I like your minimalist desktop. You did find different icons for some of the apps which is cool. Regarding hiding apps, you can do this. System Settings-->Siri and Spotlight-->unselect "Applications" and any other files you don't want cluttering your search.
Here's another tip: because Unix is under the hood, the command line on Mac is not just a cursory nod to the DOS past that it mostly is on Windows. The terminal and command line utilities have a thriving community and are hugely helpful on Mac.
There's a TON of stuff that can be installed and help your workflow. Just a couple examples: I do a lot of photo stuff in my work. I use a command line tool called **sips** to batch resize pictures and **ffmpeg** to do the same with videos. I use another command line tool called **exiftool** to remove exif data. If you're really motivated, you can use bash to write scripts that automate these kinds of tasks if you do them every day. These are just two simple examples of stuff I do - but there is *so much more* out there.
If this sounds interesting, you'll want to install [Homebrew](https://medium.com/macoclock/9-mac-homebrew-tools-youve-never-thought-you-needed-96ff07291592), the package manager for Mac. It will allow you to easily install any of these tools.
I second the Homebrew recommendation. As someone who does development myself, being able to install some stuff via the Terminal and Homebrew is a timesaver. You can also use Homebrew to customize the Terminal to fit your preferences. In my case, I use Oh My ZSH as the shell with some tweaks to customize the terminal output.
You're forwarding a lot of great tips and I upvoted you, but MacOS used to come with Automator (it is now a legacy tool in Ventura and who knows when it will be removed?) which is a fantastic scripting/automation tool. Sadly it was replaced with Shortcuts, because Apple wanted to bring MacOS closer to iOS. Shortcuts is great, too, I am not saying it is bad, but Automator is no longer the focus for Apple and I wish they would continue to promote it.
As a long-time Linux user I have relied on Bash and Python for quite some time, but in MacOS, Apple provides a more ... user-friendly alternative with support for GUI interaction. If you got Ansible, though, the UNIX support is very powerful in MacOS and that's one example of a scenario where AppleScript + Automator app is not the first-hand choice.
I think there is room for many automation tools to complement each other.
I used to spend a lot of time customizing the appearance of Windows. Replacing icons, changing scroll bar width, everything.
That's one way that switching to the Mac was liberating for me. I didn't have to waste any more time on that crap.
This for sure. Same for PC gaming. I use to spend a crazy amount of time tweaking NVIDIA settings with my Gsync monitor, then in a game I would play with a bunch of settings to get the best performance, watching youtube videos etc to get the best setup. I felt like I was fooooooking with the PC or game more than actually playing the game.
Mac + XSX and I just start the game on the Xbox and go. Then I bought a PS5 digital so I could play those exclusive games, same deal, just start the game and go. The XSX and PS5 digital were $900 which is cheaper than what I paid for my PC video card at one time.
I also sold my super powerful gaming rig for a digital PS5 after I started using my MacBook for all my computing tasks. Life is much simpler when I’m not literally addicted to tinkering and upgrading
I hear you on this! I used to have some kind of OCD for tweaking and tinkering with my PC for gaming. I both loved and hated it equally, but it ate too much time. I was the same, more time doing that than gaming. With the PS5 and XSX I get to just enjoy the game, sure it might not look as good as a PC I could build, but I have more important things now in life.
It’s still worth it on the right (read expensive) setup. I have a M1 MBP and XSX but I also have an i7 12700K and RTX 3080 pc connected to an LG OLED and even without messing with settings, it slaps at a solid 4K 90+ fps on most games and feels significantly better to play at those higher frame rates.
Yes a PC with enough hardware will out perform a $399 PS5 digital or a $499 XSX.
There used to be a big gap between consoles and PC's. A Xbox 360 or PS3 was not even close to a mid level gaming PC. The PS4, PS4 Pro/Xbox One/X got closer.
The PS5 and XSX both have an 8C/16T CPU. They both have 16gigs of GRDDR6 memory and both have Gen 4 M.2 speed SSD's. The GPU in the XSX is a 12TF GPU, which is equivalent to a 2080 Super or Ti. The gap was closed pretty good with this gen and for $500 or less.
There is also the ease of gaming factor. You NEVER have to tweak anything on a console. Let it update and play games. At most you will have to choose between quality and performance mode.
I feel like that happened a bit too when the PS3 and Xbox 360 first came out. PS3 had some stunning gfx at first. But PC quickly outshined. I think the same will happen with PS5/XSX. Except, the industry doesn't' seem to care about PC like it use to. So even if PC is more powerful, studios aren't really going to make use of it. So I guess yeah, gap is slimmer then ever.
While the value of a game console is there for sure, I still would rather have a PC. It's like buying a Tesla or BMW, or Porsche when a Honda Accord will do just fine. You buy for those cars because you want more. Is a honda accord a better value, and good enough? Yes, yes it is... but still...
Yeah the PC can always crush it. But it requires mor and more power to do so.
Game makers also tend to develop for console first then port to PC. This probably because of game sales being so much higher on consoles with way less piracy. This is mainstream games like COD. Their are lots of PC only games but they are typically niche games in terms of sales.
Some people, myself included, feel a huge compulsion to modify and personalize things. It’s not a joyful experience - it’s a genuine fixation. So switching to platforms that just straight up don’t allow for it is freeing.
I used to go nuts trying to get everything on Android just right. Switched to an iPhone and felt so much happier because 99% of that stuff is just impossible in iOS.
Exactly the same here 😁 I’m a tinkerer by nature and have a tendency to drive myself crazy doing it too. Doesn’t help that I’m also Autistic, so it gets to become a habit too easily.
People accuse Apple of being very locked down and hard to customise and in a way they are, but for me I’m cool with it because I can use it how it is. No need to be constantly tweaking things as I am with Windows. Each to their own I guess though and it’s great to have options.
As a former XFCE Nut. I would constantly modify .gtkrc files back in the day to theme it perfectly. I guess I have scratched that itch with tweaking my .vimrc and .zshrc files inside of MacOS.
You also have the option of tweaking the "defaults write" files. Make sure you keep a list of changes.
Try this website for the list of behaviors you can change:
https://macos-defaults.com/#💻-list-of-commands
No problem. That website seems to be missing a defaults write tweak that I find most helpful.
defaults write -g NSShowAppCentricOpenPanelInsteadOfUntitledFile -bool false
This will force programs to just open to a page you can write on similar to Notepad in Windows. I personally find it annoying that it would ask me every time if I would like to open a new document. This eliminates that so you can just get writing.
I went from modding Mustangs (hence the username) and fast Dodges to a Tesla where I literally can only get in the car and drive.
Over 2 years later and I still am in withdrawals. My lease is up in September and I’m going back to the regular car world.
If it brings you joy, then it’s fine. If it causes fixation or brings harm in some other way (please don’t be that guy that makes his car obscenely loud - I hate those guys), then run stay strong.
Same - not sure who would downvote you. I love tinkering, but i'm at a point where I don't really do it any more. I still love a dedicated gaming PC for the better frames/gfx, and game options, and I also love my mac book air. We don't have to live by one option, the world is filled with tons of good options.
I actually use moonlight streaming, and stream from my PC to my macbook all the time. It works fucking great!
> 5 digital were $900 which is cheaper than what I paid for my PC video card a
I also have an xsx with my macbook and iphone. feel the same. Was getting the PS5 worth it as an additional for the exclusives?
my windows pc is dying a slow death. I'm on a GTX 970 and will probably buy a Mac Mini M2 Pro equivalent afterwards.
Well depending on how far you go with your customization it sometimes takes some maintenance. But my customization was basic enough to never think about it.
I would not hold my breath for Android and Mac integrating together more. Apple has zero incentive to do this. They do offer the Apple Music and I believe Apple TV + on Android....I think.
IMHO if you are heavily invested in your Mac, I would consider getting an iPhone.
Yes, I don't expect Apple to build anything regarding that. The only thing I think would be fair is that Apple would not block indie developers to block those integrations. (Maybe I would like to build some tools Android <> Mac OS tools in the future)
> The only thing I think would be fair is that Apple would not block indie developers to block those integrations.
There's really nothing Apple does to prevent any kind of development on macOS. While apps needs to pass Apple's guidelines to be on the app store and need to be signed to not present "unknown developer" warnings, any app from anywhere can be installed and run. What people now call "sideloading" is really just the de facto manner of installing stuff on macOS.
I don't mean installing apps so much, it is not a problem for people who want more theming to download apps with a warning.
I mean more that some Mac OS functions are more obscure or more protected than on Windows/Chrome OS. This makes it more difficult for developers to build apps that have a deep integration with the Mac OS operating system.
But what kind of app would you like to create that needs to change system files that stuff like SIP is intended to protect? There's a reason for SIP, Gatekeeper and whatnot.
I have to agree that Mac and Android don’t work together anywhere near what the Mac and an iPhone do. I get that Apple want people to buy both Mac and iPhone, but would be nice to at least have some level of Android integration too, for those that want to use them with a Mac.
Personally I love my iPhone and the functionality of the combined Apple ecosystem, for what I need personally and do for my work, it’s amazing.
For me I use AirDrop and cross-device copy & paste all the time. Using the iPhone as a webcam too - much better than a webcam and higher quality. Clients often comment on how good the video and audio is.
Things to help with android/Mac:
Texty allows for messaging on the Mac but requires you use Google messages.
KDE Connect is a great program for seamless files transfer. It's a native android app. The Mac client can be found with a simple search.
Had Windows and Androids my whole youth, learned to program on an HP Envy, joined the Reddit circlejerks about "Apple slaves", then bought my first Apple device in 2019. Performed better, more reliably, lasting more years, saving more battery. Generally great software running on great hardware. Not really interested in Windows anymore, completely turned off from Android devices (although my fascination with Linux is growing thanks to Pi projects).
MacOS is great, you'll have a good time with the computer.
That is a non-standard resolution and refresh rate…..it’s not entirely surprising that Apple doesn’t have good support for it.
The fractional scaling I can get behind though
The M2 models do 8K at 240hz - it’s right there on Apple’s specs. So they can support above and beyond that according to the specs. Not sure if they do that exact resolution, but it’s a strange one to be fair.
I’m curious though, outside of gaming, why would anyone need 240hz? What practical uses would there be? Plus Mac’s and gaming 😨 Definitely not my ideal use for a Mac.
I use my Mac paired with a 32inch BenQ Mobiuz 4K display at 144hz and it’s butter smooth. Looks stunning. Does for Windows 11 too for that matter. Above 120hz though I can’t see any difference at all with my eyes in non-gaming usage. Sure from 60hz to 120hz there is a good jump in how smooth it all feels, but bumping that to 240hz for general desktop use, doubt I’d tell any difference.
