Comments on: OS X and Consistency http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/ A web site by Joshua Sowin that addresses culture, books, technology, ecology, religion, and other topics. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:20:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bootcamp http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-72220 Bootcamp Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:28:41 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-72220 i just don't like the way program close even if it's consistent the minimize also confuses me dock runs out of space even had to download 3rd party programs for: -maximize windows -controlling boot sound -raising mouse trackspeed .. i'll just stick to bootcamp i just don’t like the way program close even if it’s consistent

the minimize also confuses me
dock runs out of space

even had to download 3rd party programs for:
-maximize windows
-controlling boot sound
-raising mouse trackspeed

.. i’ll just stick to bootcamp

]]> By: Jim http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-7496 Jim Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:16:23 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-7496 I totally agree about the home/end keys! Such a pain. I did some research and found out that for most programs, the problem is easy to fix. I posted about how to "fix" the home/end keys on my blog and even made a script you can run to fix it for you. http://www.starryhope.com/tech/apple/2006/keyfixer/ I totally agree about the home/end keys! Such a pain. I did some research and found out that for most programs, the problem is easy to fix.

I posted about how to “fix” the home/end keys on my blog and even made a script you can run to fix it for you.

http://www.starryhope.com/tech/apple/2006/keyfixer/

]]> By: Jessica Yazbek http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-1953 Jessica Yazbek Tue, 07 Feb 2006 01:07:47 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-1953 BBEdit has long been my favorite editor for web development, but recently I started using the text editor in Dreamweaver, because I was getting so infuriated by the home/end functionality in BBEdit (Dreamweaver takes you to the beggining and end of line with those keys). At my last job I was forced to use a Windows machine and got used to the consistend home/end functionality on that OS. I kept instinctively pushing home in BBEdit and finding myself 200 lines away from where I was a second ago. Well, I finally got fed up and googled "bbedit home end keys" and found this page. If anyone else has been in the same boat as me, I wanted to share that I found that the home/end key behavior is a preference in good old BBEdit. You can change it to go to the beginning and end of line under Preferences > Editing: Keyboard > "Home" and "End" keys. My love for BBEdit has been reignited! :-D BBEdit has long been my favorite editor for web development, but recently I started using the text editor in Dreamweaver, because I was getting so infuriated by the home/end functionality in BBEdit (Dreamweaver takes you to the beggining and end of line with those keys). At my last job I was forced to use a Windows machine and got used to the consistend home/end functionality on that OS. I kept instinctively pushing home in BBEdit and finding myself 200 lines away from where I was a second ago.

Well, I finally got fed up and googled “bbedit home end keys” and found this page. If anyone else has been in the same boat as me, I wanted to share that I found that the home/end key behavior is a preference in good old BBEdit. You can change it to go to the beginning and end of line under Preferences > Editing: Keyboard > “Home” and “End” keys. My love for BBEdit has been reignited! :-D

]]> By: Mr Lizard http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-1871 Mr Lizard Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:35:39 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-1871 Been using OSX on a powerbook since october, and for the most part, I think it's great. In regards to the close button issue: if there is only one window left in the multi-window application, then that should quit the app. Been using OSX on a powerbook since october, and for the most part, I think it’s great.

In regards to the close button issue: if there is only one window left in the multi-window application, then that should quit the app.

]]> By: sT http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-1869 sT Sat, 21 Jan 2006 14:54:29 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-1869 you dont need sshing, just change the following keys in terminal: [page down] and [page up] to _send string_ ^[[6~ and ^[[5~, to emulate page down/page up keys in a xterm. you dont need sshing, just change the following keys in terminal: [page down] and [page up] to _send string_ ^[[6~ and ^[[5~, to emulate page down/page up keys in a xterm.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-1201 Wayne Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:54:57 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-1201 If I only have a single window open in the application then isn't it a single window application (at that given moment)? In the System Preferences program, if you click "About System Preferences" another window opens up and you can switch back and forth between it and the main window. (Same for Help) However, closing the main window while these windows are open still quits the application. Just admit it (all you mac-fans), Apple's UI is inconsistent and limited compared to Windows XP. If I only have a single window open in the application then isn’t it a single window application (at that given moment)?

In the System Preferences program, if you click “About System Preferences” another window opens up and you can switch back and forth between it and the main window. (Same for Help) However, closing the main window while these windows are open still quits the application.

Just admit it (all you mac-fans), Apple’s UI is inconsistent and limited compared to Windows XP.

