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spiff72 · Apr 8, 2005, 08:00 PM

Well,

I drove over to the Apple store today to pick up a powerbook so I would be able to play with it this weekend. I grabbed a 17", Applecare, and Office 2004 Student/Teacher edition.

Clearly, I still have a lot to learn.

The trackpad works nicely (but I am really not used to the single button), but I don't want to plug in a scroll mouse yet so I can get used to the trackpad.

I need a quick tutorial on how to emulate right mouse clicks with the trackpad, how to set up a shared widows printer on the PB, and I need to find some software for chat (something like Trillian).

Looks like I am off to the other sections of this forum - peripherals, and applications!

Thanks,
Jeff

BTW: I am posting this with the new PB.

bovie · Apr 8, 2005, 08:27 PM

Jeff, hold down the command key and click. That will give you a right click. Good luck with the new PB.

osxisfun · Apr 8, 2005, 08:36 PM

Awesome News!!!

I'm happy for you.

If you have any pics!! post em!

(I really should not ask since i can't find my camera so i won't be posting my own pics.)

spiff72 · Apr 8, 2005, 08:45 PM

One problem resolved.

I got my printer working.

I just had to pick one of the "generic" drivers for the photosmart printer. I downloaded the Mac drivers from the HP website, but now I have no idea how to uninstall them. I am not even sure where the files all installed to. Should there be an uninstall script?

Overall I am very impressed with this thing. I can't believe how thin it is...

And thanks for the Command key help. I have been trying that. Maybe the apps aren't set up for right clicks as much as Windoze is. I will keep messing around. I would expect that I could right click on a file in the finder and then get a menu of cut/paste/copy/delete stuff...

I am going to be up all nite, I can already tell

Jeff

bovie · Apr 8, 2005, 08:55 PM

it could be the option key not the command key. I don't have my Powerbook in front of me to try it.

spiff72 · Apr 8, 2005, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by bovie:
it could be the option key not the command key. I don't have my Powerbook in front of me to try it.

Aha!

It is the ctrl key.

I thought for sure it was the option key too.

Thanks,
Jeff

bovie · Apr 8, 2005, 09:13 PM

ok, I know I just press a key and click. I don't even think about it, it just works.

porieux · 06:55 AM

...

Krusty · Apr 8, 2005, 10:24 PM

Originally posted by spiff72:

Maybe the apps aren't set up for right clicks as much as Windoze is.

Mac apps are setup under the assumption of a one button mouse. According to popular myth (fact ?). this is to enforce consistent coding standards for developers ... making sure they have corresponding menu items for right-click functions (unlike in windows, where sometimes functionality only exists in the right mouse button,) For example the 'close group' functionality which can be pretty useful sometimes (similar to 'Quit' on a Mac) only exists in a right-click menu in WinXP and then its only available to you when the OS has decided to stack windows of the same app in the taskbar. No way to 'Close group' from a menu and no way to do it if the OS hasn't decided to stack the windows (a functionality which in itself is almost uncontrollable by the user ... it will vary depending on your monitor size/resolution and how many other apps are currently holding a slot in the taskbar -- which is extremely arbitrary -- having UI behaviors that can literally differ based on how big your monitor is ).

b1NARY73 · Apr 9, 2005, 04:50 PM

Congrats Man, I have been drooling over a 17" for some time now.... just waiting for the refinance on my house to go through to buy it. Enjoy, you will see that the only useful thing a PC is for is Gaming, the mac will handle all other aspects of your computing life more than adequately. Anyone want my ti550!

bovie · Apr 10, 2005, 07:50 PM

Where are the pic's?

bovie · Apr 10, 2005, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by porieux:
Congrats, but you shouldn't have paid the microsoft tax.

I might hate Microsoft just as much as you but, Face it Microsoft Office is the Best Office software out there. Open Office does not stand a chance. They make a good game console also.

spiff72 · Apr 10, 2005, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by bovie:
I might hate Microsoft just as much as you but, Face it Microsoft Office is the Best Office software out there. Open Office does not stand a chance. They make a good game console also.

I read lots of places where MS Office was highly recommended, and i got the discounted educational version.

osxisfun · Apr 10, 2005, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by spiff72:
I read lots of places where MS Office was highly recommended, and i got the discounted educational version.

bovie is correct.

the last thing you want is for your wife not to be able to import an office file from a coleague when her deadline is an hour away.

with open office your never going to acheieve the same compatiblity of docs until m$ opens their file format.

olePigeon · Apr 10, 2005, 10:13 PM

Can't believe no one suggested this:

Get Side Track for your PowerBook. This will allow you to set all sorts of features on your trackpad. Most useful is setting one of the corners of the pad for your right mouse click. The other useful feature is setting one of the corners to Expos�. And if you're using Rev C PowerBook or older, you can set the sides of your trackpad to scroll.

bovie · Apr 10, 2005, 10:50 PM

I bought the student verson also.