I've been using Windows for 30 years but just switched to a MacBook — here's why I'm never going back

[admin]

A Windows stan finally relents and hops onto the Mac bandwagon, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss the Microsoft experience.

I've been using Windows for 30 years but just switched to a MacBook — here's why I'm never going back : Read more

 

[Hickeroar]

Note to the author wrt installing apps:
1) Stop using Launchpad. It’s bad and practically no one uses it. Instead, hit CMD+Space to launch apps with Spotlight. Alternatively, install Alfred which has a lot of other cool tricks up its sleeve, and is faster than spotlight. Launchpad is a failed experiment that they keep shipping with Macs for some reason. They’re going to kill it at some point.
2) The installation process is a little unusual at first, but think about it: Your entire app is a single “file.” You just drag that file to the Applications folder and it’s installed. To uninstall you just delete it. Windows can only dream of such a great system.
3) DMG files are basically just acting as ZIP files in the context of installing apps (they apply compression). An App is technically a “folder” on the filesystem, so you can’t download it directly, so it’s gotta be wrapped in something.

I’ve come to the same place with Windows vs Mac over the years. Macs, while not gaming machines, are adequate if you want to game on the side. There are also great options out there now for gaming with steam deck, the other handhelds, and even PS Portal now that it supports cloud gaming. I’ve been debating selling my gaming PC for a few weeks now since all the games I play are available on Mac…

 

[climberartist]

I worked in IT for 18 years. Work provided Windows machines and I went through several Windows laptops for home use. But they never lasted more than 5 years. In 2008 I got my first Macbook Pro. It still runs. In 2015 I got this 15" Macbook pro. While it's getting a little slow and locks up about once a month, after 9 years it's still my daily driver.

Regarding the screenshot issue: try Command + Control + Shift + 4 . This gives you a Photoshop style draggable selection cursor. Drag over what you want to screenshot. Open the default Notes application. Make a new Note called receipts, or dream purchases...whatever. Paste your screenshot into the new note. Notes does have OCR text recognition, but I often add a caption to help speed up searching.

Notes is my new Evernote...which got too expensive and had sync problems. Notes syncs to my iPhone via the free iCloud. On a side note, I was recently on a trip without my 9 year old Macbook. I needed one and decided to splurge on a brand new 14" Macbook Pro M3. It seems very snappy and nice, with amazing battery life, love the fingerprint login!

But frankly, this old 2015 still works just fine. Plus, the conversation with my wife about buying something I don't need is not something I look forward to.

 

[pcworth]

For many mac users, the desktop is the default location to throw files they will need later, just like a physical desktop. You can change that as the default for screenshots and there are lots of tips online. Here is one from Macworld

https://www.macworld.com/article/673251/how-to-change-where-screenshots-are-saved-on-a-mac.html

For installing Apps that are avoiding the App Store, just leave dmg where it is in the download folder and double click to open. Then drag file to applications folder. Done. If it has an installer, double click instead of dragging, and let the installer take care of it.

Most people do not use launcher. It was designed to provide a mobile like interface for some, and i think it can be locked down with certain education security tools to keep little kids out of the finder.

Dont know why your search is not working, but try CMD+F instead to use the full search tool, or download the app “Find Any File.”

 

[kep55]

A few years back I bought a used Mac Cheesegrater tower 2,1. The only real problem I was Apple's intentionally crippling of the BIOS (or whatever it was called then) so NO 64 bit macOS could be installed. Some judicious hacking got El Capitan installed. For the most part it was acceptable, especially the drag & drop app installation with no need to hack a [CENSORED] registry. The fact that Apple crippled the os as mictosoft did when win 10 came out turned me off. I wanted to swap motherboards but guess what? Apple tweaked the case so newer boards would not fit or work. If macbooks are the same, fugettaboutit.

 

[Jbelkin]

A Windows stan finally relents and hops onto the Mac bandwagon, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss the Microsoft experience.

I've been using Windows for 30 years but just switched to a MacBook — here's why I'm never going back : Read more

PREVIEWS has rudimentary graphic tools (click on MARKUP) (essentially replicates the tools in PHOTOS). Both included and free upgrades forever along with the free Apple office suite (PAGES, etc ...) ... There's also the free FREEFORM, (not sure what youre looking for graphics wise) ... Lots of included apps have hidden features like NOTES lets you share encrypted files AND is a scanner. WIN is fine if you have an IT department you can hand your laptop to and get another one, otherwise, why drive a tuk tuk that's built on "borrowed" Mac OS code from 1983 anyway.

