Comments on: Windows 7 For Mac Users (Switching Back)

By: Matt Rix

Matt Rix — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:22:41 +0000

I know this is super old, but you don’t even really need spotlight or launchy on Windows 7. Just press the windows key then type in whatever you want to search or run and press enter. It works great. It doesn’t have that sweet in-application menu searching that OSX has, but it does everything else really well.

Want to run Photoshop? Press windows key, type “pho” and press enter.
Want to change sound settings? Press windows key, type “sound settings”, press enter.
Want to go to program files? Press windows key, type “\program files”, press enter.

You get the idea. It’s pretty awesome, and it makes me not miss quicksilver at all.

By: Ralfey

Ralfey — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:01:56 +0000

Try Launchy as a spotlight replacement. Its not as comprehensive but is extensible and works pretty well when you get used to it. I rarely use the start menu these days because of it.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:24:06 +0000

Is there a similar software like 3RVX but mimic screen brightness control in OSX? I am a Mac user switching back to win because of work… really miss that function

By: Rodney

Rodney — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:59:56 +0000

I too have had a need run in Windows 7 for some Windows game development during the day (although I still prefer running it on Apple hardware, and the laptop gets switched back to OS X on my own time).

Thanks for the links that look like they’ll make the time spent in Windows a little easier to tolerate. I also appreciate the link to iStat Menus for OS X. I’ve been using MenuMeters for some time, but like the addition of temperature monitoring and the ability to see which processes are eating CPU time (even if the uninvited cases are almost always a case of something using Flash in a browser)

By: David

David — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:27:36 +0000

Interesting list, always nice to see perspective from a fellow switcher-backer (I’m currently in the process of trying to sell my MacBook, having gone back to an all-Windows environment since it suits me better as a .NET developer).

I do take minor issue with one thing though — I personally prefer Pidgin over Digsby. Digsby works well enough, but I just think its interface is way too cluttered. That said, I’m definitely biased because I’ve been using Pidgin for at least six or seven years now and kind of compare everything else to it.

Just wanted to give it a quick mention, though. Hope the switch continues going well for you.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:57:13 +0000

I hope the transition back is going smoothly for you. Every time I have to boot into Windows (for MotionBuilder or whatever) I instantly feel dumber, slower, and less creative.

Thanks for the iStat link by the way—this program is great!

By: Dock

Dock — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:03:18 +0000

I’ve been using OSX for almost 2 years, and I can definitely see where you’re coming from with the inconvenience of not using Windows when it comes to interacting with other developers. I keep a Windows running laptop handy at all times, which tends to cover me for all the situations you mention.

I’m thankful for this entry though, because I really wanted a Windows equivalent of Expose.

By: polyGeek

polyGeek — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:53:24 +0000

Thanks for posting this. I’m an XP user and will be moving to System 7 soon. There’s a couple of handy tools listed here that I’ll check out.

Power to the PC!