Alt-tab still works to change applications. Control-alt-tab will move to the desktop in Mate and also to the top and bottom panel. Windows-e or super-e as Linux calls it will open Caja, which is a file explorer.
See this tutorial
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Using_and_accessing_MATE/MATE_basic_concepts
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to blinux-list+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxx.Hi everyone,
I'm truly grateful to be part of such a welcoming and supportive family. A big thank you to each one of you for taking the time to share your experiences and advice, it means a lot!
Chime, Thanks for the kind wishes and for pointing out Debian’s accessible installer.
Rudy Vener, Your workflow with Speakup and MATE really inspired me.
Kyle, Your deep insights into Fedora, Orca, and structural web navigation were incredibly helpful!
John Doe, I took your advice and started testing with a VM, which really made things easier.
Sathyan, I’ll definitely be checking out Accessible-Coconut. Thank you!
Now the exciting part, I’ve already begun!
I set up a VM using Debian 12 on VMware, and installed it using Orca right from the boot screen. Installation was smooth, and I initially chose the GNOME desktop. Orca is up and running post-installation, and I’ll be trying out MATE next to see which DE suits me better.
Since I’m coming from a strong Windows background, I’d really appreciate some comparative keyboard shortcuts, especially for common tasks. For example:
In Windows, I use:
- Alt + Tab to switch between open apps.
- Windows + M or Windows + D to go to desktop.
- Windows + E to open File Explorer.
- Windows + 1 / 2 / 3 to open pinned taskbar apps.
Can you please help me understand how to do these same tasks in Linux (GNOME and MATE)?
I’m especially looking for:
- Switching between running apps.
- Going to the desktop quickly.
- Opening the file manager.
- Shortcut keys to open specific apps if pinned.
- Any GNOME/MATE equivalents of the Windows key combos.
Learning through comparisons really helps me transition more smoothly, so I’m excited to hear your tips.
Thanks once again for helping make my Linux journey less scary and more exciting. Looking forward to learning more from all of you!
Warm regards,
Abdullah Zubair
DevOps Engineer | Web Developer
Pakistan
On 02/07/2025 3:12 am, Abdullah Zubair wrote:
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to blinux-list+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxx.Hi everyone,
I hope you're all doing well.
Let me quickly introduce myself. My name is Abdullah, writing to you from Pakistan. I'm 25 years old, and a lifelong technology enthusiast. Professionally, I work as a Web Developer and DevOps Engineer, so Linux has been part of my daily workflow for quite some time, though mostly in a headless, server-side environment.
I regularly manage Debian-based LEMP stacks (Linux, NGINX, MariaDB, PHP-FPM), handle deployments, maintain Docker containers, and oversee several web applications and services. So, I’d consider myself an intermediate Linux user in the server context.
However, I’ve been a Windows user for over 20 years, from Windows 98 all the way to Windows 10, which I currently use with NVDA 2024.1.2. For a long time now, I’ve wanted to transition to Linux for personal desktop use, not just on remote servers.
I truly admire Linux for its freedom, flexibility, and licensing model, and I feel it's time to make the switch, but I’m aware that as a blind user, this change will come with new challenges, especially around accessibility, desktop environments, screen readers, shortcuts, and overall UX.
That brings me to my main reason for reaching out.
I’d love some guidance, mentorship, or a roadmap on how to start this transition. Specifically:
- Which distro(s) are most accessible for blind users?
- How different is the desktop experience compared to Windows + NVDA?
- Which screen readers or tools should I get familiar with?
- What should I learn first? Are there any key tutorials or beginner-friendly resources?
- How do you handle common tasks like file management, software installation, and system settings with a screen reader?
- Any must-know keyboard shortcuts or accessibility hacks?
If there are any detailed guides, blog posts, or YouTube videos you recommend, I’m all ears. I’m ready to invest the time to learn and would really appreciate your help.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to blinux-list+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxx.
Looking forward to your kind insights, experiences, and suggestions. Thanks in advance for supporting a fellow blind techie!
Cheers,
Abdullah Zubair
Pakistan
Web Developer & DevOps Engineer
(Blind Linux Enthusiast-in-Transition 😉)