Things from windows that you all would like in OSX

Marky_Mark · Mar 21, 2006

janey said:
Plugins for Safari can do this (like Saft)
Also, what I've found useful sometimes (for reading in Safari (the oreilly thing, not the browser) and such) is to have a thing on the bookmark bar that's just a bit of javascript to resize the window, and then another one to get it back to normal:

Code:

javascript:self.moveTo(0,0);self.resizeTo(screen.availWidth,screen.availHeight);

for fullscreen

and

Code:

javascript:self.resizeTo(1150,700);

for my preferred window size (where 1150 and 700 are the length & width in pixels)

Cool! Thanks

BlizzardBomb · Mar 21, 2006

Timepass said:
ok people are asking for a way to move around the OS with out using short cut keys. or having to relay on the cursor (you know the thing you mouse moves)

the largest one is when the box comes up Save , dont save, and cancel come up. Be able to move around those using the keyboarded. Normally only using arrow keys. I have attach a picture kind of showing what I mean. If you notic the 3 save dialog boxes and look at how they are a little differnt and how the yes, no and cancel are each have a bolder out line.
I moved around for each on of those ONLY using my keyboard. No short cut key to deside it all for me. After the choice I want is choosen I just have to hit entered and boom it done. This is an example of what people want but it would apply to ALL dialog boxes (like ones with next and so on) ones where the short cuts are not as well known or even out there. (just so it helps everyone out. In the order of the picture from top to bottom the opition used is Yes, No, Cancel)

Besides short cut keys are general not under the classifaction of general knowleged and requiring to use them makes the OS much less user friendly. But using arrow keys to move around is much more user friendly.

either way I hope the picture helps. Rememeber I moved around between the chooses only using the keyboard arrow keys and I could of choosen any one of them with just hitting the return key after I choose it.

Because moving a mouse is too much hard work?

mark! · Mar 21, 2006

BlizzardBomb said:
Because moving a mouse is too much hard work?

No, dont be a smarta*s...it's about convenience, & ease of use.
If someone is using a keyboard, it isn't hard--but annoying to have to reach for the mouse everyother sentence...
even if your at the end just to save.
If we went by the 'movign the mouse is too much hard work so let's not use any keyboard, k thanks' method, then would it be easy for you?

portent · Mar 21, 2006

I don't mean to "bash" Windows...but I've used a Mac for a long time (I'm not a "switcher") and the primary reason is the Mac's UI. Yes, it could stand some improvements and additions, but I don't wan t a take-over-the-whole-screen button, or a menubar that moves around.

Some things are both helpful and dangerous. Like any powerful tool, some features can cause problems in inexperienced hands. For example, Cut-and-paste on the file system...if you're a real newbie, and you "cut" a file...it disappears! That's why Apple implemented "copy" and "paste," but not "cut." Some serious thought went into that.

TDM21 · Mar 21, 2006

Timepass said:
ok people are asking for a way to move around the OS with out using short cut keys. or having to relay on the cursor (you know the thing you mouse moves)

the largest one is when the box comes up Save , dont save, and cancel come up. Be able to move around those using the keyboarded. Normally only using arrow keys. I have attach a picture kind of showing what I mean. If you notic the 3 save dialog boxes and look at how they are a little differnt and how the yes, no and cancel are each have a bolder out line.
I moved around for each on of those ONLY using my keyboard. No short cut key to deside it all for me. After the choice I want is choosen I just have to hit entered and boom it done. This is an example of what people want but it would apply to ALL dialog boxes (like ones with next and so on) ones where the short cuts are not as well known or even out there. (just so it helps everyone out. In the order of the picture from top to bottom the opition used is Yes, No, Cancel)

Besides short cut keys are general not under the classifaction of general knowleged and requiring to use them makes the OS much less user friendly. But using arrow keys to move around is much more user friendly.

either way I hope the picture helps. Rememeber I moved around between the chooses only using the keyboard arrow keys and I could of choosen any one of them with just hitting the return key after I choose it.

I found a way around this in most cases. If you hit tab a blue outline will show up around the buttons. When you get to the one you want, hit Spacebar. This works for most confirmation windows, unless they are from programs in the background (like iChat asking if you want to become available).

Pedro. · Mar 21, 2006

Chundles said:
Networked shares browsing.

Currently it's a case of finding a computer, connecting to it, selecting a shared folder, mounting it on the desktop, opening the mounted folder and then navigating.

