Switching to MacBook Pro part 3 - Using the computer

This is part three in a series about switching from PC to MacBook. You can also read part 1 and part 2.

Usability

After going through some settings on the MacBook I have to say they have really succeeded i usability. When dealing with the settings for the mouse pad there is a short instruction video that describes each setting and how it affects the using of the mouse pad. Really good.

Using the mouse pad is also a real delight after going through the different settings. Switching programs and getting an overview is real good with four fingers on the pad and so on. This is one thing I really like about the MacBook. The mouse pad knows how many fingers you are using on the pad and can change how it works depending on this. For instance drawing one finger from top to bottom moves the pointer across the screen. Using two fingers for the same action scrolls the screen. Three fingers can switch between different images (when applicable) and four fingers gives an overview of all programs. Quite useful.

Since I'm writing this post in the evening I just noticed that the keyboard lights up nicely. Didn't notice it before in full light. I don't know how many times I have used a computer in a dark environment and I'm constantly forced to pull the screen down in order to light up the keyboard to see what I'm writing. Now it's all built in to the computer. Thank you very much.

Another thing about the light is that when you turn of all lights the screen automatically decreases its light, not to create to great a contrast. Pretty good stuff. How come I haven't had this before on a computer?

I have always been fond of shortcuts on the computer. I use them all the time for copying, pasting, switching programs, opening file explorer, closing windows and so on. Especially when using a laptop with no external keyboard and mouse. A lot of them seem to work on the Mac too, just by switching to the Apple key instead of the alt key. But not all of them. As soon as I get hold of a good Internet connection I'll try to find a chart over all keyboard shortcuts for a Mac. I just can't live without them.

Confusions

One thing that confused me in the beginning was the fact that all menus for each program is located not within the actual program window itself but at the top. This means that the top menu is specific for each program. This takes a bit of getting used to. For instance in iTunes, that I have been using on my PC too the menu bar is located at the top. When opening iTunes for the first time on the Mac I just couldn't find the menu to make my settings and so on. I started looking in the complete wrong place. After a while I noticed my mistake and felt quite dumb. It just takes a bit of getting used to.

Did I break it

When putting a CD in the drive my first thought was that it broke. I had the computer in my lap and the way it felt and the sound made me feel that it all broke. But everything was working fine. A bit scary though.