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

[Nym]

What I like in Windows is the ability to run Counter Strike Source and... maybe the little ballons that crash the game whenever Windows feels I'm "low on security"...

Just kidding..., I prefer OSX, but I still use Windows for my gaming needs / headshot hunger.

No, I'm serious.

I've always prefered the MS Windows way of keyboard shortcuts (accelerator keys?) So much easier than Apple's way. I can't remember shortcuts key combo's in OSX, but in Windows I can get any option in any menu without having to remember any special individual combo, just the concept, so much more productive and user friendly.

I actually like the shortcuts in OSX, they're simple and they have something to do with the action being taken. But I too can understand that if you're really used to this, it can be frustrating

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 love this! I can't understand why, but for renaming files it's a great feature! Try renaming a folder of songs in Windows, it's much harder and time-consuming compared to OSX, and personally... I'm really used to using the mouse to select files and double-click them, however, when I rename I'm definitely using the keyboard so the Enter key serves it's purpose, letting you quickly Enter, Type, Enter, Down, Enter, Type, etc.

I like how windows let you see through walls... very impressive feature.

LMAO! BEST ANSWER EVER!

 

[motulist]

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

Geez dude! How's THIS for responsiveness! You ask Apple for something, and they immediately deliver!

In Leopard "Finder windows can also be set to always show the path of a file with the new "Show Path Bar" option."

Aea, you should post a comment about how one of the things that annoys you about OS X is that it doesn't send you 1 million dollars in the mail, then see what happens!

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0707leopard9a499.html

 

[mpw]

Almost every dialogue box can be confirmed with Enter/Return or Canceled with Esc (whatever the choices are).

Also most Save Before Quit? dialogues use cmd-D for Don't save and cmd-S for Save.

OK I wasn't aware of that, but that's kinda the point, you have to be made aware of all these different methods and I bet I'll forget this next time a dialogue box pops up.

...I actually like the shortcuts in OSX, they're simple and they have something to do with the action being taken...

But you still have to remember them, do you know what Cmd-F does for example? Honestly without looking or trying it??

With MS Windows ALL you need to know is Alt +the underscored letter. One concept, so simple.

 

[mahashel]

What do I prefer about Windows? Easy.
-> BUILDING MY OWN COMPUTER
Yeah, I know. Apple will never let us do that since the hardware support issue is the nightmare of all nightmares. It is one thing I like about Windows though. I can tweak, build, tear-down, reassemble, tinker, etc.. and always have a usable Windows system. ("usable Windows" is subjective, I know)
I may have to reload after every couple rebuilds, but at least it's an option.
With Mac, it's more of a turnkey approach.. which is great for 99% of the market. For us tinkering fools, we're still stuck with Windows.

 

[CalBoy]

One of the main things I miss about Windows is the game FreeCell (I know, terrible). I haven't been able to find a good replacement for this (downloadable ones have been disappointing so far).

The other thing that I miss is the file path that others have mentioned. It is very nice to have this, esspecially if you have a lot of files that need to be kept well organized (like we do at work).

 

[motulist]

I can tweak, build, tear-down, reassemble, tinker, etc..

With the exception of building your own computer from off the shelf parts, you can do all tweaking, tearing down, reassembling, and tinkering that your lil' heart desires. You can add new hard drives, setup a RAID HD array, replace you processor, tweak a million dip switches to overclock your processor, to overclock the system bus, you can add a super-mega-monster video card to drive 4 monitors, you can add special media drives to read everything on earth, like a magneto optical reader or whatever.

There are a gazzilion ways to tweak and tinker with a Mac.

Here's a great resource to get you started.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/

 

[Rodimus Prime]

With the exception of building your own computer from off the shelf parts, you can do all tweaking, tearing down, reassembling, and tinkering that your lil' heart desires. You can add new hard drives, setup a RAID HD array, replace you processor, tweak a million dip switches to overclock your processor, to overclock the system bus, you can add a super-mega-monster video card to drive 4 monitors, you can add special media drives to read everything on earth, like a magneto optical reader or whatever.

There are a gazzilion ways to tweak and tinker with a Mac.

Here's a great resource to get you started.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/

you forgot one little peace of infomation to gain that right on a Mac you have to pay $2k just to gain the right to do all that extra stuff.
Like the guy who said it before this is something about windows that I also like. Also this happens to be the exact reason I will never own a Apple desktop as it stands. I like the ablilty to build my own computer and to choose the parts I want to use.

Yes apple may use some good parts but at the same time in my own computer I use higher grade parts and I know EXACTLY what is going into my computer. I choose what it is not apple. I like that freedom and it is important to me.
In apple I do not know what they are putting in nor the grade of the parts they are using. It is an unknown.

 

[dops7107]

The Recycle Bin!

