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badtz · Apr 25, 2005, 04:20 AM

Seems like Spotlight can replace launchbar as an application launcher.

Anyone else feel like this? Or did you still install launchbar?

[or quicksilver]

Gee4orce · Apr 25, 2005, 04:27 AM

No. Spotlight and Quicksilver/Launchbar address different needs, as far as I can tell. I run both - you can change the keyboard shortcut for either application.

Spotlight doesn't work with abbreviated names, which is the key feature of Quicksilver or Launchbar. eg: type 'prv' in Quicksilver gives me Preview, typing it in Spotlight gives me a few .c and .h source code files :/

CatOne · Apr 25, 2005, 10:16 AM

Launchbar is definitely faster as a launcher, and it can use customized shortcuts, as Gee4orce noted above. It can also search Safari history; Spotlight doesn't search Safari history, it only searches Safari bookmarks.

It can replace Launchbar, but the experience isn't as good right now... average time to find an application is 1-2 seconds, versus sub 1/4 second with Launchbar.

Stradlater · Apr 25, 2005, 10:40 AM

Spotlight's replacing LaunchBar for me.

LB has been good to me, but with the ability of selecting text in any application and running a Google search, Spotlight search, and dictionary search, the advanced options LB provided are no longer needed (especially with the Dict/Thes at my Dashboard fingertips).

As far as abbreviations go, it's not difficult to create aliases. "PS" for Photoshop, "PRV" for Preview, etc. You just have to be more consistent in your abbreviations.

neila · Apr 25, 2005, 10:43 AM

I use launchbar as well. Though it would be nice if you could search one catagory in spotlignt with a keyboard shortcut. Example, if I pressed (command+option+a) spotlight would restrict its search to just applications. If I pressed (command+option+d) spotlight would restrict its search to just documents.

Stradlater · Apr 25, 2005, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by neila

I use launchbar as well. Though it would be nice if you could search one catagory in spotlignt with a keyboard shortcut. Example, if I pressed (command+option+a) spotlight would restrict its search to just applications. If I pressed (command+option+d) spotlight would restrict its search to just documents.

You can limit in Spotlight, though it's not so quick. For example, "kind:image" will return just images in Spotlight.

neila · Apr 25, 2005, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Stradlater

You can limit in Spotlight, though it's not so quick. For example, "kind:image" will return just images in Spotlight.

Thanks for the tip thats going to save me some time. I have been searching by file types like (.psd, .tiff, .jpeg and so on). I would like it to be quick because it could be an awesome application launcher

Stradlater · Apr 25, 2005, 11:33 AM

Interestingly enough, Spotlight can have plug-ins (much like Google Desktop Search, I imagine).

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...nstallers.html

nforcer · Apr 25, 2005, 03:35 PM

I use Launchbar as an application launcher and as a web searcher tool. Spotlight is great for content but not a very good application launcher (when compared to Launchbar) and cannot do web searches. So Launchbar will remain on my system and Spotlight will be configured with Command + Option + Space.

zappy · Apr 26, 2005, 02:02 AM

Originally Posted by Stradlater

Interestingly enough, Spotlight can have plug-ins (much like Google Desktop Search, I imagine).

No, you can have a Spotlight plugin for a new file type, which is not known by Spotlight out of the box. But it still is a search on your local discs.

RevEvs · Apr 26, 2005, 06:48 AM

i use spotlight and quicksilver - spotlight is not a replacement for quicksilver, but both work together nicely

Randman · Apr 26, 2005, 06:52 AM

I'll stick with F10.

chabig · Apr 26, 2005, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by RevEvs

i use spotlight and quicksilver - spotlight is not a replacement for quicksilver, but both work together nicely

I heard you can get to the Spotlight search box by typing command-space, which is the default key combination for Launchbar. So what seems to be the best way to handle this duplications, change the Spotlight combo, or LaunchBar, and to what?

Chris

Turias · Apr 26, 2005, 12:00 PM

It's definitely not going to replace Quicksilver for me. I use QS for so much more than just launching applications.

badtz · Apr 26, 2005, 02:36 PM

errr... my problem is that I have FOUR applications that require hot keys (besides expose) ...

Spotlight
MenuCalendar
Quicksilver
BurnoutMenu

errr!

Mithras · Apr 26, 2005, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by badtz

errr... my problem is that I have FOUR applications that require hot keys (besides expose) ...
MenuCalendar

Is MenuCalendar updated for Tiger's new iCal file arrangement? I still have the original Calendarclock, which isn't, obviously.

neila · Apr 26, 2005, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by chabig

I heard you can get to the Spotlight search box by typing command-space, which is the default key combination for Launchbar. So what seems to be the best way to handle this duplications, change the Spotlight combo, or LaunchBar, and to what?

Chris

I changed Spotlight search box to option-space and left launchbar command-space.

chabig · Apr 27, 2005, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by neila

I changed Spotlight search box to option-space and left launchbar command-space.

That sounds like a good combination. I'll try it.

Chris