Ok, so this keeps bugging me:

Lets say I open the web browser, and then I hit the 'End' button. I get back to the Home screen, but the browser doesnt actually close, it's still open and using resources. Same for other apps as well. Question is, how do I know which apps I have running in the background, without opening each one and specifically hitting 'Close' each time?

As I understand the browser can never 'close'. I think you have 'home, browser, BB messenger, phone, and messages' that can't be closed. I deleted my BB messenger so that's one less app that is always running.

Erik

I'm pretty sure that when I hit 'Close' on my browser menu, it shuts down the app, because when I start it up again I see the BB splash screen. Otherwise, it would just open to the page I was on before the window was hidden.

Browser doesn't close. You can see the apps running by using the menu key from the home screen and selecting "switch application." You'll see the applications running. tifosiv122's post is correct.

Hold the ALT key and press the menu button to the right of the trackball (between the trackball and the END button). It will display a list of running apps, much like Windows does with the ALT-TAB key combo).

As others have stated, not all apps can be closed. These (AFAIK) cannot be closed:
Home Screen
Phone
Blackberry Messenger
Messages
Browser

Wirelessly posted (Opera/8.01 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/3.1.7196/1690; en; U; ssr))

Messages, browser, phone, and BBMessenger are always on because they have to respond to pushes that are sent. For instance you wouldn't want to have to wait for the phone app to start up every time a call comes in.

As for hitting the end button, it's more meant as a "minimize all funtion" so you can quickly get to the home screen if you need to

Actually, in the Application Loader on DM, it shows that you can uninstall/remove Blackberry Messenger.

While I don't use Blackberry Messenger, I left it in -- but what I do want to remove is PTT, since I have no intention of signing up for it or using it. But I don't see PTT as a removable application.

I'm not overly concerned with PTT removal but just wanted to comment that it looks, at least, like BB Messenger is removable.

You can install virtually any application, but that also means you won't receive any events from it.
What I should have said is that any installed applications that respond to push are always running.

Search for instructions to remove PTT

Thanks, I hadn't searched. But I hadn't decided I didn't want PTT until the time of my post, when I was looking at the active applications. But now I need wonder no more, that thread covers it all. DL'd Javaloader already.