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How do i learn how to be productive on a mac?

Nvidiaguy07

Nvidiaguy07

Platinum Member
Im trying to switch over, but too many times, when i have a deadline, and just really want to get work done, i end up using bootcamp and use windows.

I understand mission control or whatever it is is new in 10.7, but i really need to learn just about everything, and how to really use them

For one, i need to know keyboard shortcuts. Where can i find this info?

I would also like to know how to effectivley use the multiple screens offered in mission control. I mean, ill open 2, but usually just end up putting everthing in one window.

Is there a guide somewhere? Not just for new features in 10.7, but also previous versions as well?

Also one last thing: One thing i use in windows 7, that i would kill for in mac is aero snap. I will usually put some info (website, pdf, etc.) on one side of the screen, and then the doc im working with on the other. Dragging the top of the window to the side of the screen was super easy. Whats the mac equivalent to doing this?
 
Get a magic pad and learn to use gestures.

Other then that, a simple google can show you all the keyboard shortcuts. The most important to me are

cmd-w (close window)
cmd-q (quit program)
cmd-x,c, and v (cut copy paste)
cmd-space (spotlight)
ctrl-space (DTerm - 3rd party terminal app)
Space - quick look
cmd-tab - switch apps
cmd-alt-escape (force quit menu like ctrl-alt-delete for windows)
 
Your productivity will increase dramatically after leaning how to abuse mission control + multitouch gestures
 
gmaster456 said:
I'm in the same boat. I just can't be productive with OSX. And that mission control thing is a gimmick.
Click to expand...

yea, i may agree with you on that, at least for now. I've always been more effective with just one desktop. Used to use linux, and switching between workspaces never really helped me be that productive.

As long as i can switch between apps easily, and put windows along side one another, i feel im just as productive.

sourceninja said:
Get a magic pad and learn to use gestures.

Other then that, a simple google can show you all the keyboard shortcuts. The most important to me are

cmd-w (close window)
cmd-q (quit program)
cmd-x,c, and v (cut copy paste)
cmd-space (spotlight)
ctrl-space (DTerm - 3rd party terminal app)
Space - quick look
cmd-tab - switch apps
cmd-alt-escape (force quit menu like ctrl-alt-delete for windows)
Click to expand...

Cool, didnt know cmd-space, and cmd-alt-escape. When do you use atrl-space, and just space? I tried it and its not doing anything for me.

Im on a MBA btw, so i know a few gestures, but nothing thats helping me be really effective, excpet for the two finger scrolling which is awesome.

Ns1 said:
Your productivity will increase dramatically after leaning how to abuse mission control + multitouch gestures
Click to expand...

how do YOU use mission control, and what gestures do you find yourself using the most?
 
I use the crap out of mission control. Referring to multiple documents or things of that nature are amazing. I also use spotlight for launching apps
 
Nvidiaguy07 said:
Also one last thing: One thing i use in windows 7, that i would kill for in mac is aero snap. I will usually put some info (website, pdf, etc.) on one side of the screen, and then the doc im working with on the other. Dragging the top of the window to the side of the screen was super easy. Whats the mac equivalent to doing this?
Click to expand...
I think for this you may want to try Cinch.

I've been using Macs for 20 years- quite productive with them. Even so, I have no idea how Mission Control would add much to my productivity. I find it almost as useless as Launchpad. (Well, okay, nothing is quite that useless).

Just learn the keyboard shortcuts that sourceninja posted. (For me, cmd-tab is probably my most used shortcut). Many features you like but find missing can probably be added via third party apps.

Eventually you may find yourself with the opposite problem- wishing you had certain key OSX features in Windows. (I can't tell you how many times I've spacebarred over files in Windows expecting to Quicklook them.)
 
Nvidiaguy07 said:
yea, i may agree with you on that, at least for now. I've always been more effective with just one desktop. Used to use linux, and switching between workspaces never really helped me be that productive.

As long as i can switch between apps easily, and put windows along side one another, i feel im just as productive.



Cool, didnt know cmd-space, and cmd-alt-escape. When do you use atrl-space, and just space? I tried it and its not doing anything for me.

Im on a MBA btw, so i know a few gestures, but nothing thats helping me be really effective, excpet for the two finger scrolling which is awesome.



how do YOU use mission control, and what gestures do you find yourself using the most?
Click to expand...

Ctrl-space is for DTerm, which is a 3rd party app I installed. It lets me have a 'instant terminal' inside the folder I'm viewing when I hit the key.

Space will let you quick look at a file. Select a text file, image, powerpoint, pdf, etc with your mouse and hit space, you will get a quick look inside the file.
 
Zaap said:
I think for this you may want to try Cinch.

I've been using Macs for 20 years- quite productive with them. Even so, I have no idea how Mission Control would add much to my productivity. I find it almost as useless as Launchpad. (Well, okay, nothing is quite that useless).

Just learn the keyboard shortcuts that sourceninja posted. (For me, cmd-tab is probably my most used shortcut). Many features you like but find missing can probably be added via third party apps.

Eventually you may find yourself with the opposite problem- wishing you had certain key OSX features in Windows. (I can't tell you how many times I've spacebarred over files in Windows expecting to Quicklook them.)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up about Cinch. It's pretty much Aero snap for OS X. For me Aero snap gets on my nerves. Especially the tendency to maximize windows because I got them too close to the top of the screen. I'd love to switch that off and keep the rest but alas I keep Aero snap switched off completely on my Win 7 box at work.
 
Also check out Divvy, let's you decide how much space each window is going to take up. If you just want AeroSnap in OS X, then Cinch is the way to go. If you want more than AeroSnap then check out Divvy.

Expose is my homeboy, three fingers down for app windows, three fingers up for all of them. I actually like Launchpad, but I realize that makes me the only one that does. I like that I can invoke a gesture instead of moving the cursor. Same reason why i like gestures for expose instead of using the keyboard or hot corners.
 
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