Jeffrey C. Long

I go through seasons when tendonitis flares up in my right hand from using the track pad on my laptop. It started years ago when I was playing the piano too much at work and doing lots of composition work on a computer using a mouse. Since then, I’m susceptible to it when I’m using the trackpad too much.

I’ve found the following keyboard utilities for the Mac to be invaluable. I touch the trackpad and mouse less and less.

Quicksilver a keyboard launcher. Instead of using the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, pressing <apple> <spacebar> opens up Quicksilver where I can type in the name of an app and launch it by pressing enter. I can also navigate itunes and other programs from it. Help is found at Dan Dickinson’s 10 minute tutorial, the Quicksilver section of 43folders.com, and the quicksilver section of the 43folderswiki

Witch a window switcher. In Windows, you can use a keyboard shortcut to switch between all open windows. In the Mac, the default only allows you to switch between open applications. Witch adds the windows functionality to the Mac. It can be a little slow to open if you have too many windows open.

Sizzlingkeys for iTunes. Allows you to control itunes from inside any application using <apple> <option> <arrow keys> to move from one song to the next, adjust volume, or rate songs.

Safari keyboard shortcuts. Took me awhile to figure this out. <apple> <~> cycles through open Safari windows. <apple> <shift> <right arrow> or <left arrow> cycles through open tabs.

Hope this helps. If you have any keyboard suggestions for the PC or the Mac, please leave comments describing them.

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