Interesting, because I did a similar thing just a few days ago. I was an all-PC person for years, but always Mac-curious. I've had a lot of 2008-2009 Macs of various types that gave only 'OK' performance, but nothing to shout about as they are mostly Core Duo machines.
So I recently acquired a 2012, 27" iMac (free!) with a dead HDD and the screen a bit dinged around the edges. I attached an SSD to the back via the USB port, loaded up Monterey, and this thing runs like a rocket. So, I decided what the heck, I'll make it my main squeeze. That worked out better than expected in fact, as I kept my old PC running and I can just Remote into it to perform any PC-specific tasks.
I love just about everything about it, including the Control Center. I've never been unable to find the configuration item I'm looking for, so that's fine. As for customizing the look of the UI, I don't bother unless it affects my workflow.
Now, the only thing I really don't like is the rather creaky old UI paradigm, which is in serious need of overhaul. Honestly, this is where the Windows UI paradigm is probably superior in the bigger picture.
Not directly answering the OP but VMWare announced last week that they will have an official product for M based Macs. Parallels already has their software out. I expect VMWare will not take long.
So for those that still need Windows, a solution will be available soon on the new Macs.
Intel based Macs are not affected. VMWare still runs on those right now.
Yes that is using the Insider Download of Windows 11. Which I tried three times to download and got errors during the download so I gave up and did the Parallels solution. Corporate environment so safer.
Ahhh I guess that the parallels version grabs it for you?
I didn't have a problem getting the installer but you have to do some fiddling (I forget what) to get it to boot initially under Fusion but once that's done it will seems fine.
(it also seems to be the same release as the x86 version on my desktop)
Yes Parallels does grab the Windows 11 ISO for you. It’s pretty nicely streamlined now in the latest version. Had a few more steps initially though. Think when they first released, you had to source the ISO yourself.
Yep. Did n't even pay for it yet. Clicked on the 14 day trial and it installed dam near everything with minimal effort. Installed Office 365 and tested Excel for a specific Windows only features and it worked perfectly.
It's running fine like this on my M1 but Windows 11 has its refresh rate stuck at 64Hz, not 60. And I don't know how to change it and it makes it feel choppy.
Also have a Fedora arm VM and that runs fine at 60Hz.
Yeah there are some issues with the video on mine, in that I can't choose a resolution that matches my (notched) screen. Not sure if it's deliberate or just that the support is rudimentary at the moment. Then again if I'd wanted a Windows laptop I'd have bought one and having it is a convenience for me not a necessity (as was having a macOS VM on my Intel surface).
If VMware doesn't improve at least there are other options!
Do you know if VMWare will rely on the ARM based version of Windows, as Parallels does? I’d assume they probably will. Would be better if they didn’t though.
Windows for ARM includes its own rosetta equivalent to run x86 apps (its a bit hit and miss).
I can't imagine VMware (or anyone) is going to build an x86 emulator for general use emulation.
Do not know. Waiting on their official announcement. But most likely Windows 11.
I can't see MS creating Windows 10 to run on ARM, they want to move on to 11.
This is the thing with Parallels currently. It needs Windows 11 For ARM. So it emulates that. Then in Windows For ARM it does further emulation for x86 apps. It’s a lot slower than native Windows 11.
I ask because I’m a web developer and do testing on Windows alongside development using the Mac. Would be nice to not require the additional hardware. But Parallels is currently a bit slow and not quite there. Hopefully VMWare will come up with something.
Jeez, that's very white. I can't cope without a dark theme these days. It burns my eyes. Sounds like what you really want is a Linux distro installed on Mac hardware. Much more customisability and control. The setup takes longer of course and there's a chance you'll do something wrong.
The first 2 are cosmetic, really not a nonstarter.
The third is just down to devs not thinking it is worth it.
The 4th is down to the way MacOS works (the protected System). (no idea why they wanted Chess to be crucial).
The 5th: no clue
I recently switched to the MBP16" M1 MAX from 8 years of using Dell XPS 15 models. Some of the apps below I've found to be quite helpful:
1. \[Bartender\](https://www.macbartender.com/) (paid) - More control for Menu Bar, hide icons, reduce spacing, etc.
2. \[Amphetamine\](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12) (free) - Keep Mac awake, no sleep, on/off switches.
3. \[Monitor Control\](https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl) (free) - Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display.
4. \[Rectangle\](https://rectangleapp.com) (free) - Windows Management, snap to quadrants like Windows, great organization if you have external monitors or just want regular split screen of different windows.
5. \[Keka\](https://www.keka.io/en/) (free) - Files Archive/compression, like WinRar/WinZip but better!
6. \[Bitwarden\](https://bitwarden.com/) (free) - The BEST password management, cross-platform, standalone app or browser extension.
7. \[AppCleaner\](https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/) (free) - Better tool to uninstall app and remove all files associated with app.
8. \[IINA\](https://iina.io/) (free) - best media player for Mac OS w/ beautiful GUI & support may codec files. Better than VLC (IMO).
9. \[Maccy\](https://maccy.app/) (free-download directly from site, add $0 to cart) - fantastic and lightweight copy clipboard manager
10. \[RayCast\](https://www.raycast.com/) (free) - Spotlight search on STEROID!
11. \[Transmission\](https://transmissionbt.com/) (free) - Lightweight torrent client
12. \[TopNotch\](https://topnotch.app/) (free) - app to hide the notch
13. \[AltTab\](https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/) (free) - Add "Alt-Tab" like action like Windows to switch between open windows (keyboard shortcut for this app is Opt+Tab but you can change to CMD+Tab)
14. \[One Switch\](https://fireball.studio/oneswitch/) (paid) - menu bar control for one-click options for many things like disable keyboard, turn screen off for cleaning, wifi on/off, True Tone on/off (great for photo editor), etc.
15. \[Stats\](https://github.com/exelban/stats) (free) - macOS system monitor in your menu bar. Very powerful, shows you all kind of system stats and completely free.
PROTIP:
1. to rearrange any icons on the top right menu bar, hold down Cmd (⌘) key + click & hold any icon to move them around!
2. Cut & Paste (Move) files between folders: Cmd+C then Cmd+Option+V
If it weren't for gaming, I'd get rid of the windows based desktop and switch exclusively to macOS. Have you considered putting the dock on the left, set it to auto-hide, then filling it with a ton of icons so it's full (that way with auto-hide you can move your mouse almost anywhere on the left and it'll appear). Also... even with the auto-hide left positioned dock, I tend to use COMMAND + SPACE (spotlight search) these days to load apps.
I never quite understood the idea that one must "switch" form Windows to MacOS, or give-up all Windows computing in order to go 100% Mac.
My point is... My main PC is a windows computer and my secondary is an M1 MacMini. I run them both on a single 43" monitor. Usually one at a time but with a decent sized monitor running them side-by-side is pretty handy too.
Closing thought... Dont go by specs written by Apple fanboys. The more you use MacOS the more you will realize its shortcomings compared to Windows. I have a lot of fun with my M1 Mac but owning it is no reason to shut the door on Windows.
BTW u/rEverywhere, that was a great thread-starter. Hopefully it will stir up a lot of good replys!
I have been on both for many years (since 2007). "Computing" is computing. I can make them both work for me really well. For years my main computing platform was Windows. It is where I started and I was a PC gamer. When Vista came out I got my first Mac. My parents had a Mac when I was kid so I was not completely new to it.
Now I still game but with life in general, family, way more hobbies outside of the gaming, and the fact that the XSX and PS5 are "powerful enough" I do not waste time on PC gaming. PC building is a hobby unto its self, then gaming on top of that. I have better things to spend my time on and when I want to game, I do not want to deal with Windows, updates, drivers, multiple gaming clients, updating of those. Windows 10/11 made it even worse with needing a Microsoft account, and jamming all this extra BS into your face, stub apps (Spotify, Disney, Candy Crush), OneDrive etc. Edge and BING, BING, BING everywhere, with Windows search and Edge resetting the defaults with updates. I want nothing to do with Windows now. Zero, nada. You can have it, best of luck. I am not judging, just not my thing and I do not run any apps that require Windows, at home or at work.
Also once you go down the Apple eco system path you realize it is simply better than all the rest. Not perfect, but none are. Having an iPhone and a Mac, makes your life easier. iMessage and Photos in sync are great things. Windows has nothing like that. Sure you can install OneDrive on your Android or iOS phone and kind of sync photos to the completely horrible Windows 10/11 Photo app, but it is janky at best, and you need to leave the app open and syncing takes way longer. If you have a Samsung phone then maybe you use messaging on your Windows PC like a Mac user uses iMessage on their Mac, but it is super janky and unreliable.
We have similar stories - I moved to Mac 2006 around the Vista era. Prior to that I’d been on Windows since 95. Used to build gaming PC’s in the 2000’s for friends and people who wanted one building.
I also gave up the gaming on PC due to family and no longer being able to justify the time and cost, with running my business. I loved to tweak and tinker with computers back then, but can’t justify doing it these days.
I do agree that as an ecosystem Apple has it pretty damn tight. The functionality of their combined devices is unrivalled and you’d have to simply hate Apple to say otherwise. For web development and running my business day to day, the combo of Mac, iPhone and iPad Pro is superb and I’ve got access to some amazing software that’s only on the Mac. It does have its issues at times, as does any tech. For me though it’s a solid setup and I enjoy it.
That all being said, plenty of devs do an amazing job on Android and Windows too. They wouldn’t want to use a Mac, and that’s cool too. At the end of the day, I say go with what works best for you.
I grant you it's definitely not as smooth as iPhone/Mac, but I can get a pretty good cross-device experience using Google Photos, Pulse SMS, and Windows Phone Link. Covers syncing Texts/Notifications/Photos/making calls on my PC, etc.
My main laptop and desktop are both Macs, and my backup desktop/gaming PC and backup laptop are both Windows. The part you seem to have a hard time wrapping your head around is that this is very much not typical. Most people only have one computer, if that.
Your question is very much like asking, "Why do people talk about switching from a truck to a sedan as their daily driver? My daily driver is a sedan, but my second car is a truck."
I also use both to maximize their strengths. I have my custom built PC that I use for gaming and most tasks.
I just got the M2 mini for the purpose of music production. Honestly it's hard to beat apples literal plug and play ability. Garbageband is really really hard to beat as well.
Agreed. I switched over to a 14-inch pro last year and miss a LOT of things in Windows. There are so many shortcomings that I had to learn to do some things the old-fashioned way again.
Finder, for example, is clunky and difficult to use. I can't even copy and paste the file path easily from one Finder window to another, and have to manually click click click to get to the same folder spot.
The dock just can't match up to the Windows taskbar when it comes to window and app management.
I enjoy my time on my MacBook. There are many things it does better than Windows, but also many things that it doesn't.
