Apple Keyboard: Option Key on Mac and Other Apple Keyboard Features

For most people, Apple computers are something of a fantasy, something strange, incomprehensible, and very inconvenient. In part, such comments are true, because apple laptops and desktop machines are very different from the usual Windows-based computers. A new Mac user is already in a stupor at the initial stage, faced with the fact that the keyboard does not work the way he used to.

It is not known whether such dramatic changes are caused by Stephen Jobs' hatred of Microsoft products, or in the apple corporation their ideas about the anatomy of the hands, but the usual hot keys on their computers look and work a little differently. In this material, the reader will find answers to basic questions, such as: “Why does the layout change not work?”; “What does the Option key look like on a Mac?” And others. The solution to those and other problems is very close, you just need to take some time to configure.

Keyboard shortcuts (modifier keys)

Keyboard shortcuts on Apple computers are not much different from those on Windows, with the exception of a layout change. This means that all the usual combinations, such as: “copy”, “paste”, “cancel” in place, only the modifier key has changed, instead of Control, Command is used. Command + C, Command + V, and so on (which is logical, because for that she and Command to execute commands).

Often modifier keys are indicated with special characters:

Option Key on Mac: Where is it and How to Apply It?

Some advanced Mac users call this key magic, because almost every function with its application opens up new horizons in computer use. First, find out where the Option key is on the Mac. On modern laptops and keyboards from Apple, the Option is located next to the Command buttons, and it is written on it, attention, Alt. The same Alt, familiar to everyone who at least once in his life sat down at a modern keyboard. What features does this button give?

Access to additional information in the toolbar:

• By holding Option and hovering over the icon of the bull's-eye, you can access more complete information about the system.
• On laptops, you can get information about the status of the battery.
• If you open the sound settings by holding Option, you can select the playback source.

Quick access to settings and alternative options:

• If you hold down Option while holding down the function keys , the system will automatically open the settings related to the specific function key.
• All applications offer alternative keyboard shortcuts, one way or another associated with the Option key, for this it is enough to hold it when viewing a function in the toolbar.
• When using the Time Machine backup tool, the Option key allows you to identify all disks on which at least one copy is stored.

Also, the Option button allows you to enter alternative characters, identical to Windows (this applies to those who still put a hyphen instead of a dash).

Keyboard layout

With the fact that the key assignments on the Mac are different from those on Windows, figured out. Now it’s worth understanding how the layout differs and how to fix it. Yes, it’s a fix, because by default the Mac uses a keyboard layout that is familiar to those who used a typewriter - Russian typewriting. The technical structure of the typewriter forced the designers to put punctuation marks on the top row of keys so that they did not hit each other, on the computer this approach only slows down the typing speed, so you need to immediately change the layout. This is done simply:

• Go to the "System Settings".
• Sub-item "Keyboard".
• Submenu "Input Sources".
• Next, you need to add a new layout - Russian PC, and delete the previous one.

Now all the keys have returned to their places, and although the engraving on the keyboard does not coincide with the actual purpose of the buttons, anyone familiar with the blind text input method will be happy after changing the layout. Also after that, the letter E will return to its place, which many people still use in print.

Layout Switching

The most ingrained habit of all Windows users - the keyboard shortcut Shift + Alt - is a big problem for beginners in the world of apples. There are two solutions to the problem: either get used to the new combination Command + space (which is anatomically much more convenient), or install the Punto Switcher from Yandex, which allows you to use both modifiers at the same time to change the keyboard layout, and also carries a ton of other functions (for example, automatic changing the language without using a key combination at all).

Instead of a conclusion

As can be seen from the above material, the transition to the Apple universe is not only a pleasure, but also a number of difficulties associated with certain habits that we gain during the use of the computer. Making up with them and setting up a computer or abandoning and returning to Microsoft is up to the buyer, but the difficulties are always followed by a reward, and in the case of the Mac, it's really worth it. Moreover, sorting out the habit, you can understand that the keyboard shortcuts are more logical and convenient than on Windows, and the Option key on the Mac is really magical and the notorious Alt is not even like it.