug b]

I really do not see how holding down one little key before dragging the file to the new location is such a hard thing to do. It will MOVE it there and delete it from the source if that key is pressed. It's 2nd nature to me now. I don't even have to think about it.

I RARELY do move files though. I am always worried that if something happens on the destination drive that I will loose an important file forever so I usually use Copy and Paste then delete when I am sure the file is safe in it's new location.

I'll tell you why it CAN be so hard... Because when you're doing it with a MacBook, which at times is awkward to control both the key and fingerpad, you might lose your place/footing. That's one thing. Secondly, it most certainly does NOT replace just being able to highlight many files or folders, right click select cut then just move freely to the directory you want to paste them to. It's more of a burden to have to physically drag folders, which at times might also miss the destination by accident. I've run into instances where when I'm simply dragging a folder in an upward direction, in order to get to the top of the screen with the scroll bar, it will over shoot, and go off of the finder page all together. That is not efficient IMO.

Sorry but, there are just times when you have to concede to an answer that you do not like, and in this case, I really doubt that if we went head to head, my MBP, your Mac and my Linux box performing the same tasks in this regard, the Linux box would get it done faster and more efficiently %100 of the time. I don't mind learning how to do new things, so don't think I'm opposed to doing what I must. Also, you have to realize, that if it wasn't for the way I worked, (obviously not in the same way as you do) this might not be such a big issue for me.

Doug

Doug

 

[dtravis7]

I went head to head with a few people before. One back in the the Windows 95 days. He said he could do everything faster in his GUI than I could at my DOS prompt. We did many things. I won every time. I bet his face is still red!!


To me though a computer and OS is not a RACE to win. I like OSX for other reasons and have no issues at all using it. And by the way, I have many PC's with XP and Vista not to mention many Linux systems. Even more in fact than my Macs and use them all.

It sounds to me you would be much happier with either a Windows or Linux system. I would sell off that Macbook and get a REALLY nice PC for less $$$ and install both Linux and Windows. I have many systems here at my place.

Not trying be mean or argue with you, but it just seems you would be happier that way. I prefer OSX but really like XP and Linux a lot. I have even gotten less hostile toward Vista! of late but still prefer XP Pro.

 

[nancyspeed]

I still have my mac I got in l994 (my first computer). I turn it on occasionally and remember how neat it was to have a CD player. Anyone remember Clarisworks? Then I switched to Dell in 2000 because I needed a software program that would only run on a pc. The pc is old now and has gotten slower and slower. And I'm tired of all the spyware/adware/malware stuff running in the background that slows it even more. When it came time for a new computer this year, I had no desire to go with Vista. And I came to detest IE and windows in general. The Dell forums are full of Vista fiascos and I didn't want to try it.

The only problem I have had is with Excel--something about macs not reading the dates correctly. So when I'm sent a membership list, for instance, the expirations are read differently from a pc, and are incorrect. That is really aggravating and I don't quite understand why it has to be that way. So I still need a pc for this particular membership database I keep.

Linux is greek to me. Never opened garage band or imovie but I might do some video editing one day. Iphoto is better than what a pc offers. Can't do ichat since Wildblue doesn't give enough upload speed. I like how apple doesn't include all that crapola on the computer like Dell does.

So except for the Excel thing I'm pretty happy with mac.

 

[skaheadpunk]

You guys all seem to be talking about text. I'm talking about file management. Cut and paste makes life easier to the point of where it's ridiculous to think of not having it handy. Moving folders with sub folders and such in finder is a chore and a half in OS X. Just to make sure I knew what I was talking about, I was just on my MBP and created a folder on the desktop, in which I wanted to simply cut and paste two existing folders (one called photos and one called music) and paste them into the untitled folder. This is obviously just a small example of what I consider to be a necessity.

