Mac to PC - Easy Ease the Transition

[vozzz 2]

ye alienwares are scary.. =)

 

but other brands have nice thing laptops that dont looks crazy and can handle a lot.

 

http://www.originpc.com/workstation/laptops/evo15-s-pro/

 

http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/17/msi-gs60-ghost-review/

 

still some way to go, but the situation is getting better. razer blade 17 is nice too.

[Fred Camino 0]

ye alienwares are scary.. =)

 

but other brands have nice thing laptops that dont looks crazy and can handle a lot.

 

http://www.originpc.com/workstation/laptops/evo15-s-pro/

 

http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/17/msi-gs60-ghost-review/

 

still some way to go, but the situation is getting better. razer blade 17 is nice too.

What I found interesting in this move to a Windows PC, and all the research I've been doing regarding custom PC's, which really seem to be the realm of gamers... is that aesthetics is very important to this group. It's just kind of a terrible aesthetic. But these hardcore PC builders/customizers/modders/tinkerers care deeply about how their "rig" looks... like down to the coloring of the components of the motherboard, those funny LED lights, and having a window on the case to show off their creative decisions.

 

I just find it kind of ironic since often a knock on Mac users is that they value the aesthetic of the hardware over the actual power/function/etc but PC gamers care just as much about how it looks... just their tastes tend to run a little towards the ummm... silly.

[kitkats 0]

Thanks! Problem solved.

 

Honestly, I feel so cool using Windows, like such a hipster. Imagine the respect I'd get pulling out a bad ass Alienware gaming laptop with glowing LED's in my local pourover coffee shop. All the conformists with their MacBook Pro's would feel so lame.

Oh my god, you are so right. The circle is complete.

 

I find myself really liking the idea of Microsoft. A company that makes sensible, practical, clean-looking stuff with corners and everything. A company that makes products for intelligent adults. A company that is an underdog wanting design-oriented users.

 

Ugh, I'm so confused, I think I need tech-brand-therapy. At least I know I hate Google.

[Fred Camino 0]

My love/hate battle with Windows rages on. Today I discover the simplicity of quick batch renaming... select some files, F2, type a name... the rest of the files get the name with version numbers. Nice.

 

Well those files happened to be image files that I wanted to open in Photoshop. Not one by one, but all at once. Typically on OSX what I liked to do was drag a group of images down to the Photoshop icon on my dock. Viola. They pop open in PS.

 

Now, you can do a similar thing in Windows, although not as stylishly (no magic genie effect on the Taskbar)... with a single file (and the SHIFT key).

 

My brain tells me the same thing should work with a group of files. Windows tells me otherwise.

 

Okay, whatever. So how about I just right click to load up the context menu and do "Open with". By default PNG's are set to open with Picasa, per the recommendations here. But typically, if I want to open in single file in Photoshop, I can right click, "Open with... Photoshop". Kewl.

 

Try that with a group of files? Not kewl. The "Open with" option is nowhere to be found. Just "Open". In Picasa.

 

So my options are drag each file down individually, or "Open with" individually, or go to Photoshop >File> Open>Search for Files> Open blah blah balh.

 

One of you Windows geniuses has to have a solution for me. Surely you guys open more than one image at a time in PS?

 

Thanks!!!

[AromaKat 1]

Drag them into photoshop.

 

You cant drag them to the taskbar or application like you can with OS X. You have to release the mouse over the gray background of the Photoshop application. If minimized, just keep holding the mouse button down and hovering on the taskbar icon until the application comes to the foreground.

 

You can also go to File->Open, and select multiple files with shift, drag, cntrl+a, etc.

[Fred Camino 0]

Drag them into photoshop.

 

You cant drag them to the taskbar or application like you can with OS X. You have to release the mouse over the gray background of the Photoshop application. If minimized, just keep holding the mouse button down and hovering on the taskbar icon until the application comes to the foreground.

 

You can also go to File->Open, and select multiple files with shift, drag, cntrl+a, etc.

Praise you!!!! Alright, now back to loving windows.

 

Stay tuned though.

[ClintVideo 1]

I've been waiting for "hating Apple" to be come the new "loving Apple". As a neutral observer, mind you. It's all for science.

[vozzz 2]

also get direct folders. if nothing else, it does this awesome thing, that when you are in an application and you get an open/save dialogue and you click on a folder you have open in normal explorer. It will automatically navigate to that folder in the save/open dialogue you have.

 

also middle click anywhere and you get a bunch of shortcuts to folders which make everything much quicker.

 

https://codesector.com/directfolders

[jblessing 0]

So we've officially moved to PC workstations now too after testing the waters for awhile. So far so good.

 

To help ease the transition (and because they are awesome), we are still using our mac keyboards. Do any of you guys know a good key remapping program? If I could just swap the option and cmd keys, that would be a great start...

[jblessing 0]

ok, of course we found something right after I posted this: UXSoft apple wireless keyboard app. Works perfect so far.

[vozzz 2]

Just bumping this, since lots of people seem to be looking for it. also updated my post with one commander, so now you can get column view in windows.

[Neue Method® 0]

Finally made the jump from Mac to PC, after using a Mac for almost 10 years. However I started originally with Windows 3.1 / 95. Trying to make this transition as easy as possible... I was wondering if anyone had solutions for the following:

 

01 - Is it possible to use tabs within Windows 10, similar to OSX?