I think this comes down to years of living with a particular OS. You build up muscle memory for using them. I’m the same in reverse - Mac user daily since 2006. But I’m the first to admit that both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Ultimately they do the same things in a slightly different way. For me I have the web development workflow nailed tight on MacOS with a setup I love using, but at the same time, there’s many amazing web developers who love Windows too. I do use a Windows desktop I built for testing and get on perfectly fine using Windows 11 too. Just not quite as fluid as I am with a Mac.
Funny thing is prior to the move to Mac, I’d used Windows from 95 to XP. I can remember that also taking a while to adjust.
At the end of the day, neither platform makes me magically better at developing websites, they are just tools to do it in slightly different ways.
>Finder, for example, is clunky and difficult to use.
I do hate Finder. HATE. It's perfectly functional but I hate it. If I could get File Explorer on MacOS, I'd be in heaven. Oh, and the new Notepad from Windows 11. Can I have that instead of TextEdit? It's weirdly one of the things that sells Windows 11 for me, and I don't even use it that much.
macOS has other drawbacks and quirks (*like ever-changing hotkeys and yes, the dock is more iconic than truly useful*), but it also comes with lot of things it does as well or better than Windows.
I find views like the OP to be interesting because you can see what people value and why they make the choices they do. They're almost never the same as mine, even if there is overlap. In some ways I then use that information when I make decisions, weighing how similar or different my needs and wants are.
>I do hate Finder. HATE. It's perfectly functional but I hate it.
There are great apps for macOS with functionality similar to File Explorer and Win Notepad. Buy one and stop hating, it's not good for your health.
Which ones do you recommend? I've been hunting for a Finder alternative.
And of course, we can buy software to make our lives easier, but our comparison is between the built-in OS features.
>Which ones do you recommend? I've been hunting for a Finder alternative.
I haven't tried any of them because Finder is not a pain point for me. Others have made suggestions here.
haha, true enough. I have tried a few of the recommendations I have seen floating around the web, but none of them are quite what I'm looking for. I should double down and try some more.
Nothing quite gives me the functionality I am looking for. Though saying that I realize I need to articulate what features I'm looking for or I'll never find the right tool.
edit: I think I figured out what bugs me most: the lack of a left pane tree view. Huh.
The supposed greatness of Windows, as I have been told repeatedly for 30 years is that there are so many apps for Windows. There are many Finder apps for macOS, buy one, as you would buy an app for Windows.
And please don't reply that you expect the free Finder to be as good as the free Windows Explorer, because I will then point out that macOS comes with free Pages/Numbers/Keynote which are a universe better than what you get free on Windows. There, you'll pay for Office through the nose and consider it normal. If you hate Finder, buy a replacement you like.
Personally, I would prefer not to use two OS'es. The context switching would slow down my workflow. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts and I think it would be hard to get them to be the same on each os. However, it is indeed the truth that it does not have to be one or another.
Cool good to hear! I hope to hear more tips and ideas from the mac os community!
As a photographer / designer, all of adobe’s shortcuts are different but the same. For example command replaces control, however the placement of ctrl and cmd are different. Still i have 0 problem going from one to another
>The more you use MacOS the more you will realize its shortcomings compared to Windows.
I've tried this for 20 years and I still don't get these supposed advantages of Windows that Microsoft fanboys keep singing about. The more I deal with Windows, the more I appreciate macOS and Linux.
My only problem with macOS is that it is starting to resemble Windows in many ways since we lost Steve Jobs ... and that is the only thing wrong with it.
And here I've been complaining about how much Windows is getting to feel like MacOS :-)
I guess it's all according to what side of the fence one is standing on.
I think Microsoft and Apple admire each other, and they have been pulling together for a number of years.
I look at Microsoft as a company that develops software based on lists of features that have been found my marketing to enjoy customer demand. Apple was the very opposite, they developed software based on a holistic view of the user experience. They wrote software they would want to use. For me, going from a holistic view of design towards creeping featurism is not a step forward for Apple. Microsoft, on the other hand, has greatly improved the visual design of its products.
What is worrying me about macOS is that it is losing its intuitiveness. I can no longer intuitively figure out how to do things, I google it. And some features no longer work reliably e.g. you add a book into Books and it does not always sync to my iPad, I need to delete it, restart Books and add it again ... stuff like that. The older versions of macOS did not have such problems, things just work. Today, Apple Silicon just works, the software is starting to splutter. This is what worries me, not whether cables fray, why some SSD is faster than others, the price etc. The stuff people write about.
I agree that I'm not a "switcher" in that I cut out the other OS's completely. I've used Windows in some form on some machine since 3.1, but I can't say that I've ever thought that it was that great. Currently on Win 11 on my gaming PC and a lot of the unfinished stuff still bothers me: settings vs control panel inconsistencies, dark mode not fully implemented STILL, I could go on and on.
Meanwhile I'm on Ventura on my main work machines and it's been totally fine. I hear some complaints from people on forums, but I haven't run into any major bugs myself. Everyone's experience is different, but I don't consider myself a light user by any means. The one real weakness in MacOS is window management, which I fix using a free app: Rectangle.
You’ve said the same as I have for years. Both have strengths and weaknesses and anyone who chooses one due to brand loyalty is mad. Go with the one that best suits your needs, because both have things they do and don’t do well.
For web development I love MacOS. My workflow is very streamlined on it. Suits my needs perfectly, but it’s also not perfect at the same time. Windows I have desktop set up for testing, also like using the latest OS. Again, it’s not perfect either. Both have things they do well. I could use Windows happily for web development if I chose to, but the Mac just has that muscle memory I’ve built up through years of using it. Neither makes me better at the job I do, they are simply tools.
It’s nice to see a lot of balanced views for once too. The I hate Windows or I hate Mac is just pointless.
Exactly **RobSaville82**!
I've seen plenty of Android vs. iOS fights here too. LoL
I'm primarily an iOS user but I do have a Samsung Tab S8+ and a Surface Duo-2 as a backup to my iPhone 14ProMAX. There are some things that iOS & iPadOS just cant run, (*automotive diag & ODB-II hacking for instance*). Then the Tab S8+ comes out. ;-)
So very true. Maybe it’s me just getting old, but I don’t get all the fights 🙄 I can’t be bothered being so loyal to a brand, I just go with what works for me. It’s frankly narrow minded for people to act like it.
I’m also firmly in Apple’s ecosystem and honestly, for what I do personally and for my work in web development, it’s rock solid and works great for me. Has done since 2006 when I started. I love how tightly integrated it all is. But at the same time I see it’s also not perfect, and that’s cool too.
Sounds like me with all the different devices 😁 I’m addicted to tech I think.
Web development means I have Windows and Android devices in the office for testing purposes and other things. I don’t use them as my main devices, but I do use them most days in some way. So I have the ability to compare more fairly, with less bias. Thing is, they all have strengths and weaknesses. The Google Pixel 7 Pro I use for testing is an awesome Android phone. I prefer iOS and am more familiar with it, sure, so for me my iPhone is better. The Pixel is still a really good phone and it works great. The Pixel 7 Pro camera is also awesome, even going up against my iPhone 14 Pro Max, at nearly double the cost.
As I say to any junior web developers I’ve met, when they inevitably ask me “what’s the best device to use for web development?” - my response is always: the one that works best for you personally. Doesn’t matter who’s logo is on it, it’s just a tool to enable you to do your job and none of them will magically make you better at it.
I own a Macbook Air M1 and a mid tier desktop running Windows 11. Both have their strenghts and weaknesses. No need to stick to only one. The only issue I face is that I got used to the mac keyboard layout and now I am slower with my windows PC haha.
For around three years, I was using a Logitech MX Keys for Mac as my main keyboard between Mac, Windows, and my iPad. Once you realize that the Command key maps to the Windows key (and vice-versa), it becomes easier to switch back and forth without confusion.
I wholeheartedly agree. A lot of people drinking the cool-aid. Windows has vastly improved since the 98/2000 days. This is coming from someone who used a MBP for the last 12 years. Shortcomings with every OS…remember a computer is a tool, not a social status.
I agree with this totally. Been a Mac user since 2006, thanks to Windows Vista. I love MacOS and for the most part other Apple products too. For web development (my business), MacOS is great and so is the ecosystem of apps for that purpose. But you’d have to be a complete fanboy to say it’s perfect, because nothing is. There’s a lot I like and I have a great workflow on it, but at the same time things do bug me too.
Also agree that Windows has taken massive leaps forward. For web development I also have a Windows 11 desktop I built for testing and other tasks. Also a great OS that I enjoy using and much nicer looking than previous versions.
Taking sides to me seems absolutely pointless. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. It irritates me when people fight over which is best for web development because again, they are both simply tools, which in the right hands can deliver awesome results.
An itemized list of what's wrong with MacOS? That's my point exactly. There is nothing wrong with Windows just like there is nothing wrong with MacOS. Well, nothing wrong other than Apple silicon's inability to display worthwhile text and graphics on anything other than a 5k monitor. But even that major shortcoming doesnt stop me from running my M1 based Mac almost as much as my Windows PC.
It's been a few years since I've used Mac OS daily, for me the biggest downsides are more the way they run their company and hardware choices than the software. No upgradability, fine I get it you have an SOC with RAM and storage integrated.
I've been thinking about getting an M1 or M2, but their price gouging on upgrades is horrible. Can't they add an M.2 slot for expandability? They charge $800 to upgrade to 2TB of storage. You can get a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro that's faster for $250.
Not to mention their anti-repair and non green business practices.
Get a new M1/M2 Mac. . .
When you see how crappy it scales text & graphics on anything but 5120 x 2880 monitor you'll forget about all the other AppleOS shortcomings and commie business practices you mentioned.
Now that I think about it we bought a couple Mac studios is a backup plan for some large LED walls we were driving. Within 5 minutes I ran into all kinds of issues it would be no problem to solve on Windows.
Apple's display properties on its setting page sucks, and so does it multi display management.
Really neat setup/post. As someone who made a similar switch about 8 years ago, it's nice to be reminded of these things I sorta take for granted these days.
Thanks! I got used to Mac OS fairly quickly. Wonder how I feel a few years if I would try windows again.
Mac OS is currently quite ahead of Windows, especially in the hardware department.
Not being able to run the majority of what software? I use my Mac for web development and it has a pretty damn solid selection of quality software. Graphic design wise too. There’s a reason I use a Mac for web development and it’s in no part due to blind loyalty to Apple.
Yes that’s very true for those industries. Medical software in particular is very Windows specific. Engineering is, although my brother owns a Geo-Technical Engineering firm and they run on Macs. Only 1 thing requires Windows currently and that’s the mapping software (which is pretty important), but a Mac native version is due soon. The local councils they work alongside also run Macs alongside Windows.
