mac os x and brief mode

[dgs]

The alt key is not mapped the same way in os x and in windows.  Is there a way to get around that?

[hs2]

As Nathan proposed here you could use the 'command' key instead of ALT. Unfortunately you need to rebind all commands.
Probably you should use the 'list-keydefs' command, edit the resulting Slick-C module (containing all bindings as source) directly and re-load it.
HS2

[dgs]

That sounds like a good idea, I just haven't figured out what key the apple key is.  When I go to help->What is key-> and then click the apple key, it does not give me anything.

[hs2]

Try the keybindings dialog and enter e.g. 'macos-show-colors' as command. The assoc. key binding (even on my Windows machine) is Shift-Command-C which in turn is listed as 'S-M-C' in keydefs.e (generated by list-keydefs).
So the 'command' key is 'M' in the event tables. A search'n replace of all 'A' -> 'M' and a re-load of keydefs.e should do the rebind job quite fast.
Good luck,
HS2

[hs2]

I've forgotten to mention that you should unload (Macro>Unload Module: keydefs.ex) this module when done. Otherwise it's registered as an add.  'user macro module' which is not appropriate in this case.
To be clear: This is just a workaround to quickly change a number of keybindings.
HS2