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Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

lucasrockwell.com

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Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#11

Post by blackguardx »

I just got a mac last week. I am a brand new mac user and don't see where the author is going with his rant. Why should Ubuntu change the default settings just to please him?

My last computer was loaded with Ubuntu. There are so many annoying differences between the two operating systems. I grumble, but I don't write a caustic article about them because I expect these difference to occur. These OSes have completely separate histories and were built by completely different people. There is no universally perfect computer interface.

I think this article is akin to complaining about the differences in the shifting pattern on Honda and BMW cars.

EDIT: spelling and grammar

Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#13

Post by dhotson »

umjames wrote: post #10
epe wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's quite simple to rebind home/end to work like you expect in all Cocoa text controls (i.e., almost anywhere you edit text -- Firefox is the one frustrating exception I'm aware of). If you haven't taken a look at the Cocoa keybinding system, I suggest you do so. It's really quite flexible. http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/site/Cocoa%20Text%20System....

And if the key bindings in OS X's System Preferences isn't something you want to use, Command+Left Arrow and Command+Right Arrow move the cursor to the front and end of the line respectively.

.. except in the terminal .. ;-)

Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#14

Post by psadauskas »

indiejade wrote: post #6

Because OS X is the only OS that distinguishes between GUI editing and line editing. Nope. I could write a long point-by-point response to this post, but realized that I already did several months ago: http://zentu.net/oss/?q=node/27 It's the concept of multiple desktops that Windows doesn't have and OSX doesn't get, either, that makes working on Linux systems so worth it. Productivity can be dependent upon how you o…

And if you use some of the lightweight window managers (Awesome, XMonad, Ion), they've all pretty much decided that the Windows key is the modifier to use for all window-manager shortcuts. Every app gets to use Ctrl & Alt however they like. Win+key is for the window manager itself, and is very convenient.

Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#17

Post by utx00 »

If you are using the GNOME desktop use gconf-editor to set /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_key_theme to "Emacs". As far as I can tell, everything works (like I am now typing ctrl-A on firefox to go to the beginning of this line)

There is also Alt, and Meta, and you can set your own keymaps in X.

Actually, one of the reasons I didn't like the mac is the lack of flexibility in this area (like re-mapping ctrl and caps lock). Doable but not as simple as in Linux.

Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#18

Post by nileshk »

old-gregg wrote: post #9
jmtulloss wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. There is a fundamental difference. In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. Other OS's have context sensitive key bindings. Of course this isn't universally true, but OS X does seem to do it better than the other two.

In OS X, keys tend to do the same things everywhere because there is this carefully drawn distinction between Cmd and Control. It's my 2nd year on the Mac and I continue to struggle with hotkeys: they are a mess. On top of my head: how come Ctrl+left won't bring me to the end of the line in Terminal but does in every other editable window? And why Shift+Command+arrows switch tabs in Terminal but not in Safari? OSX do…

In OS X, I find that I am better off using the Emacs-style keyboard shortcuts that are available in most applications (CTRL-A/E/N/P/F/B and a few others). Many of these shortcuts also work in the terminal when using bash. For your example going to the end of the line is CTRL-E; it works in most apps and you didn't even have to move your hands away from the home row. I use these when using bash on Linux, too.

I too am annoyed by those windows that require Esc to go away, like the font chooser, as I expect Cmd-W to work univerally for that. I found some AppleScripts somewhere that can be used to move/resize windows with the keyboard, but haven't tried them out yet, but that's also something I wish OS X could do out of box. Moving/resizing windows in OS X is really inefficient, and apps aren't very efficient about new window placement.

I use Cmd-Shift-{ and Cmd-Shift-} to switch tabs which appears to what's been standardized on, but just tried Cmd-Shift-arrows and it works in both Terminal and Safari (using Leopard) but not Firefox.

I find you have to memorize a lot more to be efficient with OS X's hot keys, due to the lack of mnemonics.

Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#19

Post by igorgue »

Well, I can't switch to OS X because I don't have Banshee on it, Terminator, multiple desktops implemented in the right way, multiple text-only terminals, the ability to just plain not use the mouse (and OS X sucks too in handling the mouse), consistency on hotkeys (GNOME), a file system that doesn't sucks... and I can go on...

I bought a mac last year spent like 1600USD on it... and is there... I still use my Linux laptop. The mac hardware is pretty cool but I feel so unproductive on it.

btw, I use VIM (in OS X, Linux and Windows)

Re: Redcar is cool, but I still can’t use Linux

#20

Post by jhawk28 »

itsandrew wrote: post #15
jhawk28 wrote: post #12

I don't understand why anyone would use a "textmate lookalike" on linux if they already had the real thing on OSX.

For me, I run Ubuntu on my netbook. It's nice to run a similar editor when I'm away from my Mac.

Yes, but he was writing about using Linux on a mac with Redcar. It makes a lot of sense if you are not running OSX.
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