I'm typing this on a late 2011 Macbook Pro and I'm confused. Do I have a power key that is different than my power button? The power button seems too far away from the keyboard to be usefully remapped.
Thanks for the clarification; this software look more useful in that case. It would be even nicer if it would enable me to remap my eject key, since I never use my optical drive.
Coincidentally, I just discovered today that you can also do a forward-delete on a Mac laptop keyboard by hitting Fn+Delete. Very useful for e.g. sending a ⌘⌦ (Ctrl-Alt-Del) to a VirtualBox VM.
Given that holding the button still causes the Mac to shutdown... this seems awful dangerous. I could easily see myself holding the button to delete a few lines of text and then * oops *.
As trapexit mentioned, fn+Delete already does this, an can easily be entered without removing your hands from the main keyboard area.
When disagreeing, please reply to the argument instead of calling names. E.g. "That is an idiotic thing to say; 1 + 1 is 2, not 3" can be shortened to "1 + 1 is 2, not 3."
In your case:
Apple wouldn't put an eject button on a laptop with nothing to eject.
I never find myself actually using that shortcut, despite knowing it exists. I end up repositioning the cursor, then backspacing. Whereas the power key is in the same muscle-memory space as my external keyboard's Delete key, which I use all the time.
It is a little dangerous, yeah, but worth it in my opinion for a nice shortcut. At least key repeat is off, so you have no reason to hold down the key.
An alternative is Double Command. I've been using Double Command to map the right ALT key to forward delete for awhile now: http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/
No obvious way to "alt-tab" between an apps windows, even less obvious on international keyboards.
No way to use arrow keys to select the OK and cancel buttons in a dialog.
Some Windows-isms was recently added, such as being able to resize the windows using any border. This must have been to appease converts. Do you think Apple will add any of the above soon?
I would love for Microsoft to introduce some Apple-isms in Windows: text navigation is particularly awful, and I'm far more efficient on OS X when it comes to text. The lack of forward delete key doesn't bother me or hinder me at all: command-right + delete takes care of it.
The thing is that Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (which define these bindings) were created in the 1980s, before Windows even existed, so it's a bit difficult to blame Apple for not being compatible with an OS that didn't even exist at the time.
The early Macs didn't even have a Control key, which was later added to support terminal applications that needed it.
Well, I see your point but you are using examples that voluntarily circumvent Apple's established, system-wide shortcuts.
Fortunately for us and developers, setting custom shortcuts for different commands is still supported. But this allows for devs to bypass default shortcuts.
I'm mostly using command and option and shift when I navigate in text, and it's a bliss to do so. On Windows, it's erratic and you have to use the Home/End keys to have the same results.
fn + delete does this. If you plug in a USB keyboard, the forward delete key works as expected.
No obvious way to "alt-tab" between an apps windows, even less obvious on international keyboards.
⌘ + ` (this is the back-tick above tab). You can change this by going to System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts, clicking on the "Keyboard and Text Input" category, then editing "Move focus to next window." This option is buried because Apple thinks Mission Control is easier. :/
No way to use arrow keys to select the OK and cancel buttons in a dialog.
System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts. Check "Full Keyboard Access" to use tab, space, & enter on controls.
Even worse - on my MBP there is no pound sign on the keyboard. Try coding without a pound sign! (EDIT: I'm referring to the hash key, i.e. #)
(I know it's alt 3, but WHY didn't they mark it on the keyboard? Newcomers have to google this! There is a sign on the '2' key that indicates euro (alt 2 is euro sign on my keyboard), so they could have done it easily on the 3 key.
I have the hash symbol on my 3-year old USA MBP (shift-3). Why is your keyboard different? Why do is it alt-3 instead of shift-3? (Is it your country or age of laptop?)
The proper desktop keyboard has a forward delete key, it's just the laptops (and BT keyboard) that have to make do with [Fn + Del].
The Alt-Tab thing for apps gets on my nerves as well, and I've been a Mac user for ten years now. However, it's easy to go into the Sys Prefs and change the default key shortcut for that to something reasonable. The functionality is already there, it's just hidden behind an obscure key binding.
Cycling through buttons in dialog boxes works with the Tab key. The first thing you need to do when you get a new Mac is to go into System Preferences and enable nav keys for all UI elements, it's a single checkbox.
The defaults on the Mac are a disaster, you'll have to revisit pretty much every single preference pane, but it's worth it.