 

[bng73]

Great article and commenters have added some good points. One thing missing thus far is sleep/resume. Microsoft and their OEM partners couldn’t figure this out in my 30 years of using Windows. Every time I closed the lid, I’d have to say a little prayer and hope it would come back to life as I’d left it. And upwards of 50% of the time on some laptops, it would freeze up or reboot.

Mac is an absolute dream in this use case. It just works. I find myself saying that in so many instances, and I’ve been on Mac now for about 3 years. It would be hard to go back.

 

[LexVAPin]

I enjoyed this article, but the author missed some of the ways the Mac operates:

1. Finder could be better: Sometimes, Finder fails to find certain files.

This comment was about not being able to find a photo file.
How did you import this file into the Mac? If you used the Mac Photos App, this would explain the issue. The Photos App stores the files within its own folder system. Try going into the Photos App and search for that file.

I have a love / hate relationship with Photos. But in recent years, it has gotten much better. I make extensive use of keywords to organize my tens of thousands of photos into smart folders. It works very well. The photo editing has also gotten much better.
But if you want to access a specific file, search for it within the App and then export it in the desired format.

Otherwise, I can always find a file I am looking for. I usually just use the search bar on the top right of a Finder window. Or I use Spotlight - that spyglass on the top right menu bar.

2. Why are saved screenshots defaulted to the desktop?

A good question. I wish that they would go into a folder on the desktop instead of cluttering mine all up. Plus, the Finder defaults to not showing hard drives, etc. I always go to settings and turn them on. And increase the number of items in the sidebar which makes each window far more useful.

3. Downloading programs is odd, but I understand the benefit: After downloading a .dmg file, I then have to drag it into the Applications folder.

Don't do that! Don't drag that .dmg file anywhere. Double-click on it where it is. A new window should show up with a GUI showing the new program and dragging it into an image of the Application folder. Do that and you are done. Better install programs will then auto delete the .dmg file but not all do that.

4. FaceID – where is it?

I miss it too. Apple's FaceID apparently requires a certain setup of cameras to make it work. It is allegedly more secure than that on Windows. Those cameras are not present on a MacBook nor an Apple Monitor.

The good news is that an Apple Watch unlocks the screens reliably. And the fingerprint on the keyboard, as you pointed out, works well.

I miss the FaceID on my iPad Air too.

5. No ‘Paint’ equivalent: I’d often used Paint for minor photo edits.

Have you tried editing within the Photo App? I use that for 90% of my photo editing now. I no longer need Photoshop. The few times that I need to do something more, I use Pixelmator Pro, which Apple just purchased. Our hope is that they will not kill that program, or at least incorporate it into the Photo App.

Happy computing!

 

[LinuxFanatic]

You make no mention of Linux in your article as another possible solution to your expressed reservations. And that is an opportunity missed, my dear. Here's a breakdown of the your concerns and how Linux might address them:

1. Finder Search: The author found Finder's search function to be inconsistent.

• Linux Solution: Many Linux distributions offer powerful file managers like Nautilus (GNOME) or Dolphin (KDE) with highly effective and customizable search features. These file managers often provide more advanced search options, including regular expressions, fuzzy matching, and indexing for faster results.

1. Screenshot Defaults: Screenshots are saved to the desktop by default in macOS.

• Linux Solution: Most Linux distributions allow you to customize the default save location for screenshots. You can usually configure this in the screenshot tool's settings or using a system-wide configuration tool.

1. Program Installation: The author found the installation process for programs outside the Apple Store to be less streamlined than on Windows.

• Linux Solution: Linux offers various package managers like apt (Debian/Ubuntu), yum/dnf (Fedora/RHEL), and pacman (Arch) that simplify software installation. These tools often provide a centralized repository of software packages, making it easy to search, install, update, and remove software with a few commands.

1. FaceID: The author missed the convenience of facial recognition login available on some Windows laptops.

• Linux Solution: While not as ubiquitous as on some Windows machines, many Linux distributions support facial recognition login using tools like face-unlock or by integrating with camera drivers that provide facial recognition capabilities.

1. Basic Image Editor: The author missed a simple image editor like Paint.

• Linux Solution: Linux offers several lightweight and easy-to-use image editors, such as GIMP (a powerful image editor with a steeper learning curve), Pinta (a user-friendly alternative to GIMP), and MyPaint (focused on digital painting).

The specific tools and configurations available can vary depending on the chosen Linux distribution. Yet, Linux offers potential solutions to many of your concerns. However, it does so in a free and open, non_proprietary manner. With macOS you are stilled locked into a proprietary model of personal computing. You are still very much shackled to a large corporation for your computing needs. And in a matter of time, you might become dissatisfied with macOS for some of the same reasons that you expressed with Microsoft. However if you believe that you are satisfied with the choice that you have made, I rejoice with you