h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm currently using a borrowed Mac, and the only reason I wouldn't switch to the OS immediately (besides the price) is that blasted lack of right-clickability.

Now, the most infuriating part of it all is trying to open something in a background tab while browsing. I always open interesting links in tabs, often a half-dozen at a time, and then skim them later. And I can't seem to do that on a Mac.

Help anyone?

Which browser are you using - and do you know its settings?

Safari and Firefox.
Not sure what settings you mean. I suppose I could find them - setting for what?

The settings which say whether you'd prefer links to be opened in a new window or a tab, for a start! Then there's the issue of whether specific links are trying to override that by having a named target window.

Oh I see - have them automatically open in a new tab, no matter how I click.

You can also command-click - hold down the key with the cloverleaf and apple symbols on it while clicking. That overrides your current tab preference. I leave mine as is, and command-click to open in a new tab. And if you stick with Safari the "SAFT" plug-in will give you more options.

Control-click gives you your right-click, without the right mouse button and if you plug in a 2-button USB mouse - don't worry if it's a Windows mouse, it'll still work - you can right-click to your heart's content. In fact, if you have a "mighty mouse" (the one with the scroll ball) you already have a right click, just need to go into the system preferences to turn it on.

You mean there's a right click menu if you have the right mouse?

I'm having a bit of trouble locating the options menu in safari, so I'll try command-clicking.
Thanks a bundle.

This should explain how to fiddle with Firefox settings so you can just hold click, which is less annoying than control click. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F83504?thread=3684747

Don't look for an "Options" menu. On a Mac, it's always called "Preferences" and it's always in the same place (OK, almost always) - under the menu that has the name of the running application. In the case of Safari, that means click the "Safari" menu and then choose "Preferences". It even has a keyboard shortcut, command-comma. The tab settings are on the "tabs" tab.

Control+click should give you a right click menu on a Mac. Are you positive that you have no right click button, though? If the Mac is new enough, it may have come with a Mighty Mouse which has a touch sensitive right-click (it will have a little scroll ball and two buttons on the sides). I assume you've probably automatically "right-clicked" on the mouse already with no result, but one never knows and it's always worth asking.

If you're using Safari, you can go:

Safari-> Preferences ->Tabs

and you'll see the various keystrokes for tabbed browsing on a single-button mouse.

Should be much the same for Firefox/Camino/etc, but I'd assume you're likely using Safari.