I had a full size key board to replace the stock bluetooth one, so I had both.
I'm a big guy and like a full keyboard, large screen etc. After the very first time the mouse died I went out and got all wired peripherals for my workstation.
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[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 99.7 ms ] thread(This app does actually work with your power _button_, by the way. I suppose some people might find that useful).
What power buttons on newer MacBooks look like: http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/mac/retinaMacBookPro/DSC...
As trapexit mentioned, fn+Delete already does this, an can easily be entered without removing your hands from the main keyboard area.
http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Check out "in comments" in particular.
In your case: Apple wouldn't put an eject button on a laptop with nothing to eject.Me, I'm fine with fn+Delete.
It is a little dangerous, yeah, but worth it in my opinion for a nice shortcut. At least key repeat is off, so you have no reason to hold down the key.
Mind you, if you're in MS Word for Mac then you'll just have to suck on an egg: no Ctrl-d, Ctrl-a, Ctrl-e for you.
Here's a screenshot of the settings: http://i.imgur.com/GQi5Ncj.png
Not having a forward delete key.
No obvious way to "alt-tab" between an apps windows, even less obvious on international keyboards.
No way to use arrow keys to select the OK and cancel buttons in a dialog.
Some Windows-isms was recently added, such as being able to resize the windows using any border. This must have been to appease converts. Do you think Apple will add any of the above soon?
By default:
- Chrome / TextEdit
⌘ + → = end of line
ctrl + → = end of line
⌥ + → = next word
- Sublime / Xcode
⌘ + → = end of line
ctrl + → = next word
⌥ + → = next word
- Firefox / Eclipse
⌘ + → = end of line
ctrl + → = ∅
⌥ + → = next word
OK I realize now that I should never use the ctrl key for navigation... It's disturbing and useless !
This means you should tell a new Apple user:
For text navigation:
mac ⌥ = windows ctrl
mac ⌘ = windows alt
For pretty much everything else:
mac ⌘ = windows ctrl
Except: ⌘ + tab = alt + tab
He might kill you.
The early Macs didn't even have a Control key, which was later added to support terminal applications that needed it.
Fortunately for us and developers, setting custom shortcuts for different commands is still supported. But this allows for devs to bypass default shortcuts.
I'm mostly using command and option and shift when I navigate in text, and it's a bliss to do so. On Windows, it's erratic and you have to use the Home/End keys to have the same results.
Anyway, minor gripes.
On for example german and nordic keyboards there is some other useless symbol there, and command+"that key" does not work.
I know you can configure this, but its strange that there is no sane default.
fn + delete does this. If you plug in a USB keyboard, the forward delete key works as expected.
No obvious way to "alt-tab" between an apps windows, even less obvious on international keyboards.
⌘ + ` (this is the back-tick above tab). You can change this by going to System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts, clicking on the "Keyboard and Text Input" category, then editing "Move focus to next window." This option is buried because Apple thinks Mission Control is easier. :/
No way to use arrow keys to select the OK and cancel buttons in a dialog.
System Preferences → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts. Check "Full Keyboard Access" to use tab, space, & enter on controls.
I hope that helps!
(I know it's alt 3, but WHY didn't they mark it on the keyboard? Newcomers have to google this! There is a sign on the '2' key that indicates euro (alt 2 is euro sign on my keyboard), so they could have done it easily on the 3 key.
And the [ key, and the ] key, and the { and } keys. etc. etc.
Try this: http://www.kbcovers.com/catalog/GER-M-CB_Full_A.gif
The Alt-Tab thing for apps gets on my nerves as well, and I've been a Mac user for ten years now. However, it's easy to go into the Sys Prefs and change the default key shortcut for that to something reasonable. The functionality is already there, it's just hidden behind an obscure key binding.
Cycling through buttons in dialog boxes works with the Tab key. The first thing you need to do when you get a new Mac is to go into System Preferences and enable nav keys for all UI elements, it's a single checkbox.
The defaults on the Mac are a disaster, you'll have to revisit pretty much every single preference pane, but it's worth it.
Made the dock 2D, bought a wired keyboard and mouse, line in adapter for my analog headset and it was a usable workstation.
I remember you need to get a bit creative with the config files, I don't think it's one of the default settings.
I'm a big guy and like a full keyboard, large screen etc. After the very first time the mouse died I went out and got all wired peripherals for my workstation.