This also falls in line with how I like to organize my files and folders. I hate database style programs for music and photo management, though some photo apps do a better job than others at keeping things tidy... But in OS X I found that the packaged programs such as iTunes and iPhoto love being redundant, in that they create a library which is populated by several different copies (different sizes) of the same file,(mainly talking iPhoto now) yet at the same time, you're limited to working with them, rather than being able to use the original file because why ? Because I'd be sorry that I edited the original file and would want to revert back to an untouched version in the future ? Well how about letting ME decide that ? Or give an option to do or not do that.. I like thinking for myself, thanks Steve Jobs..... But the point here is that I'd rather sort my files and folders via the file tree method, and I still plan on doing so for my own personal benefit.

And when I set up my external HD's to use as photo and music servers, (via a 4 port hub connected to the back of my Airport Extreme) I'm going to make sure that all of my photos are in folders according to their scenario. (actually, they already are. ie; family, friends, vacations, animals, landscapes, urban, etc.. ) Even my Linux photo app (digiKam) sees these folders, and sorts them in a tree, and still maintains a database to check for missing and added folders or photos. It's about the most logical system you can imagine. And thanks to cut and paste, I can have folders or files anywhere, and it's as simple as highlighting, cutting and pasting. With OS X, it would be a lot more time consuming than this, and I've got the scars on my fingers to prove it !

There are certainly other little annoyances which get my pants with OS X, but if I wasn't able or willing to try, then I'd just as soon shut up and just pack it in. Mostly, it's the lack of control, as well as the lack of choices in software that gets me. I found a total of two other music players aside from iTunes (Cog and Play), which to me is astounding. And I really don't care for the "but all you need is packaged in OS X" argument, because sincerely, I hate iTunes, and iPhoto is a bit of a toy for my needs, and it's also cumbersome when dealing with organizing photos within a folder structure.

But enough of that. It's over and done with. We own the MBP, and I'll try and learn more, and make the best of it. I just hope I get on well enough with Aperture 2 and Garage Band, to make me want to invest more time in learning about the "Mac way" of doing things.

It's likely that it will be the last Apple PC I purchase though. As for Windows, it's more likely that I'd buy a Mac first ! But we'll see. Check back with me next year, this time !

doug

I'm sorry, I still don't understand how OS X is any different regarding moving files into to a folder... have you tried dragging and dropping (without holding Cmd)? Perhaps set your mouse to enable a right click if that's how you like to do it - go to System Preferences> Mouse and Keyboard and change the settings. Cmd+X and Cmd+V are basically the same as Windows.

If you have a hard time pressing a key and using the trackpad it really may be worth considering an alternative - an external mouse, trackball, etc.

I don't like iPhoto, so I don't use it, you don't have to. I keep all my pictures in folders named "Friends", "Family", "Dog" etc... If you don't like it you don't have to use it! I wouldn't force myself to use preinstalled software which I hated on ANY machine.

 

[MikeM]

I'm kinda 50/50 on this topic.

I am a long time PC user and system builder (Who actually started out on Apple IIs) and a couple years ago I bought the Mac I have from my cousin as something new to tinker with. I upgraded as much of the hardware as was possible so that I could get a decent experience out of it and started integrating it into my Windows network. It was fun learning the differences and spotting the similarities with other operating systems. After a while though, it just never wowed me enough to consider truly switching.

It's a neat approach to computing but ultimately, it does all the same things a Windows PC can, just in a different way. It's no more or less reliable than a PC if you know what you are doing. It accesses the web in roughly the same way a Windows PC does. Loads programs, saves music and pictures. To me in the end, it just boils down to preference. PC or Mac, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you prefer will work for you.

OSX can be setup to be quite simple to use so I ended up locking it down and giving it to my son for him to learn about computers and have his own system to go to kids websites on (Sesame Street, Disney, etc...). He picked it up quite quickly and it's currently his favorite "toy". It's age is showing however in the choppy playback he gets on flash videos so I'm now debating on whether or not I want to get him a Mac mini (Which is way more powerful then a 6yr old needs) or just build him a basic Windows PC (which would be half the cost but mean having to teach him a new OS [Vista]).