My fave rant. In OSX I cannot (to the best of my knowledge):

• Delete individual files in the Trash Can (e.g. big disk images)
• Delete files off a removeable disk to save space, without emptying everything else in the can
• Delete things directly without them going in the can (maybe this can be done with Terminal, but c'mon, that's a bit advanced)

 

[mahashel]

There are a gazzilion ways to tweak and tinker with a Mac.
Here's a great resource to get you started.
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/

Definitely! xlr8 was a vital resource when I was tinkering on my old G4 tower, which is still a semi-viable system after several HDD and GPU upgrades.
I guess what I'm getting at is.. (to use the cliche "car analogy") you can take a Mercedes (Mac) and put some great aftermarket parts in it, but at the end of the day it still says Mercedes on it. You took a great machine and made it better.
Contrarily, you can go to NAPA (in the US.. not sure where the gearheads go overseas) and buy an engine block, tranny, heads, etc.. to put in the exotic polycarbonate shell you're bolting onto a reworked '76 Mustang unibody frame and end up with something utterly unique.
Yes, the Mercedes might be faster and more luxurious after all is said and done; but there's a sense of pride in having built something from parts.
To me, augmenting is good. Building from parts is ++good.

 

[Nermal]

Could always just click the X on the top-right hand corner.

But I shouldn't have to change my behaviour to suit one app.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

But you still have to remember them, do you know what Cmd-F does for example? Honestly without looking or trying it??

Usually Find...

 

[Nermal]

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

Coming in Leopard (picture thieved from Think Secret)

 

[mpw]

Usually Find...

Usually, but sometimes Enter Full Screen

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Usually, but sometimes Enter Full Screen

Or Enter Full Screen...?

Or Last Filter in Photoshop...?

 

[mpw]

Or Enter Full Screen...?

Or Last Filter in Photoshop...?

So that's only three non-standard variations I have to remember now

 

[maccam]

I wish I could have the smilies that windows has, BUT THATS IT!

 

[&RU]

It has been a long time since I last used Windows, although I remember it being easier to operate via the keyboard. I still haven't figured out how to tab between multiple windows of a single application on a Mac.

Some people may disagree with me, but I miss the idea of having one central place for uninstalling applications. I love the drag and drop installation process, but I am not convinced the drag and drop deletion process is very good - you don't really get rid of everything that way. Trying to find and run an individual uninstaller that may or may not have come with the software just isn't very consistent or Mac-like either.

 

[theBB]

I cannot believe you spend all this time nagging about keyboard shortcuts (very geeky, I don't think Apple cares about you. ) but nobody even mentions the lack of cut-paste in Finder. Unbelievable...

 

[brkirch]

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...

You don't have to use ctrl + F2 for the menu keyboard shortcut, if you don't like that key combo just go into the Keyboard Shortcuts tab of Keyboard & Mouse settings in System Preferences and click on ^F2 while the "Move Focus to the menu bar" shortcut is enabled. You can enter any key combo to replace it with that you want.

It has been a long time since I last used Windows, although I remember it being easier to operate via the keyboard. I still haven't figured out how to tab between multiple windows of a single application on a Mac.

+ `

 

[miniConvert]

I don't think there's actually anything I 'like' about Windows specifically...

I mean:
I like that I can run programs on Windows that I can't run under OS X.
I like that when I buy hardware for use on Windows I don't have to think twice about whether it'll be compatible or not.
I like that when something goes wrong hardware-wise I can buy generic parts.
I like that I can use the latest version of Microsoft Office at native speeds.

However, none of these are advantages of Windows as an OS over OS X. They're simply issues concerning hardware and software support for an operating system that is vastly more popular. When it comes to usability, productivity, responsiveness and performance there's just nothing that beats OS X on the desktop as far as I'm concerned. It has changed my life in the space of 16 months and I can only hope that I never need to depend upon Windows ever again.

 

[Schtumple]

To me, right clicking in finder is a mess, having cut copy and paste always there (even if not highlighted) kept consistency in height, on mac its a mess and still annoying for me, i have to stop and look for copy, paste or move to trash, why can't i delete something? why do i have to move it, only thing that bugs me

 

[After G]

So that's only three non-standard variations I have to remember now

It's not really nonstandard ... it's context sensitive. When was the last time you wanted to find some text in a video? Or apply a filter to a spreadsheet?

Here's an example of what I consider inconsistency. What do Alt-F4, Ctrl-F4, and Ctrl-W have in common? They all close a window. But they don't all work at the same time for the same behavior. It depends on the application you use and its mode.

Another example: the Alt key itself. Is it sticky (like when accessing a Windows menu) or is it not (like when using Alt-F4)?

 

[yg17]

Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop. And Apple Remote Desktop doesn't count since it costs more and isn't built into the OS.

Working at a help desk for a university, it is the best thing ever. Need help doing something? Give me the computer name and I can walk them through whatever it is while talking to them on the phone and showing them at the same time using RA. Need something installed? I can login as myself using RDC (with my admin rights and access to the installation files for all the crap we have) and install it. All without leaving my chair.

Anytime one of our Mac users call in, no remote assist. I'm going from memory when I tell them how to do something. Need something installed? Well, we'll have to put in a ticket to have a technician come out there when they have a chance and install it. Might be today, might be next week.

 

[kusanagi]

Biggest thing for me - alt+tab between windows, not applications.

Nothing's worse than having a couple of apps with multiple windows and you need to flick between the windows.

I know that you can flick between windows in an application, but not throughout all applications which really gets on my nerves.

 

[CalBoy]

Biggest thing for me - alt+tab between windows, not applications.

Nothing's worse than having a couple of apps with multiple windows and you need to flick between the windows.

I know that you can flick between windows in an application, but not throughout all applications which really gets on my nerves.

I understand why this bothers you, but honestly, isn't Exposé faster?