I use (setf mac-option-modifier 'meta) and then swap Option and Command keys in keyboard preferences, and that makes meta work correctly with windowed Carbon Emacs and terminal mode emacs (both Carbon and the default OSX emacs).
I also use DoubleKey to map the Enter key (right next to Command key on the right) to Ctrl. It bugs me to have to do all this, but it makes meta work just like it does on Linux, so it's worth it.
I also use DoubleKey to map the Enter key (right next to Command key on the right) to Ctrl. It bugs me to have to do all this, but it makes meta work just like it does on Linux, so it's worth it.