I was reading an article recently on Lifehacker about Mac keyboard shortcuts that boost productivity and I got to thinking about my migration from a Windows laptop to the MacBook Pro a year or so earlier.  I’m one of those nerds who knows all sorts of obscure Windows application shortcuts and I realized at some point that I wasn’t going to any faster on my Mac unless I just stopped using Windows.  Unfortunately, my work machine is Windows-based so I’m not using OS X alone, but I use my Mac as often as possible, especially at home.  I’m still way slower on it than on a Windows machine, but I’m getting there.

Here are the productivity-boosting shortcuts Lifehacker recommended:

• Command+Shift+A/U/D: These three-in-one shortcuts take you to the Applications, Utilities, and Desktop folders (respectively) when in the Finder. Because you’ll need to get to each relatively often, this key command can save you quite a bit of time.
• Command+1/2/3/4: When you need to change views in the finder, you don’t have to bother with your mouse. 1 will get you icon view, 2 list view, 3 column view, and 4 cover flow.
• Command+Option+I: When you need info on multiple files, just select them and execute this key command. You’ll get an info panel about everything currently selected.
• Command+Shift+4 and Space: When you press Command+Shift+4 you get to take a screenshot of a specific area on the screen. If you hit the space bar afterwards, however, you can click on any window to get a nice PNG with transparent background of that window.
• Command+Option+M: Sometimes you end up with too many windows on your desktop and you just want to cut your losses. Minimize them all to the dock with this keyboard shortcut.
• Command+(Shift)+~: If you’d rather cycle through millions of windows, you can use this key command to do so. Add or remove the shift key to change directions.
• Command+Option+Space: Most of us know that you can search Spotlight quickly by pressing Command+Space. Add the option key to get a Spotlight search window and get more specific about what you’re trying to find.

Do you have other Mac shortcuts that are you favorite?  Let us know in the comments.