Ubuntu 11.04 keyboard shortcuts

Ubuntu is the most popular Linux desktop, the latest version ubuntu 11.04 (code name : Natty Narwhal) has arrived a month ago with a lot of changes, modification and surprises (such as Unity is now the default desktop in Ubuntu). If you’ve been using Ubuntu from long time then upgrading to Ubuntu 11.04, may not be a good idea as Unity is almost different and so you have to customize and learn new tricks as well as keyboard and mouse shortcuts for better experience.

Unity desktop has removed the bottom panel, which is helpful in accessing opened windows and other running applications, instead of that – it has a left panel  – Launcher (with auto hide features) seem almost similar to Dock Application but with some different functionality and 3D effects.

Why should you try keyboard shortcuts in Ubuntu?

Although an average computer user do not use shortcuts a lot but shortcuts can improve (a lot) the experience with Ubuntu (or any other Linux based distribution because all are 100% customizable) and it will also save a lot of time and effort, eventually resulting in better productivity. That’s the importance of keyboard shortcuts. Let’s consider an example – to open a terminal you will have to spend  3-6 seconds, if you don’t use any shortcuts, on the other hand if you use shortcut then 1-2 seconds will be enough; it means you saved 2-4 seconds in opening an applications…so finally you will save a lot of time if you apply this to some of your favorite applications or actions. The layout of unity also encourage us to use keyboard shortcuts, because there is no bottom panel is available from which we can select the apps window in single mouse click, instead of that first we have to move the mouse to launcher’s location, then launcher will appear, now we can select the desired apps.

Okay, lets come to the point – learn some cool and best keyboard shortcuts (these are default shortcuts, if you want you can customize/configure out in your way) that you can use in Ubuntu 11.04 with unity Desktop (although some of them may works with Gnome desktop as well as in older versions of Ubuntu such as 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) or 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx)..just try (of course carefully) you will figure out in minutes).

Top 10 keyboard shortcuts for Ubuntu 11.04 Users

#1 : Ctrl+Alt+T => Opens a Terminal (Command Line or shell).

#2 : Super => Shows Unity Launcher (with Numbers indicated for each Apps) .       /* Super key => key with Windows Logo */

#3 : Super + {Number} => Opens corresponding Application (according to the number).       /* e.g Super+1 opens Home directory on my desktop */

#4 : Super+T => Opens Trash (Recycle Bin of Ubuntu).

#5 : Super+A => Opens the Application Lens.

#6 : Super+F => Opens the File and Folders Lens.

#7 : Alt+F2 => Run a command.

#8 : Alt+F1 =>Puts focus on a Launcher.

#9: Super+D => Minimizes or Restores all Windows

#10 : Ctrl+Alt+Numpad x => where

x = 0 : Maximizes the Window

x = 1, 2, 3….9 : Move the window to different location on the screen depending on the number, so focus on a window and try it.

I’ve explained only few simple keyboard shortcuts, if you know something extra then feel free to share with us – through comments!