Questions from a Recent PC-Mac Switch

[MattGTO]

Hey guys, sorry for the 'stupidity' here, but I just recently switched from PC to Mac. I have been a hard-core PC user for years and I have hated every second of it, but I have never had the money to switch. Finally, I got the money and I bought myself a Mac Mini, and I loveeee it, even though it only has an 80gb HDD I have pretty much gotten used to OSX, but I still have a few questions.

What is the point of having to quit an application even after it is closed?

I have the Mac keyboard, and I know how to use function keys to use some of the things on the desktop (like pushing all the applications off for a second, or spreading them all out, forget the names of these). How do I switch the function keys to do what is graphically displayed on the keys themselves? (like next song, play/pause, etc.)

Is there a Paint.Net replacement? I have heard of GIMP but is it worth downloading?

Thanks for your help,
Matt

 

[JediMeister]

Leaving an application open but the window closed will cause cache files to built up which will cause system sluggishness, and unexpected issues with applications, including interface issues, inability to save/write to files. For the keyboard, you have to have 10.4.10 or later and the Apple Keyboard Software installed from the disc you were provided. I haven't used Paint.NET so I'm not familiar with its capabilities but a free image editor can be found in Seashore

 

[lordthistle]

What is the point of having to quit an application even after it is closed?

You close windows and quit applications. The idea is that an application can run without any window open. For example, mail.app can continue checking emails without a window messing up your desktop. Think about mac applications as those window applications running on the rightmost part of the taskbar.

I have the Mac keyboard, and I know how to use function keys to use some of the things on the desktop (like pushing all the applications off for a second, or spreading them all out, forget the names of these). How do I switch the function keys to do what is graphically displayed on the keys themselves? (like next song, play/pause, etc.)

Via system preferences, keyboard section.

Is there a Paint.Net replacement? I have heard of GIMP but is it worth downloading?

GIMP is more similar to Photoshop than Paint. Seashore is more similar to Paint than Photoshop.

thistle