Pem’s Tech Blog

Overall my first impressions are generally positive, though definitely not to the point that I’d even consider any chance of ever "switching".

However, one thing that has really bothered me so far is the differences in the keyboard shortcuts.  I have Ctrl mapped to whatever crazy Apple keyboard button does alt-tab and ctrl-c ctrl-v ctrl-x etc.  This is much better than having to press alt+c for copy etc.

However, it still sucks.  ctrl+tab is doing alt+tab.  I have to use alt+tab for tabs switching in FireFox.  ctrl+shift+left/right doesn’t highlight text words properly.  alt+D doesn’t let me type in a web URL in FireFox (or Safari), and ctrl+E doesn’t let me do a web search in FireFox (or Safari).  On the xterm console window, I have to press alt+c instead of ctrl+c.  This reminded me that it’s not just Windows keyboard shortcut standards, but Linux too, that Mac OS X is breaking (for example, I can cut copy paste and alt+tab properly in RedHat, probably Ubuntu etc too etc).  Yes this is a complaint about vi too; shift+z+z is not the right way to save a text file, it’s ctrl+s.  However, vi is a specific old-world legacy application rather than the OS; the actual Linux OS GUI’s (desktop environments) that I’ve used have the correct keyboard shortcuts.

I have to say that I came pretty close to fixing this problem with a proper method such as (SMASH MAC MINI WITH SLEDGE HAMMER) or (reformat hard drive and install Windows 7 on it, or maybe Ubuntu).

I’m sorry if it sounds “hater” or narrow-minded.  I am fine with memorizing keyboard shortcuts: I think it’s a great convenience (and efficiency improvement) to use the keyboard most of the time (instead of the mouse).  However, I am not fine with memorizing a second set of keyboard shortcuts that are only used by Mac OS X!  Apple should follow the standard and try to minimize the differences between different default hotkeys for different OS’s and different applications and different platforms (such as mobile / smart phone).  Is it too much to ask for Alt+Tab and Ctrl+C to just work, regardless of what OS I am using!?

I really don’t want to sound pointlessly negative or “hater”.  Overall there’s a lot I like about it: I have some overall very positive impressions of Mac OS X and the Mac Mini (Mar 2009).  However, the keyboard shortcuts need to be fixed.

At this point I am probably going to look for some add-on software (or preferences) that will let you easily remap everything to be more like the standard Windows keyboard shortcuts.

Pem (Admin) :: Jul.11.2009 :: Mac OS :: No Comments »

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