Why does the enter/return key rename a file/folder, instead of opening it?
"enter" or "return" is, at least in my mind and experience with others, the universal "okay" key. When a dialog pops up, you can smack the enter key for the default action.


In the Finder, the default action is file management. The Finder is not a launcher. You have a bunch of files you want to rename, or move, or whatever. What percentage of files do you actually open regularly from the Finder? Why should the default action in the Finder be "Open"?

You can learn to use the navigation standard of OS X instead of ENTER/RETURN. The navigation standard is:


⌘ + ↑ - goes to Parent Folder
⌘ + ↓ - goes to Child Folder.


Over time I have found these key operations better than Windows navigation where you have to switch between ENTER and Alt+Up.