I just think that to get the window back open by having to go back to the dock and moving to the mouse to do that (unless there's a keyboard shortcut??) a lot more hassle than just cycling through windows or just clicking on the window behind which is generally less mousing around than going to the dock.
Command-Tab is your friend: cycles through all open applications in the Dock, switching to or unhiding them as appropriate, much like Alt-Tab in Windoze. Command-Shift-Tab cycles the other way.
Other than launching an app or using its contextual menus, I never mouse to ther Dock
Command-Tab is your friend: cycles through all open applications in the Dock, switching to or unhiding them as appropriate, much like Alt-Tab in Windoze. Command-Shift-Tab cycles the other way.
Other than launching an app or using its contextual menus, I never mouse to ther Dock
Yeah it works for applications same as in OS 9 and Windows, but it won't reopen minimised items in the dock
Command-Tab is your friend: cycles through all open applications in the Dock, switching to or unhiding them as appropriate, much like Alt-Tab in Windoze. Command-Shift-Tab cycles the other way.
Other than launching an app or using its contextual menus, I never mouse to ther Dock
Furthermore, to switch back and fourth between two apps, press cmd-tab and release both keys. I find this behavior to be much more useful than cycling through all open application, which is done by holding down cmd and pressing tab consecutively.
You know, I read somewhere (long time ago) that Apple didn't make the close button red in the Mac OS because users were attracted to click on red things (or maybe it distracted them?).
The Finder was always a separate application...in Classic, Mac OS 9, 8, 7...not sure how far back.
The real difference in Mac OS X was that the desktop in Mac OS X was at first nonexistent, then later a separate program called "Desktop", then integrated into the Finder, like it was originally prior to Mac OS X.
It's never been quittable but it's easy to hack that in. I like being able to quit it sometimes. You can always force quit it but that's a little more drastic-feeling.
When you quit an application, you get switched to the next application in the stack, so if you are on a quitting spree via command-q, you'd end up quitting Finder by mistake. You'd have little options left for starting programs and viewing folders and files unless you happened to have something like Script Editor or Terminal running, or something like Dragthing.
The Finder was always a separate application...in Classic, Mac OS 9, 8, 7...not sure how far back.
The real difference in Mac OS X was that the desktop in Mac OS X was at first nonexistent, then later a separate program called "Desktop", then integrated into the Finder, like it was originally prior to Mac OS X.
It's never been quittable but it's easy to hack that in. I like being able to quit it sometimes. You can always force quit it but that's a little more drastic-feeling.
When you quit an application, you get switched to the next application in the stack, so if you are on a quitting spree via command-q, you'd end up quitting Finder by mistake. You'd have little options left for starting programs and viewing folders and files unless you happened to have something like Script Editor or Terminal running, or something like Dragthing.
In System 6-9: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
In Mac OS X Beta: Seperate app, called 'Desktop'
In Mac OS X v10.0-v10.3: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
The Finder has always (in OS X anyways) controlled the desktop.
In Mac OS X v10.0-v10.3: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
The Finder has always (in OS X anyways) controlled the desktop.
Thanks. Reaching back in my memory, at some point wasn't there "Desktop" application running but the Mac OS faces logo, if moused over, was called "Finder" and each Finder window was titled "Finder"?
I seem to recall there being a complaint that there were 2 things to think of (Finder and Desktop as separate apps) rather than the one we were accustomed to.
EDIT: -Yup here's it is- But you're right that it was just Desktop and not two separate apps
So it's:
In System 6-9: Separate app, called 'Finder'
In Mac OS X Beta: Separate app, called 'Desktop', but Finder windows had "Finder" in their titlebars.
In Mac OS X v10.0-v10.3: Separate app, called 'Finder', with integrated desktop
Why can't I use the "home" and "end" keys like my PC? If I want to jump around in text, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Also, I can't jump from word to work by holding down the "open apple" key and the arrow key. On my PC, I can quickly jump back 10 words without using my mouse and without holding down and going character by character.
Also, just now, when I made a typing mistake, instead of letting me hold down the open apple key and hitting backspace to delete an entire word, it just beeps at me.
Command-backspace works for deleting words in Microsoft Word, but TextEdit uses option-backspace to delete a word (at least when I just tried anyway). Try option-backspace for deleting a word, and option-arrow for going back a word at a time.
Hey, I thought OS X is suppose to be more intuitive! (Running and ducking)
But in any case, welcome alligator to being a switcher/cross-platformer!
When I first picked up OS X and not having used a Mac for 5-10 years, I picked up Pogue's The Missing Manual just to make sure I know the less obvious/intuitive stuff.
In any case, I have used enough OS to know that what is intuitive is really what one makes of it...