This is the one thing I miss from Windows where networked computers would appear as folders that could be opened and closed as if I were browsing folders on my own machine.

Personally I think networking on Macs suck.

If they fix networking to be more intuitive and easy then it would be the ultimate OS, it's my only real gripe about OS X.

I can't believe not so many people are bothered by Mac OS X Networking ?! It really annoys me when I connect to another computer that has many main folders ... I have to mount EACH one of them to be able to browse through them

!!!

It might be the only bad thing in Mac OS X ... but it's SO bad !!!

20rogersc · Mar 21, 2006

Oooo, and another thing . . .
Pressing 'return' to open a folder or file.

::20ROGERSC::

TDM21 · Mar 21, 2006

portent said:
I don't mean to "bash" Windows...but I've used a Mac for a long time (I'm not a "switcher") and the primary reason is the Mac's UI. Yes, it could stand some improvements and additions, but I don't wan t a take-over-the-whole-screen button, or a menubar that moves around.

Some things are both helpful and dangerous. Like any powerful tool, some features can cause problems in inexperienced hands. For example, Cut-and-paste on the file system...if you're a real newbie, and you "cut" a file...it disappears! That's why Apple implemented "copy" and "paste," but not "cut." Some serious thought went into that.

This is why I used the word Move in my original post. Windows Explorer calls the option Cut, but that is not how it works in reality. In Explorer, the file you want to move will become faded and once you choose the location and click Paste, the file will be moved. If you Cut the file and decide not to paste it anywhere then the file is left in its original location. Like I said before, there are several old threads in the forum debating the use of this feature. In Windows it works really great and is convenient since there are no spring folders.

jkballer23 · Mar 21, 2006

20rogersc said:
Oooo, and another thing . . .
Pressing 'return' to open a folder or file.

::20ROGERSC::

I rarely press enter to open a folder. But, thanks for letting me know I can rename a folder by hitting enter. I didn't know that

. I always used to click and wait. F2 on Windows = Enter on Macs when selected on folders

Timepass · Mar 21, 2006

Pedro. said:
I can't believe not so many people are bothered by Mac OS X Networking ?! It really annoys me when I connect to another computer that has many main folders ... I have to mount EACH one of them to be able to browse through them !!!

It might be the only bad thing in Mac OS X ... but it's SO bad !!!

I am guessing part of the reason people dont complain or notices it is relitivly few people deal with any networking computers. They only work with one computer.

Eric5h5 said:
Under no circumstances. Usability nightmare. Just slamming the pointer to the top is much faster/easier than having to carefully point at the menu bar.

--Eric

ummm yeah try having 2 monitors running. Not aways the case when the stuff you are working on is on the 2nd monitor. it more move to the other screen and find where you curser is on the screen. to access anything.

I think they should add it as a opition to turn on and still have the menus at the top and on the indivial windows as well.
It also is more of a problem when you dont releize what you active window/program currently is. The menu controled by that. Some time it nice to go just go to the top of that window to pull down the menu. Doesnt have to be active sicne when you click on it does both.]

I dont think they should make it force on people but give it as an opition to turn on or off. I know a lot of switchers would turn it on. It what they are used 2. I honest have never like the menus being at the top ever since I used it on my first mac long ago back around windows 3.1 and I used the mac before I ever used a computer running M$ windows. Always hated that menu set up thing. So for me it not what I used to because I have hated apple set up on it since day one when I first used any computer with a GUI

edit: was to add respond to some else posted. did not want to make a double post to do it.

timswim78 · Mar 21, 2006

Some small things

- More options when right clicking the mouse
- Multiple desktops without a third party app
- Ability to drag and drop files in order to upload to an FTP server
- Ability to turn off the bar at the top of the screen or move it
-

tomw · Mar 21, 2006

A decent MSN Messenger!

with video and audio support.

EDIT: sorry, didnt read the thread title properly, maybe some kind of iChat support for a MSN Account

Palad1 · Mar 22, 2006

20rogersc said:
Oooo, and another thing . . .
Pressing 'return' to open a folder or file.

::20ROGERSC::

Command down -> open
Command up -> go to parent

It'll soon be my third 'switch day' anniversary and I'm still struggling to get rid of the Windows Shell way of thinking.

It has a logic to it though... cmd down : 'delve' in this thingie. cmd-up 'back up'... Well, less confusing than Enter / backspace (will it delete my files was the first thing my gf asked me when I showed her around explorer) .

Still I haven't figured out how to emulate the CTRL-BACKSPACE sequence with the finder (open the parent in a new window).

