[chaosmachine]

I use Spaces (OSX's virtual desktops) and have them on hotkeys. Command+1 gets my editor, Command+2 is browser, Command+3 is terminal, Command+4 is Photoshop.

This setup eliminates the need for alt-tabbing. I just go directly to what I want.

[jamesbritt]

I use KDE3, where each desktop is indeed a different desktop, not (as with Spaces), a sectioned view into a single desktop.

What frustrates me on OS X is that even when I'm on Space 2, alt-tab still shows me apps from Space 1. I much prefer the KDE3 approach where I can tell it to only show me apps and windows from the current desktop.

And if I really want to see all apps I can use Kompose, a version of Expose for KDE3, though that's rare because, like you, I use a different desktop for specific tasks, grouping the apps I need.

[jf]

With Quicksilver, you can assign hotkeys to the applications themselves. Once I got this set up, I stopped using Alt+Tab.

[gmurphy]

Though it seems few people here are Windows users, Windows 7 lets you directly switch to/launch apps by using WinKey + [Num], where [Num] corresponds to the app's position in the dock.

Chrome lets you do the same with tabs using Ctrl + Num.

[levesque]

But typically I have more than 10 tabs opened.

Nice to know though. I'm also pleased that it is available for Windows 7, might make my whole Windows 7 experience much more smooth.

Is there anything similar for Ubuntu? With cairo dock perhaps?

[nnutter]

This behavior is also true on Chrome/Firefox for Mac (s/ctrl/cmd/). Safari differs in that they correspond to bookmarks on the bookmark bar; I actually find this to be my preference.

[Groxx]

Once I learned that it works for the bookmarks, I prefer it that way too. Especially for the bookmarklets for delicious, yc (thread-collapser), and instapaper: just mash the key, and I never need to touch the track pad.

On Safari+OSX, cmd-{ / cmd-} switch tabs. I'd still like a to-beginning / to-end key pair (maybe cmd-[], and reversed?), but that's pretty minor compared to not needing to navigate with a cursor.

[asmosoinio]

WinKey + Num also works in Vista.

[rane]

Any ideas for comfortable hotkeys that are unlikely to conflict with hotkeys in applications?

[bobbyi]

That gives you a good tabbing mechanism between apps, but you lose the ability to use Command+n to switch to tab #n in whichever app your are using (Chrome, iterm, etc.) I switch between tabs in the terminal and web browser more than I switch between apps so I prefer to leave the Command+number combinations for that purpose.

[mtoledo]

I just use Ctrl+number to change spaces, and Cmd+number to change browser tabs/terminal windows.

Works pretty well actually

[nnutter]

This could be a good idea but there is also something to be said about not having to have an animation delaying the switch, etc.

This solution is basically static order with manual (but pita) rearrangement.

[chaosmachine]

Rearrangement is pretty easy, just click+hold the titlebar of the app you want to move, and hotkey to the location where you want to drop it.

I agree about the slide animation, though. I wish there was a way to disable that.