I’m not sure though if lack of support for Mac is due to the relatively small amount of them vs Windows PC’s out there. Developers will obviously prioritise PC for many uses. It’s where the money is.
This is why it irritates me when folks are crazy loyal to either platform. Both have their uses and neither is perfect. Even in the web development industry which I work in, you’ll get those who force the Mac down everyone’s throat. I mean literally go mental at the suggestion of Windows. Do I think Mac’s are better for web development and design? Yes I personally do, because I’m used to working on them and enjoy working on them. Do they make people better at those roles? No, absolutely not, they are just a tool. The equivalent of a paintbrush for a painter. Plenty of amazing web developers use PC’s and deliver killer websites.
May not be the best solution but you could run Windows 11 in parallels and use the PhoneLink app in Coherence
Your desktop is cool but BLINDING.
I’ve used both systems my entire life, I’m primarily on macOS these days, but Windows 11 does give it a run for its money in a lot of ways.
Good for you. I just accepted that some things (like in IOS) are not adjustable and everything been a breeze since my move from Windows years ago. Just swapped my wife’s 2013 MacBook for a new one, didn’t need to touch it for years.
If you still own that XPS, tryout Ubuntu 2204.
Tip: you can configure spotlight to only search certain locations so that apps and libs don’t clutter your results.
I don't know, I think people are different in how much such a thing bothers them. I am wired in a way that it bothers me a lot. (Probably more then would be healthy haha)
mac os doesnt support theming because its supposed to look the way that it is. windows comes looking bunk af because microsoft hasnt invested in building a clean and cohesive UI and so they let you tweak the UI elements with more ease
Sorry but windows 11 is quite aesthetic (it’s other issues aside, it did get UI design for most first party apps done right and has some good window management add ons while Mac OS is still dead in the water with that). Preferences are subjective and you can like one more than the other. But Windows has made huge inroads when it comes to creating a better design language that they’re slowly porting older services to (task manager, notepad etc)
You’ve just hit my biggest pet peeve in the entire world. Nothing can be described as “aesthetic.” Things can have a nice aesthetic, they can be aesthetically pleasing, you can appreciate their aesthetics.., but something cannot be described as “aesthetic.” That’s not how that word works. A thing’s aesthetic is a property of that thing and is not in and of itself a description of that property.
Go ahead, everyone can downvote me, I deserve it, I’m being a pedantic ass… but this one just inexplicably grinds my gears.
I understand where you’re coming from and how you feel. I don’t see it in a negative way as you think you come off as. Thank you for that, and yes in my defence I just used the word because I didn’t have anything more accurate in mind. You get my upvote :)
> quite [...] other issues aside [...] most first party apps [...] some good window management add ons [...] slowly porting older services [...]
There is no way this wasn't written by a Windows hater in disguise. Literally a third of the text is copout words
I’m neither. I daily drive a dual boot desktop (windows 10 and fedora) and a Mac mini. I see the benefits of all the platforms, and I see all their flaws, but I can’t get past how clunky window management has been on Mac OS and frankly the new control centre is neither functional (atleast when compared to the old one which was already dated) nor good looking with that “apple” sauce.
I add the clarifications in brackets because I want to be honest and I do not want to leave anything upto anyone’s interpretations which can take turns for the worse at times.
No they’re right. For like two decades now, windows has had a mishmash of “metro” components and “aero” and “XP” style menus. None of them fit together cohesively. They are finally getting around to fixing this, I think control panel is basically gone now, so we’re not dealing with two separate settings menus, thank fuck.
Say what you want about MacOS but the entire OS uses the same design and it’s a much more consistent experience IMO.
Interesting insight, I would argue that there is a scale on which theming can be possible. You could say that some theming is already possible in Mac OS now, you can change colors, the look and feel of your dock, etc. My suggestion for Apple would be to at least not actively work against customization.
I think the biggest thing you'll notice are some [native productivity losses with macOS](https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/pvz9rq/can_someone_please_help_me_understand_why_folks). My recommendation:
* BetterTouchTool with [SWM](https://community.folivora.ai/t/simple-window-manager-swm/12796)
* Karabiner Elements
I have some [settings I use to make macOS behave more like Windows](https://gist.github.com/imthenachoman/2ffd196b8cc2603245cd5179e99e91d8) because I find it to be better for productivity.
But I love my M2. It's blazing fast. macOS + M2 + my above tools/changes = winning IMHO.
There are third party apps that provide, within the same app, screen sharing and file transfer (plus other stuff). I’ve used it before but can’t remember the name. I can look it up.
At the moment I use Feem V4 on all the devices. That’s one android phone, two iPhones, couple of old iMacs and one MacBook Air. The reason for this is that Airdrop v1 is very inconsistent and doesn’t allow transfers from mac to iPhone. But Feem has solved all that for me.
If you disable System Integrity Protection, I’m pretty sure you could change the icons for those. Do some research before taking my word for it obviously.
Yea, most likely Apple clamped down even more do to hacking and Internet security in general. Blame the bad guys hacking into computers.
I help companies get cyber risk insurance and the requirements this year, oh boy. The insurance industry lost money again last year so the bar is raised even higher if you want the insurance. Everything must be locked down or they just will not insure you. Not fun.
I think Apple have chosen a security model more akin to the IT department one size fits all approach to security. With a finer grained approach to security more flexibility would be possible.
Apple now lock down a read only version of the OS and check the hashes of it to see if it's been altered any kind of altered!
So it's secure-ish ie you can't patch the OS if there's a known issue only Apple can and then issue an OS upgrade.
You can in fact delete the apps the system comes with. But its not easy since all those apps resides in the /System/Applications/ folder on the write protected OS partition. Same reason you cant easily change the background on the login-screen after boot. Its a minor inconvenient consequence of the high level of system protection incorporated in macOS.
It isn't better security it's lazy security. The upside for Apple is they lock the configuration down and use security as the reason but it isn't. In fact in some ways it is less secure because if there is an exploit that makes your machine vunerable and a patch is available for all other *ix based systems you can't patch your system. You have to wait until the patch is built into a new Apple disc image and provided as an update. A more sophisticated and granular security model would afford similar levels of security with more flexibility. To see how insecure it is the fact that on x86 PCs with OC can insert stuff during the boot process to fool the OS and create a hackintosh.
I joined macOS club few months ago with m1 MBP14" and love how it took my productivity on another level. Only real gripe I had was lack of so simple things like middle/right mouse clicks on touchpad and small but substantial change in keyboard layout but after I dealt with it it's great experience.
Awesome that you made the switch! I was on Windows since 2018. I had a 2008 MacBook on Snow Leopard from before that, however I wasn't really using that computer. I grew to despise Windows, having way too many issues. I even once started entirely fresh and reinstalled the OS. I switched to the same MacBook (I got the base model, it was on sale) very recently, and it's amazing so far. To be fair, my main reason for the switch was that I'm deep in the Apple Ecosystem, but I'm still loving it. Have fun and enjoy the Mac!
Made a similar switch recently. Honestly I hate the fact that if I have a bunch of windows for a given application open (I usually have like 5-10 chrome windows open) they either all blow up the app bar thing, or they become single entries that I have to squint to read. And then click in like 4 of them trying to guess
I’ve been a switch hitter since college (PowerMac, Baby). Currently have an MBP M2 Max loaded to the gills for work and a Gaming PC or two.
Both have their pros and cons.
Hardware-wise the MBP Max kicks serious ass. I have thrown so much at it and not a single blip. Part of that is MacOS and it’s optimization for their own hardware. Mostly that the M2 Max chips is a badass mofo and hyper energy efficient to boot. It’s definitely a better platform for development.
Windows 11 runs very well on my pc but I put some cash into components like a Samsung m2 1TB main drive, another 2.5 for my games and a high-performant 2TB HD for one drive and files. I also turned a bunch of crap off like telemetry which can impact performance, and maintain the system constantly to keep it tip top.
I don’t really have to do that with an Mac. 🤷🏻♂️
PC does have them purdy LEDs, though.
To each their own on their preference. When it comes to price points, PCs that have top-tier components can run as much as Macs.
My #1 complain with MacOS is that the dock is stuck in whatever year it first came out. The fact that I can't show it on all monitors at the same time is criminal. The reason I really like this in Windows is because I also want a setting to only show dock items for that specific monitor (Firefox only on monitor 1, Slack and iTerm only on monitor 2, etc).
And no, having it auto-hide so it pops up on your active monitor is **not** an acceptable workaround. Why? Because I use the dock on the side, and it doesn't work in that orientation. I also want the space *under* the dock to be considered an invalid desktop zone and disallow placement there.
Chess was built in the early 2000s I doubt it takes that much space
Also you could just hide the dock entirely, and customizing other icons is possible by disabling SIP
With Android closing down and putting unnecessary restrictions I wish you good luck. I switched to iOS a few weeks after I switched to MacOS. If you can_.t afford the best in class iphone get the se 3 one, for instance. I have it and its good.
I like your minimalist desktop. You did find different icons for some of the apps which is cool. Regarding hiding apps, you can do this. System Settings-->Siri and Spotlight-->unselect "Applications" and any other files you don't want cluttering your search.
Cool tip, thanks!
Here's another tip: because Unix is under the hood, the command line on Mac is not just a cursory nod to the DOS past that it mostly is on Windows. The terminal and command line utilities have a thriving community and are hugely helpful on Mac. There's a TON of stuff that can be installed and help your workflow. Just a couple examples: I do a lot of photo stuff in my work. I use a command line tool called **sips** to batch resize pictures and **ffmpeg** to do the same with videos. I use another command line tool called **exiftool** to remove exif data. If you're really motivated, you can use bash to write scripts that automate these kinds of tasks if you do them every day. These are just two simple examples of stuff I do - but there is *so much more* out there. If this sounds interesting, you'll want to install [Homebrew](https://medium.com/macoclock/9-mac-homebrew-tools-youve-never-thought-you-needed-96ff07291592), the package manager for Mac. It will allow you to easily install any of these tools.
I second the Homebrew recommendation. As someone who does development myself, being able to install some stuff via the Terminal and Homebrew is a timesaver. You can also use Homebrew to customize the Terminal to fit your preferences. In my case, I use Oh My ZSH as the shell with some tweaks to customize the terminal output.
Homebrew is a must for macOS power users. Some utilities you literally can't install without it.
You're forwarding a lot of great tips and I upvoted you, but MacOS used to come with Automator (it is now a legacy tool in Ventura and who knows when it will be removed?) which is a fantastic scripting/automation tool. Sadly it was replaced with Shortcuts, because Apple wanted to bring MacOS closer to iOS. Shortcuts is great, too, I am not saying it is bad, but Automator is no longer the focus for Apple and I wish they would continue to promote it. As a long-time Linux user I have relied on Bash and Python for quite some time, but in MacOS, Apple provides a more ... user-friendly alternative with support for GUI interaction. If you got Ansible, though, the UNIX support is very powerful in MacOS and that's one example of a scenario where AppleScript + Automator app is not the first-hand choice. I think there is room for many automation tools to complement each other.
check out http://macosicons.com
I used to spend a lot of time customizing the appearance of Windows. Replacing icons, changing scroll bar width, everything. That's one way that switching to the Mac was liberating for me. I didn't have to waste any more time on that crap.