Cheers,
Palad1

ps: Forget about the intel switch, I want the 'Open apple / Closed apple keys back!!! Let's all join the clover leaf / swedish park symbol opposition league.

VanNess · Mar 22, 2006

TDM21 said:
This is why I used the word Move in my original post. Windows Explorer calls the option Cut, but that is not how it works in reality

If it's move that you want, then move you shall have. Here's how it can be done:

First, open Automater and create the workflow pictured below.

Second, save the workflow as a finder plug-in and call it "Move to..."

Now anytime you select a file (or multiple files), right click and select "Move to..." as shown in the second picture. A small dialog will appear containing a drop down menu of the standard OS X file locations (desktop, documents, pictures, etc.). Select one of those or select "other" (the last choice). If you select "other," a standard open file dialog box appears. Navigate to the location and folder you want to move the file to and click open. The open file dialog disappears and the location you selected appears in the drop down menu. Press continue and the file(s) you selected are spirited away to that location.

miniConvert · Mar 22, 2006

A screen of death that's actually helpful.

The Windows one is butt ugly, but it tells you what went wrong.

The OS X one is very pretty, but it's 100% useless.

kanaka · Mar 22, 2006

miniConvert said:
A screen of death that's actually helpful.

The Windows one is butt ugly, but it tells you what went wrong.

The OS X one is very pretty, but it's 100% useless.

After a kernel panic, you can check /Library/Logs/panic.log to see what went wrong. I know it's not the same as displaying it on the screen at the time of the panic, but the info is available.

Also, if you enable remote debugging, you can connect to the 'dead' machine from another computer and start a remote GDB debugging session.

miniConvert · Mar 22, 2006

kanaka said:
After a kernel panic, you can check /Library/Logs/panic.log to see what went wrong. I know it's not the same as displaying it on the screen at the time of the panic, but the info is available.

Also, if you enable remote debugging, you can connect to the 'dead' machine from another computer and start a remote GDB debugging session.

On the first point, to the best of my knowledge from what I read online the log is updated on the next reboot? Anyway, in my case no logs were being written to - a screen dump would have been vastly more helpful.

Remote logging sounds nice, but what the hell, Apple Mac is supposed to be simple - I'm sure they could find a way to make a kernel panic both pretty and informative. Hell, it doesn't even tell you it's a kernel panic, it just tells you to restart - which I ended up doing several times not knowing what the hell was happening

Applespider · Mar 22, 2006

To be honest, it's more useful having it in a log. I know when Windows crashes, the majority of people couldn't tell you what error was on the screen since by the time they phone the helpdesk, they've restarted the machine and the errors were so long that they didn't write them down!

As for the two screens comment - XP is just as frustrating with two screens. Sometimes dialogue windows appear on one screen, sometimes the other - within the same program!
Documents that are re-opened tend to have some bizarrely finger shaped size if they were ever over two screens. Whenever Windows locks the screen, when you log back in, although a program will only be showing on one screen now, some of your documents might still be 'hidden' on the other screen. Argh!

I do suspect that how easy it is on a Mac depends on how you use your screens. If you're usign one for palettess, it's less of an issue than if you're using them for different apps entirely. I don't use the top menu bar a great amount though - I tend to navigate around apps from the main app window/palette or by keyboard shortcuts so it's not so much of an issue.

bthom70 · Mar 22, 2006

adamb100 said:
Being able to rename a file by right clicking.

Also being able to use the F2 to rename and F3 to find
Less mouse, more keystroke.

Mitthrawnuruodo · Mar 22, 2006

Now, just to address a few obvious ones:

20rogersc said:
Pressing 'return' to open a folder or file.

Cmd-O or the above mentioned cmd-arrowdown is too hard...?

ewinemiller said:
3. Menus on windows instead of at the top. Working long on my Mac kicks the carpel tunnel into overdrive. The extra mousing seems to aggravate it.
5. Keyboard enabling for all UI elements. I hate that you have to use a mouse to do stuff and can't tab to certain things.
6. Home and End are just silly in OSX, do people really go to go to the top of the document and end of the document more than go to the beginning and end of the current line.
7. Image thumbnails in explorer without having to open the preview app.

