Anyone else abandoning ship?

[maflynn]

For those of you that do so, I wish you good luck. Take it from a PC guy, the grass on this side of the knoll isn't always greener.

Of course the grass isn't greener, but by the same token PC makers have been building/designing machines that are superior to what apple has been doing. Whether we're talking about eye catching designs, or using non-proprietary components. Its a sad state of affairs that you need a brand new top case to replace a battery. Why should that cost me nearly three hundred dollars when I it would only cost my a third of for Dell or Lenovo.

you'd end up wishing that **** keyboards were the least of your problems.

Stuff happens, and any laptop can have defective components, but the huge difference is that we've been dealing with flawed designs - whether we're talking flex-gate (apple purposely using a cheap short ribbon cable), or the keyboard. People are paying a premium for MBPs and yet have one of the worst keyboards on the market.

At the risk of beating a dead horse, apple prices and markets its laptops at a premium, but we're not getting a premium experience with the quality and usage. I do give Apple credit for instituting a repair program and dealing with the flawed keyboard.

 

[badsimian]

Trackpads are still inferior. In built apps like photos, calendar, mail etc are faaaar superior on MacOS to the default Windows equivalents. I don't like many of the 3rd party alternatives either.
Some niggles I've found with my XPS 13. Random pauses where nothing happens for about a second. Occurs a couple of times a day. Audio devices, man does Windows get confused. I have a USB headset, Bluetooth Bose headphones and b&w desktop usb speakers that I switch between in various scenarios. Windows always gets confused or just plain thinks they aren't there. It's not just the volume control (I know there are alternatives)
Preview in explorer is not as nice as in finder, it often puts file locks on the files being previewed which is a massive PITA as you quite often want to do something with the file post-preview. There's a quick look alternative I'm using which is a bit like Mac preview but not as good.
Dealing with network shares on Windows is miles nicer though. I can't believe Apple haven't fixed that yet.

Do these problems add up to switching back?...uuurgh, I'm still on the fence. I miss my Mac.

My main worry at this point would be the next Mac being non-intel. I would not be surprised if the 16" redesign is ARM powered with. Whole bunch of fatter more powerful apple processors in there. It would probably make running. Windows VMs for work stuff very difficult.

 

[AustinIllini]

You know there are preferences and preferences. I prefer Windows and it's power. I don't understand why someone has to knock on one system in order to justify and preferring the other. Windows is not "trash" just because you don't appreciate it. Stick with Mac... Let Apple mistreat and overcharge you. This is what happens when you back yourself into a corner by refusing to acknowledge alternatives. Apple has you right where they want you... Good luck.

I mean, Windows isn't trash because I don't like it. Windows is trash because it's trash. Poor design, hit or miss functionality, advertisements on the start menu. Slowdown is a feature of Windows. Mixed menus everywhere. It's dog crap and the list goes on.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I mean, Windows isn't trash because I don't like it. Windows is trash because it's trash. Poor design, hit or miss functionality, advertisements on the start menu. Slowdown is a feature of Windows. Mixed menus everywhere. It's dog crap and the list goes on.

I’ll agree with you on advertisements. I really find it awful that you can’t opt out of ads on the notification bar or the Start menu in Windows 10. I shouldn’t have to look at that crap on a device I own.

Otherwise, it’s been okay. I still prefer MacOS, but it’s not unbearable.

 

[maflynn]

It's dog crap and the list goes on.

Well that's your opinion and that's fine, we are on an apple fan site after all. No OS is perfect, and the advertisements is a nuisance and windows is not as consistent as it could be - no question. With that said, I'm more productive in Windows then macOS, and the cost of ownership is significantly lower, for better hardware I might add.

One size does not fit all, and clearly you're heavily vested into the apple ecosystem. If you're happy with what you got that's all that is important.

 

[burgman]

I’ll agree with you on advertisements. I really find it awful that you can’t opt out of ads on the notification bar or the Start menu in Windows 10. I shouldn’t have to look at that crap on a device I own.

Otherwise, it’s been okay. I still prefer MacOS, but it’s not unbearable.