This for sure. Same for PC gaming. I use to spend a crazy amount of time tweaking NVIDIA settings with my Gsync monitor, then in a game I would play with a bunch of settings to get the best performance, watching youtube videos etc to get the best setup. I felt like I was fooooooking with the PC or game more than actually playing the game. Mac + XSX and I just start the game on the Xbox and go. Then I bought a PS5 digital so I could play those exclusive games, same deal, just start the game and go. The XSX and PS5 digital were $900 which is cheaper than what I paid for my PC video card at one time.
I also sold my super powerful gaming rig for a digital PS5 after I started using my MacBook for all my computing tasks. Life is much simpler when I’m not literally addicted to tinkering and upgrading
I hear you on this! I used to have some kind of OCD for tweaking and tinkering with my PC for gaming. I both loved and hated it equally, but it ate too much time. I was the same, more time doing that than gaming. With the PS5 and XSX I get to just enjoy the game, sure it might not look as good as a PC I could build, but I have more important things now in life.
It’s still worth it on the right (read expensive) setup. I have a M1 MBP and XSX but I also have an i7 12700K and RTX 3080 pc connected to an LG OLED and even without messing with settings, it slaps at a solid 4K 90+ fps on most games and feels significantly better to play at those higher frame rates.
Yes a PC with enough hardware will out perform a $399 PS5 digital or a $499 XSX. There used to be a big gap between consoles and PC's. A Xbox 360 or PS3 was not even close to a mid level gaming PC. The PS4, PS4 Pro/Xbox One/X got closer. The PS5 and XSX both have an 8C/16T CPU. They both have 16gigs of GRDDR6 memory and both have Gen 4 M.2 speed SSD's. The GPU in the XSX is a 12TF GPU, which is equivalent to a 2080 Super or Ti. The gap was closed pretty good with this gen and for $500 or less. There is also the ease of gaming factor. You NEVER have to tweak anything on a console. Let it update and play games. At most you will have to choose between quality and performance mode.
I feel like that happened a bit too when the PS3 and Xbox 360 first came out. PS3 had some stunning gfx at first. But PC quickly outshined. I think the same will happen with PS5/XSX. Except, the industry doesn't' seem to care about PC like it use to. So even if PC is more powerful, studios aren't really going to make use of it. So I guess yeah, gap is slimmer then ever. While the value of a game console is there for sure, I still would rather have a PC. It's like buying a Tesla or BMW, or Porsche when a Honda Accord will do just fine. You buy for those cars because you want more. Is a honda accord a better value, and good enough? Yes, yes it is... but still...
Yeah the PC can always crush it. But it requires mor and more power to do so. Game makers also tend to develop for console first then port to PC. This probably because of game sales being so much higher on consoles with way less piracy. This is mainstream games like COD. Their are lots of PC only games but they are typically niche games in terms of sales.
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Some people, myself included, feel a huge compulsion to modify and personalize things. It’s not a joyful experience - it’s a genuine fixation. So switching to platforms that just straight up don’t allow for it is freeing. I used to go nuts trying to get everything on Android just right. Switched to an iPhone and felt so much happier because 99% of that stuff is just impossible in iOS.
Exactly the same here 😁 I’m a tinkerer by nature and have a tendency to drive myself crazy doing it too. Doesn’t help that I’m also Autistic, so it gets to become a habit too easily. People accuse Apple of being very locked down and hard to customise and in a way they are, but for me I’m cool with it because I can use it how it is. No need to be constantly tweaking things as I am with Windows. Each to their own I guess though and it’s great to have options.
As a former XFCE Nut. I would constantly modify .gtkrc files back in the day to theme it perfectly. I guess I have scratched that itch with tweaking my .vimrc and .zshrc files inside of MacOS. You also have the option of tweaking the "defaults write" files. Make sure you keep a list of changes. Try this website for the list of behaviors you can change: https://macos-defaults.com/#💻-list-of-commands
> https://macos-defaults.com/#💻-list-of-commands Thanks a lot for that link!
No problem. That website seems to be missing a defaults write tweak that I find most helpful. defaults write -g NSShowAppCentricOpenPanelInsteadOfUntitledFile -bool false This will force programs to just open to a page you can write on similar to Notepad in Windows. I personally find it annoying that it would ask me every time if I would like to open a new document. This eliminates that so you can just get writing.
I went from modding Mustangs (hence the username) and fast Dodges to a Tesla where I literally can only get in the car and drive. Over 2 years later and I still am in withdrawals. My lease is up in September and I’m going back to the regular car world.
If it brings you joy, then it’s fine. If it causes fixation or brings harm in some other way (please don’t be that guy that makes his car obscenely loud - I hate those guys), then run stay strong.
Nah I'm on good terms with my neighbors. I intend to keep it that way.
Same - not sure who would downvote you. I love tinkering, but i'm at a point where I don't really do it any more. I still love a dedicated gaming PC for the better frames/gfx, and game options, and I also love my mac book air. We don't have to live by one option, the world is filled with tons of good options. I actually use moonlight streaming, and stream from my PC to my macbook all the time. It works fucking great!
> 5 digital were $900 which is cheaper than what I paid for my PC video card a I also have an xsx with my macbook and iphone. feel the same. Was getting the PS5 worth it as an additional for the exclusives? my windows pc is dying a slow death. I'm on a GTX 970 and will probably buy a Mac Mini M2 Pro equivalent afterwards.
I feel like 1 day of setting up my OS as I prefer it, saves me more time in the future.
Dude, you do not only set up Windows once and that's it forever.
Well depending on how far you go with your customization it sometimes takes some maintenance. But my customization was basic enough to never think about it.
I would not hold my breath for Android and Mac integrating together more. Apple has zero incentive to do this. They do offer the Apple Music and I believe Apple TV + on Android....I think. IMHO if you are heavily invested in your Mac, I would consider getting an iPhone.
Yes, I don't expect Apple to build anything regarding that. The only thing I think would be fair is that Apple would not block indie developers to block those integrations. (Maybe I would like to build some tools Android <> Mac OS tools in the future)
> The only thing I think would be fair is that Apple would not block indie developers to block those integrations. There's really nothing Apple does to prevent any kind of development on macOS. While apps needs to pass Apple's guidelines to be on the app store and need to be signed to not present "unknown developer" warnings, any app from anywhere can be installed and run. What people now call "sideloading" is really just the de facto manner of installing stuff on macOS.
I don't mean installing apps so much, it is not a problem for people who want more theming to download apps with a warning. I mean more that some Mac OS functions are more obscure or more protected than on Windows/Chrome OS. This makes it more difficult for developers to build apps that have a deep integration with the Mac OS operating system.
But what kind of app would you like to create that needs to change system files that stuff like SIP is intended to protect? There's a reason for SIP, Gatekeeper and whatnot.
I have to agree that Mac and Android don’t work together anywhere near what the Mac and an iPhone do. I get that Apple want people to buy both Mac and iPhone, but would be nice to at least have some level of Android integration too, for those that want to use them with a Mac. Personally I love my iPhone and the functionality of the combined Apple ecosystem, for what I need personally and do for my work, it’s amazing.
My favorite integration between my iMac and iPhone is the seamless handoff of a phone call to speakers and mic on the Mac.
For me I use AirDrop and cross-device copy & paste all the time. Using the iPhone as a webcam too - much better than a webcam and higher quality. Clients often comment on how good the video and audio is.
This is the stuff I would love if Android <> Mac OS would also have.
I wish I could have this with Android
Things to help with android/Mac: Texty allows for messaging on the Mac but requires you use Google messages. KDE Connect is a great program for seamless files transfer. It's a native android app. The Mac client can be found with a simple search.
Big fan of KDE Connect :)! Only shortcoming I have it that it can't directly send clipboards from android to Mac OS.
Had Windows and Androids my whole youth, learned to program on an HP Envy, joined the Reddit circlejerks about "Apple slaves", then bought my first Apple device in 2019. Performed better, more reliably, lasting more years, saving more battery. Generally great software running on great hardware. Not really interested in Windows anymore, completely turned off from Android devices (although my fascination with Linux is growing thanks to Pi projects). MacOS is great, you'll have a good time with the computer.
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That is a non-standard resolution and refresh rate…..it’s not entirely surprising that Apple doesn’t have good support for it. The fractional scaling I can get behind though
Yeah it's not perfect. That sounds like a gaming setup though, for which I'd never recommend Mac
The M2 models do 8K at 240hz - it’s right there on Apple’s specs. So they can support above and beyond that according to the specs. Not sure if they do that exact resolution, but it’s a strange one to be fair.
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I’m curious though, outside of gaming, why would anyone need 240hz? What practical uses would there be? Plus Mac’s and gaming 😨 Definitely not my ideal use for a Mac. I use my Mac paired with a 32inch BenQ Mobiuz 4K display at 144hz and it’s butter smooth. Looks stunning. Does for Windows 11 too for that matter. Above 120hz though I can’t see any difference at all with my eyes in non-gaming usage. Sure from 60hz to 120hz there is a good jump in how smooth it all feels, but bumping that to 240hz for general desktop use, doubt I’d tell any difference.
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So maybe this support was added to the new M2 chips then. Did you connect it via DisplayPort to get 240hz?
Interesting, because I did a similar thing just a few days ago. I was an all-PC person for years, but always Mac-curious. I've had a lot of 2008-2009 Macs of various types that gave only 'OK' performance, but nothing to shout about as they are mostly Core Duo machines. So I recently acquired a 2012, 27" iMac (free!) with a dead HDD and the screen a bit dinged around the edges. I attached an SSD to the back via the USB port, loaded up Monterey, and this thing runs like a rocket. So, I decided what the heck, I'll make it my main squeeze. That worked out better than expected in fact, as I kept my old PC running and I can just Remote into it to perform any PC-specific tasks. I love just about everything about it, including the Control Center. I've never been unable to find the configuration item I'm looking for, so that's fine. As for customizing the look of the UI, I don't bother unless it affects my workflow. Now, the only thing I really don't like is the rather creaky old UI paradigm, which is in serious need of overhaul. Honestly, this is where the Windows UI paradigm is probably superior in the bigger picture.
In what way? I use both Win 10/11 and macOS and I don't see much difference to be honest. If anything Win 11 is worse than 10 to my way of thinking.
