A great tip: Hit command and then space afterwards. This will drop down the spotlight search box where you can quickly launch applications. For example I will hit command, space and then type Term which will auto complete to Terminal.
Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
81–90 of 109 posts
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#82This might be old news to you, but it took me a while to discover after I started using OS X: Cmd-Tab switches between applications (as I'm sure everyone knows), but it's less useful on OS X than Ctrl-Tab is on Windows or Linux because it doesn't switch between individual windows in those applications. Cmd-Tilde (~) was the missing link for me. It switches between windows in the current application. Those two are pro…
Clipboard history is a hidden gem on Quicksilver.
Just enable on Triggers, I set Shift-Ctrl-Cmd-V, and then I can use 1-9 to paste any of the 9 most recent clipboard items. I can use the mouse to select any of the most recent 250 clipboard items.
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#83Did you try using a trackball?
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#84The Magic Trackpad.
After getting my MacBook Pro, I knew I couldn't go back to a regular mouse again unless I could use a multi-touch trackpad on it. I had no plans of buying a desktop Mac at all until the new trackpad was released this summer. I got one a couple of weeks ago and find it works perfectly.
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#85One of my favorite shortcuts is the Command-? (Command-Shift-/) which will let you search the application menu in any app.
This shortcut is genius. In TextMate for example, you can type the first few letters of a project and open it near instantly if it's still in your recently opened list. It's one of my biggest productivity differentiators in OS X. You should all try it.
I think it's enabled by default on Snow Leopard (not on Leopard). You'll find it under Setting > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Application Shortcuts > Show Help menu.
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#86I've dealt with RSI too, so I have a few years experience trying to minimize mouse use.
Other people have talked about the main keyboard shortcuts -- Command-Tab, Command-Tilde, and Control-F2. Make these second nature. Also, of course, learn the keyboard commands for your most-used applications. You can add and change many keyboard shortcuts in the Keyboard preferences pane in System Preferences. Make liberal use of this to make the commands you use most often the easiest to remember and invoke.
I used Quicksilver devotedly for years, but it became much less stable with Snow Leopard. It may be better now that it's under more active open-source development, but I'm happy with LaunchBar. Certainly one of those two (or Butler, or Alfred, or there's probably others) will allow you to perform basic filesystem tasks (launching, opening, moving, copying, duplicating, opening a document with a specific application, etc. etc.) with a few quick key commands.
A general suggestion: Don't try to learn every single keyboard shortcut all at once -- it'll never work. Instead, figure out the single most common reason you're reaching for the mouse, and replace that with a keyboard method. Once that's second nature, repeat the process. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can learn this way.
Use shell scripting, AppleScript, Automator, Keyboard Maestro, and/or Hazel to simplify anything you do repeatedly. Once you've reduced mouse use, you can use these tools to reduce keyboard use as well!
Good luck.
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's interesting that you mention the magic mouse. I switched to a Mac about 2 months ago and can't believe how uncomfortable the magic mouse is. Apple understand aesthetics but obviously haven't a clue about ergonomics. I've reverted to my 10 year old Logitech trackball although I do miss the fast smooth scrolling of the magic mouse. Any suggestions for a better trackball or did all innovation cease 10 years ago?
Love my Kensington Expert Mouse trackball. Much better than the thumb operated variety IMO.
IIRC the thumb operated ones are optimized for ergonomics while the finger operated ones for accuracy.
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#88There are a lot of emacs keybindings available in OS X's text fields, you can even add your own. Check out http://www.applematters.com/article/emacs-commands-work-in-o... and the links in those comments.
In particular, the following links are very interesting:
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/site/cocoa-text.html
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not quite a trackball, but apple released a separate track pad not that long ago. There are two input devices that Apple does way better than most - keyboards and trackpads. Magic mouse was a complete disaster, unfortunately.
I'm not sure if trackpads have the same ergonomic properties as a trackball. It's possible but I might wait and see if any research or anecdotal evidence emerges
I have all of the input devices mentioned in this thread, and cannot find anything to compare to the old Kensington "Expert Mouse" track balls, with the heavy ball the size of a billiards ball, a scroll wheel around it, and 4 buttons.
The ball's diameter allows pinpoint accuracy when needed, the weight allows a flick with momentum to carry the cursor across two 30" screens, the scroll wheel is under your ring finger for simultaneous use.
That said, the recent magic trackpad is growing on me.
Re: Ask HN: tips for working with Mac OS X without using the mouse? (RSI)
#90This might be old news to you, but it took me a while to discover after I started using OS X: Cmd-Tab switches between applications (as I'm sure everyone knows), but it's less useful on OS X than Ctrl-Tab is on Windows or Linux because it doesn't switch between individual windows in those applications. Cmd-Tilde (~) was the missing link for me. It switches between windows in the current application. Those two are pro…
Clipboard history is a hidden gem on Quicksilver. Just enable on Triggers, I set Shift-Ctrl-Cmd-V, and then I can use 1-9 to paste any of the 9 most recent clipboard items. I can use the mouse to select any of the most recent 250 clipboard items.
Check out jumpcut too. It has a mode to pop up a bezel where you can keyboard your way through the various copy/paste buffers you've used. I use quicksilver, but I also run jumpcut just for its paste buffers.