Things we've always liked about windows yet never admitted it

[Mr. Amiga500]

There is absolutely nothing about Windows that I like. It's a convoluted, buggy, tedious mess.

There are about 15-20 advantages that Amiga has that I wish could be added to OSX, but I won't get into that here because most people don't even know what an Amiga is.

 

[motulist]

Too messy, I just really want to be able to look and see the entire path on one line, kind of like what spotlight does, it just needs to be expanded and on every finder window. I'm seriously surprised they didn't think of this

Well, it's still not exactly what you want, but you'd probably like to add the path button to your windows. From the finder, click Views > Customize Toolbar. Then drag the Path button to where you want it in the toolbar. Then to see the path to your folder all you have to do is click on it once.

 

[killerrobot]

I like how in windows when you move a file from folder to folder, you can either copy it or move it to that folder. In OSX it always just moves it if it's on the same disk, or it always just copies it if it's on a different disk.

That's really annoying when moving stuff to my external because then I have to delete it off my mac's drive as well instead of it just getting moved there.

 

[drlunanerd]

I like how in windows when you move a file from folder to folder, you can either copy it or move it to that folder. In OSX it always just moves it if it's on the same disk, or it always just copies it if it's on a different disk.

That's really annoying when moving stuff to my external because then I have to delete it off my mac's drive as well instead of it just getting moved there.

Try holding the Apple key down next time

 

[killerrobot]

Try holding the Apple key down next time

Cool. Thanks. Why can't you right click (or control click) and drag though?

 

[invasian]

I miss PDF support in Firefox...I know I know, I just can't let this one go. It boggles my mind that you can't open up PDFs in firefox in OSX.

I also kind of miss Explorer compared to Finder. This may be more of an "used to" kind of thing, but i find it easier to navigate around with Explorer than Finder.

I miss the loads of free software available to do certain tasks. I also miss the ability to customize the GUI. I know there's candybar and shapeshifter, but those cost money.

Overall, nothing to cry about, except for the PDF support.

 

[Shotgun OS]

I like how Windows gets viruses, and Macs don't. That's really about all I like about Windows.

 

[nxent]

The one thing that currently annoys me about mac OSX over windows is the lack of file paths in the finder window, seriously, I have having to click the folder dropdown just to find where I am, this is a serious problem since sometimes I have to work with folders with identical names.

i'd have to agree with you on that one. it would be nice to have at least the option of displaying the full path name in current window. my other qualm is with networking. whenever i network my macs i seem to get the spinnning lollipop... a lot. could just be my network...

 

[Sideonecincy]

Windows has a better MMC and the larger availability of hardware

 

[Sean Dempsey]

The one thing that currently annoys me about mac OSX over windows is the lack of file paths in the finder window, seriously, I have having to click the folder dropdown just to find where I am, this is a serious problem since sometimes I have to work with folders with identical names.

thats my biggest peeve too. I know column view works, but I am always switching from list view by name, or by date. In column view, I can't easily switch between the two.

Funny thing is, if you do a search inside the folder, it DOES show you the file path, same with the itunes store. Pathfinder can do this too, but you have to run it on top of finder, which I don't prefer.

 

[chrisdazzo]

This is only a response to the title of this post...

Halo 2.

 

[Maui]

I sort of miss getting a cryptic error message and then using Google to find what it meant. Aside from the irony of using Google to fix a Microsoft product, it was always heartwarming to type in the most obscure, cryptic error message you could ever think of, and then find entire websites and forums dedicated just to dealing with that error, all published by legions of others who suffered the same error.

 

[Alloye]

That and I find the GUI to be all over the place. I'm using UNO, but occasionally I get the mac os 9 style stopwatch, and every application wants to use their own style of loading indicator. I feel windows has more graphical unity, although I'm probably so used to it that I don't have to nick-pick.

This comment really surprises me. If there's one thing Windows doesn't have, in my opinion, it's "graphical unity." Just about every Windows application I use on a daily basis has a unique style for menus, toolbars, icons, progress indicators, and custom controls. Even Microsoft's own applications vary quite a bit in this area.

Of course, Tiger is out of control with its Aqua, brushed metal, and iLife window borders. And since Apple has failed to provide developer-accessible implementations of the iTunes/iLife custom controls, you often find unique takes on them as well. Thank goodness Leopard is going to reign in at least some of this mess.

