Resizing windows in OS X

[TH-Gunner]

Of course, if someone doesn't like the way Mac OS X works, they're always welcome to go back to Windows. Mac isn't trying to mirror everything Windows does, nor should they. Mac OS X works fine. It's just different than Windows.

It's not just different. It's inferior. Resizing from the corner doesn't allow you to ONLY adjust the horizontal or ONLY adjust the vertical. And if your window is already docked in the upper right corner, you have to aim it and get it exactly at the upper left corner, and then drag it out.

Come on, face it. Windows gives you more options in this regard, and OSX is inferior in the aspect.

 

[macrem]

Let's say I want to make the top edge of a window higher and the bottom lower. First grab the window right next to the resize corner and move the window up, then with very little mouse travel, grab the corner and resize bottom edge downward. This is most efficient as there is no need to travel around the window to retarget different edges. It works on both planes and also enables simultaneous repositioning.

I am good with the corner and in practice use Exposé & Zoom way more often. How would I get those features on Windows? With scroll arrows together, I can also click up and down without having to retarget arrows at opposite ends of scroll bars. Why doesn't Windows have this useful feature? There should be a Zoom button in Windows. I am going to go to a Windows forum to write that 1000 times

 

[GGJstudios]

It's not just different. It's inferior. Resizing from the corner doesn't allow you to ONLY adjust the horizontal or ONLY adjust the vertical. And if your window is already docked in the upper right corner, you have to aim it and get it exactly at the upper left corner, and then drag it out. Come on, face it. Windows gives you more options in this regard, and OSX is inferior in the aspect.

Nice having a response to a nearly 5 month old post! You can easily resize a Mac window, horizontally only, vertically only, or both. Just click and drag. If that's too difficult for someone, maybe they need a computer for "special needs". I've never heard of any broken bones or torn ligaments from resizing a window on Mac OS X, but I guess there's a first time for everything! Such a fuss over something so ridiculously trivial!

 

[TH-Gunner]

Nice having a response to a nearly 5 month old post!

Really? I see two posts right above mine that were made yesterday. I see other posts one month old and 2 months old.

You can easily resize a Mac window, horizontally only, vertically only, or both. Just click and drag.

Can I adjust the horizontal without adjusting the vertical? Vice-versa? If my window is already all the way to the right, can I use the left corner to drag out to the left?

From denial comes acceptance. Why can't you accept that in this aspect OSX is inferior? Just admit that it's true. Your heart isn't going to explode, you're not going to get struck by lightning, and Steve Jobs isn't going to stop loving you.

If that's too difficult for someone, maybe they need a computer for "special needs". I've never heard of any broken bones or torn ligaments from resizing a window on Mac OS X, but I guess there's a first time for everything! Such a fuss over something so ridiculously trivial!

Who's making the fuss? You're the one fighting to justify the lack of features in a piece of software. If it's so trivial, why is it so hard to say, "Yeah, I guess that's something apple can improve on"?

 

[GGJstudios]

Really? I see two posts right above mine that were made yesterday. I see other posts one month old and 2 months old.

As I said: "Nice having a response to a nearly 5 month old post!" I didn't say the most recent post was that old. I was referring to my post.

Can I adjust the horizontal without adjusting the vertical?

Yes, of course.

Vice-versa?

Yes, of course.

If my window is already all the way to the right, can I use the left corner to drag out to the left?

Yes, you can drag the window anywhere you like, using the title bar, just like in Windows.

Why can't you accept that in this aspect OSX is inferior?

What you may consider inferior, others view as merely different.

You're the one fighting to justify the lack of features in a piece of software.

I'm not fighting to justify anything. Mac OS X works fine for me. If it didn't, I wouldn't be using it. I don't have to justify it to anyone.

If it's so trivial, why is it so hard to say, "Yeah, I guess that's something apple can improve on"?

If it's not so trivial to you, why not just go back to Windows? If you prefer the way Windows works, why go through the pain and suffering of using Mac OS X?

