So I got my first Macbook

Hi guys. So I got my first back for my Mom and it is great. I have been a windows user and it is truly awesome how simple and fun the mac os is.

I just have one question which is driving me crazy. How come when I try to maximize Safari to browse the internet it never truly maximizes. It sorta stays as a square in the middle. The screen isn't the biggest as it is, so I would like to actually have a maximized web page...

Also I have noticed that some applications after I run them and close them are still "running" in the background because a black arrow is still beneath it on the dock. I would really appreciate if you guys could help me out with this.

 

Well, the way to maximize Safari is drag the bottom right corner outwards, to enlarge the window. Just drag it until it reaches full screen. There's no other way, unfortunately.

In Mac OS X, pressing the "X" button doesn't quit the application, it just closes the window. You can get used to the habit of Apple/Command+Q instead of pressing the X button, as that will actually quit the application .

 

The plus in Safari maximizes it according to the native proportions of the site you are viewing. If you want to fill the screen, click and hold on the bottom right corner and make it bigger to your liking.

As for the programs: in OS X most programs do not close (some do if they were made to be like that) if you simply just close the current window of it you were viewing. If you want to exit a program simply press Command+Q or go to the dock, click and hold (or right click) on the programs icon, and go to Quit.

EDIT: gah! Sam beat me to it.

 

Making Safari even bigger you might want to shrink the Dock or hide it as the Safari window will only vertically extend to the top of the dock.

 

aghh that's annoying with the safari but oh well. Do you guys usually hide the dock or leave it on? I think from most macbooks I've seen I always see the dock visible. Any suggestions?

Also if clicking the "x" doesn't really close the program then whats the point of minimizing? Also is it "normal" to have programs running? Wouldn't that eat up memory? I have 2 gigs on this macbook.
Lastly, there is no right click, only one button. Or am I missing something? And anyone know how to enable the touch pad to actually click when it gets tapped?

Thanks everyone for your help. This forum is great.

Oh and P.S. How long should the battery last on this baby? Let's say with average surfing and also a value if I were to watch a divx movie? TIA

 

X has a point since it closes the window. Say you have a bunch of documents on TextEdit open.... closing them will close the window, however if you look up at the bar you're still in TextEdit so you still have access to all the options for it at the top. It does eat up memory, depending on what program it is. Usually if you're not using it it's a good idea to close it. The point of minimizing is in itself obvious: to get windows out of the way and into the dock.

For the clicks, go to the Apple -> system preferences -> mice and keyboards -> trackpad. You can also set it so tapping with 2 fingers = right click. Holding down control and clicking is also a right click.

As for the dock, I leave it on the left side, since the background for it becomes dark and the light circles are easier to see. I keep it hidden since I like working with the largest amount of screen possible, and don't want the dock to get in my way.

 

For the dock, that's your own preference, there's no right or wrong . I leave it hidden, as it wastes space for Safari and other stuff when I don't need it.

I suggest you read the Mac Switcher's Guide I compiled a while ago, it answers quite a lot of the questions you have .

And expect about 3 hours if you watch a video while surfing the internet.

 

congratulation!! The Macbook is very nice!! Have a good time!!

 

congratulations! i'm getting one next month, either the blackbook or 15" MBP

 

Congrats on getting the MacBook
Be sure to read Sam's guide...

 

Congrats on the macbook! I used to have a white one, awesome laptop.

I keep my dock visible always, either on the bottom of on the right side depending on how I feel that day , but when I had the macbook I would keep it hidden more often since there was less screen resolution, not so much of a problem with my current mbp.

As for the battery, expect at least 3 hours, like sam said, if you want to make that a bit longer you can turn off bluetooth and lower your screen brightness a bit.

 

Congrats on the macbook. I would just dump Safari and use Firefox instead. I use Firefox on all of my Windows, OS X, Linux, and Unix machines.