i have keyboard shortcuts (f-keys) to launch the dashboard, all windows, and show desktop. is it possible to launch the screen saver in the same manner? (w/o having to use the hot corner or wait for the time-out)
Yes, it is. The first thing that you will need is an application that will let you set keyboard shortcuts to applications. I use the Triggers function in Quicksilver (QS), which is also a (ridiculously fast) application launcher. In QS, open the Triggers pane, and click on the little + button along the bottom, and select Hotkey. Now, open up Finder, and go to System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework/Versions/A/Resources and then drag the app called "ScreenSaverEngine" into the placeholder underneath where is says "select an item" in the QS window. Make sure the the placeholder below "Action" is set to "Open". If it doesn't, simply click inside the placeholder and type "Open", selecting "Open" from the list that will appear to the right. Then click save. A little window should slide out of the right of the QS window, if it doesn't, click on the "i" button in the bottom-right hand corner. There will be a little box in which you can type the Hotkey, and then you're done!
quicksilver not only won't allow me into "triggers," it will not uninstall. i'm going to call Apple support & see if they can get QS working (they won't can't help w/ my shortcut question).
