Just got a MBP...


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I just got a MBP 17" through work (I've been assigned to start writing iPhone apps), and after 15 minutes I'm already hating Mac OSX. The hardware is ok in many ways. It's light, runs relatively cool, fast, bright screen, awesome speakers, but the tracking on the touch pad is pretty bad (setting the speed up helped some), no way to change DPI (text is just a little too small for me at 1920x1200 on a 17" screen), no new tab button in Safari (in fact, one would never know it even supported tabs without first knowing about the command+t key combo). It made me restart twice when first coming on. No end or home keys. Poor text rendering. Icons on the dock are not very distinguishable. No maximize. Text selection and navigation key combinations are different from Windows apparently for the sake of being different. No delete button (I mean delete like on a PC, not the inexplicably renamed backspace key). No ten key like my HP of the same size had. And I can't do anything on it since none of my programs work. Basically, I can't wait until tomorrow when I can put Windows 7 Pro on it and hook up a PC keyboard and mouse, at which point I'll start up in Mac OSX as little as possible. I've messed around with Ubuntu on several occasions and been more impressed with it than this...and it's free

With all the hype around Macs I was expecting much more...this really feels like someone's idea of a joke...

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To be honest with you I've always loved UNIX but never wanted to keep using it on my pc because it wasn't quite as "nice" as I wanted for everyday use (but I LOVED the terminal and all the programming tools). I finally got around getting a mac mini with Tiger on it when they first came out and it was everything I wanted, the power of UNIX with the best interface I had seen so far. The transition was a bit hard at first but after about a week I was doing things faster than I would be able to under Windows.

I've used OSX exclusively pretty much since then and it would kill me to have to go back to use Windows full time (it's hard enough to do it for 7.5hrs everyday at work...)

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A lot of your arguments seem to be along the lines of "_____ is not like Windows." There are differences, it is a completely different operating system with different user interface and user interaction principles that in some cases existed before Windows did.

If you need to run programs that don't run under OSX then yes, you need Windows. Either in bootcamp or VM.

Home, End, and Delete key functionality are all available through shortcuts (command left, command right, and command backspace if I remember correctly).

In the dock preferences you can change the size of the dock icons, I personally prefer to use the "2D" dock style ( http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?sto...007101815375480 ) for better icon visibility and if you set it to autohide you don't have to worry about large icons taking up screen real estate.

OSX's zoom function (instead of maximize) is designed best for working on large monitors. If you really want the same maximize behavior as Windows, try RightZoom ( http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/30591 ).

I never really noticed Safari's lack of a new tab button, but like most OSX applications you can right click on the toolbar, select customize, and put a new tab button wherever you want on the toolbar.

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I can help you with a few of those. Mainly the buttons (these will work in Windows, too):

Fn + right arrow key = end

Fn + left arrow key = home

Fn + up arrow key = page up

Fn + down arrow key = page down

Fn + delete = forward delete

As for the rest, it's a choice. Personally, I find the icons on the dock much more distinguishable than on Windows, as the titles come up immediately when you hover over them, and you can make them a lot bigger than on Windows if you want. I can't stand Windows' font rendering after using OS X.

There is an app to change the tracking on the trackpad, speed-wise. Besides some speed problems, I've found it to be the best trackpad I've used, with all the multi touch stuff.

Finally, while I agree on the issue of DPI text size (OS X is almost resolution independent, and so in the future expect to have everything resized very nicely), you can zoom in on the screen by using control + a 2 finger scroll.

As with any OS, you can make it work the way you want with a bit of effort. And I highly recommend VMware or Parallels for using Windows inside OS X, you can even use your boot camp install inside a virtual machine.

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I agree with you 100%. I like OS X (and use it on my MBP and Hackintosh) but it's not perfect like Apple "aficionados" (ahem) say. IMO the Dock is inferior to Windows 7's superbar in every way imaginable. I have some more gripes too: the Finder is pretty limited on functionality, uninstalling applications is pretty inconsistent (some you can just move to thrash, some you have to go BACK TO THE INSTALL package and find a Uninstall script), Quartz is very unreliable under certain scenarios, Apple's implementation of VSync is absolutely ridiculous, and I hate how jagged the windows' edges are when you minimize or restore them to the dock, etc. Plug in an external mouse and watch how OS X accelerates it. It's like there's an alien using your mouse along with you. Thank God for USB Overdrive .

