How to manage open applications

Yes, the only way to fully quit is cmd-Q or from the menubar (i.e. Safari --> Quit Safari). If you just close all the windows, the program is still running (try CMD-Tab or look for indicator lights under apps in your dock). You will learn to love command shortcuts. As a PC user, we're trained to be enslaved to the mouse, but really shortcuts are just that!

The X closes a window, where the yellow button minimizes it to right side of the dock (there is a name for that area, but it escapes me). The green button's function is up to the developer. Sometimes it maximizes to full screen (another PC --> Mac tip: get use to NOT having windows maximized) other times it will do something totally unexpected.... try it in iTunes for example.

Your lost windows are probably minimized. Check for icons in the right side of your dock. A great tip is to set an Expose hot corner to show all windows:
Preferences --> Expose&Spaces -->
I have my top right corner set to "Show all windows" so as soon as I move my pointer up there, it quickly shows me all my open windows.

As a final tip, I'll say you should try and approach your new Mac with an attitude of "how do I do this on a Mac?" rather than "Why doesn't this work like Windows?" If you do that, you'll learn faster and get more out of your Mac experience.

Congrats on your new Mac!

 

I echo everything in this post. It took me awhile to get used to the keyboard shortcuts, but now whenever I use a PC, I get really cranky that they're not there. Like learning all new things, it'll take time. Maybe you could make an appointment to go to an Apple store and have someone there teach you some tricks for getting started, or maybe even ask a Mac-savvy friend.

 

You can use Cmd+` (the Cmd and the backquote key - the key above tab) to switch between windows of a single application (it's like Alt+Tab in windows, but it works only for the application that's currently activated). So when you "lost" that new mail window, all you had to do was switch to Mail (where it showed you the Inbox) and hit Cmd+` repeatedly until you saw the new message window.

Additionally, learn to use Expose - it makes cluttered windows easy to manage (and avoid getting lost).

 

Somethjing noone else has said yet, is the fact that OS X keeps applications running is in fact an ADVANTAGE to windows. You mentioned that you thoguht it was an annoyance just for the sake of being different.But it in fact is one of the things I like best about OS X.

Reason it is better is because it allows applications to run in the background without leaving clutter on your desktop. For example, you can turn itunes on, get music playing, then you can close your iTunes window and music will continue playing even though other then that blue dot underneath the itunes logo in the dock you wont be able to tell iTunes is open. Which I think is very nifce.

Furthermore it makes opening applications LATER much fast. For example photoshop is a program that takes a long time to start up whihc is kinda annoying. But what you can do is when you first start your mac up, you start photoshop up... it'll go throuhg the regular starting up of photoshop. Then when it done just close all the windows in photoshop.

NOW, 3 hours later you decide you actually want to use photoshop, you click the photoshop icon in the dock, and bamn the photoshop windows appear with no starting up. I find that VERY VERY VERY nice. In my situation I have my mac start up my five most used apps, once it finishes starting up. (my favorite five are: Safari, Adium, iTunes, Mail, Speed Download) Sure that makes my computer take maybe 20-30 seconds longer before it has fully started up and is sitting on idle process. BUT after it is done then my whole mac will run really fast until I shut my mac down. Assuming I dont open a different application later in the day, I wont have to wait for any apps to start up all day.

 

One more thing on the Mail issue. No one has mentioned this, when you start a new message on Mail then click to another application and then click back to Mail and all of a sudden your new message window is gone is because you are clicking on Mail's inbox window and the new message window gets put behind the inbox window.
Easy remedy is to switch applications by clicking on them from the Dock rather than clicking the applications window. When switching back to Mail if you'd just clicked the Mail icon in the Dock the new message window would reappear.

Try using Expose and you will have instant access to any and all open windows.