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Drag items off to remove, drag on to add!

I often will launch a program, use the ol' double finger tap and use the "keep in dock" function
 
it's pretty straight foward :

1) To move around the apps in the dock, click and hold the application you want to move ... and move.
2) To add an application or w/e to the dock just drag 'n drop it to the dock.
3) To remove an aps from the dock, right click on the app you want to remove (to right click, either ctrl + click or 2 fingers click on the app) and select remove.

In the Apple menu, top left, you'll also find a Dock section. You can customize a bit the dock there.

Hope I helped.
 
Macrumors should put a sticky up or some short of info... maybe even a Guide that includes "getting started books" for those looking for info on this.

I HIGHLY recommend the book Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition

I bought the Panther edition in 2003 before I bought my PowerBook and it helped me greatly. When I finally got my Mac I was off and running with it and the learning curve was more like a short jog instead of a marathon.
 
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