Not sure what ads you guys are talking about, I don’t get ads on my machine except when I install an app or one gets updated, not an ad but a silly notification.There are settings to turn them off. I’m using W10 Pro, maybe it’s different.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Well that's your opinion and that's fine, we are on an apple fan site after all. No OS is perfect, and the advertisements is a nuisance and windows is not as consistent as it could be - no question. With that said, I'm more productive in Windows then macOS, and the cost of ownership is significantly lower, for better hardware I might add.

One size does not fit all, and clearly you're heavily vested into the apple ecosystem. If you're happy with what you got that's all that is important.

I had a big long response, but this is much better than the low road into which I kept sinking.
[doublepost=1559134345][/doublepost]

Not sure what ads you guys are talking about, I don’t get ads on my machine except when I install an app or one gets updated, not an ad but a silly notification.There are settings to turn them off. I’m using W10 Pro, maybe it’s different.

They had minor ads for a short time. I always use Pro, and I am not sure they even still have them in the latest builds of Windows 10.

 

[nudoru]

Windows is what it is - and is burdened by decades of cruft carried along for backwards compatibility. To some, that's an amazing feature. Apple doesn't care (or "has the courage" hahaha, sorry) to strip out legacy code and support for older standards.

The Windows 10 UI is a mess, true, but they're slowly fixing it and trying to get everyone on the same component platform rather than reimplementing (context menus). But Apple has been slipping lately with UIs that don't follow their own guidelines.

As far as ad, tracking and bundled bloatware, there are scripts which automate stripping all of that out. Google "windows 10 decrapifier". I've used these in VMs and they work great.

 

[Queen6]

Not sure what ads you guys are talking about, I don’t get ads on my machine except when I install an app or one gets updated, not an ad but a silly notification.There are settings to turn them off. I’m using W10 Pro, maybe it’s different.

Same I never see adverts and once the links to a few games are removed they do not return, this is with both W10 Home & Pro. All the suggestions and recommendations can be simply turned off, no do setting revert for systems on any major update.

Q-6

 

[Martyimac]

Same I never see adverts and once the links to a few games are removed they do not return, this is with both W10 Home & Pro. All the suggestions and recommendations can be simply turned off, no do setting revert for systems on any major update.

Q-6

Yep, the folks saying otherwise don't "know" W10 at all. Have done that to the wifes W10 PC. Easy Peasy.

 

[MBAir2010]

i was worried about bloatware and ad popping up from the right, but nothing of that sort occurred on the dell xps.
my windows 10 experience is nothing but smooth and productive computing.

 

[Never mind]

Not sure what ads you guys are talking about, I don’t get ads on my machine except when I install an app or one gets updated, not an ad but a silly notification.There are settings to turn them off. I’m using W10 Pro, maybe it’s different.

I've looked and looked and I to have no ads either. Where exactly do you see yours PaladinGuy? Show a screen shot.

 

[burgman]

I had a big long response, but this is much better than the low road into which I kept sinking.
[doublepost=1559134345][/doublepost]
They had minor ads for a short time. I always use Pro, and I am not sure they even still have them in the latest builds of Windows 10.

Oh yeah I remember the candy crush type ads with 1803, but not with 1903 and later 1809 builds with settings done right.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I've looked and looked and I to have no ads either. Where exactly do you see yours PaladinGuy? Show a screen shot.

In honesty, I have only had my surface laptop for three weeks, and I haven’t seen anymore after the first week. I’m more referring to the setup process that asks about personalized adds, but it says you will get ads either way.

Hopefully they don’t pop up. I’m glad to hear others don’t see them.

 

[MBAir2010]

while working on a windows computer at work in march, i would get scan for memory reminders, toner suggestions and pc maintenance alerts every oh 48 minutes. seems to me that computer was never altered to stop these annoyances. i think that is what people here are mentioning.

 

[SDColorado]

They had minor ads for a short time. I always use Pro, and I am not sure they even still have them in the latest builds of Windows 10.

Thanks for answering that as I had wondered the same. Are the advertisements a "feature" of Window Home only then? I have never seen one with Windos Pro.

 

[c0ppo]

I'm surprised that more manufacturers are not going all in on USB-C but I think they saw the blow back from apple and took a slower approach.

I have a completely different opinion to yours.
Other manufacturers are adopting USB-C and TB3, but not in a radical and dumb way. For instance, X1C uses USB-C for charging, has 2TB3 ports, but has also other ports as well.