Hey, I thought OS X is suppose to be more intuitive! (Running and ducking)
But in any case, welcome alligator to being a switcher/cross-platformer!
When I first picked up OS X and not having used a Mac for 5-10 years, I picked up Pogue's The Missing Manual just to make sure I know the less obvious/intuitive stuff.
In any case, I have used enough OS to know that what is intuitive is really what one makes of it...
Absolutely. More often than not, *consistency* is more important in the long run. 'Intuitive' relies much on a users' previous experiences. Consistent does not.
In that, MacOS X fares much better than Windows, in general, and therefore is 'easier'.
The above rules (opt raises one conceptual chunk size, shift means select) are one such example. You don't have to memorize 12 keystrokes - just adapt 4 known easy ones with two simple rules. And, you can expect those rules to continue to apply throughout apps, so the learning curve on most apps is lessened.
Okay, another question. Last night I was using Final Cut Express, and I wanted to import a sound track. I know there are two types, AIFF (uncompressed) and AAC (compressed). When I tried to import the AIFF format, it didn't copy it, but made a link instead. Why? How do you know if something is a shortcut or not? In Windows, there is the little arrow overlay. What does OS X do?
By the way, for those who are following, I'm now 100% convinced I did the right thing by buying a G5. I'm slowly switching everything over to this machine. Quicken is next!
It also shows a little arrow overlay... at least in the Finder; I'm not sure if FCP is peculiar in that respect since I've never used it.
i think alligator may be confused as to how FCP works. it doesn't actual "import" files per se. it creates links to them. because it does not alter the source files. it just uses them as links to source material. the filter effects and whatnot are just applied to temporary cache files and final renders.
Comments
Originally posted by dnisbet
I just think that to get the window back open by having to go back to the dock and moving to the mouse to do that (unless there's a keyboard shortcut??) a lot more hassle than just cycling through windows or just clicking on the window behind which is generally less mousing around than going to the dock.
Command-Tab is your friend: cycles through all open applications in the Dock, switching to or unhiding them as appropriate, much like Alt-Tab in Windoze. Command-Shift-Tab cycles the other way.
Other than launching an app or using its contextual menus, I never mouse to ther Dock
Originally posted by Overhope
Command-Tab is your friend: cycles through all open applications in the Dock, switching to or unhiding them as appropriate, much like Alt-Tab in Windoze. Command-Shift-Tab cycles the other way.
Other than launching an app or using its contextual menus, I never mouse to ther Dock
Yeah it works for applications same as in OS 9 and Windows, but it won't reopen minimised items in the dock
Originally posted by Overhope
Command-Tab is your friend: cycles through all open applications in the Dock, switching to or unhiding them as appropriate, much like Alt-Tab in Windoze. Command-Shift-Tab cycles the other way.
Other than launching an app or using its contextual menus, I never mouse to ther Dock
Furthermore, to switch back and fourth between two apps, press cmd-tab and release both keys. I find this behavior to be much more useful than cycling through all open application, which is done by holding down cmd and pressing tab consecutively.
The real difference in Mac OS X was that the desktop in Mac OS X was at first nonexistent, then later a separate program called "Desktop", then integrated into the Finder, like it was originally prior to Mac OS X.
It's never been quittable but it's easy to hack that in. I like being able to quit it sometimes. You can always force quit it but that's a little more drastic-feeling.
When you quit an application, you get switched to the next application in the stack, so if you are on a quitting spree via command-q, you'd end up quitting Finder by mistake. You'd have little options left for starting programs and viewing folders and files unless you happened to have something like Script Editor or Terminal running, or something like Dragthing.
Originally posted by johnq
The Finder was always a separate application...in Classic, Mac OS 9, 8, 7...not sure how far back.
The real difference in Mac OS X was that the desktop in Mac OS X was at first nonexistent, then later a separate program called "Desktop", then integrated into the Finder, like it was originally prior to Mac OS X.
It's never been quittable but it's easy to hack that in. I like being able to quit it sometimes. You can always force quit it but that's a little more drastic-feeling.
When you quit an application, you get switched to the next application in the stack, so if you are on a quitting spree via command-q, you'd end up quitting Finder by mistake. You'd have little options left for starting programs and viewing folders and files unless you happened to have something like Script Editor or Terminal running, or something like Dragthing.
In System 6-9: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
In Mac OS X Beta: Seperate app, called 'Desktop'
In Mac OS X v10.0-v10.3: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
The Finder has always (in OS X anyways) controlled the desktop.
Originally posted by ryaxnb
In System 6-9: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
In Mac OS X Beta: Seperate app, called 'Desktop'
In Mac OS X v10.0-v10.3: Seperate app, called 'Finder'
The Finder has always (in OS X anyways) controlled the desktop.
