[zenloof]

I just bought my PowerBook, so I'm somewhat of a newbie.

Is there an equivalent to the windows "lock computer," where your programs remain running but you must enter a password to use the computer?

[OptimusG4]

You can set the screen saver to ask for password and have a hot corner set to run it, or you can use DeskShade to lock the screen.

[OreoCookie]

Two basic possibilities: 1 If you just want to leave your computer unattended for a few minutes, enable the option `Ask for password after waking up from sleep/enabling the screen saver'. Either put your PowerBook to sleep or activate the screen saver (e. g. by configuring a hot corner which activate the screen saver immediately.

2 You enable fast user switching in the Users preferences and select [your login name] > Log In Window in the top-right of the menu bar.

[piracy]

Open Keychain Access, in /Applications/Utilities. Open Keychain Access's preferences, and select "Show status in menu bar". A padlock icon will now be in the menu bar on the right side. One of the selections under the padlock is "Lock Screen".

Also, what both of the previous posters said: Open System Preferences, and click Security. Select "Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screensaver". This way, you can leave yourself logged in, everything running, etc., and every time you close or sleep it (or enter the screensaver) it will require a password on wake.

To fully duplicate the Windows functionality if you have more than one user of the machine, where another user can unlock the workstation and/or switch to their account, you can also enable Fast User Switching in System Preferences -> Accounts -> Login Options, which will add a "Switch user" button to the password prompt. If another person needs to use it, they can, but your account will still be locked and exactly as it was, i.e., all programs running, documents/windows open, etc.

You can use, any, all, or a combination of these methods.

[JHromadka]

Originally Posted by piracy

Open Keychain Access, in /Applications/Utilities. Open Keychain Access's preferences, and select "Show status in menu bar". A padlock icon will now be in the menu bar on the right side. One of the selections under the padlock is "Lock Screen".

I use this option instead of the smart corners because I keep accidently turning it on. Took me forever to find that option in Keychain Access. Spotlight makes no reference to it, and there is no menu item for it.