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I realize most of my initial reactions are due to my familiarity with Windows - and I posted them partially to bring up the kinds of things a Windows user would first run into when using a Mac, but there are a few things I find inexcusable:

1. Text rendering. It's just so blurry

2. No DPI adjustment - I'd have to lower my resolution to get OS-wide size adjustment...which seems so last decade.

3. I get the idea of zoom vs maximize, but seriously, when I don't have a 30-inch screen, I want to be able to quickly take advantage of what screen space I do have!

4. It may just be my Windows-user-ness coming out again, but the dock really seems inferior to the superbar - sure it's better than pre-Win7's taskbar, but I seriously miss aero-peek!

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4. It may just be my Windows-user-ness coming out again, but the dock really seems inferior to the superbar - sure it's better than pre-Win7's taskbar, but I seriously miss aero-peek!

For application switching use Expose, it sounds like the functionality you're looking for. Swipe down with four fingers on the touchpad. You might have to enable it in trackpad preferences first.

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Yeah, the superbar is better, I'll give you that. Clarity wise, however, the icons in the dock have it (in my opinion, anyway). Aero peek is an awesome feature on Windows, as are jumplists. The superbar is well done, generally.

Also, I think you can maximize if you hold alt while you click the green/zoom button.

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1. Text rendering. It's just so blurry

And I think ClearType is horrible (and most typographers would probably agree with me). Just a personal preference. However, I like my text rendering engine to actually keep elements of the fonts. ClearType will sometimes just throw out portions of a letter on certain fonts.

2. No DPI adjustment - I'd have to lower my resolution to get OS-wide size adjustment...which seems so last decade.

I don't have a problem with the high-DPI monitors, but OS X is very close to resolution independence.

3. I get the idea of zoom vs maximize, but seriously, when I don't have a 30-inch screen, I want to be able to quickly take advantage of what screen space I do have!

You have a 1920x1200 17" screen. That's pretty big. :p

4. It may just be my Windows-user-ness coming out again, but the dock really seems inferior to the superbar - sure it's better than pre-Win7's taskbar, but I seriously miss aero-peek!

Expos?: What Aero Peek wishes it was. :p

Also, I think you can maximize if you hold alt while you click the green/zoom button.

Actually, that does something kinda funny. :p It zooms the other windows that open in that application (at least that's what it's doing in Safari; my Downloads window is jumping around right now :p). Unless you're in iTunes. Then it maximizes the iTunes window.

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Actually, that does something kinda funny. :p It zooms the other windows that open in that application (at least that's what it's doing in Safari; my Downloads window is jumping around right now :p). Unless you're in iTunes. Then it maximizes the iTunes window.

Yeah, been messing with it a bit since posting, and the behavior is quite inconsistent. Got a feeling it might be a bug.

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this post is probably gonna start a fight but your complaints are extremely petty imo, if you just searched a little instead of bashing OSX you would see there's actually a fix for the home/end keys (http://www.starryhope.com/tech/apple/2006/keyfixer/). I was a windows user for 20 years and other than gaming, OSX is just as good as windows. i would recommend giving it a chance before ranting and raving about how windows is so much better and everyone should stay away from OSX. my 2 cents.

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It's not even worth my time responding haha. Especially when safari CLEARLY does have a new tab button right on it... I'm looking at it right now.

Are you using an uncustomized version of Safari on a clean install of Snow Leopard? There's a new tab button but it only shows up once you have at least two tabs open.

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For application switching use Expose, it sounds like the functionality you're looking for. Swipe down with four fingers on the touchpad. You might have to enable it in trackpad preferences first.

Except that Expose sorta breaks down when you get lots of windows open. For example, I typically have 25 windows open at any given time in Windows. Of course, I guess I won't have as much open in OSX, since most of what I do won't run on it... :-P

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One more thing...why in the world do I have to go to a menu to close an application? Am I missing something?

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One more thing...why in the world do I have to go to a menu to close an application? Am I missing something?

