Apple's Mac mini offers 'lovely touches that Microsoft can...

[MacBytes]

Category: Reviews
Link: Apple's Mac mini offers 'lovely touches that Microsoft can't match' (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20050318104342)
Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)

Approved by Mudbug

[jsw]

A second and infuriating difference is the behaviour needed to access submenus. In Windows, clicking on a menu entry opens its submenu. If you were trying to get to the Control Panel, you'd quickly click Start, then Settings, then Control Panel. But Mac OS X's behaviour when you click on the parent menu entry is to close the menu rather than display the submenu; you have to hover the mouse for a brief moment to access submenus. The constant phantom disappearance of menus is both bizarre and utterly annoying until you get used to it.

A pretty fair and balanced review, but I take exception to the above - having migrated to OS X from Windows in 2002 (and having abandoned Macs for a good half-decade or so before that), I never had any problem whatsoever with the use of menus on OS X.

[Savoy]

The guy brings up an interesting point about shortcuts landing in different places on PCs and Macs. How does this play out with a KVM switch? Are there any keyboards that are "dual platform" (as they used to say) with regard to special keys?

[nagromme]

Any keyboard will work. The "Windows" key works like the Mac "Command" key for Mac shortcuts. When using Windows, you use the Control key for the same, as usual. Both platforms work the way they normally would.

As some have pointed out, the Mac's shortcut key placement is much easier to use one-handed.

If you want the two OS's to use similar key placement (like both using Control or both using Windows/Command) then that's doable with software utils that can swap keys.

[SPUY767]

I like how he says that OSX has the slick metallic feel of windows XP. As though windows XP invented it and it was copied by apple, and not the other way around. Get over yourself Windows Junkies.

[GodBless]

Any keyboard will work. The "Windows" key works like the Mac "Command" key for Mac shortcuts. When using Windows, you use the Control key for the same, as usual. Both platforms work the way they normally would.

As some have pointed out, the Mac's shortcut key placement is much easier to use one-handed.

If you want the two OS's to use similar key placement (like both using Control or both using Windows/Command) then that's doable with software utils that can swap keys.
I heard that in Tiger the OS lets you swap the shortcut keys in the System Preferences.

[formicahjones]

I like how he says that OSX has the slick metallic feel of windows XP. As though windows XP invented it and it was copied by apple, and not the other way around. Get over yourself Windows Junkies.


he meant the windows in osx, not Microsoft Windows.

as in, the brushed metal 'skin' the windows use in osx.

[AlmostThere]

One thing this misses out on, for a UK review, is that Apple UK keyboards are different for standard UK keyboards. I found a downloadable keymap for a friend but AFAIK Apple don't actually provide one (maybe someone knows better). Small issue but confusing for many I imagine the Mini is aimed at.

As some have pointed out, the Mac's shortcut key placement is much easier to use one-handed.

Can you elaborate? I generally use 'ctrl' with my little fingers which puts almost the entire keyboard with in reach of the other three fingers on each hand - it is outermost for all combinations.

On my Mac I am constantly having to change which finger (or thumb) I hit the Apple key with because it is 'inside' the "QAZ", level with "WSX" and outside the rest, obviously mirrored for right Apple key. Undo-Cut-Copy-Paste I find much worse as it really bunches up my hand, although including a shift makes it a bit better on the Mac.

I make no claims about my own ergonomics but if there is an optimum Mac hand postion it would be nice to know.