I have been a Linux user for a long time ( ArchLinux with Xfce ). Recently, I switched jobs and my employer issued me with a Mac. I am having the same problem : the fucking OS. Why do I need to press multiple buttons to see how many applications I have open ? Why does command + tab cycle through every open application ? Why does it not limit itself to the applications in the current space ? What are spaces for anyway ? Why does clicking on an already open application's icon in the dock take me to a random window for the application ? Is there some logic to it ? Is it random ? I think I understand why so many people wax on about tiling window managers now, they have never seen proper window managers. Also why do I have to press Command + whatever when there is a perfectly functional control key on the keyboard ? If I am remoted into a Windows machine now I have to remember to press Control + whatever and revert back to Command + Whatever when I am back on my Mac. Also don't even get me started on the docker networking issues.
But it would be unfair for me to blame Apple's OS for most of these faults.
<Command> + <Tab> cycles open applications, but
<Command> + <~> cycles windows in the current application context
I find this two-dimensional switching incredibly useful for multitasking, whereas Windows just flattens all windows to the alt-tab list, which quickly becomes overwhelming if you're a power user who doesn't like to close windows.
I have to believe you but this exact feature is possibly my biggest issue with Mac: breaking the stack.
In some of my workflows I jump back and forth between programs a lot. Example (not everything I do is this tedious : ) Alt + tab, tab, ctrl + shift + end, ctrl + c, alt + tab, ctrl + v.
When I was on Mac it felt like this would break down multiple times a day: CMD + tab, oh wait, another Window of the same App, that means CMD - tab to go back, then something I have forgotten, possibly CMD + | on my keyboard back then, then the same insanity next time.
Basically for someone like me who works quick but has lots of things to keep in mind this breaks down immediately.
I don't want to stop and think if this is another Window or another App, I just want to go back to that second last thing I worked on.
As I said, I have to believe you guys actually like it but for me this particular (mis- IMO)feature was one of the main reasons why I will ask nicely to get a Windows or Linuzx laptop instead of a Mac.
In return I ask that you believe me when I say that I haven't come across one of those jarring font issues that Mac people complain about in Linux. My touchpad is good enough, - I try to use my keyboard most of the time anyway etc etc.
> Also why do I have to press Command + whatever when there is a perfectly functional control key on the keyboard ?
Of all the OS X criticism, this is the most absurd. Command, Control, they are all arbitrary choice, why even whinge about it. Is like going to France and complaining everyone speaks French
>Also why do I have to press Command + whatever when there is a perfectly functional control key on the keyboard ? If I am remoted into a Windows machine now I have to remember to press Control + whatever and revert back to Command + Whatever when I am back on my Mac
It's worth pointing out that Apple is the odd one out when it comes to modifier keys. Switching between Linux and Windows, alot of the keyboard shortcuts remain exactly the same. Going from Windows to OS X is a really frustrating from that aspect.
What is really frustrating is to go back. You never get that shortcut consistency like it is between different osx apps. Not to mention that my leftmost finger stopped being sick, because Cmd is just below thumb, not in the dead corner. Many linuxoids even remap control on capslock for that reason.
But it would be unfair for me to blame Apple's OS for most of these faults.