Computerworld on 15 things Apple should change in Mac OS X

How have I been running my clock widget on my desktop all this time if it's impossible? I've made it a point to never read an article about mac os x written by someone who has never actually used it.

I was so offended by the low-quality of this article that I felt compelled to post. Please stop sending us to articles that are written by morons and are total crap. No one wants to use windows, that's why we visit this site.

I got to the first item where the intrepid reporter can't remember what day it is and needs his computer to tell him. Sounded like a typical Windoze user.

I definately agree about the lack of screen-dimming control. Constantly having to be within touching range of the track pad on my PB, watching a DVD or vodcast, is way annoying. What part of NEVER doesn't the system-preferences/energy saver understand?
Other than that, OSX is the better of the two most popular OS's; "switchers will adapt to the minor differences with ease. I did!

post script: don't put the quotation marks in terminal. :)

actually, dashboard widgets can be placed on the desktop. all one has to do is put dashboard into developer mode, which is easily done with this line in terminal your terminal window:

"defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES"

then hit enter followed by

"killall Dock"

and another enter

once complete open up dashboard and click on a widget, continue to hold this click and then hit your keyboard shortcut to bring up/close dashboard and there you go. To bring it back to dashboard click on it, then your shortcut then let go of the mouse click.

it'd be nice if the writers of anti Mac articles actually knew what they were talking about.

Though I admit that Finder is my biggest issue with OS X, it's much better than WIndows Explorer could ever be. The only point I really agree with is the cut option. I really hate to copy paste, for for the file to fully copy if it's large, adn then go back and delete the original.

I love these articles as they really have trouble coming up with enough items to add to their list, and most of them are very suggestive.

SOLUTION: For quicking getting to "lesser used apps" you can drag a folder to the Dock (between the Trasha and the sperator bar) and then put alaises to those apps in the folder. When you hold down the mouse on the folder you will see a contextual menu with a list of the apps. Or, as mentioned, use Spotlight for an instant search.

I just went back to the computerworld site. I read the fine print at the bottom.

It turns this article is just from Scot Finnie. A long time Windows user. It is a repost from his Blog called "Scot’s Newsletter"

Ken Mingis is their Online News and Mac editor.

Scot Finnie has recently made the switch to the Mac and is feeling transition blues. That is what happens when you have to get used to a different way of doing things.

15. No Date Display

For this one there is a solution, Other than just clicking on the date (which is far easier to understand then the windows hover method) you can choose to have the date and time displayed as a window instead.


14. Widgets Can't Be Placed on the Desktop.

For this one my only comment is "yawn!". I can see very little use for this function. I personally only use 3 widgets. 2 for weather, and one for a world clock because when I am in Baghdad I meed to know What time it is in the U.S.

However, I would find it interesting how many widgets most people use. And what are they?

13. Inconsistent Use of Context Menus.

Contextual menus can be a good thing and a bad think. As they point out it can be helpful to Power users. But for non power users they can sometimes get in the way.

That said I have found the contextual menus in OS X to do exactly what you would expect them to. It makes sense that they give you functions that are germane to the program that you are currently running.

12. Documents and App Instances on the Dock.

First off I will note that they complain about Dock clutter in #10 yet wish for even more clutter in #12.

It makes sense that the document windows you see in the front are the ones for the application that you are using.

However, they can get an effect similar to their wish if they send open documents to the dock when they are not looking at them. Then they will appear in the Dock with the applications Icon on them.

As many have said in previous posts. The writers of this article just want the dock to work like the taskbar in Windows.

Windows almost always treats every so called document as a separate instance of the application running. If you don't believe me (Windows Users), open Microsoft word, open several documents. then open the task manager. You will see Microsoft Word listed multiple times.

When I was working tech support that was one of the most annoying things about windows. If the customer on the other end clicked to many times on the Application Icon they would get multiple instances of the same program running.

11. Managing Window Size.

I actually find the multiple movement point in windows as a flaw. I have had several occurrences where someone I was trying to help with a computer issue would resize their window several times on accident then they were told to move the window.

Then there is the comment "There are times when dragging a single window side could eliminate two adjustments on the Mac: a window resize followed by a window move.". Well I fail to see how this would reduce adjustments. For example if I click on one side of the window to adjust how much of the screen it covers then click another side to do the same. I am using just as many clicks and mouse movements to do the same thing the way the Mac does it.



10. Accessing Applications.

First I will admit that I am one of those that put my Applications Folder in the Dock. But that is because I am a longtime Mac user and I am used to putting my applications folder in the apple menu.

But their comment "The way it is now, you can either jam the Dock so full with program icons it's ridiculous or keep the Dock clean and then open a Finder window and drill down into the Applications folder to launch lesser-used apps.".

I find that this is not a real issue.

First, Unlike Windows where every Application is in a Folder with the company name that made the program instead of the program itself, most Mac programs are straight in the Applications folder. Not in a subfolder of a subfolder like in Windows. In fact on my computer, with exception of the programs I put into folders for organization, the only programs that are in a subfolder of the Applications folder are the ones from Microsoft and Adobe.

Second, as previously mentioned you can put the Applications folder in the dock or use Spotlight (which I just did for a program I have not used in 2 years).

9. Backspace and Delete Keys.

Again to this I say "Yawn!". I always find it interesting that people complain about this. In 24 years no matter what computer operating system I have used I have rarely done a forward delete as opposed the the more common backwards delete or "Backspace".

Really when you think about it that terminology is is backwards. You see the deleted or backspace key is supposed to be the computer equivalent to the Backspace key on a typewriter. It is supposed to function just the that key from old, however do the function of correction tape at the same time.

Therefor the so called "Forward delete" is actually a reverse delete as it delete backwards from the n

"As far as issues with a cluttered Finder go, I just use DockSwitch."

That should read:
As far as issues with a cluttered *DOCK* go, I just use DockSwitch.

Bleh. Still kinda drunk I guess :p