 

[lamina]

Pressing the Enter key executes whatever the file does. WHY does Mac OS want to rename a file when I press enter and it's selected?

 

[aaarrrgggh]

Ctrl-F2 highlights the menu, and then you can use arrow keys to jump around to whatever you want. You do have to remember Ctrl-F2 though ...

The letter shortcuts work sort of, but a lot of the menus have the same beginning letters ... good thing typing out the letters works ... actually pretty handy. It's nice to be able to get to menus without mousing. In Safari, "Hi" gets History and "He" gets Help.

Sorry, but this is a long way from a good solution. Just try hitting ctrl-F2 on a laptop without re-positioning your hands-- it's three fingers plus an awkward position. Even on a full-size keyboard, it is two keys from the same hand that requires re-positioning your hand.

I appreciate that there is keyboard access options, but it isn't keyboard-only functional.

I really really wish that keyboard-only access was more functional, and that third-party vendors (Microsoft, Adobe) were more consistent with UI guidelines for keyboard shortcuts.

Maybe next time around...

 

[aaarrrgggh]

I miss PDF support in Firefox...I know I know, I just can't let this one go. It boggles my mind that you can't open up PDFs in firefox in OSX.

It works just fine in my wife's iBook, but I have to say I am quite happy it doesn't do it on my MBP-- it screws up the browsing experience.

I do wish that there was a way that the files were automatically deleted, but it seems like this will be addressed a little bit in Leopard.

 

[motulist]

Pressing the Enter key executes whatever the file does. WHY does Mac OS want to rename a file when I press enter and it's selected?

I couldn't agree with you more on that one.

 

[After G]

*I just tried this method and typing I gives the Safari menu H gives the Help menu, hit H again for history, but I can't get it to the Edit or View menus at all

So ctrl-f2, and then typing E doesn't work to get to edit? Or typing V for View?

Pressing the Enter key executes whatever the file does. WHY does Mac OS want to rename a file when I press enter and it's selected?

Use command-O to open a file. Coincidentally, how do you rename a file by keyboard in Windows?

 

[McGarvels]

To get to 'Acknowledgments' under the 'Help' menu:

OSX = 'fn+ctrl+F2' '→' '→' '→' '→' '→' '→' '→' '→' '↓' '↓' '↓' '↵'
or 'fn+ctrl+F2' 'H' '↓' '↓' '↓' '↵' *

MS Windows = 'Alt' 'H' 'A'

Windows saves 12 keystrokes over the first Apples option and with no key combos!


*I just tried this method and typing I gives the Safari menu H gives the Help menu, hit H again for history, but I can't get it to the Edit or View menus at all

Actually, I can get there with:

'Ctrl+F2' 'H' '↵' 'A' '↵'

That's 5 as compared to 3 in windows. Granted the windows was is less, but I think you're not being fair with your first example in OS X.

Cheers

 

[hopejr]

Use command-O to open a file. Coincidentally, how do you rename a file by keyboard in Windows?

Press F2. Personally, I prefer enter for renaming coz I don't have to reach far, and cmd + o also is close by. I suppose this is a similar argument for pressing alt instead of ctrl+f2 for accessing menus. I prefer alt.

 

[After G]

Interesting ... tried changing the shortcut for menu access and it won't take just a modifier key, like Alt or Option.

Incidentally, I have one of those mini keyboards so I like pressing combinations of buttons more, as I have to move my hand anyway. Pressing one key is easier though.

I guess it's just a preference.

 

[Sounds Good]

I miss PDF support in Firefox...I know I know, I just can't let this one go. It boggles my mind that you can't open up PDFs in firefox in OSX.

Yikes. Really? You can't open up PDFs in Firefox in OSX?

Why not???


(this would/will really bug me...)

The one thing that currently annoys me about mac OSX over windows is the lack of file paths in the finder window...

This one will bug me a lot.

I often make use of seeing (and knowing) exactly where a file is located.

 

[bartelby]

Yikes. Really? You can't open up PDFs in Firefox in OSX?

Why not???


(this would/will really bug me...)

You can always install the add-on so you can view PDFs

 

[Sounds Good]

You can always install the add-on so you can view PDFs

Oh really? Okay, good.

Phew...

 

[Shadow]

The spacing in the grid for icon view in Finder/Explorer. In Finder its too big!