Is it just me or is does is Windows so retarded that it treats users as retarded?
November 29, 2006 7:12 AM Subscribe
Windows questions from a Mac person using now using Windows regularly who doesn't understand some concepts/uses.
One question (at the end) asks you to rate a specific Windows workstation for use in Design & Production.
RSS Readers for Windows? Something comparable to Netnewswire that is free.
Suggestions for a Recent file/document extension? Something that'll quickly go to recent files or folders that I've been to, SYSTEM wide, as opposed on a per application baisis. In XP, the "My Recent Documents" button defaults to placing the most recent at the bottom of the list, when I want it at the top
Net downloads. I use Firefox yet ALL of my internet downloads seem to go into the temp folder, unless I specifically tell Firefox otherwise for each and every download. Is there a way to get around fix this so that every download automatically goes into a preselected folder of my choosing?
How does user acces the temp folder that has all these downloads in it?
Windows wants to organize things in list view via files and folders, i.e. files are grouped together and so are folders. Is there a way to list them mixed together alphabetically,?
Why do the icons in the bottom right hand corner vary? Sometimes an application's icon is in there, sometimes it isn't, sometimes the volume button is there, sometimes it isn't. It's insane.
How can I get Windows to default to using Thunderbird as my email client i.e., when I click on an email link, Outlook opens instead of T-bird.
Screen shots: is there a way to force Windows to save screenshots as a file? The current method of placing a screenshot on the pasteboard isn't efficient for taking multiple screenshots in close succession.
Please tell me there's a way to get rid of the greybackground in application windows i.e., when I have an application open, but no documents open, there's an extremely annoying grey screen that prevents me from seeing the desktop. Can I make this useless green screen go away?
Would you rate a Dell Optiplex GX620 with 2 gigs of ram and 256 meg radeo video and 80 gigs as a good Design/Production machine? The damn thing seems to get slower and slower when used throughout the day without restarting.
RSS Readers for Windows? Something comparable to Netnewswire that is free.
Suggestions for a Recent file/document extension? Something that'll quickly go to recent files or folders that I've been to, SYSTEM wide, as opposed on a per application baisis. In XP, the "My Recent Documents" button defaults to placing the most recent at the bottom of the list, when I want it at the top
Net downloads. I use Firefox yet ALL of my internet downloads seem to go into the temp folder, unless I specifically tell Firefox otherwise for each and every download. Is there a way to get around fix this so that every download automatically goes into a preselected folder of my choosing?
How does user acces the temp folder that has all these downloads in it?
Windows wants to organize things in list view via files and folders, i.e. files are grouped together and so are folders. Is there a way to list them mixed together alphabetically,?
Why do the icons in the bottom right hand corner vary? Sometimes an application's icon is in there, sometimes it isn't, sometimes the volume button is there, sometimes it isn't. It's insane.
How can I get Windows to default to using Thunderbird as my email client i.e., when I click on an email link, Outlook opens instead of T-bird.
Screen shots: is there a way to force Windows to save screenshots as a file? The current method of placing a screenshot on the pasteboard isn't efficient for taking multiple screenshots in close succession.
Please tell me there's a way to get rid of the greybackground in application windows i.e., when I have an application open, but no documents open, there's an extremely annoying grey screen that prevents me from seeing the desktop. Can I make this useless green screen go away?
Would you rate a Dell Optiplex GX620 with 2 gigs of ram and 256 meg radeo video and 80 gigs as a good Design/Production machine? The damn thing seems to get slower and slower when used throughout the day without restarting.
To get rid of the greybackground when a document isn't open, click on the icon that looks like this: "_" in the top right hand corner of the window. I don't know if there's a way to "auto-minimize" those windows when a specific document is closed.
posted by muddgirl at 7:22 AM on November 29, 2006
posted by muddgirl at 7:22 AM on November 29, 2006
For Thunderbird: Click on Tools > Options > General. Make sure the "Make Thunderbird the default application for: Mail" is checked. You should be tooddling around in the options menus of every application you download.
posted by muddgirl at 7:24 AM on November 29, 2006
posted by muddgirl at 7:24 AM on November 29, 2006
1) RSS reader: since you use firefox, I suggest Sage (if you are using firefox2.0 press ALT+Z). Otherwise, google reader is ok.
2) not sure.
3) Downloading to specific folder in firefox: Tools > Options > Main. Specifiy which folder you would like your downloads to go to.
