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is there a Windows UI design spec?

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How does one use a Mac to connect to a Windows share on the LAN?

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Crap, when I work in Photoshop, I've got one hand on the mouse and the other flying across the keyboard. As if Windows doesn't have enough shortcuts, Photoshop multiplies it by 100. My traditional hand-stance is the three fingered jockey on the Shift+Ctrl+Alt buttons.

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Also, feel free to blame the designers of the IBM PC-AT for putting your Control key in an awkward location.

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Most of them probably also use Ctrl-W, but I think that's a more recent one popularized by Netscape, honestly.

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My other Windows to Mac switcher tip is to drag the Applications folder to right side of the dock. Then you can hold a left click on the folder (or right click if you're using a real mouse) and get a Windows Start menu like launcher for your apps. You'll have to grab the Apps folder from the "Machintosh HD" root, not the alias in the left Finder pane.

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right or control click a form, go to Spelling, and turn on "Check Spelling as You Type".

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Now, another macnewbie question. In Windows you press ALT plus a letter to select a menu item. I can't seem to get the menu items on the mac to be keyboard-selectable like that. Do I have to use the mouse for all menus?

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Too bad that new fancy mouse doesn't have a wireless option yet.

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I can't seem to get the menu items on the mac to be keyboard-selectable like that. Do I have to use the mouse for all menus?

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System Preferences, Keyboard and Mouse, Keyboard Shortcuts. There, I see "Move Focus to the Menu Bar" defaulted to Ctrl-F2. Once thats selected, arrow keys work to navigate all the menus.

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Command-K... I may have already said this here (I said it in some forum) but I think long time Mac users have a special part of their brain that remembers arcane keystroke combinations.

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And on the Mac the shortcut to rename a file or folder is Return/Enter. Which I'd prefer would allow me to launch instead of having to use cmd-O for Open.

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So no, there is almost no time that I've gone to a directory by mouse and would find it more convenient to press enter/return than use my left hand to press the F2 key.

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Well, no, but if you're seriously going to rename a file using only your left hand, then you're probably not in much of a rush to begin with.

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Personally, I find that all GUI-based systems are easy to use for beginners but difficult to use for experts.

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There's no keyboard shortcut in Windows for creating a new folder.

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instead of having to use cmd-O for Open.

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So Tony, how is the video playback now that you've set everything up?

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I'm still interested in trying out Macs, but unfortunately not interested enough to spend the money that would otherwise go towards new components for a new PC. For the amount I'd spend on a mini, I'd be able to buy the Shuttle and CPU that I want, and have a little left over for the video card.

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with how Windows operates, it would still be an unintiutive action for the enter key, which is generally used to perform actions, usually the same actions as the left mouse button. switching up the use of the key would be confusing. F2, on the other hand, is used in many applications as a rename key (I use it in Excel all the time).

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with how Windows operates, it would still be an unintiutive action for the enter key, which is generally used to perform actions, usually the same actions as the left mouse button. switching up the use of the key would be confusing. F2, on the other hand, is used in many applications as a rename key (I use it in Excel all the time).

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Apple shortcuts are unintuitive because someone else does it differently? I can understand the argument that it would be difficult for you to transistion, but claiming that they're inherently unintuitive is disingenuous.

That's not what I said. At least, that's not what I meant. I appologize, I'm not getting enough sleep this week and I can't seem to get my thoughts out straight.

Forget any comparing to Windows. My complaint, in this specific instance, was that the behavior of the enter key as the keystroke for renaming a file is unintuitive. However, I have a question: is it generally the case that, in the rest of the OS, the enter key is used to rename items? If that is not the case, then I find this to be a poor use for that key. If the same key performs completely unrelated actions depending on the context, I find that unintuitive. But remember, I'm only talking about this one key, and just on MacOS. I am not saying that the entire OS is unintuitive. I'm certainly not saying that there is no unintuitive behavior on a Windows OS (that would be impossible to claim).

So that's enough of this crazy debate over a tiny thing like how the enter key behaves. I appologize for going all crazy on it. It's just that I generally pride myself in at least being able to get around Windows quicker than most (my boss and coworkers are always pretty impressed), so little things like shortcuts and keyboard actions are extremely important to me.

THAT SAID...

Tom, thank you very much for informing me of that Mac Mini trial. You are correct, no amount of convincing here could make me interested in a Mac because I'm actually already interested! Really, I am! If it weren't for the money issue, this program probably would have tipped me over the edge already.

The problem is, even after a trial, I still wouldn't be able to justify the expense. I don't have much money to spend on something like this right now. I'm saving up to buy an apartment, and any disposable income goes to either my social life or tech stuff that I see an immediate need for. Therefore, my next PC purchase will remain a PC, as it is more cost effective. I can update my computer now for FAR less money than buying a whole new compareable Mac.

Again, sorry for all the annoying posts about enter keys