New to Apple, frustrated with menu bar

ARykal,

Thank you! You are the first to provide an explanation w/o saying to the effect, that's the way it is, get used to it.

Trunckated, for lack of a better word, the actual menu bar that contains the apple logo, Safari, file, edit, history, etc.

I don't like the changes because it hides items I've been used to seeing for years, but given a little time may understand the reasoning behind the change. The one thing I find confusing is that in going to some pages in 'classic mode', there are no forward/backword buttons, nor a way to collapse or expand the window.

Fortunately, I think, I have the new track pad which is a big help, expecially in navigating to various windows.

Again, thank you. Any suggestions from you are welcome.

Can you provide an image? I ask because my menu bar in FSM (Full screen mode) and in normal windowed mode is identical. Exactly which items are hidden? Even a cellphone pic of the screen may show it well ;-)

Do you have 10.7.4 (i.e run SOftware update) as I believe there was a bug with Safari in earlier versions of Lion?

When in FSM, you can right click in the toolbar that contains the addressbar, select 'Customize' and add the back/forward buttons?

ARykala,

here's what my full screen looks like in FSM. I know of customizing, I assumed when one window was set up, other windows had the same attritubutes.

OS is 10.7.4. Checking for updates indicates this is up to date.

BTW: the link you provided, pictured below has great info, w/ some related problems w/ topic issue coverd.

Thanks.

Right so in FSM you have no menu bar, as it is missing there. That is by design, as all possible space is given over to content. If you then move your mouse pointer to the top, the menu bar then appears? Is it the full menu bar, or is something missing? If it has things missing, can you take a shot of it?

Or is it the toolbar that is different? That can be corrected by customise

Moving pointer to the top pops opens the menu bar.

Because of your explanation, I understand that it was done by design. I don't like it, but I'll figure it out.

It would have at the least, been nice to have the option.

Again, thanks for the help. The links are good too!

No worries - I've been a mac user for about seven years now. What I can tell you is that eventually about 95% of your annoyances will vanish as you adjust, and the rest remain as little niggles. It really is an re-adjusting process as you get used to the differences .... ;-)

Sme of those previous annoyances eventually become preferences too...... ;-)

You could also hide the Dock by pressing cmd+alt+D, but that isn't fullscreen...

Wow, I have been compelled to sign up to this Apple support forum thing having been mind-blowingly frustrated with the first page of answers to this question. I can't believe how rude some of the early replies have been!

The default response on the first page of this thread seems to have been "here's a solution to a problem your not experiencing and stop being so stupid asking for a menubar in full screen". What a bad first experience of the mac community for this guy!

Anyway, I agree with the original poster, I wish there was an option to lock the menu bar so that it doesn't hide when entering full screen mode... Seems like there is no such option available (yet) and it's really a shame that so many people have responded on here with "that's how it works, get used to it windows boy" comments. Really lackluster "support" thread this one...

I have been searching for a way to keep my menu bar visible, too, because I want to monitor battery use, skype calls, time, etc....I DO NOT LIKE many of the new Lion operating system changes, even if some people think they are upgrades, and I've been exclusively Mac for 5-6 years. It is frustrating to have to waste so much time looking for "work arounds" and solutions. I don't like the new iCal, or moving from Mobile Me to the Cloud, either! Contrary to what some people want you to believe, there ARE bugs in Apple. I've lost calendar data, even with PAID support help. Lots of users are very friendly and helpful, though, so don't just judge by this thread! Maybe they will give us a setting option soon!

I am in the same shoes as the original poster. I am a week into my first Mac and not being able to see the Menu bar in full screen mode is driving me crazy.

It seems to puzzle the Mac users why this is useful. The Menu bar displays some very important information.

1. Date and time

2. Dropbox info (shows if new files have been added)

3. Skype info

4. And not least important battery life!

Having to move my mouse up to the top every time I am curious as to what time it is or how much battery life I have left is just plain stupid.

Mac users say: it's to utilize the whole real estate of the screen. Fine. But give us that want this information visible AND to utilize 98% of our screen the option to stick the menu bar.

I'm just amazed that this isn't an option. I can't imagine that this is something a few windows deserters find necessary! And even if so, why not humor us to make our transition as smooth as possible.

Right now, this is annoying the **** out of me.

Peace.

I am a brand new Mac user and am experiencing the same frustration... it is driving me crazy! Also agree that the original comments and replies were very rude. Ok based on the hodge podge of answers here and some experimenting, here is what seems to be working:

1) Click on the System Preferences on your dock to open it. Within, select the "dock" icon, first row under "personal."

2) Check the arrow for "Automatically hide and show the dock."

3) Open your browser and then move your cursor to the edge of the browser window (lower right hand corner works) until your cursor turns into a two way arrow.

4) Click and drag the arrow to resize the window to fit the entire screen.

5) This will give you windows-style full screen browsing with a locked menu and toolbars.

6) If you want to go to true full screen mode, click on the two-way arrow icon located in the upper right hand corner of the browser window.