4) Temp folder: I'll assume you are using WinXP. You might need to set your folder options to "show hidden files or folders" (open up a window tools > folder options > View and turn that option on. Then go to C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Local Settings and choose the Temp folder.
5) You can arrange a folder's contents by going to your View menu in any window. You can have it show Thumbnails, tiles, icons, list, etc., and Arrange Icons By. Not sure how to have it mix them though.
6) dunno! that sucks, maybe someone else can help with that one. Though that is your task tray and icons appear (i think) in order as the application loads.
7) You can do this through Thunderbird's settings. Tools > Options > General and select make this my default for Mail.
...ok that's enough for me. I think most of these things you could have figured out on your own, even from a "mac person".
posted by freudianslipper at 7:31 AM on November 29, 2006
2) not sure.
3) Downloading to specific folder in firefox: Tools > Options > Main. Specifiy which folder you would like your downloads to go to.
4) Temp folder: I'll assume you are using WinXP. You might need to set your folder options to "show hidden files or folders" (open up a window tools > folder options > View and turn that option on. Then go to C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Local Settings and choose the Temp folder.
5) You can arrange a folder's contents by going to your View menu in any window. You can have it show Thumbnails, tiles, icons, list, etc., and Arrange Icons By. Not sure how to have it mix them though.
6) dunno! that sucks, maybe someone else can help with that one. Though that is your task tray and icons appear (i think) in order as the application loads.
7) You can do this through Thunderbird's settings. Tools > Options > General and select make this my default for Mail.
...ok that's enough for me. I think most of these things you could have figured out on your own, even from a "mac person".
posted by freudianslipper at 7:31 AM on November 29, 2006
Can I make this useless green screen go away?
You press the X in the corner and close the application. That's the "Windows way", which is different from the "Mac way". If you really don't want to close it for some reason, you should have a button in the Quick Launch toolbar that is called "Show Desktop", that will do just that when you need to see the desktop.
Why do the icons in the bottom right hand corner vary?
Probably because you have the "Hide Inactive Icons" option turned on. You can disable the option by right clicking on the clock, and selecting properties. There's also a Customize option for that, that gives you complete control over what is shown or not.
posted by smackfu at 7:37 AM on November 29, 2006
You press the X in the corner and close the application. That's the "Windows way", which is different from the "Mac way". If you really don't want to close it for some reason, you should have a button in the Quick Launch toolbar that is called "Show Desktop", that will do just that when you need to see the desktop.
Why do the icons in the bottom right hand corner vary?
Probably because you have the "Hide Inactive Icons" option turned on. You can disable the option by right clicking on the clock, and selecting properties. There's also a Customize option for that, that gives you complete control over what is shown or not.
posted by smackfu at 7:37 AM on November 29, 2006
you should have a button in the Quick Launch toolbar that is called "Show Desktop", that will do just that when you need to see the desktop.
Or, you can hit "Windows Key"+D (the windows key is usually between Ctrl and Alt - it looks like the microsoft windows logo).
posted by muddgirl at 7:41 AM on November 29, 2006
Or, you can hit "Windows Key"+D (the windows key is usually between Ctrl and Alt - it looks like the microsoft windows logo).
posted by muddgirl at 7:41 AM on November 29, 2006
Response by poster:
3) Downloading to specific folder in firefox: Tools > Options > Main. Specifiy which folder you would like your downloads to go to.
Yeah, i have it set that way, it's BEEN set that way (to go to folder called Downloads on my desktop), it still doesn't work. Stuff still goes to the temp folder, unless I specifically right click on the link, and manually chose were to save it.
7) You can do this through Thunderbird's settings. Tools > Options > General and select make this my default for Mail.
Yeah, I have it set that way, it's BEEN set that way, but when I click on an email link in Firefox or IE, Microsoft Office Word 2003 opens instead.
5) You can arrange a folder's contents by going to your View menu in any window. You can have it show Thumbnails, tiles, icons, list, etc., and Arrange Icons By. Not sure how to have it mix them though.
Yeah, I know that but it doesn't answer the question.
I think most of these things you could have figured out on your own, even from a "mac person".
This comment wasn't needed.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:21 AM on November 29, 2006
3) Downloading to specific folder in firefox: Tools > Options > Main. Specifiy which folder you would like your downloads to go to.
