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Considering my first Apple PC. I have questions.

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Baritone_Guy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
I am considering an M5 MacBook Air as my first foray into MacOS.

- Display scaling. My monitor is wqhd+ 3840x 1440. Am I going to have issues with app scaling as it is not one of Apple’s native resolutions?

- Monitor Ports - mine has a single USB C connection that provides charging, Ethernet, USB pass through including USB upstream. Is this going to all work without issue?

- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?

- What is the MacOS equivalent to Windows Media Player that comes Windows 11?

- Virtualization - I need to be able to run a Windows VM. I know it needs to be Arm Windows. How much RAM? 16 or 24? Best virtualization option that will allow to run the VM in a dynamically sized window vs full screen?

Thanks in advance.
 
Baritone_Guy said:
- Display scaling. My monitor is wqhd+ 3840x 1440. Am I going to have issues with app scaling as it is not one of Apple’s native resolutions?
Click to expand...
If it doesn't work, try BetterDisplay. I don't have an UW so I can't help anymore.
Baritone_Guy said:
- Monitor Ports - mine has a single USB C connection that provides charging, Ethernet, USB pass through including USB upstream. Is this going to all work without issue?
Click to expand...
I would hope so. Look up your monitor and see if anyone else has experience using it with a Mac.
Baritone_Guy said:
- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?
Click to expand...
I have big issues with SMB on recent macOS but apparently no one else does.
Baritone_Guy said:
- Virtualization - I need to be able to run a Windows VM. I know it needs to be Arm Windows. How much RAM? 16 or 24? Best virtualization option that will allow to run the VM in a dynamically sized window vs full screen?
Click to expand...
24 GB of RAM would be my minimum. 16 GB minimum for basic tasks on macOS + 4/8GB for Windows. I don't know what you need Windows for in the first place so I can't offer more advice. It doesn't need to be arm Windows, you can emulate x86 via UTM, but the performance will be degraded significantly.
 
Baritone_Guy said:
I am considering an M5 MacBook Air as my first foray into MacOS.

- Display scaling. My monitor is wqhd+ 3840x 1440. Am I going to have issues with app scaling as it is not one of Apple’s native resolutions?

- Monitor Ports - mine has a single USB C connection that provides charging, Ethernet, USB pass through including USB upstream. Is this going to all work without issue?

- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?

- What is the MacOS equivalent to Windows Media Player that comes Windows 11?

- Virtualization - I need to be able to run a Windows VM. I know it needs to be Arm Windows. How much RAM? 16 or 24? Best virtualization option that will allow to run the VM in a dynamically sized window vs full screen?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Virtualization is a big subject and there is no simple answer, because it depends on the tasks you need your VM to do, how often, and whether they will be concurrent with your MacOS tasks.

The best solution is to always try to find a way to accomplish the task(s) without running a Windows CM. If you cannot, then describe the tasks and understand their CPU and memory needs. Then you can choose a virtual machine tool, such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion.

Last week, for fun, I downloaded VMWare Fusion onto my MacBook Pro M5 and then installed Windows 11. It works. I can’t really stand Windows at all but it’s there if I need it. As far as I know, the solution can run any software Windows can run but I’m sure there are things it cannot do. For example, hardware is abstracted, which is to say, you can’t use a VM to make a Windows-only piece of hardware to work. Maybe there are some USB devices that will?

So you get the idea. If you share what you’re trying to do I might be able to try it on my system and report back.
 
capamac said:
- What is the MacOS equivalent to Windows Media Player that comes Windows 11?

Quicktime. Can also grab a copy of VLC (free). https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ but Quicktime probably enough.
Click to expand...
Quicktime Player is extremely simple. I see the Music app and the TV app as what took over after they retired iTunes. Playlists, folders, organization and online streaming. I assume WMP is the iTunes equivalent. For a quick view or listen, you can just select a file in Finder and press spacebar. This opens Quicklook. Very useful function in the Finder. Gives you a quick view of most any kind of files. Music, movies, PDFs, etc. VLC is good for video conversion and such.
 
