Closing Applications with red X prevents restarting of applications

Question

Hi,
first of all, I switched from PC to Mac just 2 days ago, so forgive my lack of common iKnownledge of macLingo.
My system is OS X 10.5.6 running on the latest MacBook (standard model).
I performed the software update.
As former windows user (and every other OS user, btw.) I assumed that clicking on the red X button closes the application, which it apparently doesn't. I found out the pressing the button with the swirly symbol + Q is the way to go.
Anyway, sometimes I just want to close an application with a click, so I push the X button and restart the closed application later, although - as I understand it - the application is still loaded (which is indicated by the small white dot in the dock). Just to be clear: Closing e.g. Safari with the red X closes the window but doesn't minimize it to the dock.
However, every so often a red-X-closed application remains white-dot-active but can't be restarted or maximised again, unless I first go to the dock and close it manually by use of the context menu.
This is an eminently stupid behaviour of OS-X if that was intended.
So, ist there a fix for this ? Or a way to tell the red X to close an application for good ?
What's the use of three colored window control buttons anyway, if two of them just basically minimize an application ?
Thanks for the help.
PS: Maybe I should mention that this behaviour is not reliably reproducable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It happens way too often to ignore, though.
Message was edited by: arotto

Answer 1

I was hoping you'd say that. It is as it's supposed to do in that particular case at least.
Now just so you know, (though I suspect you already have some idea). That red cross will as a general rule close just that window. In some cases, (usually where the app only ever has that one window), clicking the X will close the app down, otherwise the app will still run in the background. This is normal. To close the program down you need to Quit it, ⌘Q.
You are right that it can't be maximised again, +that's because you didn't minimize the window you closed it.+ To minimize you need to press ⌘M, or click the minus symbol.
Strictly speaking the buttons do not both minimise, one maximises.
I think the minus button is there to put the window in the dock.
I think the plus button is there to alternate between minimum and maximum window sizes while that particular window is active on the desktop.
I think once you understand how it works you should find it consistent. Give it a shot and let us know.
Message was edited by: gumsie