Yeah, i have it set that way, it's BEEN set that way (to go to folder called Downloads on my desktop), it still doesn't work. Stuff still goes to the temp folder, unless I specifically right click on the link, and manually chose were to save it.
7) You can do this through Thunderbird's settings. Tools > Options > General and select make this my default for Mail.
Yeah, I have it set that way, it's BEEN set that way, but when I click on an email link in Firefox or IE, Microsoft Office Word 2003 opens instead.
5) You can arrange a folder's contents by going to your View menu in any window. You can have it show Thumbnails, tiles, icons, list, etc., and Arrange Icons By. Not sure how to have it mix them though.
Yeah, I know that but it doesn't answer the question.
I think most of these things you could have figured out on your own, even from a "mac person".
This comment wasn't needed.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:21 AM on November 29, 2006
Email client:
Start-->All Programs-->Set Program Access and Defaults
posted by mrbugsentry at 8:28 AM on November 29, 2006
Start-->All Programs-->Set Program Access and Defaults
posted by mrbugsentry at 8:28 AM on November 29, 2006
Response by poster: Email client:
Start-->All Programs-->Set Program Access and Defaults
Ok, under Choose Email program, I only have two options:
Use my current email program (wich IS selected)
or
Outlook Express.
I tried to change or add a new program from Set Program Access and Defaults, but it recognizes that T-bird is already installed.
I have T-bird set as my default mail app and it checks to make sure that it IS the default app every time it starts up, but email links STILL open in Word 2003.
Any other suggestions for making email links open in T-bird.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:38 AM on November 29, 2006
Start-->All Programs-->Set Program Access and Defaults
Ok, under Choose Email program, I only have two options:
Use my current email program (wich IS selected)
or
Outlook Express.
I tried to change or add a new program from Set Program Access and Defaults, but it recognizes that T-bird is already installed.
I have T-bird set as my default mail app and it checks to make sure that it IS the default app every time it starts up, but email links STILL open in Word 2003.
Any other suggestions for making email links open in T-bird.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:38 AM on November 29, 2006
Thunderbird - Try looking under Control Panel->Internet Options->Programs Tab . This is the same dialog that you get, by the way, from opening IE and going to Tools->Options. You should be able to set mail apps there.
For the Temp folder - A quick and easy way to access this is to go Start->Run (or Win+R) and type %temp% then hit OK (or enter) .
posted by stovenator at 8:55 AM on November 29, 2006
For the Temp folder - A quick and easy way to access this is to go Start->Run (or Win+R) and type %temp% then hit OK (or enter) .
posted by stovenator at 8:55 AM on November 29, 2006
but email links STILL open in Word 2003.
You're saying, when you click on a mailto: link, Microsoft Office Word opens? That's odd. Do you mean Outlook? Because if Word is opening, you are having strange problems. Are you currently running antivirus and antispyware programs, that are scheduled to run once every day? (I like to set them at 3am)
posted by muddgirl at 9:34 AM on November 29, 2006
You're saying, when you click on a mailto: link, Microsoft Office Word opens? That's odd. Do you mean Outlook? Because if Word is opening, you are having strange problems. Are you currently running antivirus and antispyware programs, that are scheduled to run once every day? (I like to set them at 3am)
posted by muddgirl at 9:34 AM on November 29, 2006
Response by poster: Thunderbird - Try looking under Control Panel->Internet Options->Programs Tab
Ok, I looked there and it's saying that T-bird is the default for email and news. I tried restarting my computer, but the same thing still happens: I click on an email link in either Firefox or IE and Microsoft Word opens up.
That's odd. Do you mean Outlook?
The Dialog box says "Opening Microsoft Word 2003", though it does open in some sort of email interface. When I hit the close button, the box is titled Microsoft Word, says to "Do you want to save changes to "untitled message"?" and then thh email interface closes, and the usual Word interface is there. Maybe just the email interface is from Outlook, which is can exist inside Word?
Either way, clicking on email links is definitely opening up Word, just with an email interface for extra flavoring!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:54 AM on November 29, 2006
Ok, I looked there and it's saying that T-bird is the default for email and news. I tried restarting my computer, but the same thing still happens: I click on an email link in either Firefox or IE and Microsoft Word opens up.
That's odd. Do you mean Outlook?
