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General discussion

window size

Oct 19, 2006 11:08PM PDT

I've been using my iBook for several years now and am pretty satisfied with the whole experience.

One thing that has me annoyed, however, is the window size of programs. Every window has to be scrolled right to left to see the whole image. Why is that?

Take iTunes for instance. I compared the window to the same program running on a PC desktop. On iBook, the view is actually about 3/4 of the actual window. On Windows, the view is about 95%. If I hit the green button on top, it actually REDUCES the size of the window. DOH!

Is there a setting I have overlooked?

I'm a guy! Size does matter!!!!

Discussion is locked

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iTunes window management
Oct 20, 2006 1:02AM PDT

I can think of some things to do to make the iTunes window more acceptable.
* You can adjust the size of both the main widows and the columns to suit your needs.
* You can set the text size preferences to get more on screen.
* In GENERAL, set the source size to 'SMALL'
* Then move the divider to the left to give more area to the right window.
* Check the 'Song Text" Size to see if you want it small as well.
* Select which optional columns such as genre and ratings you can do without, and uncheck them.

If you are sort of dissatisfied with the whole screen appearance, rather than just iTunes, try some other screen resolutions to see if that helps.

Lastly, many apps will adjust the screen presentation for you when you press Command and the PLUS or MINUS keys.

With the way my eyes are, I don't like the tiny text, and just put the columns I want on the left, keeping a large text size. If I need to see my rating, I can scroll over no problem.

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Screen Resolution
Oct 20, 2006 1:30AM PDT

A lot of what you are referring to can be the effect of having a screen resolution that is not really suitable.
A screen resolution of 1024 X 768 on a 15" screen is not quite small enough to view the ITMS without scrolling just a little.
Take a look a the Monitors setting and see if you can go to a higher resolution.
If you have an older iBook then you are probably running the screen at 800 X 600 which is the best it will do. If that is the case, there really is nothing you can do except scroll left and right.
That green button? Apparently it is to reduce the screen to just the player controls and volume. Note that it does not have a + sign on it until it is set small.
On the PC you compared window size with, is the screen the same size as your iBook screen? Is the screen resolution the same as your iBook?

P

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Both computers are
Oct 22, 2006 8:31AM PDT

set for 1024 X 768. I forgot about the screen size: the PC is 15" and the iBook is 13" so maybe that has alot to do with it. Guess my next Mac will have to have a bigger screen. Speaking of such, what is the battery life (hours) of the new MacBooks? My present battery will last for several hours if I have only one window open. My wife's and daughters HP only last 1-1/2 hrs. And is there an internal battery I should be wary of and its anticipated life expectancy? Thanks

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Battery life varies, so it is
Oct 22, 2006 10:33AM PDT

a challenge to answer that question. If the AirPort is on and the hard drive never goes to sleep and the CPU is set to Highest rather than Automatic (if you have this setting) and you are watching a DVD or otherwise using that disc drive - arguably a single screen, the battery will last a lot less than if you have a single browser screen open with CPU set to Automatic or Lowest (if you have this setting) and disc and monitor set to sleep after 10 minutes (or whatever) of no use... and all networking, including AirPort and AppleTalk, are off...

Similar power savings could be had on the HP - so... (with the answer I REALLY don't like to get, but need to use): "It depends"...

(sorry)

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oh... and I can't help at the moment
Oct 22, 2006 10:34AM PDT

with the internal battery question, but if I find something, I'll post it...