@plot-paris said:
is there a keyboard shortcut to open up the activity monitor? and does it start even if all other programs are frozen? that would be perfect
not since the invention of wireless keyboards for the iMac, but on my MacBookPro if you toggle caption-lock and the light works, your normally still in business,
if it does [cmd]+[s] usually will save a SU file (even if it's not responding), then clicking on the MenuBar apple/then ForceQuit/SU will 9/10 get you back on track.
frozen programs more often only lock themselves, unless your playing with alfa, beta or early release software and some unfriendly SU rubies.
iStatMenus has drop-down menu shortcuts to terminal and console and itself, but most the things you want to keep an eye on are always at the top of the screen and clicking those gives you loads more info.
BTW- Apple don't call them laptops because they can get far to hot, especially the 17" ones. mine lives on a sheet of corrugated ali, and is always on and plugged in when I'm not out and about. MiniBatteryLogger is also worth a look
have fun
john