The Dialog box says "Opening Microsoft Word 2003", though it does open in some sort of email interface. When I hit the close button, the box is titled Microsoft Word, says to "Do you want to save changes to "untitled message"?" and then thh email interface closes, and the usual Word interface is there. Maybe just the email interface is from Outlook, which is can exist inside Word?
Either way, clicking on email links is definitely opening up Word, just with an email interface for extra flavoring!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:54 AM on November 29, 2006
I think most of these things you could have figured out on your own, even from a "mac person".
This comment wasn't needed.
I'm not being snarky, just saying most of these are general things that apply to any OS, including OSX. And some aren't even OS questions.
You asked these general questions without much info. You never said what your settings were or what versions of windows you were even running. I answered most of your questions as they were presented. Sorry if they didn't work for you.
posted by freudianslipper at 10:15 AM on November 29, 2006
This comment wasn't needed.
I'm not being snarky, just saying most of these are general things that apply to any OS, including OSX. And some aren't even OS questions.
You asked these general questions without much info. You never said what your settings were or what versions of windows you were even running. I answered most of your questions as they were presented. Sorry if they didn't work for you.
posted by freudianslipper at 10:15 AM on November 29, 2006
Best answer: Yeah, i have it set that way, it's BEEN set that way (to go to folder called Downloads on my desktop), it still doesn't work. Stuff still goes to the temp folder, unless I specifically right click on the link, and manually chose were to save it.
Oh, I think I know what the problem is. When you click on a link to a file to download (just click, not right-click-save-as), does the file open automatically? This probably means that you somehow chose to automatically Open with... files that you download, instead of Save to Disk. When a file is automatically opened, the file is downloaded into a temp file and then opened in the chosen program. It sucks, I know. The cool thing about Firefox is that you can always choose to Save to Disk, then open the file from the Download Manager. There is a dialogue box where I can chose between these two options - I see this dialogue box every time I download a file, but you may have turned that option off somewhere. I'll try and find it.
posted by muddgirl at 10:21 AM on November 29, 2006
Oh, I think I know what the problem is. When you click on a link to a file to download (just click, not right-click-save-as), does the file open automatically? This probably means that you somehow chose to automatically Open with... files that you download, instead of Save to Disk. When a file is automatically opened, the file is downloaded into a temp file and then opened in the chosen program. It sucks, I know. The cool thing about Firefox is that you can always choose to Save to Disk, then open the file from the Download Manager. There is a dialogue box where I can chose between these two options - I see this dialogue box every time I download a file, but you may have turned that option off somewhere. I'll try and find it.
posted by muddgirl at 10:21 AM on November 29, 2006
The Dialog box says "Opening Microsoft Word 2003", though it does open in some sort of email interface.
That's Outlook opening Word for you, for use as the text editor when composing email. There's an option in Outlook to make it use it's own RTF editor instead.
So for the icons in the lower right.. that is the system tray. Programs can put an icon down there for easy access, alerts, etc. Windows will autohide icsons that don't get used much, this includes the very useful volume one. To see them all..
* right-click the Taskbar
* select Properties
* clear the check box Hide inactive icons
You can also hit Customize and select which icons to view/hide on an icon-per-icon basis.
posted by mattdini at 10:28 AM on November 29, 2006
That's Outlook opening Word for you, for use as the text editor when composing email. There's an option in Outlook to make it use it's own RTF editor instead.
So for the icons in the lower right.. that is the system tray. Programs can put an icon down there for easy access, alerts, etc. Windows will autohide icsons that don't get used much, this includes the very useful volume one. To see them all..
* right-click the Taskbar
* select Properties
* clear the check box Hide inactive icons
You can also hit Customize and select which icons to view/hide on an icon-per-icon basis.
posted by mattdini at 10:28 AM on November 29, 2006
Why do the icons in the bottom right hand corner vary? Sometimes an application's icon is in there, sometimes it isn't, sometimes the volume button is there, sometimes it isn't. It's insane.
Only specific applications will put icons in the bottom right corner. Not very many do. The volume button probably disappears because windows defaults to "hide inactive icons" in the notification area. Right click on the taskbar, select properties, uncheck that setting.
Windows wants to organize things in list view via files and folders, i.e. files are grouped together and so are folders. Is there a way to list them mixed together alphabetically,?
I've never seen any setting that lets you do this.
