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
Eventually you will get used to it.
You have 3 options.
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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.
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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).
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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’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.
I had it like that and it was OK for two years or so until someone broke in at home while I was sleeping and stole my iMac.
So from my experience it gets better. Later I had to work on a Windows machine at work that again took a couple of weeks but eventually I also was OK using both at the same time.