Yeah, I'm afraid you're gonna have to get used to Command + Q.

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So basically... You don't like Mac OS X because it's not Windows? Then why did you bother to buy a MacBook Pro in the first place?

Mac OS X couldn't be better or worse than Windows unless it was different than Windows. This is the same problem people have with Linux... They expect Linux to be different, and yet don't like the fact that "it's not Windows."

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Yeah, I'm afraid you're gonna have to get used to Command + Q.

Another key combo - I like keyboard shortcuts, but it seems like they're more of a primary means of using the computer with Mac OS rather than a shortcut. I've also noticed it's pretty inconsistent about closing windows vs closing apps. Some apps do close when you close all the associated windows, others don't. And the "zoom" button (the green +) seems just as inconsistent. For example, in iTunes hitting the + actually makes the window smaller half the time (it toggles mini view).

So basically... You don't like Mac OS X because it's not Windows? Then why did you bother to buy a MacBook Pro in the first place?

Mac OS X couldn't be better or worse than Windows unless it was different than Windows. This is the same problem people have with Linux... They expect Linux to be different, and yet don't like the fact that "it's not Windows."

First off, I didn't buy it - I have to use it for work because I'm going to be writing iPhone apps for my company. Second, I was kind of looking forward to seeing what all the hype around Mac OS was about, and was disappointed when I found an OS that is just as full of quirks, inconsistencies, and non-intuitive UI hoops to jump through as Windows and Linux. Mac OS is commonly touted as being "better," than the others and is marketed and sold (and priced) as being a "premium" platform. So yes, I'm more critical of it, and I don't have a problem with pointing out differences in usability between it and Windows, such as how when you click in the address bar in Safari it doesn't select the entire URL, forcing you to drag across or press Command+A to type in a new address.

At least now when people try to tell me how much better Mac OS is than Windows I can speak from experience and simply reply "whatever, it's just another OS"

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A few hours using an OS doesn't mean you can say that :p

I understand that you're having some problems with it, but you don't really have an open mind about it either.

The apps that close automatically are the ones that are single window with no background function. A browser, as a multi-window application, will stay open when you close a window, while a wizard, like a setup application or PwnageTool for jailbreaking iPhones/Pods will close automatically. Pretty consistent, imo, but the zoom button is very inconsistent.

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when you click in the address bar in Safari it doesn't select the entire URL, forcing you to drag across or press Command+A to type in a new address.

Click three times to select all. I just checked and its the same with Chrome on Windows.

To use Expose on a single application (like hovering over an icon in the superbar), click and hold on the application icon for a second.

I will give you that OSX isn't always intuitive, but it is generally consistent. Keyboard commands are generally used more often but they are generally the same across the board as you would expect. Most applications use a similar toolbar and all applications have a similar menu that's always in the same place.

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Except that Expose sorta breaks down when you get lots of windows open. For example, I typically have 25 windows open at any given time in Windows. Of course, I guess I won't have as much open in OSX, since most of what I do won't run on it... :-P

To get Aero Peek-like functionality, click and hold on an application in the Dock. Voila. You can also engage Expos? and then click an icon on the Dock. It'll do the same thing.

So yes, I'm more critical of it, and I don't have a problem with pointing out differences in usability between it and Windows, such as how when you click in the address bar in Safari it doesn't select the entire URL, forcing you to drag across or press Command+A to type in a new address.

And there are other browsers (on Windows BTW) that behave the same way. Quick way to get to the URL bar and highlight all the text in it: Command + L.

I find OS X highly intuitive, but I've been using it for about 7 years now. For me, things just work in OS X. I went from Windows XP to Jaguar and had no problem adjusting.

Another thing I love about OS X is that it has so many little fun/useful surprises that users will stumble across every once in a while. For instance, I remember back when they introduced Tiger and people found out that you could hover over a word on a page or in a document, press Control + Command + D, and get the definition for that word right on the spot. It's things like that that make me love this OS. It wasn't an advertised feature, but I find it incredibly handy.

The OS can be a little inconsistent from time to time, but I've found far more inconsistencies in Windows and Linux than I've ever found in OS X.

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