Would you rate a Dell Optiplex GX620 with 2 gigs of ram and 256 meg radeo video and 80 gigs as a good Design/Production machine? The damn thing seems to get slower and slower when used throughout the day without restarting.
That seems like a decent enough machine... I guess it comes down to how many apps you have open at a given time, and what apps you're using. I've found that when I leave Firefox open for a couple days with gmail in an open tab, it ends up taking up HUGE amounts of memory. Other apps can leak huge amounts of memory too, which is more to do with bad programming skills than anything to do with windows. You can see how much memory is in use by each process in the task manager... hit ctrl+shift+escape and go to the processes tab.
posted by antifuse at 11:22 AM on November 29, 2006
Only specific applications will put icons in the bottom right corner. Not very many do. The volume button probably disappears because windows defaults to "hide inactive icons" in the notification area. Right click on the taskbar, select properties, uncheck that setting.
Windows wants to organize things in list view via files and folders, i.e. files are grouped together and so are folders. Is there a way to list them mixed together alphabetically,?
I've never seen any setting that lets you do this.
Would you rate a Dell Optiplex GX620 with 2 gigs of ram and 256 meg radeo video and 80 gigs as a good Design/Production machine? The damn thing seems to get slower and slower when used throughout the day without restarting.
That seems like a decent enough machine... I guess it comes down to how many apps you have open at a given time, and what apps you're using. I've found that when I leave Firefox open for a couple days with gmail in an open tab, it ends up taking up HUGE amounts of memory. Other apps can leak huge amounts of memory too, which is more to do with bad programming skills than anything to do with windows. You can see how much memory is in use by each process in the task manager... hit ctrl+shift+escape and go to the processes tab.
posted by antifuse at 11:22 AM on November 29, 2006
For the email question, there is another potential answer. The email program selected in the Start Menu properties seems to trump other settings.
So, right-click the Start button and select Properties, select Start Menu, click Customize.
Then at the bottom of the dialog, under Show on Start Menu, check Email, and select your preferred email program.
You need to do this, even if you then uncheck the Email box so it doesn't show on the Start Menu.
Please let us know if it works.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 12:15 PM on November 29, 2006
So, right-click the Start button and select Properties, select Start Menu, click Customize.
Then at the bottom of the dialog, under Show on Start Menu, check Email, and select your preferred email program.
You need to do this, even if you then uncheck the Email box so it doesn't show on the Start Menu.
Please let us know if it works.
posted by blue_wardrobe at 12:15 PM on November 29, 2006
Screen shots: is there a way to force Windows to save screenshots as a file? The current method of placing a screenshot on the pasteboard isn't efficient for taking multiple screenshots in close succession.
For screenshots on Windows I use a free app called FastStone Capture which does exactly what you are asking for and more.
One of the most useful key commands you'll learn on Windows is "windows-d". It's similar to "windows-m" but a little different. Windows-D will hide EVERYTHING you have open and show you the desktop. Windows-M only minimizes open windows, so certain other windows will still be visible (for example, if you Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window open and you windows-m, you'll still see that window, whereas if you windows-d you'll see ONLY your desktop). I can't live without windows-d, and it is basically identical to "show desktop" button, but it's a key command.
Please tell me there's a way to get rid of the greybackground in application windows i.e., when I have an application open, but no documents open, there's an extremely annoying grey screen that prevents me from seeing the desktop. Can I make this useless green screen go away?
I have never tried getting rid of it, but only because I only have an application open when I have a document open. My only suggestion would be to minimize the app into the task bar. If you want that clean Macintosh leaving the app open but only the menu bar at the top, I think you're out of luck. (You'd be surprised that users going the other way, PC to Mac, have a tendency to end up with a LOT of applications open because they think if the windows are all closed then so are the applications).
posted by smallerdemon at 12:27 PM on November 29, 2006
For screenshots on Windows I use a free app called FastStone Capture which does exactly what you are asking for and more.
One of the most useful key commands you'll learn on Windows is "windows-d". It's similar to "windows-m" but a little different. Windows-D will hide EVERYTHING you have open and show you the desktop. Windows-M only minimizes open windows, so certain other windows will still be visible (for example, if you Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window open and you windows-m, you'll still see that window, whereas if you windows-d you'll see ONLY your desktop). I can't live without windows-d, and it is basically identical to "show desktop" button, but it's a key command.
