I’ve been a linux user for 20 years (mostly on KDE). I just started at a new job, and they gave me a mac. I found out later that I could have got a linux machine instead, which is a bit annoying. Still, I know there are some nice things about a mac, and I figured I’d give it a try for a while.
I’m pretty quick moving around my desktop environment, and I’m finding picking up the mac is not too bad. BUT I use keyboard shortcuts a lot, and they are all every different on a mac. So whenever I switch back and forth between my work machine, I end up stumbling a bunch and wasting my time, and getting annoyed. It’s mostly keyboard shortcuts, but the trackpad buttons and scrolling are annoying too.
So, question is: is it possible to regularly use two OSs with wildly different control surfaces, and be comfortable with it? e.g. either MacOS + Linux, or I guess MacOS + Windows? Or will it be annoying forever?
I’ve been Mac at home since 1998 and windows at work almost all of that time. I assume it’s the equivalent of being bilingual at this point.
I use both at the same desk. I even use the same (windows layout) keyboard on both, and somehow I’m even able to reflexively remember to switch which hotkeys I use, such as win+c and win+v instead of ctrl+c and ctrl+v for copy/paste. I did eventually have to switch the default scroll direction for my mouse wheel though, those being different was just too much lol
Same for me pretty much, I use both Mac and Windows daily, no problems. It’s definitely like being bilingual
I’m autistic so your mileage may vary with this advice, but:
Just make certain visual elements from the OS part of the context trigger for your skills.
“command-W” to close a tab becomes “ctrl-W”.
“command-right” to switch to next tab becomes “ctrl-shift-pageup” (that one works on mac too).
Each of those commands already exists in a context in your brain, such as “when in a web browser”, so just make the operating system part of that context. You can use visual cues for your subconscious to pay attention to, to activate the context. Like, the top bar or even the fonts of the operating system can be your visual cue.
It is possible, in my experience, to answer your question.
Thanks, that’s decent advice. Actually I think the different feel of the keyboard already does that to some extent. No so much the mouse, but that’s an easier fix.
That works too.
I guess the reason I use fonts and OS edges as my contextual cues is that I dual boot my macbook, so I’ve got the same equipment for windows and mac os.
Really the main thing for me is the look and feel of the apps. Firefox just looks subtly different in windows, as do most apps that are cross platform.
I was in a similar situation.
I configured the Mac to use my expected shortcuts when possible and got used to the stuff I couldn’t change. I believe the mouse/track pad behaviour is pretty customizable, so you should be able to convert it to what you expect.
Congratulations on the new job.
You can customize MacOS shortcuts and trackpad/mouse gestures and buttons to match whatever you’re used to (and more) using BetterTouchTool
It’s very popular software for this reason.
Have heard of that, will give it a crack, thanks!
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Eh. There was a time when I was adept at macOS, windows, redhat, and SGI.
No context switching issues at all? If so, any ideas on how that came about?
No issues. I don’t know, it was in my early 20s. That was 20 years ago. It just wasn’t a big deal.
Dunno about mac. I work on Windows for 10 years and have been daily using a Linux KDE laptop for hobby, gaming and casual use for 7.
Honestly, I just don’t think about it at this point. I even have a mouse and keyboard with fast switch between devices and just turn my attention to the other one when I switch.
I find it incredibly annoying. Assuming dual boot or VDI to exclude physical differences, even things like the mouse scroll speed irritates me. Differences in scaling, differences in accomplishing simple but repetitive actions. I don’t have the patience for that anymore.
So you tried it for a while and gave up? How long?
Did Linux only for 5 years for college.
Did a Linux laptop for about 6 months now as my recreational device. Just re-imaged it tonight after your post reminded me that I’m not enthused with Linux.
Where do you work, and are they hiring?
At a university, so I guess yes?
Get a keyboard with VIA customization capability and unify the shortcut experience to your exact preference
Yeah… I have one for my desktop Linux machine, but mostly I’m on laptops, and moving around a lot, so not super practical.
There’s no reason not to use a standalone keyboard with a laptop. I do it all day every day.
Good on you. I disagree, for me.
