OS X Keyboard Shortcuts - Both brilliant and retarded at the same time
I'm of two minds when it comes to the layout of OX 's keyboard shortcuts. On the one hand, many of them are absolutely ingenious. On the other hand, many of them are totally unintuitive and borderline useless.
The Excellent
Among Apple's excellent keyboard shortcuts are those that require only one hand to invoke.
Command - Comma (Preferences) - This is absolutely superb. I know of no other OS on earth that has a unified keyboard shortcut scheme to access preferences. This should be standard for all operating systems. It enhances the user's productivity by leaps and bounds.
Command-W and Command-Q - They're so easy to find that I've on many instances accidentally hit Command-Q. Still, I'm not complaining. These combinations make so much more sense that Windows half-baked and straining Alt-F4.
Command-TAB - The application cycling behaviour of OS X makes so much more sense than Windows window cycling behaviour. It minimizes the clutter and makes it far easier to cycle to whichever program you're looking for.
Command-H - Hiding windows is very useful. It's a great way of reducing clutter that would show up on the Dock if I minimized it.
Screenshot shortcuts - These are absolutely brilliant. Windows' Print Screen and Alt-Print Screen are far less intuitive and provide far less functionality (ex save to file) that Apple's shortcuts.
Command-Control-D: Look up in dictionary - I didn't know about this before I started writing this post. This is really cool! Unfortunately, it seems to only work with Cocoa apps like Safari
Eject button - 'Nuff said.
Command-? - Help menu. Very useful.
But some two-handed shortcuts are also very useful:
Command-Option-Eject: This is a hyper-efficient way to put my computer to sleep. I use it every single day, and it's great when I'm running late for work.
Command Semi-Colon: This invokes the spell-checker correct spelling in all Cocoa apps. This is really cool!
The Configurable
Apple lets me add keyboard shortcuts to applications, even non-Apple and non-Cocoa apps like Firefox. I added a shortcut for "Manage Bookmarks" to Firefox that does not exist in any OS's version of Firefox. This is really cool!
The Retarded
Safari's Command-Shift-Square Bracket - This is for cycling between tabs. Firefox's Control-Tab makes so much more sense.
Control F2 - For accessing the menubar. - It look me forever to find this, and I had no idea it had to be activated. This is silly and unintuitive. Apple shouldn't force me to hunt with my mouse for a menubar item. The existing shortcut should at least be turned on by default.
Prompts - Some applications' prompts do not allow me to interact with them with my keyboard. An example of this is the "Do you want to save your document before closing?" prompt. This doesn't appear to be a problem with Apple's internal apps, but there's a lot of third part apps that absolutely force me to use my mouse to click on something. I don't know if this is a Carbon-vs.-Cocao thing.
The Non-Existent
Invoke Context Menu - OS X does not allow me to invoke the right-click context menu without using my mouse. This is in sharp contrast to Windows that has a context menu key in their keyboard. I know you can left-click and hit Control, but his does involve use of the mouse. To be frank, this is absolutely silly.
Maximize - I love OS X, but I've never bought into the idea that I shouldn't enlarge my window to full size. For many applications, including browsers and IDEs, I want the entire screen to be occupied without any distractions. Apple should at the very least provide a keyboard shortcut to show me the "suggested largest size".
Screensaver - There's no such as a keyboard shortcut to invoke the screensaver. This is annoying because there are times I want to put on my screensaver without putting my computer to sleep.
Run - There's no shortcut for me to invoke an application, like Windows' Window-R. This is an annoying omission.
Launch application - This is really cool feature of NeXT-step that Apple took away in OS X. In derivatives such as Window Maker, I could associate ALT-F1 with a program like Terminal, which
The Excellent
Among Apple's excellent keyboard shortcuts are those that require only one hand to invoke.
Command - Comma (Preferences) - This is absolutely superb. I know of no other OS on earth that has a unified keyboard shortcut scheme to access preferences. This should be standard for all operating systems. It enhances the user's productivity by leaps and bounds.
Command-W and Command-Q - They're so easy to find that I've on many instances accidentally hit Command-Q. Still, I'm not complaining. These combinations make so much more sense that Windows half-baked and straining Alt-F4.