Please tell me there's a way to get rid of the greybackground in application windows i.e., when I have an application open, but no documents open, there's an extremely annoying grey screen that prevents me from seeing the desktop. Can I make this useless green screen go away?
I have never tried getting rid of it, but only because I only have an application open when I have a document open. My only suggestion would be to minimize the app into the task bar. If you want that clean Macintosh leaving the app open but only the menu bar at the top, I think you're out of luck. (You'd be surprised that users going the other way, PC to Mac, have a tendency to end up with a LOT of applications open because they think if the windows are all closed then so are the applications).
posted by smallerdemon at 12:27 PM on November 29, 2006
Just in general: Yes, many of the things done by default in Windows are fairly stupid. Long-time Windows users generally learn quickly how to turn off, disable, work around, or grit teeth and live with these features. However, please understand that when long-time Windows users try to operate a Mac, there are many, many annoyances and seemingly stupid choices in that OS as well. Like having to hold down a key when clicking to bring up a context menu, for example.
Two things I can answer for you. First: "Annoying gray screen" in "empty" apps. This is the UI standard for Windows. Programs live in a window, like a mini-desktop. All child windows (toolbars, open files, etc.) should be contained within this window. When nothing is open you see the blank background of the main app window, and some default toolbars or menus. You can change the color of the screen, but you can't get rid of it (although you can minimize the program - [alt]+[space]+[n] for a quick keyboard shortcut). For a Mac user used to floating menus, windows, etc. with the desktop visible in between, yes, this may seem weird - but for a Windows user, trying to figure out which of the 13 visible panels is actually part of the program that currently has focus is a pain in the ass. Not to mention the accidental click "through" the program onto the desktop that unexpectedly takes focus away from the program.
Because of this UI design decision, I'd say close to 90% of Windows users typically run programs maximized to fill the whole screen to make room for everything inside the main window. Some programs (Adobe products for example) do have floating menus that can be moved out of the main window, but most can't. Try this for a bit - your Mac-trained self may become used to it or you may hate it.
Three more keyboard shortcuts that can help: To quickly hide it all and show what is on your desktop, [windows]+[d] will minimize all running windowed programs (or restore them to their previous unminimized state). For faster switching between programs, you can [alt]+[tab] or [ctrl]+[tab] to switch between child windows inside one app.
Second issue: Default programs. Yes, you can use the Windows "Set Program Access and Default" thing to do this, but remember that specific programs often have the ability to override these commands (so that, for example, Firefox can ask you during install if you wish to use it by default, and it can then override previous settings). Check your "Internet Options" (right-click on IE icon, choose "Properties" to access this quickly) and go to the "Programs" tab. Change anything that is not as you wish, and make sure the checkbox at the bottom is unchecked to prevent IE from changing this. Open Outlook, and tell it not to be the default mail program and not to check. Open Word, and in the "Web Options" settings tell it not to try to be the default editor for HTML. Stupid that you must do this, but there are so many ways one program can take things over that it is worth checking several places to be sure. As a last resort, uninstall Outlook if you don't use it.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:28 PM on November 29, 2006
Two things I can answer for you. First: "Annoying gray screen" in "empty" apps. This is the UI standard for Windows. Programs live in a window, like a mini-desktop. All child windows (toolbars, open files, etc.) should be contained within this window. When nothing is open you see the blank background of the main app window, and some default toolbars or menus. You can change the color of the screen, but you can't get rid of it (although you can minimize the program - [alt]+[space]+[n] for a quick keyboard shortcut). For a Mac user used to floating menus, windows, etc. with the desktop visible in between, yes, this may seem weird - but for a Windows user, trying to figure out which of the 13 visible panels is actually part of the program that currently has focus is a pain in the ass. Not to mention the accidental click "through" the program onto the desktop that unexpectedly takes focus away from the program.
Because of this UI design decision, I'd say close to 90% of Windows users typically run programs maximized to fill the whole screen to make room for everything inside the main window. Some programs (Adobe products for example) do have floating menus that can be moved out of the main window, but most can't. Try this for a bit - your Mac-trained self may become used to it or you may hate it.
Three more keyboard shortcuts that can help: To quickly hide it all and show what is on your desktop, [windows]+[d] will minimize all running windowed programs (or restore them to their previous unminimized state). For faster switching between programs, you can [alt]+[tab] or [ctrl]+[tab] to switch between child windows inside one app.
