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RamSlack

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 4, 2006
44
0
NW Washington
Who had the [ALT]+[TAB] function first, MAC or PC?

I used to use it a lot when I had PCs but with MAC, I find myself using the Expose function instead. Its a lot easier. I started wondering why MAC even had the [ALT]+[TAB] function as a feature. Was it part of the old MAC OS and Windows copied it? Did MAC copy it from Windows? I remember using it with Windows even with Windows 95 (I think).
 
It started with Windows 3.1 and wasn't incorporated into the Mac platform until OS X, although there were third-party apps that did the equivalent in classic Mac OS's.
 
MS has had alt tab for a while, but i love the way Apple's version works; Cmd+Tab for apps, Cmd+` for windows in the app selected (ie web browser windows). I find it a lot more functional than the Windows equivalent
 
I believe it was added in Mac OS 8.5 or perhaps, 9.0 after quite a while being part of Windows. You could also drag from the Task Manager menu in the menu bar to show the active tasks in a small window of icons.
 
MS has had alt tab for a while, but i love the way Apple's version works; Cmd+Tab for apps, Cmd+` for windows in the app selected (ie web browser windows). I find it a lot more functional than the Windows equivalent


Holy crap, I had no idea the Cmd + ` thing existed :eek:

Although with 3 of my mouse's buttons linked to expose, I can switch windows quicker that way than I can with the keyboard shortcut :D
 
MS has had alt tab for a while, but i love the way Apple's version works; Cmd+Tab for apps, Cmd+` for windows in the app selected (ie web browser windows). I find it a lot more functional than the Windows equivalent

i like it better how in windows it's alt + tab for apps, and then ctrl + tab for tabs. it's much easier than reaching all the way up to the ` button

is there any way to change it so you can do that in osx?
 
MS has had alt tab for a while, but i love the way Apple's version works; Cmd+Tab for apps, Cmd+` for windows in the app selected (ie web browser windows). I find it a lot more functional than the Windows equivalent

Yea, I had no idea either. Thanks for the tip
 
Another feature of the OSX implementation that I really like over the MS version is being able to use the mouse while Cmd+Tabbing - if you press Cmd-Tab once, you can then click directly on the app you want to switch to, rather than cycling all the way through them.
 
Another feature of the OSX implementation that I really like over the MS version is being able to use the mouse while Cmd+Tabbing - if you press Cmd-Tab once, you can then click directly on the app you want to switch to, rather than cycling all the way through them.

Might as well use the dock then...
 
You are kidding?

the ` button is directly above cmd there's no reaching involved

Since that key is above the <Tab> key on U.S. keyboards, it's more of a reach, but the placement makes sense since it's close, just like with cut, copy, and paste.
 
I am surprised that so many people did not know about the Cmd ` combination. That saves me so much time instead of having to move all open windows to where i can see them or using exposé. The only function is use of exposé is to show the desktop so i can get to my docktop window.
 
I am surprised that so many people did not know about the Cmd ` combination.

there are a lot of key combos a lot of people don't know, apparently.

One time, my cousin was playing around with the mouse, trying to irritate me. I just continued my work using keyboard shortcuts. He then proceeded to say "woah" and call me a freak :D
 
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