The bottom line is, Mac OS X is what it is. It works the way it works. If you don't like how something works, you can either learn to adapt and live with it, you can find a work-around, install some 3rd party application that addresses the issue, or stop using Mac OS X. You can also give feedback to Apple, in hopes they change something in the future. Bellyaching about something like this in a forum won't change anything, unless you have a desperate need to find people to agree with your point of view in order for you to feel validated. Just be aware that for every one you find who agrees with you, you'll also find several who don't. If enough people complained to Apple (not to MacRumors: Forums), maybe Apple would have changed it. The fact that they haven't may be an indication that, for the majority of Mac users, this is simply not worth complaining about.

 

[XnavxeMiyyep]

I'm actually working on a utility called Gridlock that lets you resize and reposition windows based on entering coordinates in an imaginary grid. Right now it's a little floating window, but soon it'll be like Quicksilver in that it'll only show up when you hit a keyboard shortcut.

http://dotdotcomorg.net/Mac/gridlock.php


Also, you may want to look at an application called Zooom 2. It will let you resize the window from any part while you hold down a modifier key of your choice.

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/31084

 

[Tomorrow]

One finally reasoning: How often do you HONESTLY resize your windows?

Most applications, not at all. I always resize Stickies and Finder windows when they open, and as I navigate through Finder windows (especially when using Cover Flow). I agree, it's certainly workable as it is now, but I would like to have a solution where I could drag any corner to resize.

 

[TH-Gunner]

Yes, of course.

Really? Why don't you tell me how to do that? And I'm not talking about aiming and keeping your hand as steady as possible to not change the horizontal while changing the vertical or vice-versa.

Yes, you can drag the window anywhere you like, using the title bar, just like in Windows.

You're kidding, right? What I meant was: can I resize the window by dragging out the upper left, upper right, or lower left corners? I'm trying it right now, and it ain't working.

What you may consider inferior, others view as merely different.

What does "merely different" mean? Different implies inequality. Differences implies the capability for one to be superior or inferior to the other.

When one OS has more features and capabilities than another, it is superior to that other. That's the bottom line. Is it a deal breaker? No. Does it mean windows is superior in this aspect? Sure.

If it's not so trivial to you, why not just go back to Windows? If you prefer the way Windows works, why go through the pain and suffering of using Mac OS X?

"Why not go back to windows." That seems to be the joblet's favorite line.

I can give you 1000 reasons why I like OSX better than windows. However, I am not one who is blinded by rabid fanboyism. I can accept that windows may be better than OSX at some things. If you really need me to break it down and give you a chart that lists pros and cons, I will gladly show you the statistics of why windows is superior on this specific topic of window resizing. But I honestly believe you're smarter than that and you're just messing with me.

The bottom line is, Mac OS X is what it is. It works the way it works.

I understand that. But why shouldn't I be able to criticize?

You can also give feedback to Apple, in hopes they change something in the future.

Surely I have. I doubt they listen, but I have. So I take my view to a forum, and perhaps when they see people raising questions in a public place, they will make changes.

But people like you impede the process and make it hard. Where I see something that can be improved, you say, "No, no, it's good, it's good." So what will apple do? They'll just sit back and grin knowing they've got loyal joblets out there who will keep people quiet.

So please, no more of this, "If you don't like with what apple has so generously blessed us, then go back to windows" bit.

 

[GGJstudios]

...So I take my view to a forum, and perhaps when they see people raising questions in a public place, they will make changes.

Surely you're not naive enough to think that Apple is looking in this or any other forum for feedback. That's why they have a feedback page on their own site.

I'm not a "joblet" or "fanboy" (or any other kind of boy) or any other such fanatical follower of Apple. I started with IBM mainframes (probably before you were born), used PCs from the earliest days, have been a power user of Windows since 3.1. I also had experience with the Apple II, UNIX and the NeXT and only switched to Macs about a year ago, after getting sick of editing the Windows Registry and spending so much time tweaking the system to make it act more like Mac OS X does out of the box. So I'm not some wet-behind-the-ears neophyte who blindly thinks that Apple is perfect. There are plenty of things that I wish were different about Mac OS X.... just not enough to outweigh the disadvantages of Windows, for my purposes.