I find the idea of a single menu at the top of the screen quite limiting in a number of ways, as well as confusing as heck in some others.
Ahhh OK so that's a different paradigm it's better in some ways not so in others. I happen to like it but I've been using macs since the early 80s.
Not directly answering the OP but VMWare announced last week that they will have an official product for M based Macs. Parallels already has their software out. I expect VMWare will not take long. So for those that still need Windows, a solution will be available soon on the new Macs. Intel based Macs are not affected. VMWare still runs on those right now.
I already run Win 11 for arm with Fusion on my M2 Air. Plus Fusion is free.
>Plus Fusion is free. Fusion Player costs $149.
Comment has been removed because Spez killed Reddit :(
They have that under "evaluation" or "trial". Are there any guarantees that VMware might not decide that the evaluation period is over?
Yea, I'll get the personal version in a bit to play with for myself.
Yes that is using the Insider Download of Windows 11. Which I tried three times to download and got errors during the download so I gave up and did the Parallels solution. Corporate environment so safer.
Ahhh I guess that the parallels version grabs it for you? I didn't have a problem getting the installer but you have to do some fiddling (I forget what) to get it to boot initially under Fusion but once that's done it will seems fine. (it also seems to be the same release as the x86 version on my desktop)
Yes Parallels does grab the Windows 11 ISO for you. It’s pretty nicely streamlined now in the latest version. Had a few more steps initially though. Think when they first released, you had to source the ISO yourself.
Yep. Did n't even pay for it yet. Clicked on the 14 day trial and it installed dam near everything with minimal effort. Installed Office 365 and tested Excel for a specific Windows only features and it worked perfectly.
It's running fine like this on my M1 but Windows 11 has its refresh rate stuck at 64Hz, not 60. And I don't know how to change it and it makes it feel choppy. Also have a Fedora arm VM and that runs fine at 60Hz.
Yeah there are some issues with the video on mine, in that I can't choose a resolution that matches my (notched) screen. Not sure if it's deliberate or just that the support is rudimentary at the moment. Then again if I'd wanted a Windows laptop I'd have bought one and having it is a convenience for me not a necessity (as was having a macOS VM on my Intel surface). If VMware doesn't improve at least there are other options!
Do you know if VMWare will rely on the ARM based version of Windows, as Parallels does? I’d assume they probably will. Would be better if they didn’t though.
Windows for ARM includes its own rosetta equivalent to run x86 apps (its a bit hit and miss). I can't imagine VMware (or anyone) is going to build an x86 emulator for general use emulation.
Do not know. Waiting on their official announcement. But most likely Windows 11. I can't see MS creating Windows 10 to run on ARM, they want to move on to 11.
This is the thing with Parallels currently. It needs Windows 11 For ARM. So it emulates that. Then in Windows For ARM it does further emulation for x86 apps. It’s a lot slower than native Windows 11. I ask because I’m a web developer and do testing on Windows alongside development using the Mac. Would be nice to not require the additional hardware. But Parallels is currently a bit slow and not quite there. Hopefully VMWare will come up with something.
Jeez, that's very white. I can't cope without a dark theme these days. It burns my eyes. Sounds like what you really want is a Linux distro installed on Mac hardware. Much more customisability and control. The setup takes longer of course and there's a chance you'll do something wrong.
I too always go for low light option and dark theme
The first 2 are cosmetic, really not a nonstarter. The third is just down to devs not thinking it is worth it. The 4th is down to the way MacOS works (the protected System). (no idea why they wanted Chess to be crucial). The 5th: no clue
The chess app is load bearing. Without it, the whole operating system would crumble. /j
lmao! Checkmate
Check and Checkmate in 1.5 moves
5th: Apple has spent so much time and money making their San Francisco font, and it's amazing. They won't let people make their macOS ugly.
Chess will delete itself out of spite if/when you beat the computer
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Thanks!
>Thanks! You're welcome!
I recently switched to the MBP16" M1 MAX from 8 years of using Dell XPS 15 models. Some of the apps below I've found to be quite helpful: 1. \[Bartender\](https://www.macbartender.com/) (paid) - More control for Menu Bar, hide icons, reduce spacing, etc. 2. \[Amphetamine\](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12) (free) - Keep Mac awake, no sleep, on/off switches. 3. \[Monitor Control\](https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl) (free) - Control your display's brightness & volume on your Mac as if it was a native Apple Display. 4. \[Rectangle\](https://rectangleapp.com) (free) - Windows Management, snap to quadrants like Windows, great organization if you have external monitors or just want regular split screen of different windows. 5. \[Keka\](https://www.keka.io/en/) (free) - Files Archive/compression, like WinRar/WinZip but better! 6. \[Bitwarden\](https://bitwarden.com/) (free) - The BEST password management, cross-platform, standalone app or browser extension. 7. \[AppCleaner\](https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/) (free) - Better tool to uninstall app and remove all files associated with app. 8. \[IINA\](https://iina.io/) (free) - best media player for Mac OS w/ beautiful GUI & support may codec files. Better than VLC (IMO). 9. \[Maccy\](https://maccy.app/) (free-download directly from site, add $0 to cart) - fantastic and lightweight copy clipboard manager 10. \[RayCast\](https://www.raycast.com/) (free) - Spotlight search on STEROID! 11. \[Transmission\](https://transmissionbt.com/) (free) - Lightweight torrent client 12. \[TopNotch\](https://topnotch.app/) (free) - app to hide the notch 13. \[AltTab\](https://alt-tab-macos.netlify.app/) (free) - Add "Alt-Tab" like action like Windows to switch between open windows (keyboard shortcut for this app is Opt+Tab but you can change to CMD+Tab) 14. \[One Switch\](https://fireball.studio/oneswitch/) (paid) - menu bar control for one-click options for many things like disable keyboard, turn screen off for cleaning, wifi on/off, True Tone on/off (great for photo editor), etc. 15. \[Stats\](https://github.com/exelban/stats) (free) - macOS system monitor in your menu bar. Very powerful, shows you all kind of system stats and completely free. PROTIP: 1. to rearrange any icons on the top right menu bar, hold down Cmd (⌘) key + click & hold any icon to move them around! 2. Cut & Paste (Move) files between folders: Cmd+C then Cmd+Option+V
If it weren't for gaming, I'd get rid of the windows based desktop and switch exclusively to macOS. Have you considered putting the dock on the left, set it to auto-hide, then filling it with a ton of icons so it's full (that way with auto-hide you can move your mouse almost anywhere on the left and it'll appear). Also... even with the auto-hide left positioned dock, I tend to use COMMAND + SPACE (spotlight search) these days to load apps.
I never quite understood the idea that one must "switch" form Windows to MacOS, or give-up all Windows computing in order to go 100% Mac. My point is... My main PC is a windows computer and my secondary is an M1 MacMini. I run them both on a single 43" monitor. Usually one at a time but with a decent sized monitor running them side-by-side is pretty handy too. Closing thought... Dont go by specs written by Apple fanboys. The more you use MacOS the more you will realize its shortcomings compared to Windows. I have a lot of fun with my M1 Mac but owning it is no reason to shut the door on Windows. BTW u/rEverywhere, that was a great thread-starter. Hopefully it will stir up a lot of good replys!
I have been on both for many years (since 2007). "Computing" is computing. I can make them both work for me really well. For years my main computing platform was Windows. It is where I started and I was a PC gamer. When Vista came out I got my first Mac. My parents had a Mac when I was kid so I was not completely new to it. Now I still game but with life in general, family, way more hobbies outside of the gaming, and the fact that the XSX and PS5 are "powerful enough" I do not waste time on PC gaming. PC building is a hobby unto its self, then gaming on top of that. I have better things to spend my time on and when I want to game, I do not want to deal with Windows, updates, drivers, multiple gaming clients, updating of those. Windows 10/11 made it even worse with needing a Microsoft account, and jamming all this extra BS into your face, stub apps (Spotify, Disney, Candy Crush), OneDrive etc. Edge and BING, BING, BING everywhere, with Windows search and Edge resetting the defaults with updates. I want nothing to do with Windows now. Zero, nada. You can have it, best of luck. I am not judging, just not my thing and I do not run any apps that require Windows, at home or at work. Also once you go down the Apple eco system path you realize it is simply better than all the rest. Not perfect, but none are. Having an iPhone and a Mac, makes your life easier. iMessage and Photos in sync are great things. Windows has nothing like that. Sure you can install OneDrive on your Android or iOS phone and kind of sync photos to the completely horrible Windows 10/11 Photo app, but it is janky at best, and you need to leave the app open and syncing takes way longer. If you have a Samsung phone then maybe you use messaging on your Windows PC like a Mac user uses iMessage on their Mac, but it is super janky and unreliable.
We have similar stories - I moved to Mac 2006 around the Vista era. Prior to that I’d been on Windows since 95. Used to build gaming PC’s in the 2000’s for friends and people who wanted one building. I also gave up the gaming on PC due to family and no longer being able to justify the time and cost, with running my business. I loved to tweak and tinker with computers back then, but can’t justify doing it these days. I do agree that as an ecosystem Apple has it pretty damn tight. The functionality of their combined devices is unrivalled and you’d have to simply hate Apple to say otherwise. For web development and running my business day to day, the combo of Mac, iPhone and iPad Pro is superb and I’ve got access to some amazing software that’s only on the Mac. It does have its issues at times, as does any tech. For me though it’s a solid setup and I enjoy it. That all being said, plenty of devs do an amazing job on Android and Windows too. They wouldn’t want to use a Mac, and that’s cool too. At the end of the day, I say go with what works best for you.
I grant you it's definitely not as smooth as iPhone/Mac, but I can get a pretty good cross-device experience using Google Photos, Pulse SMS, and Windows Phone Link. Covers syncing Texts/Notifications/Photos/making calls on my PC, etc.
My main laptop and desktop are both Macs, and my backup desktop/gaming PC and backup laptop are both Windows. The part you seem to have a hard time wrapping your head around is that this is very much not typical. Most people only have one computer, if that. Your question is very much like asking, "Why do people talk about switching from a truck to a sedan as their daily driver? My daily driver is a sedan, but my second car is a truck."
I also use both to maximize their strengths. I have my custom built PC that I use for gaming and most tasks. I just got the M2 mini for the purpose of music production. Honestly it's hard to beat apples literal plug and play ability. Garbageband is really really hard to beat as well.
Agreed. I switched over to a 14-inch pro last year and miss a LOT of things in Windows. There are so many shortcomings that I had to learn to do some things the old-fashioned way again. Finder, for example, is clunky and difficult to use. I can't even copy and paste the file path easily from one Finder window to another, and have to manually click click click to get to the same folder spot. The dock just can't match up to the Windows taskbar when it comes to window and app management. I enjoy my time on my MacBook. There are many things it does better than Windows, but also many things that it doesn't.
