Keyboard application switching

John C. Welch - 08:32am Dec 2, 2005 PST

[Moving this to a new thread to keep the other focused on gift suggestions... -Adam]

On 12/1/05 16:08, "Dan Frakes" <DanFrakes.org> wrote:

> But since all those exact same features are built into the system's > command-tab switcher as well, can you give some more compelling reason for > spending money to get this? m.

This is one of those apps whose advantages are easier to see in use than explain, but I'm with Alex on this one: LiteSwitch is a must-have on all of my computers -- when I use a Mac without it, the built-in Command+Tab functionality seems klunky.

Or, the OS version is just that...a command key switcher, that uses the minimal amount of keys, (cmd-tab, with a shift or q option), and does two things...lets you switch between applications from the keyboard, and lets you quit applications from the keyboard without needing the mouse. You can also, if you like, use the mouse to select applications. Note how this still leaves the OS application switcher with two functions: Select the application, quit the selected application.

There is a tendency to believe that the more functions you can shove into something the better it becomes. LiteSwitch's defense is based on "It does more". That's true, but more !automatically better. More is only more. The fact that more is not always better is shown by the success of the iPod. Even with video, the iPod has fewer geegaws than the rest. But it is well designed, and intuitive. When people talk about how they've "forgotten" about various LiteSwitch features, it means that they never use them. You don't forget about features you use.

The OS application switcher is simple, clear in function, and, as long as applications don't try to use cmd-tab for other reasons, interferes with nothing.

LiteSwitch may indeed have far more functionality, but that doesn't make it better, just bigger.

-- John C. Welch Writer/Analyst Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions jwelchbynkii.com