Second issue: Default programs. Yes, you can use the Windows "Set Program Access and Default" thing to do this, but remember that specific programs often have the ability to override these commands (so that, for example, Firefox can ask you during install if you wish to use it by default, and it can then override previous settings). Check your "Internet Options" (right-click on IE icon, choose "Properties" to access this quickly) and go to the "Programs" tab. Change anything that is not as you wish, and make sure the checkbox at the bottom is unchecked to prevent IE from changing this. Open Outlook, and tell it not to be the default mail program and not to check. Open Word, and in the "Web Options" settings tell it not to try to be the default editor for HTML. Stupid that you must do this, but there are so many ways one program can take things over that it is worth checking several places to be sure. As a last resort, uninstall Outlook if you don't use it.
posted by caution live frogs at 12:28 PM on November 29, 2006
RSS Readers for Windows? Something comparable to Netnewswire that is free.
I use Bloglines (web based, simple, free, and good).
Screen shots: is there a way to force Windows to save screenshots as a file?
Not natively. If you take a lot of screen shots, you might want to look into some screenshot software. I like CaptureEze Pro. Lots of people like SnagIt. Both have free trials.
Please tell me there's a way to get rid of the greybackground in application windows.
There's not, but why not just quit the app if you're not using it? It frees up memory, after all. If you want to leave it running, you can minimize it. That'll cost you one additional mouse click. Better yet, use Alt+tab or Alt+Esc to cycle through open windows.
posted by wheat at 12:48 PM on November 29, 2006
I use Bloglines (web based, simple, free, and good).
Screen shots: is there a way to force Windows to save screenshots as a file?
Not natively. If you take a lot of screen shots, you might want to look into some screenshot software. I like CaptureEze Pro. Lots of people like SnagIt. Both have free trials.
Please tell me there's a way to get rid of the greybackground in application windows.
There's not, but why not just quit the app if you're not using it? It frees up memory, after all. If you want to leave it running, you can minimize it. That'll cost you one additional mouse click. Better yet, use Alt+tab or Alt+Esc to cycle through open windows.
posted by wheat at 12:48 PM on November 29, 2006
Best answer: RSS Readers for Windows? Something comparable to Netnewswire that is free.
I personally like GreatNews as a desktop client and Google Reader as a web client.
Windows wants to organize things in list view via files and folders, i.e. files are grouped together and so are folders. Is there a way to list them mixed together alphabetically,?
I believe View/Arrange Icons By.../Show In Groups is as close as you're going to get.
To answer the question you asked in your title -- it is just you, and what you're used to. To be fair, I had the same sort of frustrations coming to a mac (especially the UI's seeming disregard for muscle memory). I can't say it's gonna get better -- I eventually gave up on the OSX entirely and used a number of third party programs that forced the desktop to perform like a windows machine so that I could complete tasks in a halfway efficient manner. You may want to look into tweaks and themes that will make Windows look and feel more like a mac -- you might never feel really at home using it, but hey, maybe you'll get some work done.
posted by fishfucker at 8:28 PM on November 29, 2006
I personally like GreatNews as a desktop client and Google Reader as a web client.
Windows wants to organize things in list view via files and folders, i.e. files are grouped together and so are folders. Is there a way to list them mixed together alphabetically,?
I believe View/Arrange Icons By.../Show In Groups is as close as you're going to get.
To answer the question you asked in your title -- it is just you, and what you're used to. To be fair, I had the same sort of frustrations coming to a mac (especially the UI's seeming disregard for muscle memory). I can't say it's gonna get better -- I eventually gave up on the OSX entirely and used a number of third party programs that forced the desktop to perform like a windows machine so that I could complete tasks in a halfway efficient manner. You may want to look into tweaks and themes that will make Windows look and feel more like a mac -- you might never feel really at home using it, but hey, maybe you'll get some work done.
posted by fishfucker at 8:28 PM on November 29, 2006
I can't say it's gonna get better -- I eventually gave up on the OSX entirely and used a number of third party programs that forced the desktop to perform like a windows machine so that I could complete tasks in a halfway efficient manner.
Oh, I don't think that's necessarily true. I have a Mac and a PC both on both of my desks at work. I have only Macs in daily use at home and a couple of Ubuntu laptops. My PC at home dual boots to XP and Ubuntu and might get turned on once a month. I prefer the Mac, but mentally I switch to what knowledge I need for the OS in front of me at the time. I've been doing that for 16 years now and that's been the best approach. On the Mac, I've actually adopted using a few things like QuickSilver that aren't Mac like or Windows or Linux like, it just is what it is and speeds everything up for me.
