Switching Programs - How do you do it?

[xheathen]

Hey all,

I work on both Windows machines and Macs right now. My home computer is a Mac and I work on Windows at the office. Honestly right now I still kind of feel like I get more done faster in Windows even after a few months.

A couple items that make Windows more efficient for me are the Alt+Tab program switch along with the "desktop mouse shake" in Win7. And maybe I'm just doing it wrong in OSx?

With Alt+Tab - I know it works in OSx, but what's not really functioning the same way is that in Windows, Alt+Tab switches between everything that's open. In OSx it only switches between program types (like if I have 4 windows open in Chrome, it'll only go to the open instance of Chrome instead of switching between them). I've got to right click or use mission control.

Am I doing that wrong? Is there a way to adjust it?

And the desktop shake - many times I need to get to something on the desktop and open a folder or something, and in Windows I can just grab the window and shake and it'll minimize everything but that window, or I can do Win+D and it'll go to the desktop.

In OSx, I can similarly make the desktop appear and move all the windows, but if I for example open up a folder, OSx brings back all the windows, which totally defeats the function of getting back to the desktop.

So I'm just kind of seeking out how other people have made the adjustment or if they just got used to not having some of those tools. Or maybe there are some tips or tricks that I don't know about.

thanks in advance!

 

[satcomer]

Learn the OS X shortcuts by bookmarking the Apple site Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.

Plus what you wanted to know the application switcher is the command button+tab key.

 

[grapes911]

I command + tab to switch applications and command + ~ to switch windows within an application. The combination gives me more accuracy and speed than I can get in windows using alt + tab.

 

[GGJstudios]

With Alt+Tab - I know it works in OSx, but what's not really functioning the same way is that in Windows,

Use Command-Tab

It sounds like you just need to learn Mac keyboard shortcuts.

Helpful Information for Any Mac User

 

[ixodes]

No matter what platform you use, keyboard shortcuts greatly increase speed, accuracy & save the time wasted when removing your hand from the keyboard to grasp the mouse @ travel to the menus.

Nothing wastes time & increases errors (unless your plodding along) than using a mouse.

 

[xheathen]

Thanks! Really appreciated. The CMD+~ is exactly what I needed. I totally missed it on the shortcuts list on Apple's site.

I'll look at those other links and see how it can help. Thanks again!