Command-TAB - The application cycling behaviour of OS X makes so much more sense than Windows window cycling behaviour. It minimizes the clutter and makes it far easier to cycle to whichever program you're looking for.
Command-H - Hiding windows is very useful. It's a great way of reducing clutter that would show up on the Dock if I minimized it.
Screenshot shortcuts - These are absolutely brilliant. Windows' Print Screen and Alt-Print Screen are far less intuitive and provide far less functionality (ex save to file) that Apple's shortcuts.
Command-Control-D: Look up in dictionary - I didn't know about this before I started writing this post. This is really cool! Unfortunately, it seems to only work with Cocoa apps like Safari
Eject button - 'Nuff said.
Command-? - Help menu. Very useful.
But some two-handed shortcuts are also very useful:
Command-Option-Eject: This is a hyper-efficient way to put my computer to sleep. I use it every single day, and it's great when I'm running late for work.
Command Semi-Colon: This invokes the spell-checker correct spelling in all Cocoa apps. This is really cool!
The Configurable
Apple lets me add keyboard shortcuts to applications, even non-Apple and non-Cocoa apps like Firefox. I added a shortcut for "Manage Bookmarks" to Firefox that does not exist in any OS's version of Firefox. This is really cool!
The Retarded
Safari's Command-Shift-Square Bracket - This is for cycling between tabs. Firefox's Control-Tab makes so much more sense.
Control F2 - For accessing the menubar. - It look me forever to find this, and I had no idea it had to be activated. This is silly and unintuitive. Apple shouldn't force me to hunt with my mouse for a menubar item. The existing shortcut should at least be turned on by default.
Prompts - Some applications' prompts do not allow me to interact with them with my keyboard. An example of this is the "Do you want to save your document before closing?" prompt. This doesn't appear to be a problem with Apple's internal apps, but there's a lot of third part apps that absolutely force me to use my mouse to click on something. I don't know if this is a Carbon-vs.-Cocao thing.
The Non-Existent
Invoke Context Menu - OS X does not allow me to invoke the right-click context menu without using my mouse. This is in sharp contrast to Windows that has a context menu key in their keyboard. I know you can left-click and hit Control, but his does involve use of the mouse. To be frank, this is absolutely silly.
Maximize - I love OS X, but I've never bought into the idea that I shouldn't enlarge my window to full size. For many applications, including browsers and IDEs, I want the entire screen to be occupied without any distractions. Apple should at the very least provide a keyboard shortcut to show me the "suggested largest size".
Screensaver - There's no such as a keyboard shortcut to invoke the screensaver. This is annoying because there are times I want to put on my screensaver without putting my computer to sleep.
Run - There's no shortcut for me to invoke an application, like Windows' Window-R. This is an annoying omission.
Launch application - This is really cool feature of NeXT-step that Apple took away in OS X. In derivatives such as Window Maker, I could associate ALT-F1 with a program like Terminal, which
Comments
Also with the screensaver, I know this uses the mouse but you can set one of your Hot Corners to turn on the screensaver.
Microsoft Word really frustrates me as I can't change the zoom with a key combo. Every time I open it the zoom is far too small.
While we're at it I'd like to note that iTunes 7, to the best of my knowledge, has no keyboard shortcut for bringing main window up after you've closed it. Before 7, it was Command-2.
It used to be Command-1. I'm now using Command-L (Show Current Song) as a replacement.
Home - go to beginning of line
End - go to end of line
kinda miss those, simple one key press wonders. I'm sure this apple setup has one somewhere but its probably two keys.
Run - There's no shortcut for me to invoke an application, like Windows' Window-R. This is an annoying omission.
Launch application - This is really cool feature of NeXT-step that Apple took away in OS X. In derivatives such as Window Maker, I could associate ALT-F1 with a program like Terminal, which
Cannot Quicksilver do these things for you?
Non-Existant (for me)
Home - go to beginning of line
End - go to end of line
kinda miss those, simple one key press wonders. I'm sure this apple setup has one somewhere but its probably two keys.
It is two keys - command and left or right arrow.
Non-Existant (for me)
Home - go to beginning of line
End - go to end of line
kinda miss those, simple one key press wonders. I'm sure this apple setup has one somewhere but its probably two keys.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss Home and End not working properly when I use Windows.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss Home and End not working properly when I use Windows.
yeah, and forget alt + print screen for a copy of your screen to the clipboard for easy paste into word or a graphics program...no print screen key...
