Windows 7: One of the best features of Windows 7 is its keyboard support for moving and arranging application windows. Press the Win key and an arrow key to easily dock windows side-by-side, maximise them, minimise them, and move them to another monitor.
These are the killer shortcuts for manipulating the active window:
- Win+Left arrow: Snap to the left half of the screen
- Win+RIght arrow: Snap to the right half of the screen
- Win+Up arrow: Maximise the window
- Win+Down arrow: Minimise/Restore if it’s maximised
If you have more than one monitor:
- Win+Shift+Left arrow: Move window to the monitor on the left
- Win+Shift+Right arrow: Move window to the monitor on the right
I use the Win+Left arrow and Win+Right arrow all the time on Windows, for comparing documents side-by-side or just keeping the browser open for reference while writing in another window. I’d go so far as to say the Win+arrow key shortcuts are a pretty good reason to upgrade to Window 7 if you haven’t already. (Not using Windows 7? In Windows Vista and XP, you can tile windows with the Ctrl key and right-clicking. For Mac users, there are several apps to get this Windows-like shortcut; I’m using free ShiftIt.)
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