[moogleii]

> I really wonder why people seem to like Finder over Windows Explorer.

I work on both daily as well. I can give some commentary on that. Coming from Windows, I initially hated Finder, but I prefer it now. The controls scheme is more consistent to me, and things I liked about the Windows setup was purely because I used Windows first.

* Navigating the folder structure: OSX: Cmd+down to drill down. Cmd+up to move up a directory. Cmd+down to open a file. Windows: Enter to move down. Alt+up to move up a directory. Enter to open the file.

* Renaming a folder or file OSX: Enter. Hands can remain on the home key for immediate typing of new name. Windows: F2. F2? Why? Hand has to fly off home position. And it's such a random key. I'm sure there's a historical reason, but from an end user's perspective, why that F key vs any other F key?

* Open file dialog (I believe each OS uses their file manager to power it) OSX: Not in the right directory, but have an instance of Finder open that is? Just drag in the target directory into the dialog, and it will smartly switch to that folder. Windows: If you try that, it freaks out. Navigate manually.

[dingo_bat]

Renaming: I think if the enter key does anything except execute/open the selected file it's non obvious and nonsensical. Also, the F key mappings are all random. It's meant to be like that. F5 is refresh. F11 is full screen. These are a bunch of unnamed keys that can be assigned arbitrary functions. Some apps hardcore it, some let users change.

[moogleii]

> Renaming: I think if the enter key does anything except execute/open the selected file it's non obvious and nonsensical.

In a vacuum, sure, I could agree with that. But in conjunction with cmd + [arrow] to move in and out of your current position, I think cmd + down to open a file continues that line of thought and is intuitive and obvious in the Finder context. After drilling down with cmd+down, if it's another directory, open it, else if it's a file... open it.

Alt-up and enter to do similar navigation all make sense in their own individual context, but in the context of each other or Explorer itself, is not intuitive and is nonsensical imo. That would be like mouse wheel down to scroll, but ctrl+up to scroll the other way. And F2 I guess, as you put it, is just pure randomness and would make no sense in any context.

[intoverflow2]

>Also, the F key mappings are all random. It's meant to be like that. F5 is refresh. F11 is full screen

Isn't this just the typical argument of "Well that's how it's always been!". You're advocating something arbitrary and nonsensical just because you're used to it.

[Jarwain]

He's not really arguing anything. He was explaining why F2 was picked as the key for renaming; all the F keys were random and arbitrary. He never said whether thats the best way or the only way; he's not advocating it. Merely stating that the F keys were intended for arbitrary functions.

[peyton]

Re: renaming. The 'Enter' key is marked 'Return' on Apple keyboards and has different semantics to the 'Enter' key used in Windows.

[lyonlim]

It was confusing at first when I switched to Mac (still have a Windows 10 laptop), but the 'Enter' to rename really saves me time, or it becomes much more natural.

And while we're on the subject of renaming files, I actually like how I can rename currently opened files.