My MBP's usability just quadrupled

[lpeedin]

Well to me, anyway. This is my first Mac, having worked with computers since before there was such a thing as a PC.

I was really struggling with the MBP for a number of reasons. I fully appreciated the fact that it would take a while to get used to the keyboard layout and even more so, the lack of keys I had always been used to ie.. Backspace, Up Arrow, Down Arrow, etc. I quickly learned to deal with that and embraced the 2 key combinations. I'm even getting used to the trackpad; however, I did install a wireless mouse the 2nd day I had the system.

But there was 2 things that were really hindering any possible enjoyment of my new system.

1) Impossible to use on my lap for more than a few minutes. I've had no less that 8 different laptops and they all got warm, but this thing was unbearable.

2) No matter where I tried to use this system, the glare on the screen was overwhelming. I like to sit on my porch or even in my garage with my laptop but that just wasn't possible in that much light.

These things bothered me so bad that I seriously considered taking a $ loss and pawning it off to whoever I could find that was interested.

But some over 20 years ago I acquired a nickname from an IBM Fellow in Oxford England. He called me "Pragmatic", since I seemed to "use a pry bar" if necessary to solve a problem.

So instead of whining about the product I went looking for a solution(s).

Amazing how a Cooler Master Notepal X2 Notebook Cooler and Splash Masque HD Screen Protector can transform what was practically an unusable item (for me) into something that I am really beginning to enjoy.

Happy Computing

 

[theSeb]

W

I was really struggling with the MBP for a number of reasons. I fully appreciated the fact that it would take a while to get used to the keyboard layout and even more so, the lack of keys I had always been used to ie.. Backspace, Up Arrow, Down Arrow, etc.

My Macbook Pro and Air both have all of those keys. What computer do you have?

 

[pgiguere1]

My Macbook Pro and Air both have all of those keys. What computer do you have?

He probably means the Delete key and Page up / Page down.

As for the temperature, CoolBook can also do the trick, but obviously you'll lose a little performance in the process.

 

[lpeedin]

My Macbook Pro and Air both have all of those keys. What computer do you have?

Latest MacBook Pro 13". My bad, PageUp, PageDown, Home, End, etc. But there isn't a BackSpace, just a Delete.

The Delete key on the MBP works like the BackSpace on other keyboards whereas the Delete on other keyboards deletes at the current cursor position (it doesn't move).

 

[emacna1]

Latest MacBook Pro 13". My bad, PageUp, PageDown, Home, End, etc. But there isn't a BackSpace, just a Delete.

My delete button backspaces.

 

[theSeb]

Latest MacBook Pro 13". My bad, PageUp, PageDown, Home, End, etc. But there isn't a BackSpace, just a Delete.

The Delete key on the MBP works like the BackSpace on other keyboards whereas the Delete on other keyboards deletes at the current cursor position (it doesn't move).

Oh, I see. There is a backspace, but there isn't a delete - that's just to clarify the terminology.

fn + backspace is delete. There are also alt (option) + back space which deletes all of the characters before the cursor. fn + alt + backspace deletes all of the characters after the cursor

fn + → = end
fn + ← = home
fn + ↓ = page down
fn + ↑ = page up


Also, ctrl + ↑ = Mission Control in lion
ctrl + left or right arrow = move to next space / virtual desktop in mission control (this work whether you're in mission control or not)

ctrl + ↓ = show all of the active application's windows.

I hope that helps.

 

[lpeedin]

Definitely helps, thanks. So far for any serious work at my desk I've just plugged in a USB keyboard, but I really do new to learn the key combos for those times when I'm away from my desk. (Like this weekend when I'll be living in a tent at a 2 day archery tournament.)

 

[lpeedin]

And I need to ck autocorrect on my iPhone when I post from it.

 

[mrsir2009]

Well to me, anyway. This is my first Mac, having worked with computers since before there was such a thing as a PC.

I was really struggling with the MBP for a number of reasons. I fully appreciated the fact that it would take a while to get used to the keyboard layout and even more so, the lack of keys I had always been used to ie.. Backspace, Up Arrow, Down Arrow, etc. I quickly learned to deal with that and embraced the 2 key combinations. I'm even getting used to the trackpad; however, I did install a wireless mouse the 2nd day I had the system.

But there was 2 things that were really hindering any possible enjoyment of my new system.

1) Impossible to use on my lap for more than a few minutes. I've had no less that 8 different laptops and they all got warm, but this thing was unbearable.

2) No matter where I tried to use this system, the glare on the screen was overwhelming. I like to sit on my porch or even in my garage with my laptop but that just wasn't possible in that much light.

These things bothered me so bad that I seriously considered taking a $ loss and pawning it off to whoever I could find that was interested.

But some over 20 years ago I acquired a nickname from an IBM Fellow in Oxford England. He called me "Pragmatic", since I seemed to "use a pry bar" if necessary to solve a problem.

So instead of whining about the product I went looking for a solution(s).

Amazing how a Cooler Master Notepal X2 Notebook Cooler and Splash Masque HD Screen Protector can transform what was practically an unusable item (for me) into something that I am really beginning to enjoy.

Happy Computing

What were you doing on it to make it unbearably hot?

 

[lpeedin]

Just web related activities and a little coding.

 

[Blu-Ray]

Just web related activities and a little coding.

Well, some web-related activities have been known to create a bit more heat on the lap.

 

[old-wiz]

Well, some web-related activities have been known to create a bit more heat on the lap.

and messy spills.

 

[chanyitian]

Well to me, anyway. This is my first Mac, having worked with computers since before there was such a thing as a PC.

I was really struggling with the MBP for a number of reasons. I fully appreciated the fact that it would take a while to get used to the keyboard layout and even more so, the lack of keys I had always been used to ie.. Backspace, Up Arrow, Down Arrow, etc. I quickly learned to deal with that and embraced the 2 key combinations. I'm even getting used to the trackpad; however, I did install a wireless mouse the 2nd day I had the system.

But there was 2 things that were really hindering any possible enjoyment of my new system.

1) Impossible to use on my lap for more than a few minutes. I've had no less that 8 different laptops and they all got warm, but this thing was unbearable.

2) No matter where I tried to use this system, the glare on the screen was overwhelming. I like to sit on my porch or even in my garage with my laptop but that just wasn't possible in that much light.

These things bothered me so bad that I seriously considered taking a $ loss and pawning it off to whoever I could find that was interested.

But some over 20 years ago I acquired a nickname from an IBM Fellow in Oxford England. He called me "Pragmatic", since I seemed to "use a pry bar" if necessary to solve a problem.

So instead of whining about the product I went looking for a solution(s).

Amazing how a Cooler Master Notepal X2 Notebook Cooler and Splash Masque HD Screen Protector can transform what was practically an unusable item (for me) into something that I am really beginning to enjoy.

Happy Computing

For the glare on the screen, you may purchase an anti-glare film.

 

[Mojo1]

I cannot stand Apple's "glassy"displays but I wanted a 13" MBP to replace my anti-glare 15" MBP early 2008 model.

I added the $35 Power Support anti-glare film. It isn't the cheapest but unlike other films it doesn't introduce artifacts or color changes while eliminating glare and reflections. I compared it to my 15" MBP and I could not see a difference between the screens.