Prompts - Some applications' prompts do not allow me to interact with them with my keyboard. An example of this is the "Do you want to save your document before closing?" prompt. This doesn't appear to be a problem with Apple's internal apps, but there's a lot of third part apps that absolutely force me to use my mouse to click on something. I don't know if this is a Carbon-vs.-Cocao thing.
You can turn keyboard access on in the universal system preferences setting somewhere, or the keyboard system preferences. Tab lets you switch between controls, and space activates.
Maximize - I love OS X, but I've never bought into the idea that I shouldn't enlarge my window to full size. For many applications, including browsers and IDEs, I want the entire screen to be occupied without any distractions. Apple should at the very least provide a keyboard shortcut to show me the "suggested largest size".
You can add 'zoom' as a custom keyboard short cut in keyboard settings; a hack, but half gets you to your solution. If you're feeling ambitious, you can create an applescript to resize the foremost window to the maximum size, and bind a shortcut to this (a la quicksilver).
Likewise you can do the same to the Safari switching tab issue you were having. Personally I think firefox's ctrl-tab is awkward to press (i.e. alt-f4), I prefer cmd-shift-left/right. Also you can change the ctrl-f2 thing this way too.
And as it was said before, Quicksilver will solve some of your application launching issues.
And "Print Screen" is command-shift-3, as it has been since forever.
Command-shift-4 gives you a selection cursor that after you use it to draw a box, the contents of the box are saved on the Desktop as a picture.
yeah, and forget alt + print screen for a copy of your screen to the clipboard for easy paste into word or a graphics program...no print screen key...
Yeah, and I totally hate never knowing the shortcut key in Windows to exit a program, or to hide all open applications, etc.
Invoke Context Menu - OS X does not allow me to invoke the right-click context menu without using my mouse. This is in sharp contrast to Windows that has a context menu key in their keyboard. I know you can left-click and hit Control, but his does involve use of the mouse. To be frank, this is absolutely silly.
I don't get this really, since for a Contextual menu to work it needs to be in context of where the mouse is positioned. So if you need to position the mouse, you might as well click at that point.
yeah, and forget alt + print screen for a copy of your screen to the clipboard for easy paste into word or a graphics program...no print screen key
Command-Control-Shift-3 to copy screen to clipboard
Command-Control-Shift-4 to copy the selected area to clipboard.
also, i didn't have to activate the menu bar shortcut.
also, command-tab is no different from alt-tab on windows. it makes the same sense as windows not more.
launch any app by hitting command-space bar and typing the first few letters (spotlight)
i also know that there is a context menu keyboard shortcut, i just can't think of it right now. google around a bit.
I don't get this really, since for a Contextual menu to work it needs to be in context of where the mouse is positioned. So if you need to position the mouse, you might as well click at that point.
In Windows, the context menu is relative to whatever has focus/is selected, so you can tab or arrow the focus to a word or file and invoke the context menu on it with the menu key. This is extremely useful. Mice are better for somethings and keyboard for others, but there really shouldn't be anything that can't be done with either.
Compare:
Windows: alt-letter-letter
OS X, after you have dug into Sysprefs so that this is possible at all:
Ctrl-F2-rightarrow-rightarrow-rightarrow- "Ah, that's the combo!" - esc - cmd-opt-ctrl-v
I can only assume they hate people who prefer keyboards.
yeah, and forget alt + print screen for a copy of your screen to the clipboard for easy paste into word or a graphics program...no print screen key...
How often do you really want a full snapshot of your entire desktop? I have a 30" monitor and usually have half a dozen windows open. Clearly, I would need to edit the image before it would be suitable for placing in a document. So in the real world you are actually dozens of clicks away from having a useable image with the Windows print screen feature. In contrast, using Grab in OS X you can capture a window or a selection area which is very intuitive, at least in my experience.
Of course if you wish you can press Command-shift-3 to save a png of your desktop.
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Of course if you wish you can press Command-shift-3 to save a png of your desktop.
or... Control-Command-Shift-3 to copy to the clipboard just like Print Screen.