It's just that the futility of griping in the forum about something as trivial as resizing windows is a waste. I'm done discussing it, since you appear to prefer to argue for the sake of argument. You don't like the resizing methods in Mac OS X. We get it. We can't change it. Some in this forum may have the same complaint; most do not. You're not going to get anything accomplished by beating the subject to death. If you choose to continue to moan and groan about this, you'll do so without me, because I'd rather spend my time helping people solve problems and learn how to use Macs, rather than waste time bashing what can't be changed.

 

[lordthistle]

Frankly, I cannot see any major advantage coming from the apple choice. May be it is harder to involuntarily resize a window, but it is much more comfortable to resize windows from any border/angle. Besides involuntarily movements on windows, their choice includes the apple one. That's it.

It is not a matter of what you can or cannot do, but it concerns the number of movements needed for performing a single operation. In this case the windows choice is better.

Not every Apple UI design choice represents the optimum. There are several cases where the MS solution would be preferable.

thistle

 

[TH-Gunner]

There are plenty of things that I wish were different about Mac OS X.... just not enough to outweigh the disadvantages of Windows, for my purposes.

Well same exact thing here.

You don't like the resizing methods in Mac OS X. We get it. We can't change it. Some in this forum may have the same complaint; most do not. You're not going to get anything accomplished by beating the subject to death.

I don't see why that should disqualify anyone from talking about it. There are SOOOOO many things we can't change but we discuss anyway. This is a forum, so let's just discuss things from now on instead of telling each other why we should keep our mouths shut.

 

[macrem]

There are several cases where the MS solution would be preferable.

Apple rarely caves on optimum to appease the Windows crowd.

 

[jacntb]

Why not compromise on both corners...

I would simply be happy if they would mimic the "stretch" control in the upper-left corner, too. I don't HAVE to be able to grab ANY part of the window for resizing purposes, but it would be nice to have the option of reducing the window's size by grabbing an upper corner. Move the Red, Yellow, and Green buttons to the right a few millimeters, and squeeze in another "grid" for me to grab when the screen has been maximized with "whatever" reason, and I simple CAN'T get down to the lower corner. I don't like setting my dock to Autohide just so I can grab the window's edge. That's unreasonable, it's not intuitive, and that's just damn-well not MAC-LIKE! Steve Jobs... Make it so, #1... Make it so...

The Jac 'n The Box...

 

[Eclipse97z]

Resizing...

Mine does this too. After I disconnect from my home LCD screen, ITunes is hard to adjust to access the bottom panel. Try this where ever you have it set, go into the resolutions portion and adjust the window from there. Switch back to the original state thats fit for your screen then you should be able to adjust it. I just tried it; quick 1-2 fix. Hope this helps!

Ant

 

[blackhand1001]

Apple rarely caves on optimum to appease the Windows crowd.

They should on some instances, especially since this one has no logical reason not to add. Where do you think apple gets its increased market share from?

 

[VMMan]

IMNSHO resizing windows only from the bottom right corner sucks big time.
I'd like to be able to resize windows from any corner or side.

I'm wondering if there is a 3rd party solution to resizing windows in OS X?
Any software that can do this?

I know this has been discussed many times here, but I couldn't find any solution. Let's not argue this time, if this is really needed.
This is just something that I want. I'd be happy to pay few $, if that's the only way to get it, but free/open solutions are what I'd prefer.

Any luck on finding software to accomplish this in OS X? I also would gladly pay for this feature.

 

[BobZune]

I haven't used any of the following - but see

http://www.ocs.cz/OCSmartHacks/

Different Method:
http://www.atomicbird.com/mondomouse/
http://coderage-software.com/zooom/

Doing a websearch might show up others.

 

[janstett]

Of course, if someone doesn't like the way Mac OS X works, they're always welcome to go back to Windows. Mac isn't trying to mirror everything Windows does, nor should they. Mac OS X works fine. It's just different than Windows.