Yes but ... in 1978 ....

s-l1600.png
 
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With an ultra wide-screen monitor with relatively low pixel density like that, chances are you're going to just want to use the native resolution and not try to scale. It won't be the "retina experience" but it's still workable. I continue to use an old NEC 1440p display as my secondary at home, with the 16" MBP and the NEC effectively serving as a two display rig; the gaffes of a few years ago with messed-up pixel smoothing as they were transitioning through OS upgrades towards HiDPI seem to have been mostly albeit not fully sorted out. What doesn't work, however, is trying to re-scale the 1440p display to an 1152p equivalent; that just blurs up the text, like using a cheap teleconverter on a previously good lens.
 
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Baritone_Guy said:
- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?
Click to expand...

In principle, should just work. In practice, authentication can be a bit of a pain and you may need to use the manual “connect to server” route to specify the correct user name and password, rather than just browsing.

Baritone_Guy said:
- What is the MacOS equivalent to Windows Media Player that comes Windows 11?
Click to expand...

Again, should “just work” for most audio/video file types (using QuickTime Player or the quick look function). Music for music playlist management (gets a lot of flak because it tries to push you to an Apple Music subscription but still does work with local files & no subscription). Install (free) VLC for a Swiss Army knife. There’s also IINA, another free media player which is prettier and more “Mac like” than VLC.

You can also install client/servers systems like “Jellyfin” or Plex for a more sophisticated “media Center” - might even be able to run the server on your NAS…

capamac said:
Yes but ... in 1978 ....
Click to expand...

ISTR “personal computer” was widely used in those days (even in magazine titles) but the abbreviation “PC” was less common - until it was popularised by the IBM PC. Later, of course, Apple ran the Mac and PC guy ads…

So, arguably, based on “language is defined by usage”, a Mac is a personal computer but not a PC.
 
Baritone_Guy said:
- Display scaling. My monitor is wqhd+ 3840x 1440. Am I going to have issues with app scaling as it is not one of Apple’s native resolutions?
Click to expand...
I have a 32" 4k monitor, and on Windows and Linux, I have finer control in adjusting the scaling. With MacOS, its definitely inferior, and while BetterDisplay fills the gap a little bit. I'm running my monitor at a resolution that gives me less screen real estate on macos, then windows/linuc.

Baritone_Guy said:
- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?
Click to expand...
I've had spotty connectivity issues, but I've long given up using a NAS, for other reasons that are germane to this thread
Baritone_Guy said:
- Virtualization - I need to be able to run a Windows VM. I know it needs to be Arm Windows. How much RAM? 16 or 24? Best virtualization option that will allow to run the VM in a dynamically sized window vs full screen
Click to expand...
You'll need to use ARM windows, as you mentioned, that's really the only caveat. The more ram the better when you're talking about virtualization. If it were me, I'd go with 24
 
Baritone_Guy said:
- Monitor Ports - mine has a single USB C connection that provides charging, Ethernet, USB pass through including USB upstream. Is this going to all work without issue?
Click to expand...

All USB adapters I have tried (including those in multi-hubs and monitors) have always been plug-and-play. There is always the possibility that you have some weird non-supported chipset. Any chance you could just borrow a Mac and try out both the monitor resolution and ports?

Baritone_Guy said:
- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?
Click to expand...

SMB support is more robust, haven't had any issues lately. I keep my backups on a local TrueNAS installation.

Baritone_Guy said:
- What is the MacOS equivalent to Windows Media Player that comes Windows 11?
Click to expand...

I'd vote for VLC as the most capable. (Definitely prefer it over Media Player on Windows.)

Baritone_Guy said:
- Virtualization - I need to be able to run a Windows VM. I know it needs to be Arm Windows. How much RAM? 16 or 24? Best virtualization option that will allow to run the VM in a dynamically sized window vs full screen?
Click to expand...

VMware Fusion is free for personal use, and it is extremely simple to get Windows 11 up and running, basically a single click. I have allocated it 8 GB, which works perfectly fine for the browser-based and specialized apps I need it for.
 
Hi

If you’re looking to buy a device, I recommend following my cousin’s advice: just go to a store, check out the devices, test them, and get some advice if needed.

And by the way. No need for more than 16 GB RAM. See attachment.
 

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I’m going to ask a dumb question why buy a Mac if windows is part of your workflow? To me that sounds central to your use case why even get out of the window world.
 
