Apple Inconsistencies Part One – The Delete Key

By Scott Saturday July 28, 2007

iTunes Ok, so Apple is all about consistent experience, or so we’re led to believe. So why is it then that pressing the Delete key whilst highlighting a file in iTunes prompts you to delete the track from your music library, but if I want to delete a highlighted file in Finder I have to press Command-Del ?

There is probably an answer to this question and I am sure there is a Mac-head out there who is itching to set me straight ?

3 Comments

Tom Waits on Saturday 28, 2007

I can’t explain it … I prefer the method used by Finder.

If you are performing a destructive action, ie. deleting a file, much better to require a combination that implicitly checks if that is what you really want to do.

The method in Finder requires no annoying “do you really want to do this?” dialogue … the method in iTunes pops up a series of windows that I could live without.

Trouble is that UI changes are difficult to implement once they have been set in stone. Try telling all iTunes users that they need to press two keys in a combination to delete a file, or all Mac users that Finder will now send a file to the trash in one keystroke, but will pop up an annoying dialogue each time.

I’m still having a hard time with the delay inexplicably added to the ‘eject’ key.
Scott on Saturday 28, 2007

I think lots of us were caught out by the sudden change in the eject key judging by the number of forums posts I have seen discussing the subject.

Cheers
Neil Anderson on Saturday 28, 2007

I prefer the way Finder handles deleting files with its two-key method. I sometimes hit the Delete key by accident, so the two-key combination stops those errors. Too bad one can’t do the same in iTunes.