This is my list of TextMate’s keyboard shortcuts that are very useful for Ruby and Rails developers, but are not used as widely as they should (according to my very scientific observation on a very representative sample, i.e. my colleagues).

My list includes shortcuts that are very useful but sometimes might be hard to grasp at first or might require a little explanation.

Link to the original post: TextMate shortcuts you should be using. From the blog « require ‘brain’.

Personally, given the software that comes included on it, I think that it’s probably not much — if any — more expensive at all.

But none-the-less, I wrote out some of the reasons I like it — and why I wouldn’t switch back for anything.

• I never worry about viruses. Never. I don’t have to install firewall/virus scan software. Ever.
• I get a true bash shell when I go to the OS. One of my biggest complaints about windows was that it seemed designed to keep you from going to the OS to do things. My mac works seamlessly that way.
• I don’t have some stupid ‘start’ menu that I have to rearrange to get the programs I want lined up.
• I rarely have to reboot when I install something. I reboot the machine so infrequently that sometimes it’s months between reboots. I’ve never had a ‘blue screen of death’ and my computers have locked up maybe once or twice a year.
• My system backups are seamless through the Time Machine built into Leopard. I just works and I always have a current backup. Always.
• When there’s an operating system upgrade, I always look forward to it.
• The included software, iLife, is great.
• I play guitar some and use the included, free program Garage Band to record songs I write.

And these are just a few reasons off the top of my head.

Now – maybe it’s worth saving a few bucks to have an OS that sucks.

But on the other hand, I don’t buy the cheapest tools at Home Depot either. And I didn’t get the cheapest TV available. Or the lowest cost stereo system.

Sometimes I pay a bit more at the market so I don’t have to eat the cheapest cuts of meat. I don’t buy the nasty cheap white bread either.

And don’t even talk to me about beer. Forcing me to buy the cheapest beer at the market would suck – but if you prefer that I don’t judge you.

I don’t mind paying a bit more for quality. And my mac is simply higher quality in ways that are important to me.