So, it's just a matter of learning how to... switch back and forth as quickly as you can mentally. Ultimately they start to all meld together anyway in your mind over time and what you're really doing is just working with data and moving it around. The OS only becomes as important as the application you need it to run. Which is why I stay a Mac user. That's where my applications I want are located (I'm not a gamer, so there you go).
posted by smallerdemon at 12:20 PM on November 30, 2006
Oh, I don't think that's necessarily true. I have a Mac and a PC both on both of my desks at work. I have only Macs in daily use at home and a couple of Ubuntu laptops. My PC at home dual boots to XP and Ubuntu and might get turned on once a month. I prefer the Mac, but mentally I switch to what knowledge I need for the OS in front of me at the time. I've been doing that for 16 years now and that's been the best approach. On the Mac, I've actually adopted using a few things like QuickSilver that aren't Mac like or Windows or Linux like, it just is what it is and speeds everything up for me.
So, it's just a matter of learning how to... switch back and forth as quickly as you can mentally. Ultimately they start to all meld together anyway in your mind over time and what you're really doing is just working with data and moving it around. The OS only becomes as important as the application you need it to run. Which is why I stay a Mac user. That's where my applications I want are located (I'm not a gamer, so there you go).
posted by smallerdemon at 12:20 PM on November 30, 2006
Response by poster: For the email question, there is another potential answer. The email program selected in the Start Menu properties seems to trump other settings.
So, right-click the Start button and select Properties, select Start Menu, click Customize.
Then at the bottom of the dialog, under Show on Start Menu, check Email, and select your preferred email program.
You need to do this, even if you then uncheck the Email box so it doesn't show on the Start Menu.
Please let us know if it works.
When I went into the menu described above, Thunderbird was already selected as the email client. I unchecked it anyway, saved changes and then went back in and selected Tbird. Then I tried to click on an email link. Outlook and Tbird were still being used for email.
I poked around in Outlook and found an option for using Word for editing emails and unchecked that, but that didn't help either.
Geez.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:03 AM on December 2, 2006
So, right-click the Start button and select Properties, select Start Menu, click Customize.
Then at the bottom of the dialog, under Show on Start Menu, check Email, and select your preferred email program.
You need to do this, even if you then uncheck the Email box so it doesn't show on the Start Menu.
Please let us know if it works.
When I went into the menu described above, Thunderbird was already selected as the email client. I unchecked it anyway, saved changes and then went back in and selected Tbird. Then I tried to click on an email link. Outlook and Tbird were still being used for email.
I poked around in Outlook and found an option for using Word for editing emails and unchecked that, but that didn't help either.
Geez.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:03 AM on December 2, 2006
Response by poster: Open Outlook, and tell it not to be the default mail program and not to check.
I checked under Options and didn't see anything that said that.
Open Word, and in the "Web Options" settings tell it not to try to be the default editor for HTML.
Just did that. Didn't help.
As a last resort, uninstall Outlook if you don't use it.
Not my computer, so don't want to do that and I'm leeryof uninstalling "key" programs in Windows as I've heard that can create havoc.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:15 AM on December 2, 2006
I checked under Options and didn't see anything that said that.
Open Word, and in the "Web Options" settings tell it not to try to be the default editor for HTML.
Just did that. Didn't help.
As a last resort, uninstall Outlook if you don't use it.
Not my computer, so don't want to do that and I'm leeryof uninstalling "key" programs in Windows as I've heard that can create havoc.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:15 AM on December 2, 2006
Outlook isn't a "key" program. Outlook is installed as part of Microsoft Office. It uninstalls just fine, though as a Mac user I imagine that trying to traverse the not-quite-intuitive Office setup to uninstall Outlook would prove... troublesome. Their design for installers is a bit of a pain in the ass.
posted by antifuse at 3:19 AM on December 4, 2006
posted by antifuse at 3:19 AM on December 4, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
The right hand corner of the Start Bar is for processes that are currently running "in the background". I find it to be really annoying - have you clicked on the little arrow that looks like this: "<"? It expands the list and shows "hidden icons".
posted by muddgirl at 7:20 AM on November 29, 2006