Just another case of the Mac being inflexible ("we know the best way to do it") and not allowing users the choice.

Apple has bent on issues such as this before, despite fanboys drinking the official Apple Design Guideline kool-aid. Look how long they resisted the two-button mouse and right clicking only to eventually cave on the mighty mouse. A great example of giving users the choice is with the scroll bar arrows -- for the longest time the Mac had the up and down scroll buttons locked together, but you can choose now whether to have them that way or the more Windows-like approach where up is at the top and down is at the bottom.

This is just another matter like that, only it hasn't climbed high enough on people's radar.

 

[Sounds Good]

Come on, face it. Windows gives you more options in this regard, and OSX is inferior in the aspect.

I agree.

Let the bashing begin...

 

[jimoase]

Try to resize Mail rules window larger than 30 rules

For the last couple years there is a bug when using Mail/preference/rules. When about 25 rules are entered the window will extend beyond screen size such that the control buttons and size grab area are off the bottom of the screen. That is when it would be nice to have another way to resize the window.

For those who think the window size buttons, upper left, will resize the rules window..... you would be wrong. The flawed window sizing is a complete bug. The window size buttons resize the previous window that originate the rules window. ARGH

All I want is to have the OK button on the screen so I can see and click when I am done adding a rule.

 

[syv]

thank you sfraly!

Finally, someone got over their need to bicker and provided useful information.

I had a problem because I migrated my profile from a 17" iMac to a 13" MacBookPro, and all of my windows kept opening at the wrong size (i guess it was part of the preferences???)

So yes, it is possible to need to resize your windows. the lower right hand corner was not even on the screen, so it was not possible to move the dock.

anyway, i personally ADORE it when the term "socialist" is used as an insult


très recherché!

 

[Jagdeep]

Of course, if someone doesn't like the way Mac OS X works, they're always welcome to go back to Windows. Mac isn't trying to mirror everything Windows does, nor should they. Mac OS X works fine. It's just different than Windows.

What? What kind of a silly comment is that? The fact is that being able to resize a window from any corner/edge is a good thing and should be encouraged, what's wrong with borrowing from other OSs?

Unless you have a better explanation why a design decision was made to only resize from the bottom right.

 

[GGJstudios]

What? What kind of a silly comment is that? The fact is that being able to resize a window from any corner/edge is a good thing and should be encouraged, what's wrong with borrowing from other OSs?

Unless you have a better explanation why a design decision was made to only resize from the bottom right.

First, you're using your first and only post in the forum to reply to a year-old post. Second, the comment isn't silly. Mac OS X isn't Windows. It's not trying to be Windows. If anything, Windows is trying to be more like Mac OS X. If Apple chooses to offer only a single corner for resizing windows, that's their choice. If you like it, use it. If you don't, you can either learn to live with it, you can request a change from Apple and wait to see if it happens, or you can go back to Windows.

 

[D ROCK]

well heres one coming from a almost self described fanboy....
I love my macs, i however have been using a 24" iMac and several external drives. I have since sold my imac and am trying to open a window on my macbookpro. the resolution on the pro does not go high enough to ever see the resize corner and I am unable to open the file i need as it is below the bottom of the screen and I can do nothing to scroll down etc... b/c the computer believes I can see the whole page. I wish there was a button I could click to resize to half screen or fullscreen etc.... there isnt and until I find a higher res mac to open this I will have to resort to finding it through a search each time... very troublesome!
let me know if you ever have a fix for this.

 

[kolax]

well heres one coming from a almost self described fanboy....
I love my macs, i however have been using a 24" iMac and several external drives. I have since sold my imac and am trying to open a window on my macbookpro. the resolution on the pro does not go high enough to ever see the resize corner and I am unable to open the file i need as it is below the bottom of the screen and I can do nothing to scroll down etc... b/c the computer believes I can see the whole page. I wish there was a button I could click to resize to half screen or fullscreen etc.... there isnt and until I find a higher res mac to open this I will have to resort to finding it through a search each time... very troublesome!
let me know if you ever have a fix for this.

Um, press the green button?