3. H*** No. Having menus at the edge of the screen is the only usable way. Learn the shortcuts if it bothers you...

5. Go to System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard Shourtcuts and enable Full keyboard access for All controls.
6. Use Home and End along with cmd-arrows and you might get the point, eventually...
7. Use View as Icons (cmd-1) in Finder, and under view options (cmd-J) set icon size to 128 px and check Show icon preview.

liketom said:
Solitaire

Solitaire XL is free...

adamb100 said:
Being able to rename a file by right clicking.

Use the Get Info window and rename it as much as you want.

But rename it using the Enter key is much easier... IMO...

janey said:
some way to refresh finder without forcequitting it. Biggest pet peeve so far

Just quit it. You can add a "Quit Finder" menu item (which also lets you cmd-Q) using something like TinkerTool or just type "defaults write com.apple.Finder QuitMenuItem 1" in Terminal.

godbout said:
This is from windows and Linux, I would like an easy way to access the "top bar" (with the little blue apple) for example "control+e" to access edit...

ctrl-F2 (remember the fn key if you're on a portable)

iBunny · Mar 22, 2006

Im sure it has already been said, but the only thing I love windows for over OSX, is the rate and smoothness at wich you can move / resize windows. I dont understand why it is not Instant and seemless in OSX... how hard can it be? How much processing power does it take to resize a window on the fly? How is it that such a horrible OS like Windows can do it so perfectly? and a sweet OS like tiger cant?

That is my only complaint.

Timepass · Mar 22, 2006

Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Now, just to address a few obvious ones:

3. H*** No. Having menus at the edge of the screen is the only usable way. Learn the shortcuts if it bothers you...
5. Go to System Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard Shourtcuts and enable Full keyboard access for All controls.
6. Use Home and End along with cmd-arrows and you might get the point, eventually...
7. Use View as Icons (cmd-1) in Finder, and under view options (cmd-J) set icon size to 128 px and check Show icon preview.

for number 3 I going to take it you dont even want it to be OPITIONAL for macs.
Also when you run 2 monitors OSX menu set up really a poor set up for anythign in the 2nd monitor.
Also I stated earily I have hated that menu set up since like little and when it was the first GUI system I ever used. The Mac pull down menu set up i hated it then and I still hate it. I always though they should go on the active window. Now making it opition to turn on or off keeps both sides happy. The die hard mac fans who want noughting else and people who want there personal choice in set up.

dpaanlka · Mar 22, 2006

Marky_Mark said:
2. Full screen window resize - esp in Safari

Apple has never done this in 22 years, and for good reason. It trains most all average PC users to be nearly incapable of viewing more than one window at a time. They seem confused and dazed when they see a Mac display with like 7 windows open in various locations.

I would really, really hate to see this on any Macintosh. Good thing it will never happen.

timswim78 said:
- More options when right clicking the mouse
.......
- Ability to turn off the bar at the top of the screen or move it

Again, these are things that would change traditional fundamentals of the Mac OS. Just because you're used to it on Windows doesn't mean thats how it should be on a Mac.

Theres a difference between Windows *features* that should be on a Mac, such as folder combining or whatever it's called, and media file previews in the finder (although that can be done by switching to column view) ... and turning the Mac OS into Windows (removing the Menu Bar???)

discoforce · Mar 22, 2006

dpaanlka said:
Apple has never done this in 22 years, and for good reason. It trains most all average PC users to be nearly incapable of viewing more than one window at a time. They seem confused and dazed when they see a Mac display with like 7 windows open in various locations.

I would really, really hate to see this on any Macintosh. Good thing it will never happen.

I appreciate the option of viewing multiple windows at the same time on the mac, and I think mac does this better than windows. However, I would really, really like the option to work in a single window at times. It's pretty frustrating to be writing in word, just miss clicking on the formatting palette, and suddenly I'm in iTunes, Safari, etc.

Never happen? It's possible in iTunes, Safari, and others if you manually drag the window to cover the full screen. Subsequent green-button pushes get you full-screen coverage. You can also use Saft to get this more consistently with Safari. For me it's mainly a problem with applications that have many floating palettes (Word, Omnigraffle).

20rogersc · Mar 22, 2006

Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Cmd-O or the above mentioned cmd-arrowdown is too hard...?

Hmm, I still prefer return

Although I do like renaming files easily with that key.
Hmm, OK maybe it's not such a good idea

::20ROGERSC::

Things from windows that you all would like in OSX

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 68030

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

macrumors newbie

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502a

macrumors member

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502a

macrumors newbie

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

Attachments

macrumors 68040

macrumors member

macrumors 68040

macrumors G4

macrumors member

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 601

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 65816

Our Staff