-MikeM

 

[Dysfunction]

I went head to head with a few people before. One back in the the Windows 95 days. He said he could do everything faster in his GUI than I could at my DOS prompt. We did many things. I won every time. I bet his face is still red!!


To me though a computer and OS is not a RACE to win. I like OSX for other reasons and have no issues at all using it. And by the way, I have many PC's with XP and Vista not to mention many Linux systems. Even more in fact than my Macs and use them all.

It sounds to me you would be much happier with either a Windows or Linux system. I would sell off that Macbook and get a REALLY nice PC for less $$$ and install both Linux and Windows. I have many systems here at my place.

Not trying be mean or argue with you, but it just seems you would be happier that way. I prefer OSX but really like XP and Linux a lot. I have even gotten less hostile toward Vista! of late but still prefer XP Pro.

Since OS X is BSD based.. and I work in both linux and BSD.. I'd be willing to bet I can move files at exactly the same speed. IMO on either OS the GUI is a hugely inefficient way to move files in the first place. Actually, it's pretty easy to notice that I do the vast bulk of my work in the terminal, I always have multiple windows open. The biggest problems I see are people trying to make one OS be another. They're simply not that way in the first place, all have their strengths and weaknesses

 

[skaheadpunk]

I'm kinda 50/50 on this topic.

I am a long time PC user and system builder (Who actually started out on Apple IIs) and a couple years ago I bought the Mac I have from my cousin as something new to tinker with. I upgraded as much of the hardware as was possible so that I could get a decent experience out of it and started integrating it into my Windows network. It was fun learning the differences and spotting the similarities with other operating systems. After a while though, it just never wowed me enough to consider truly switching.

It's a neat approach to computing but ultimately, it does all the same things a Windows PC can, just in a different way. It's no more or less reliable than a PC if you know what you are doing. It accesses the web in roughly the same way a Windows PC does. Loads programs, saves music and pictures. To me in the end, it just boils down to preference. PC or Mac, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you prefer will work for you.

OSX can be setup to be quite simple to use so I ended up locking it down and giving it to my son for him to learn about computers and have his own system to go to kids websites on (Sesame Street, Disney, etc...). He picked it up quite quickly and it's currently his favorite "toy". It's age is showing however in the choppy playback he gets on flash videos so I'm now debating on whether or not I want to get him a Mac mini (Which is way more powerful then a 6yr old needs) or just build him a basic Windows PC (which would be half the cost but mean having to teach him a new OS [Vista]).

-MikeM

My 4 year old has a much easier time on a Mac than on a Windows PC - some of that's probably just me knowing how to set it up better for him - having 3 huge dock icons for Telletubbies, Dora The Explorer and Drawing with the icons being pictures of each thing is really easy for him. He can just turn it on and click on what he wants - and the single mouse button helps with that too!

And parental controls stop him messing things up .

 

[shahvikram123]

OS X is built around drag and drop especially with spring loaded folders therefore you don't need cut and paste, just drag and drop; it's easier too

 

[Nevermore]

My experience with my child (now 8 and on his third notebook as he inherits Mom's hand me downs) is that he is frighteningly flexible and able to adapt to new OS (he has gone from Windows 98 to XP to Vista in his short span of computer use) with little pain. He uses a Mac at school and Windows at home (unless he can get me to move from the computer) and doesn't even see it as an issue. I doubt your child will have much difficulty using Windows. I understand that this is a Mac forum and I am not trying to push Windows (I made the switch) but just pointing out that children seem to be born with a mouse in their hand, no preconcieved ideas and a drive to explore (no puns intended). There a kazillion parental control software programs for Windows if that is of concern and you can readily purchase one and still have change in your pocket.

 

[davidg14]

It's just a matter of time, because people are used to Windows.