X1E that both of us use has 2 TB3 ports as well. But has 2 USB-A ports as well, and HDMI, etc.

How many users out there are actually using all 4 TB3 ports? TB3 is great, I use it every day, and I wouldn't purchase a laptop without TB3 port. But going all in on just usb-c/tb3 is stupid. And dongle life of MBP users is the proof of that.

If only usb-c worked, we wouldn't need any dongles.

So other OEMs are using TB3, but most of them are using it the way it's supposed to be used.

 

[SDColorado]

How many users out there are actually using all 4 TB3 ports? TB3 is great, I use it every day, and I wouldn't purchase a laptop without TB3 port. But going all in on just usb-c/tb3 is stupid. And dongle life of MBP users is the proof of that.

I am using all 4 TB3 ports, but only because 2 are being occupied by a Satechi USB-C Pro hub adapter to add back the USB 3.0, memory card slot, etc.. So I have a semi-permanent appendage attached to the side of my MBP.

 

[apolloa]

I give kudos for Apple putting an 8 core CPU into a thin laptop, but we will have to see how the thermals are handled. Dell changed the power delivery system on the new Alienware thin laptops to ensure the CPU and GPU didn’t throttle.

I still like the Surface Book 13”, I had a good play with it once in a store and it tickled my gadget side, may end up with one someday, it’s more powerful then the 13” MacBook Pro and in the UK you get decent support. But then again I lurve the new iPad Pro design! It’s a better device then Apple’s laptops I think.
Lots of different types of machines out there now though for all walks of life.

 

[c0ppo]

I am using all 4 TB3 ports, but only because 2 are being occupied by a Satechi USB-C Pro hub adapter to add back the USB 3.0, memory card slot, etc.. So I have a semi-permanent appendage attached to the side of my MBP.

I'm sure your desk looks lovely

 

[Mendota]

I mean, Windows isn't trash because I don't like it. Windows is trash because it's trash. Poor design, hit or miss functionality, advertisements on the start menu. Slowdown is a feature of Windows. Mixed menus everywhere. It's dog crap and the list goes on.

Your opinions are just that opinions. They are not facts. I like the design of Windows, and I love it's power and versatility. I do enjoy using Mac from time to time, but I often feel closed in because it is so limited for my use cases. Except for the store I don't have any ads on my start menu, and I removed with one click the few things I didn't want.

The fact that you insist on seeing Windows as "dog crap" points to your insecurity about your choice. When one is happy and satisfied about what they have, they don't have a need to put down others. You are not informing us of the pros in MacOS, so that suggest you really don't have anything to demonstrate it's actual superiority.

For example I could say that I prefer Windows due to it's pen support, superior gaming and 3D ability, the wide berth of software available for it. Those are facts and reasons... I don't need to say something as childish as "MacOS is dog crap." Do you get it now?

 

[apolloa]

Hmm I see that iOS 13 for the iPad Pro could support mice! Add that with external monitor and Bluetooth keyboard support..... that’ll lose some Mac laptop sales. And no flawed keyboard in sight. People will jump ship then I’d have thought if they use MS apps like Word etc.

I see Intel as well as ASUS think the future of laptops is dual screens. Interesting..

 

[MBAir2010]

Asus are hard to find in stores, well whats left of stores. they had that "glitch" weeks ago and they are smugdie
i was going to purchase the zenbook but the Dell XPS (cheers) had a better keyboard and much more sturdy.

 

[narcolpetic-haze]

Although I think they've been riding out this current - clearly flawed - MacBook design for a little too long, I think I'll wait until the next FULL hardware revision to fully judge. If they don't learn from the faults of this design, then I guess there really is no point sticking around, unless you really want (or need) to use MacOS.

 

[agaskew]

Hmm I see that iOS 13 for the iPad Pro could support mice! Add that with external monitor and Bluetooth keyboard support..... that’ll lose some Mac laptop sales. And no flawed keyboard in sight. People will jump ship then I’d have thought if they use MS apps like Word etc.

I've used my 10" Samsung Android tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse like a mini laptop on many occasions. It was useable, but something of an ergonomic pain at times. It will be interesting to see how this develops.