By default, it did on mine too (I’ve disabled it in the System Prefs->Keyboard menu), or you can use the F keys by pressing “Function+F key” on most keyboards.
Yes. You want to look for a key labeled “fn.” Depending on the keyboard, this may be at the very lower left corner or it may be under the F13 key (if it exists). Press the fn-key and F11 together to get the F11 window-hiding behavior we’re talking about.
I normally have the function keys set the other way around (as Todderbob does), preferring them to behave as function keys and only access things like volume, screen brightness, etc., through the fn+function key combination.
Usually, you can just type “Command” + [the first letter of the button you want]. Also, “Command + .” always means “Cancel”.
Not worth learning at this point, but could be useful for people who used Unix machines back in the 80s and 90s and have the commands burned into their neural pathways. However, admins, geeks and embedded software people sometimes have no way in other than through a serial port. (I might be even geekier than that, since some stubborn part of my brain still thinks that “printf” statements are for pussies who don’t know how to use bus monitors.)
Also, the “esc” key is usually mapped to the “Cancel” button (and is slightly easier to type).
Yes, right clicking anywhere on the bottom border (except where there’s an icon or minimized window) brings up a menu from which you can then choose (with one keystroke) to bring up the desktop.
OK, I’ll try that command+first letter next time it comes up. I usually use escape for cancel, though.
Oh, you mean the taskbar. I misunderstood.
What you want is there, but sort of hidden, and most Mac people don’t use it, so they don’t know about it.
If you open the Keyboard System Preferences (The Macintosh name for “Control Panels”), there’s a Keyboard Shortcut tab on top. This will give you two fields, one on the left and one on the right. The field in the left lists various parts of the OS and the field on the right lists the keyboard shortcuts for those.
Select the Keyboard & Text Input entry on the left side. On the right, you’ll see all the keyboard shortcuts for that entry. One is Move focus to the Menu bar, by default, it’s Cntl-F2. When you press this key, it’ll highlight the Apple menu. Use the left and right cursor keys to move it to the menu you want to highlight, or press the first letter of the menu name. If there are multiple menu names with the same letter, simply press the key multiple times to get to the right one.
Press the down cursor key to open the menu and select the item from that menu. Again, you can press the first letter of the menu item to select that menu item. Again, you can press the letter multiple times.
You’ll also notice an entry for Move the Focus to the Dock. Press this key combination (usually Cntl-F3) will highlight the first item on your dock. You can use the cursor keys, or again type the first letter of the name of the program. Warning, the name might not be what you think. For example, pressing “C” doesn’t highlight the program Chrome on my dock because the program’s name is Google Chrome.
When I had a Mac desktop, I use to use this all the time because it kept my hands on the keyboard, but now that I’ve got a MacBook, I find using the trackpad to be very convenient. I especially like the multitouch capability.
The best way to open a program is to use Searchlight. The standard keyboard shortcut for Searchlight is Cmd-Spacebar. Type in the name of the program, and press Return.
There is no built in way to “maximize” or minimize" a window like you have in Windows. However, you can get QuickSilver to add this functionality.
It’s Spotlight.
and cmd-m minimizes windows.
Speaking of showing the desktop by hiding all windows, I assign that command to the upper right corner of the screen. Most of the time that I want to see the desktop, I need access to the icons that are in the upper right quadrant, so my mouse cursor is going in that direction anyway. I’ve built up my hand-eye-mouse coordination to do a little diagonal flick to that corner, then back off a touch, which hovers my cursor right over the hard drive icon.
Since we are talking about Macs, and the OP’s questions have been answered, for the most part, I have one little rant. My boss is a Mac guy, and one of our two computers at work is an iMac. He clicks the mouse with both fingers, so we can’t set it up for a two-button mouse (confuses and infuriates him). I’ve trained my self to use control-click when needed, but now at home I find myself control-right-clicking for no reason. I wish he would learn to right click like a normal person! Damn Apple for taking so long to get on the 2-button mouse bandwagon.
I don’t know when two button mice were first supported on Macs, but I’ve had them on my Macs for over a decade. Your boss is WAY behind the times!
Yeah, same here.
The Mighty Mouse, in '06, was apples first two button mouse, but other (USB) mice have supported 2-buttoning since at least '02.
Tell your boss to suck it up, or set up a 2nd user account for her with right click disabled?
I haven’t actually used an Apple-brand mouse since sometime in the 90’s. Even the Mighty Mouse (a cool product, indeed) doesn’t work for me, because I have gotten used to being able to click left and right buttons at the same time, which you can’t do on a Mighty Mouse.
I loathe the Mighty Mouse. It looks pretty, but that damn trackball thingy gets loaded up with gunk, and it’s an ergonomic nightmare. It hurts (at least it hurts me) to use this mouse for any extended period of time.
I have that problem with most mice, because they’re “one size fits all.” I’m a big guy with big hands (most XL gloves are too small for me), and I get cramps using mice. That’s one of the reasons I like keyboard shortcuts so much!
While we’re at it, is there any way using a keyboard and/or touchpad to simulate a middle-click (like clicking the scrollwheel on a normal mouse)? If I had that, I’d hardly ever have to use a separate mouse-- The multitouch features on the pad are just so handy.