Thanks. Reaching back in my memory, at some point wasn't there "Desktop" application running but the Mac OS faces logo, if moused over, was called "Finder" and each Finder window was titled "Finder"?
I seem to recall there being a complaint that there were 2 things to think of (Finder and Desktop as separate apps) rather than the one we were accustomed to.
EDIT: -Yup here's it is- But you're right that it was just Desktop and not two separate apps
So it's:
In System 6-9: Separate app, called 'Finder'
In Mac OS X Beta: Separate app, called 'Desktop', but Finder windows had "Finder" in their titlebars.
In Mac OS X v10.0-v10.3: Separate app, called 'Finder', with integrated desktop
Why can't I use the "home" and "end" keys like my PC? If I want to jump around in text, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Also, I can't jump from word to work by holding down the "open apple" key and the arrow key. On my PC, I can quickly jump back 10 words without using my mouse and without holding down and going character by character.
Also, just now, when I made a typing mistake, instead of letting me hold down the open apple key and hitting backspace to delete an entire word, it just beeps at me.
Has anyone encountered something similar?
Originally posted by alligator
Why can't I use the "home" and "end" keys like my PC?
Here are the preferred text editing shortcuts on Mac OS X. You'll find these work in the majority of modern apps.
double-click :: select word
triple-click :: select paragraph
option-left/right arrow :: skip cursor left/right by one word
option-up/down arrow :: skip cursor to top/bottom of paragraph
apple-up/down :: skip cursor to top/bottom of document
page up/down :: scroll document up/ down by one screen
home :: scroll to the beginning of the document.
end :: scroll to the end of the document
option-delete :: delete one word
option-forward delete :: forward delete one word
Furthermore, shift is the standard selection modifier. For example:
shift-left/right arrow :: select left/right by one character
shift-option-left/right arrow :: select left/right by one word
This will work in all good apps that adhere to the standard cocoa text behaviors. Apps such as Safari, Mail, and TextEdit follow these rules.
The control key is only used at the command line.
The option key modifies the original behavior of a key slightly.
The command key performs an action unrelated to the normal function of the key.
also check this out: http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/wsx/. I love to work with the "minimize-in-place" option!
But once panther with its exposé will be released, you won't need it anymore.
amarone
Arrow keys:
left/right: Move one character
up/down: Move one line
Option:
Extends the behaviour to the next largest unit:
left/right: Move one word
up/down: Move one paragraph
Shift:
Performs a select instead of a move:
left/right: Select a character
up/down: Select a line
opt-left/right: Select a word
opt-up/down: Select a paragraph
Pretty consistent when you figure out that option extends to the next largest logical unit in the text, and shift selects.
But in any case, welcome alligator to being a switcher/cross-platformer!
When I first picked up OS X and not having used a Mac for 5-10 years, I picked up Pogue's The Missing Manual just to make sure I know the less obvious/intuitive stuff.
In any case, I have used enough OS to know that what is intuitive is really what one makes of it...
Originally posted by klinux
Hey, I thought OS X is suppose to be more intuitive! (Running and ducking)
But in any case, welcome alligator to being a switcher/cross-platformer!
When I first picked up OS X and not having used a Mac for 5-10 years, I picked up Pogue's The Missing Manual just to make sure I know the less obvious/intuitive stuff.
In any case, I have used enough OS to know that what is intuitive is really what one makes of it...
Absolutely. More often than not, *consistency* is more important in the long run. 'Intuitive' relies much on a users' previous experiences. Consistent does not.
In that, MacOS X fares much better than Windows, in general, and therefore is 'easier'.
The above rules (opt raises one conceptual chunk size, shift means select) are one such example. You don't have to memorize 12 keystrokes - just adapt 4 known easy ones with two simple rules. And, you can expect those rules to continue to apply throughout apps, so the learning curve on most apps is lessened.
By the way, for those who are following, I'm now 100% convinced I did the right thing by buying a G5. I'm slowly switching everything over to this machine. Quicken is next!
Originally posted by alligator
Why? How do you know if something is a shortcut or not? In Windows, there is the little arrow overlay. What does OS X do?
It also shows a little arrow overlay... at least in the Finder; I'm not sure if FCP is peculiar in that respect since I've never used it.
Originally posted by giba
It also shows a little arrow overlay... at least in the Finder; I'm not sure if FCP is peculiar in that respect since I've never used it.
i think alligator may be confused as to how FCP works. it doesn't actual "import" files per se. it creates links to them. because it does not alter the source files. it just uses them as links to source material. the filter effects and whatnot are just applied to temporary cache files and final renders.