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
Eventually you will get used to it.
You have 3 options.-
normalise to OSX shortcuts (and concile your Linux shortcuts to those). You are more likely to encounter an osx machine “in the wild”, and if you have to get a new Mac then everything is instantly comfortable. Linux is also easier to customise.
-
normalise to your Linux shortcuts. Figure out how to script osx to adopt those shortcuts (so you can quickly adopt a new work machine), and accept that you won’t always be able to use those shortcuts (like when using a loaner or helping someone).
-
accept the few years of confusing Osx Vs Linux shortcuts, and learn both.
Option 3 is the most versatile. Takes ages, and you will still make mistakes.
Option 2 is the least versatile, but is the fastest to adopt.
Option 1 is fairly versatile, but probably has the longest adoption/pain period.If OSX is in your future, the it’s option 1.
Option 3 is probably the best.
If you are never going to interact with any computer/server other than your own & other Linux machines, then option 2. Just make sure that every preference/shortcut you change is scriptable or at least documented and that the process is stored somewhere safe-
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.
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.
You’ll get used to it with time. I use the Mac keyboard layout with my Windows stuff too now and it helps a little. I still use the Windows shortcuts on Windows though, I just mean the flipped alt and Win/Cmd keys.
Also, grab this program. The biggest loss from Windows on Mac is moving windows around with hotkeys. https://rectangleapp.com/
Yeah, I found Rectangle last week. It’s killer, especially on multiple monitors. I hate that macOS doesn’t have a proper maximise function by default. The move-to-half-the-screen shortcuts are great.
I need to get it set up to work with multiple monitors. I haven’t done that yet.