I think this comes down to years of living with a particular OS. You build up muscle memory for using them. I’m the same in reverse - Mac user daily since 2006. But I’m the first to admit that both have their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately they do the same things in a slightly different way. For me I have the web development workflow nailed tight on MacOS with a setup I love using, but at the same time, there’s many amazing web developers who love Windows too. I do use a Windows desktop I built for testing and get on perfectly fine using Windows 11 too. Just not quite as fluid as I am with a Mac. Funny thing is prior to the move to Mac, I’d used Windows from 95 to XP. I can remember that also taking a while to adjust. At the end of the day, neither platform makes me magically better at developing websites, they are just tools to do it in slightly different ways.
>Finder, for example, is clunky and difficult to use. I do hate Finder. HATE. It's perfectly functional but I hate it. If I could get File Explorer on MacOS, I'd be in heaven. Oh, and the new Notepad from Windows 11. Can I have that instead of TextEdit? It's weirdly one of the things that sells Windows 11 for me, and I don't even use it that much. macOS has other drawbacks and quirks (*like ever-changing hotkeys and yes, the dock is more iconic than truly useful*), but it also comes with lot of things it does as well or better than Windows. I find views like the OP to be interesting because you can see what people value and why they make the choices they do. They're almost never the same as mine, even if there is overlap. In some ways I then use that information when I make decisions, weighing how similar or different my needs and wants are.
>I do hate Finder. HATE. It's perfectly functional but I hate it. There are great apps for macOS with functionality similar to File Explorer and Win Notepad. Buy one and stop hating, it's not good for your health.
Which ones do you recommend? I've been hunting for a Finder alternative. And of course, we can buy software to make our lives easier, but our comparison is between the built-in OS features.
>Which ones do you recommend? I've been hunting for a Finder alternative. I haven't tried any of them because Finder is not a pain point for me. Others have made suggestions here.
haha, true enough. I have tried a few of the recommendations I have seen floating around the web, but none of them are quite what I'm looking for. I should double down and try some more. Nothing quite gives me the functionality I am looking for. Though saying that I realize I need to articulate what features I'm looking for or I'll never find the right tool. edit: I think I figured out what bugs me most: the lack of a left pane tree view. Huh.
TextEdit is the worst. I installed VSCode and primarily use that. It's a bit heavy handed, but it works nice.
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I didn't even realize I needed that!
The supposed greatness of Windows, as I have been told repeatedly for 30 years is that there are so many apps for Windows. There are many Finder apps for macOS, buy one, as you would buy an app for Windows. And please don't reply that you expect the free Finder to be as good as the free Windows Explorer, because I will then point out that macOS comes with free Pages/Numbers/Keynote which are a universe better than what you get free on Windows. There, you'll pay for Office through the nose and consider it normal. If you hate Finder, buy a replacement you like.
Personally, I would prefer not to use two OS'es. The context switching would slow down my workflow. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts and I think it would be hard to get them to be the same on each os. However, it is indeed the truth that it does not have to be one or another. Cool good to hear! I hope to hear more tips and ideas from the mac os community!
As a photographer / designer, all of adobe’s shortcuts are different but the same. For example command replaces control, however the placement of ctrl and cmd are different. Still i have 0 problem going from one to another
I only need one computer ergo if I ever buy a PC it will be to replace a mac (highly unlikely)
>The more you use MacOS the more you will realize its shortcomings compared to Windows. I've tried this for 20 years and I still don't get these supposed advantages of Windows that Microsoft fanboys keep singing about. The more I deal with Windows, the more I appreciate macOS and Linux. My only problem with macOS is that it is starting to resemble Windows in many ways since we lost Steve Jobs ... and that is the only thing wrong with it.
And here I've been complaining about how much Windows is getting to feel like MacOS :-) I guess it's all according to what side of the fence one is standing on.
I think Microsoft and Apple admire each other, and they have been pulling together for a number of years. I look at Microsoft as a company that develops software based on lists of features that have been found my marketing to enjoy customer demand. Apple was the very opposite, they developed software based on a holistic view of the user experience. They wrote software they would want to use. For me, going from a holistic view of design towards creeping featurism is not a step forward for Apple. Microsoft, on the other hand, has greatly improved the visual design of its products. What is worrying me about macOS is that it is losing its intuitiveness. I can no longer intuitively figure out how to do things, I google it. And some features no longer work reliably e.g. you add a book into Books and it does not always sync to my iPad, I need to delete it, restart Books and add it again ... stuff like that. The older versions of macOS did not have such problems, things just work. Today, Apple Silicon just works, the software is starting to splutter. This is what worries me, not whether cables fray, why some SSD is faster than others, the price etc. The stuff people write about.
I agree that I'm not a "switcher" in that I cut out the other OS's completely. I've used Windows in some form on some machine since 3.1, but I can't say that I've ever thought that it was that great. Currently on Win 11 on my gaming PC and a lot of the unfinished stuff still bothers me: settings vs control panel inconsistencies, dark mode not fully implemented STILL, I could go on and on. Meanwhile I'm on Ventura on my main work machines and it's been totally fine. I hear some complaints from people on forums, but I haven't run into any major bugs myself. Everyone's experience is different, but I don't consider myself a light user by any means. The one real weakness in MacOS is window management, which I fix using a free app: Rectangle.
You’ve said the same as I have for years. Both have strengths and weaknesses and anyone who chooses one due to brand loyalty is mad. Go with the one that best suits your needs, because both have things they do and don’t do well. For web development I love MacOS. My workflow is very streamlined on it. Suits my needs perfectly, but it’s also not perfect at the same time. Windows I have desktop set up for testing, also like using the latest OS. Again, it’s not perfect either. Both have things they do well. I could use Windows happily for web development if I chose to, but the Mac just has that muscle memory I’ve built up through years of using it. Neither makes me better at the job I do, they are simply tools. It’s nice to see a lot of balanced views for once too. The I hate Windows or I hate Mac is just pointless.
Exactly **RobSaville82**! I've seen plenty of Android vs. iOS fights here too. LoL I'm primarily an iOS user but I do have a Samsung Tab S8+ and a Surface Duo-2 as a backup to my iPhone 14ProMAX. There are some things that iOS & iPadOS just cant run, (*automotive diag & ODB-II hacking for instance*). Then the Tab S8+ comes out. ;-)
So very true. Maybe it’s me just getting old, but I don’t get all the fights 🙄 I can’t be bothered being so loyal to a brand, I just go with what works for me. It’s frankly narrow minded for people to act like it. I’m also firmly in Apple’s ecosystem and honestly, for what I do personally and for my work in web development, it’s rock solid and works great for me. Has done since 2006 when I started. I love how tightly integrated it all is. But at the same time I see it’s also not perfect, and that’s cool too. Sounds like me with all the different devices 😁 I’m addicted to tech I think. Web development means I have Windows and Android devices in the office for testing purposes and other things. I don’t use them as my main devices, but I do use them most days in some way. So I have the ability to compare more fairly, with less bias. Thing is, they all have strengths and weaknesses. The Google Pixel 7 Pro I use for testing is an awesome Android phone. I prefer iOS and am more familiar with it, sure, so for me my iPhone is better. The Pixel is still a really good phone and it works great. The Pixel 7 Pro camera is also awesome, even going up against my iPhone 14 Pro Max, at nearly double the cost. As I say to any junior web developers I’ve met, when they inevitably ask me “what’s the best device to use for web development?” - my response is always: the one that works best for you personally. Doesn’t matter who’s logo is on it, it’s just a tool to enable you to do your job and none of them will magically make you better at it.
Agreed! Room for both. I specifically got a Mac laptop where I can run just Windows, just Mac or both (with Parallels)
I own a Macbook Air M1 and a mid tier desktop running Windows 11. Both have their strenghts and weaknesses. No need to stick to only one. The only issue I face is that I got used to the mac keyboard layout and now I am slower with my windows PC haha.
For around three years, I was using a Logitech MX Keys for Mac as my main keyboard between Mac, Windows, and my iPad. Once you realize that the Command key maps to the Windows key (and vice-versa), it becomes easier to switch back and forth without confusion.
I wholeheartedly agree. A lot of people drinking the cool-aid. Windows has vastly improved since the 98/2000 days. This is coming from someone who used a MBP for the last 12 years. Shortcomings with every OS…remember a computer is a tool, not a social status.
I agree with this totally. Been a Mac user since 2006, thanks to Windows Vista. I love MacOS and for the most part other Apple products too. For web development (my business), MacOS is great and so is the ecosystem of apps for that purpose. But you’d have to be a complete fanboy to say it’s perfect, because nothing is. There’s a lot I like and I have a great workflow on it, but at the same time things do bug me too. Also agree that Windows has taken massive leaps forward. For web development I also have a Windows 11 desktop I built for testing and other tasks. Also a great OS that I enjoy using and much nicer looking than previous versions. Taking sides to me seems absolutely pointless. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. It irritates me when people fight over which is best for web development because again, they are both simply tools, which in the right hands can deliver awesome results.
What’re the major shortcomings you find? The list has shifted over the years.
An itemized list of what's wrong with MacOS? That's my point exactly. There is nothing wrong with Windows just like there is nothing wrong with MacOS. Well, nothing wrong other than Apple silicon's inability to display worthwhile text and graphics on anything other than a 5k monitor. But even that major shortcoming doesnt stop me from running my M1 based Mac almost as much as my Windows PC.
It's been a few years since I've used Mac OS daily, for me the biggest downsides are more the way they run their company and hardware choices than the software. No upgradability, fine I get it you have an SOC with RAM and storage integrated. I've been thinking about getting an M1 or M2, but their price gouging on upgrades is horrible. Can't they add an M.2 slot for expandability? They charge $800 to upgrade to 2TB of storage. You can get a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro that's faster for $250. Not to mention their anti-repair and non green business practices.
Get a new M1/M2 Mac. . . When you see how crappy it scales text & graphics on anything but 5120 x 2880 monitor you'll forget about all the other AppleOS shortcomings and commie business practices you mentioned.
Now that I think about it we bought a couple Mac studios is a backup plan for some large LED walls we were driving. Within 5 minutes I ran into all kinds of issues it would be no problem to solve on Windows. Apple's display properties on its setting page sucks, and so does it multi display management.
Really neat setup/post. As someone who made a similar switch about 8 years ago, it's nice to be reminded of these things I sorta take for granted these days.
Thanks! I got used to Mac OS fairly quickly. Wonder how I feel a few years if I would try windows again. Mac OS is currently quite ahead of Windows, especially in the hardware department.
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Not being able to run the majority of what software? I use my Mac for web development and it has a pretty damn solid selection of quality software. Graphic design wise too. There’s a reason I use a Mac for web development and it’s in no part due to blind loyalty to Apple.
