OS-X, Top 2 Gripes
I’ve been developing in my spare time on Mac OS-X using Rubymine, Webstorm, TextMate, XCode, and several other apps. I’ve also been using Kindle (the native app and the HTML5 Version), Tweetdeck, and a host of other applications. A bulk of things I’ve also been using, however they’re almost entirely in Chrome/HTML5 or some web application state. Speaking of applications, OS-X has zero shortage compared to any other operating system.
However…
I will admit with honesty, the the interface is very lacking compared to using Ubuntu or Window 7 these days. OS-X is lacking several functionalities that it desperately needs. I’m not writing this blog entry to complain about these either, just pointing out they’re missing, and hopefully someone may know of an app or add-on that will provide this functionality.
- Application Placement: Windows & Ubuntu have a “snap to” type functionality that pops an application window onto a side of the screen when it is dragged. With the arrow keys or in other ways, that window can then be moved from left to right, or if on dual monitors from one screen or the other by 50% increments. This functionality is ridiculously useful when working with multiple applications, and anybody that really uses a computer ends up in this scenario.
- Rename, New Folder, and other short cut keys in the “Finder” are pretty crappy compared to Windows & Ubuntu. I’d even give windows top marks in this category. Of course, once one actually does a move, delete or copy they realize what crap Windows is at actual file manipulation. But the Windows Explorer makes it a breeze manipulating files – even if it is 2-5x slower than Ubuntu or OS-X – I’d still however like a nice trade off of file manipulation, viewing what a file is or is not from the finder, and other functionalities that generally don’t seem to exist.
That’s it for now. These are the top 2 items that provide an annoyance when using OS-X vs. Windows or Ubuntu. Any suggestions, ideas, thoughts, or otherwise that may set me straight about this?
So for window size and positioning, I’ve been using the demo of SizeUp. It’s pretty much Win Split Revolution for Mac.
http://www.irradiatedsoftware.com/sizeup/
Sweet… that’s probably my biggest gripe so far.
I also just had a stupid moment with the file renaming, I didn’t realize one could hit “enter” on the file to change the name. o_O Doh!
…now for the other problems. I’ll bet in 3-6 months I’ll be working this OS as smooth as Win7/Ubuntu.
Same stupid file renaming moment got me too. And I’ve been using OS-X since 2008 after I abandoned Vista for abdominal wi-fi flaking during classes at CS Gates Bldg. o-O!!
#1 gripe — yeah, agreed.
#2 gripe — I think you might just be unused to using the Finder. New folders can be created with cmd-shift-N. Files can be renamed by clicking on them a second time. This is essentially identical to how Windows does things, no? As for viewing the file info from the Finder: select the Columnar view button (at the top of the finder window), and a pane will appear to the right, with most of the file information you could want. Or use the cmd-I shortcut to see ALL of the file information you could want. Honestly, this is all substantially faster than Windows 7, in my experience. Not sure about Ubuntu, though — haven’t used that in years.
hahaa, good to hear from you Nathan, hope all goes well!
Good pointers on #2. As I dig around through short cut keys and stuff, I’m finding it is fast. Performance wise there is no comparison – as I was saying – OS-X trounces Win7 by far. However, for a system that prides itself on being “user friendly” things like “cmd-shift-N” to create a new folder and hitting “enter” to change file names just seems a bit unintuitive.
Either way, I’m already sold on OS-X. It’s a crazy clean, absurdly fast, and efficient OS. IMHO, the only real competition is Ubuntu.
Cheers!
You need SizeUp to do similar window management.
I also love Ubuntu, but at times I just hate messing with configurations.
Especially with something like VirtualBox. In Mac I would use Parallels and forget it.
But I am still only considering Mac and it is very interesting to see the challenges people face when “converting”.
Keep us posted
Cheers.