]]> By: mike burnard http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-12 mike burnard Tue, 04 May 2004 18:11:50 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-12 iTunes is a multiple window program. Double click a playlist to open it in its own window. Also, use the window menu to open the Equalizer. As to your other comments: The terminal can be annoying when SSH’ing, or Telneting into applications that have their own key designations. Particularily on laptops…and Particularily with “F Keys.” As, you mention the same applies to pgUp pgDn home end. The inconsistent behavour is because of the reasons stated above, Some apps use the Cocoa Framework, but others use the Carbon Framework (which allowed developers to get quick releases of applications out for OS X when the switch happened). That is not to say that the implemention in Cocoa is perfect, but it is different than what you are used to certainly. As to the using the “close window” button to quit an application. Regardless of the HIG, I for one dislike having to use a mouse to exit my application, I much prefer the command-q method. These keystrokes will be so familiar in a short amount of time that you’ll wonder how you ever got along “clicking-to-quit.” iTunes is a multiple window program. Double click a playlist to open it in its own window. Also, use the window menu to open the Equalizer.

As to your other comments: The terminal can be annoying when SSH’ing, or Telneting into applications that have their own key designations. Particularily on laptops…and Particularily with “F Keys.” As, you mention the same applies to pgUp pgDn home end. The inconsistent behavour is because of the reasons stated above, Some apps use the Cocoa Framework, but others use the Carbon Framework (which allowed developers to get quick releases of applications out for OS X when the switch happened). That is not to say that the implemention in Cocoa is perfect, but it is different than what you are used to certainly.
As to the using the “close window” button to quit an application. Regardless of the HIG, I for one dislike having to use a mouse to exit my application, I much prefer the command-q method. These keystrokes will be so familiar in a short amount of time that you’ll wonder how you ever got along “clicking-to-quit.”

]]> By: Josh S http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Josh S Mon, 03 May 2004 18:04:49 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-11 Per the close window: iTunes is a single-window program, and it still doesn’t quit when you hit the red button. I guess Apple didn’t follow their own guidelines. Per the close window: iTunes is a single-window program, and it still doesn’t quit when you hit the red button. I guess Apple didn’t follow their own guidelines.

]]> By: PCheese http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-10 PCheese Fri, 30 Apr 2004 21:36:46 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-10 The inconsistencies with the home, end, page up, and page down keys are because SubEthaEdit and TextEdit both use the Cocoa framework while BBEdit and Dreamweaver use the Carbon text manager (MS Word has its own manager I believe). You’ll see inconsistencies until most developers actually start migrating from “old” Carbon to the Cocoa framework. Text in Cocoa is far superior, but I agree that it should move the cursor instead of just the view – what’s up with that? By the way, command-arrow is end of line and option-arrow is next word in Cocoa applications in Mac OS X. I believe Word uses both option- and command-arrow for next word. I think the way Terminal implements the page up/page down keys makes sense, but it should definitely make it easier to figure out how to send the keys through. Concerning the Dock, I’ve gotten used to it and it works for me. One thing I did, however, was to make the icon of hidden applications <a href="http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031027022943749">transparent</a>, which solves the ‘where did my minimized window go?’ problem. Lack of a mouse? Don’t all laptops lack a mouse until you plug one in? The inconsistencies with the home, end, page up, and page down keys are because SubEthaEdit and TextEdit both use the Cocoa framework while BBEdit and Dreamweaver use the Carbon text manager (MS Word has its own manager I believe). You’ll see inconsistencies until most developers actually start migrating from “old” Carbon to the Cocoa framework. Text in Cocoa is far superior, but I agree that it should move the cursor instead of just the view – what’s up with that? By the way, command-arrow is end of line and option-arrow is next word in Cocoa applications in Mac OS X. I believe Word uses both option- and command-arrow for next word. I think the way Terminal implements the page up/page down keys makes sense, but it should definitely make it easier to figure out how to send the keys through.

Concerning the Dock, I’ve gotten used to it and it works for me. One thing I did, however, was to make the icon of hidden applications transparent, which solves the ‘where did my minimized window go?’ problem.

Lack of a mouse? Don’t all laptops lack a mouse until you plug one in?

]]> By: Chris Vincent http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Chris Vincent Thu, 22 Apr 2004 02:08:33 +0000 http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2004/04/19/os-x-and-consistency/#comment-7 I’d have to disagree with you, Mike. Then again, I’ve come from using OS 7-9, in which there was <em>only</em> the Hide command. With OS X’s introduction of the dock, I feel a functional difference between the commands. More often than not, I prefer the Hide command. Dante, if you’re referring to the lack of a scroll wheel and second button, I’m totally with you on that. Apple’s rationale when they first started making Macs made a lot of sense, but things have changed a lot, and it’s just odd nowadays to see one button and no scroll wheel. I’d have to disagree with you, Mike. Then again, I’ve come from using OS 7-9, in which there was only the Hide command. With OS X’s introduction of the dock, I feel a functional difference between the commands. More often than not, I prefer the Hide command.

Dante, if you’re referring to the lack of a scroll wheel and second button, I’m totally with you on that. Apple’s rationale when they first started making Macs made a lot of sense, but things have changed a lot, and it’s just odd nowadays to see one button and no scroll wheel.

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