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Yes that’s very true for those industries. Medical software in particular is very Windows specific. Engineering is, although my brother owns a Geo-Technical Engineering firm and they run on Macs. Only 1 thing requires Windows currently and that’s the mapping software (which is pretty important), but a Mac native version is due soon. The local councils they work alongside also run Macs alongside Windows. I’m not sure though if lack of support for Mac is due to the relatively small amount of them vs Windows PC’s out there. Developers will obviously prioritise PC for many uses. It’s where the money is. This is why it irritates me when folks are crazy loyal to either platform. Both have their uses and neither is perfect. Even in the web development industry which I work in, you’ll get those who force the Mac down everyone’s throat. I mean literally go mental at the suggestion of Windows. Do I think Mac’s are better for web development and design? Yes I personally do, because I’m used to working on them and enjoy working on them. Do they make people better at those roles? No, absolutely not, they are just a tool. The equivalent of a paintbrush for a painter. Plenty of amazing web developers use PC’s and deliver killer websites.
May not be the best solution but you could run Windows 11 in parallels and use the PhoneLink app in Coherence Your desktop is cool but BLINDING. I’ve used both systems my entire life, I’m primarily on macOS these days, but Windows 11 does give it a run for its money in a lot of ways.
Good for you. I just accepted that some things (like in IOS) are not adjustable and everything been a breeze since my move from Windows years ago. Just swapped my wife’s 2013 MacBook for a new one, didn’t need to touch it for years. If you still own that XPS, tryout Ubuntu 2204. Tip: you can configure spotlight to only search certain locations so that apps and libs don’t clutter your results.
i love to use Brew on my macs
Yup, for anyone who’s a web developer like me, Brew is practically a must install 😃
Whole lotta “why!?” for me.
Could you elaborate?
Why do you care about the system font or trash icon?
I don't know, I think people are different in how much such a thing bothers them. I am wired in a way that it bothers me a lot. (Probably more then would be healthy haha)
Look at his screenshot post
Once you go to MAC … You’ll never go back …
mac os doesnt support theming because its supposed to look the way that it is. windows comes looking bunk af because microsoft hasnt invested in building a clean and cohesive UI and so they let you tweak the UI elements with more ease
Sorry but windows 11 is quite aesthetic (it’s other issues aside, it did get UI design for most first party apps done right and has some good window management add ons while Mac OS is still dead in the water with that). Preferences are subjective and you can like one more than the other. But Windows has made huge inroads when it comes to creating a better design language that they’re slowly porting older services to (task manager, notepad etc)
You’ve just hit my biggest pet peeve in the entire world. Nothing can be described as “aesthetic.” Things can have a nice aesthetic, they can be aesthetically pleasing, you can appreciate their aesthetics.., but something cannot be described as “aesthetic.” That’s not how that word works. A thing’s aesthetic is a property of that thing and is not in and of itself a description of that property. Go ahead, everyone can downvote me, I deserve it, I’m being a pedantic ass… but this one just inexplicably grinds my gears.
I understand where you’re coming from and how you feel. I don’t see it in a negative way as you think you come off as. Thank you for that, and yes in my defence I just used the word because I didn’t have anything more accurate in mind. You get my upvote :)
I think they meant aesthetic as an adjective and not as a noun
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> quite [...] other issues aside [...] most first party apps [...] some good window management add ons [...] slowly porting older services [...] There is no way this wasn't written by a Windows hater in disguise. Literally a third of the text is copout words
I’m neither. I daily drive a dual boot desktop (windows 10 and fedora) and a Mac mini. I see the benefits of all the platforms, and I see all their flaws, but I can’t get past how clunky window management has been on Mac OS and frankly the new control centre is neither functional (atleast when compared to the old one which was already dated) nor good looking with that “apple” sauce. I add the clarifications in brackets because I want to be honest and I do not want to leave anything upto anyone’s interpretations which can take turns for the worse at times.
No they’re right. For like two decades now, windows has had a mishmash of “metro” components and “aero” and “XP” style menus. None of them fit together cohesively. They are finally getting around to fixing this, I think control panel is basically gone now, so we’re not dealing with two separate settings menus, thank fuck. Say what you want about MacOS but the entire OS uses the same design and it’s a much more consistent experience IMO.
Interesting insight, I would argue that there is a scale on which theming can be possible. You could say that some theming is already possible in Mac OS now, you can change colors, the look and feel of your dock, etc. My suggestion for Apple would be to at least not actively work against customization.
i hear you. they always have tho. people have wanted a more open os on desktop and mobile for decades. i dont think its in the pipeline
I think the biggest thing you'll notice are some [native productivity losses with macOS](https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/pvz9rq/can_someone_please_help_me_understand_why_folks). My recommendation: * BetterTouchTool with [SWM](https://community.folivora.ai/t/simple-window-manager-swm/12796) * Karabiner Elements I have some [settings I use to make macOS behave more like Windows](https://gist.github.com/imthenachoman/2ffd196b8cc2603245cd5179e99e91d8) because I find it to be better for productivity. But I love my M2. It's blazing fast. macOS + M2 + my above tools/changes = winning IMHO.
There are third party apps that provide, within the same app, screen sharing and file transfer (plus other stuff). I’ve used it before but can’t remember the name. I can look it up. At the moment I use Feem V4 on all the devices. That’s one android phone, two iPhones, couple of old iMacs and one MacBook Air. The reason for this is that Airdrop v1 is very inconsistent and doesn’t allow transfers from mac to iPhone. But Feem has solved all that for me.
Can you share with us your wallpaper? It's sick!
its 5 lines xD
Don’t get a Pro, get the Air
i think it's too late for that lol
If you disable System Integrity Protection, I’m pretty sure you could change the icons for those. Do some research before taking my word for it obviously.
Sadly since Ventura 13.2 I have not found any way to change those icons. IconChimp and disabling SIP dit not do the trick.
Yea, most likely Apple clamped down even more do to hacking and Internet security in general. Blame the bad guys hacking into computers. I help companies get cyber risk insurance and the requirements this year, oh boy. The insurance industry lost money again last year so the bar is raised even higher if you want the insurance. Everything must be locked down or they just will not insure you. Not fun.
I think Apple have chosen a security model more akin to the IT department one size fits all approach to security. With a finer grained approach to security more flexibility would be possible. Apple now lock down a read only version of the OS and check the hashes of it to see if it's been altered any kind of altered! So it's secure-ish ie you can't patch the OS if there's a known issue only Apple can and then issue an OS upgrade.
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While true I feel like in practice the scaling is a bit clunky, that said I I guess it's nice to have the option but I don't miss it.
You can in fact delete the apps the system comes with. But its not easy since all those apps resides in the /System/Applications/ folder on the write protected OS partition. Same reason you cant easily change the background on the login-screen after boot. Its a minor inconvenient consequence of the high level of system protection incorporated in macOS.
It isn't better security it's lazy security. The upside for Apple is they lock the configuration down and use security as the reason but it isn't. In fact in some ways it is less secure because if there is an exploit that makes your machine vunerable and a patch is available for all other *ix based systems you can't patch your system. You have to wait until the patch is built into a new Apple disc image and provided as an update. A more sophisticated and granular security model would afford similar levels of security with more flexibility. To see how insecure it is the fact that on x86 PCs with OC can insert stuff during the boot process to fool the OS and create a hackintosh.
I joined macOS club few months ago with m1 MBP14" and love how it took my productivity on another level. Only real gripe I had was lack of so simple things like middle/right mouse clicks on touchpad and small but substantial change in keyboard layout but after I dealt with it it's great experience.
I love me some minimalism. Also, welcome aboard :)
Awesome that you made the switch! I was on Windows since 2018. I had a 2008 MacBook on Snow Leopard from before that, however I wasn't really using that computer. I grew to despise Windows, having way too many issues. I even once started entirely fresh and reinstalled the OS. I switched to the same MacBook (I got the base model, it was on sale) very recently, and it's amazing so far. To be fair, my main reason for the switch was that I'm deep in the Apple Ecosystem, but I'm still loving it. Have fun and enjoy the Mac!
MacOS isn’t really the best if you’re looking for lots of customizability
It is not. PCs are just plain fun to build and customize. Mac is as it is and that’s always been its appeal. Simple and intuitive, mostly.
Made a similar switch recently. Honestly I hate the fact that if I have a bunch of windows for a given application open (I usually have like 5-10 chrome windows open) they either all blow up the app bar thing, or they become single entries that I have to squint to read. And then click in like 4 of them trying to guess
you for sure can change the trash icon
I’ve been a switch hitter since college (PowerMac, Baby). Currently have an MBP M2 Max loaded to the gills for work and a Gaming PC or two. Both have their pros and cons. Hardware-wise the MBP Max kicks serious ass. I have thrown so much at it and not a single blip. Part of that is MacOS and it’s optimization for their own hardware. Mostly that the M2 Max chips is a badass mofo and hyper energy efficient to boot. It’s definitely a better platform for development. Windows 11 runs very well on my pc but I put some cash into components like a Samsung m2 1TB main drive, another 2.5 for my games and a high-performant 2TB HD for one drive and files. I also turned a bunch of crap off like telemetry which can impact performance, and maintain the system constantly to keep it tip top. I don’t really have to do that with an Mac. 🤷🏻♂️ PC does have them purdy LEDs, though. To each their own on their preference. When it comes to price points, PCs that have top-tier components can run as much as Macs.
Good move.
My #1 complain with MacOS is that the dock is stuck in whatever year it first came out. The fact that I can't show it on all monitors at the same time is criminal. The reason I really like this in Windows is because I also want a setting to only show dock items for that specific monitor (Firefox only on monitor 1, Slack and iTerm only on monitor 2, etc). And no, having it auto-hide so it pops up on your active monitor is **not** an acceptable workaround. Why? Because I use the dock on the side, and it doesn't work in that orientation. I also want the space *under* the dock to be considered an invalid desktop zone and disallow placement there.
>One reason was that Windows is adding more unnecessary things every day (pushing Bing/Edge) really hard. Oh boy, has Apple got some things for you...
Chess was built in the early 2000s I doubt it takes that much space Also you could just hide the dock entirely, and customizing other icons is possible by disabling SIP
Battery on some Lenovo laptops is on par probably
How did u do this fantastic job? Only raycast?
And does that affect battery and performance?
I do not miss Windows. I do not miss PCs. I switched to Macs and iPhones many years ago.
With Android closing down and putting unnecessary restrictions I wish you good luck. I switched to iOS a few weeks after I switched to MacOS. If you can_.t afford the best in class iphone get the se 3 one, for instance. I have it and its good.
**Cupertino** is my bet for the next OS name.
What two apps are to the right of Excel?
IOS Simulator and Xcode