 

02 - Is there a quick way to preview files / images without using Adobe Bridge? (For example: The spacebar within OSX)

 

03 - In Windows 10, a lot of times when I type, a virtual keyboard appears. Is there a way to disable this?

 

04 - Is the only replacement for QT Pro, VLC?

[ClintVideo 1]

1 - Alt-Tab cycles thru applications. Hovering over the icons of open apps on the taskbar will bring up smaller snapshots of their open windows. Control-Tab cycles through windows open in the current app. Shift reverses direction.

 

2 - I think there are some third party solutions for this, I've never tried any. I get thumbnails of most video formats and CR2 files in Windows Explorer, but that's it.

 

3 - Do you have a touch screen? I think the two are related. I've never tried to turn that off on my laptop. I bet it's under Ease of Access in the control panel.

This reminds me, right-clicking on the Windows icon in the taskbar (Start button) will give you some options such as the Control Panel, which is NOT the same as Settings. Seems infinitely more useful for anyone who isn't a grandmother.

 

4 - You can do Quicktime Pro on Windows, but it's advised to install just the codecs and not the Quicktime Player or browser components. That's what I do. Of course that won't be enough to generate ProRes files, but you can work with existing files.

 

The one feature I've always liked about Windows is the hotkeys. You'll have the expected modifiers with the Windows key, Alt key, and Control key, but being able to just tap the Alt button and navigate around is really handy for people who have been working with Windows for a long time. I also prefer Windows Explorer to Finder for actual file operations, even though it's missing some of the other productivity features such as Quick Look.

 

Cf

[Neue Method® 0]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge to my questions VelocityVideo!

 

01 - I am aware of the tab setup, so that you can cycle through multiple windows. But I was hoping the functionality would be more along the lines of when you are viewing a website. Having one window, and multiple pages along the top.

 

02 - I will have to further explore this

 

03 - Unfortunately I do not. But I need to further explore the option within the control panel to turn this off. Because I find it very annoying.

 

04 - It's good to know that you can.

[oeuf 0]

02 - Is there a quick way to preview files / images without using Adobe Bridge? (For example: The spacebar within OSX)

 

 

http://1218.io/

[Basic 2]

 

http://1218.io/

 

The transition is now complete!

[ChrisC 2]

04 - Is the only replacement for QT Pro, VLC?

 

Try DJV: http://djv.sourceforge.net/

It takes minimal interface to a new level, but it's full featured, plays DNxHD and ProRes AND .exr sequences (QTPro couldn't do that). And it's open source. And free. Nice.

 

[ianfreeze 1]

Seer checks off one of the "I really want that" boxes for windows. The other is column view. Has anyone found a good solution here?

 

I know I can download some other explorer options but none of them look super great so I want to know what you lot have found.

[AromaKat 1]

Column view, or lack thereof, is just one of those things thats difficult to get over. Personally.... I hate column view with a passion. I think its just one of those things we get used to either direction. Just use normal windows explorer. All third party explorer view alternatives provide a poor experience

[Basic 2]

Seer checks off one of the "I really want that" boxes for windows. The other is column view. Has anyone found a good solution here?

 

Yeah thats the main one for me!

I know I can download some other explorer options but none of them look super great so I want to know what you lot have found.

 

One Commander seems to be getting good reviews but its interesting what AromaKat said.

[Neue Method® 0]

Thank you Oeuf and ChrisC. These little nuggets do make the experience back to Windows a bit more enjoyable. However after a month (I know it's early) of using Windows 10, I think I might stick with my Mac for all of my design work. And use my new PC build, for 3D only.

Edited January 11, 2017 by Neue Method®

[Basic 2]

Thank you Oeuf and ChrisC. These little nuggets do make the experience back to Windows a bit more enjoyable. However after a month (I know it's early) of using Windows 10, I think I might stick with my Mac for all of my design work. And use my new PC build, for 3D only.

 

Has it been difficulty to get in the flow with using windows?

[Neue Method® 0]

@Basic - It wasn't too difficult. However I did need a refresher course because it has been many years / versions, since I have last used Windows. So I literally had to watch several Youtube videos to see what was new in Windows 10. And overall just learn the short cuts and understand the OS better. Unfortunately it's just a bit too clunky after using a Mac for so many years after. But maybe my opinion will change after several months.

[Basic 2]

Cool and thanks for the insight. On the one hand I'm excited to not use Mac and build a spec'd out machine that I want... but I am a little scared its a case of thinking the grass is greener... we shall see. Thanks again!

[jcrash 0]

 

Yeah thats the main one for me!

 

One Commander seems to be getting good reviews but its interesting what AromaKat said.

I use One Commander when I'm sifting through image stock. You can see a preview of most in the thumb window, which makes it handy. Still, nothing that I've found that supports thumbs which is kind of annoying.

 

Nevermind, found a solution after posting this: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/windows-10-quicktime-thumbnails/1b667bac-36fd-40a8-b9e7-b28b256a4516

 

Also Icaros for thumbnails for .movs (even pro res and animation codec .movs) http://www.videohelp.com/software/Icaros

 

And Fast Picture Viewer Codec Pack for .psd thumbnails in explorer. Super handy when looking for assets!

Edited February 16, 2017 by jcrash