Last edited:
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1rottenapple said:
I’m going to ask a dumb question why buy a Mac if windows is part of your workflow?
Click to expand...
Perhaps there are very specific programs who are only available for Windows. As far as I remember here in Germany software for medical doctors are only available for Windows.

Or some very specific Excel VBA scripts who need Excel for Windows. Does the current Excel for Mac support VBA user forms?
 
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1rottenapple said:
I’m going to ask a dumb question why buy a Mac if windows is part of your workflow? To me that sounds central to your use case why even get out of the window world.
Click to expand...

It is required for some very specific and perhaps often infrequently occurring use cases:

  • Intune or similar MDM enrollment is required to access resources, and this infrastructure is only available for Windows
  • VPN software that only works on Windows
  • Microsoft Office for Mac lacks some Windows-only features (Complex Excel macros, VBA, Access databases, Word/Powerpoint formatting/templates)
  • Software licenses may only be available for the Windows version
  • Applications only available for Windows (CAD apps, requirement management systems and document viewers for esoteric formats come to mind)
  • Specialized equipment interfaces/drivers (For example, the app used to update firmware on my dive computer is only available for Windows)
  • Cross-platform development testing
  • Remote desktop considerations
I always have an instance running. I don't need to use it very often, but when I do it is only a cmd+tab away.
 
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Baritone_Guy said:
- Display scaling. My monitor is wqhd+ 3840x 1440. Am I going to have issues with app scaling as it is not one of Apple’s native resolutions?
Click to expand...
That's an unusual resolution. Are you sure it's 3840x1440 and not 3440x1440 or 3840x1600? I know 3440x1440 works out-of-the-box, haven't tried the others myself.
 
1rottenapple said:
I’m going to ask a dumb question why buy a Mac if windows is part of your workflow? To me that sounds central to your use case why even get out of the window world.
Click to expand...
Good question. I have an iPhone, 2 iPads and an Apple TV. Having this fit that is interesting. I do need to be able to run a company managed Windows machine as well. Don’t want 2 machines.
boppin said:
Windows Media Player ist just plain old. Use Apple Music or VLC media player instead.
Click to expand...
This is copy the old WMP. In win 11 it shares an unfortunate name, but is a very capable app.

Basic75 said:
That's an unusual resolution. Are you sure it's 3840x1440 and not 3440x1440 or 3840x1600? I know 3440x1440 works out-of-the-box, haven't tried the others myself.
Click to expand...
You are correct 3440x1440
 
Baritone_Guy said:
I am considering an M5 MacBook Air as my first foray into MacOS.

- Display scaling. My monitor is wqhd+ 3840x 1440. Am I going to have issues with app scaling as it is not one of Apple’s native resolutions?

- Monitor Ports - mine has a single USB C connection that provides charging, Ethernet, USB pass through including USB upstream. Is this going to all work without issue?

- Access to files on my Synology NAS? Any issues here?

- What is the MacOS equivalent to Windows Media Player that comes Windows 11?

- Virtualization - I need to be able to run a Windows VM. I know it needs to be Arm Windows. How much RAM? 16 or 24? Best virtualization option that will allow to run the VM in a dynamically sized window vs full screen?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Thanks to everyone for the help.

I went with the 13” Air with 24 gigs of RAM. With the news today that prices are about to rise I didn’t want to risk it.

Turns out the scaling is a non issue as my 3440x1440 (had it wrong) was set to 100% so no scaling required. I did install better display but haven’t needed to fiddle with it as at 100% it looks fine.

The ports on the monitor all work just fine.

Haven’t tried the NAS yet.

Haven’t tried to sort the media player thing yet.

For virtulization I downloaded the trial of Parralels. Almost works too good. Had turn of some of the features. For example I don’t want the Windows apps appearing in the doc. Will continue with it.

I only setup a personal Windows machine so far, but I did get approval from Security to deploy our standard Windows 11 config. As long as it is fully managed they are ok with it. Similar to what we already have with Hyper V and VM Ware.

I do wish though that I could use a PIN to login. If they can do it on a phone then why not on the Mac. A few other niggles I am sorting through but overall first impressions are good.

Most of the Mac app equivalents seem to be pretty close in feature parity. Still haven’t done enough yet.
 
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