Exploring Alternatives?

[CrashX]

With the exception of a brief foray into IBM's PS/2 286, I've always used Macs - my current machine is a late 2013 MacBook Pro.

Moving forward, though, I'm not certain it's best to continue with Apple anymore - so I'm curious as to what might be the best alternative brand and OS?

Just goofing around with "virtual" OS's - it seems like a lot of people are heaping praise on Windows 10 - but font display looks terrible? Or is that just due to some "bug" in VMWare Fusion? I have no idea.

I've been MORE than happy to pay a premium for Apple's machines - especially since I can test on any other OS in a VM. I buy a Mac and I have every machine I need, right? It's always seemed like a good investment, and the quality of my Macs has always been extremely solid.

But with Apple's focus shifting to what I consider to be "bizarre" tech like facial scanning, Animojis, and "Touch Bars" - and with the weird "annual OS X release" bit seemingly designed to "force" otherwise needless upgrades -

Apple makes a ton of money, so they obviously know what they're doing. But if their focus is no longer on creating awesome computers, then - ?

I'd just rather be prepared than get caught with an abandoned Touch Bar Mac - and it'd also rile me to have paid a premium for what might be an inferior device? When I bought my 2013, it was the best commercial laptop available.

Yeah, it would be nice if I could continue to trust Apple to continue making the very best computers - but if we're butting up against the end of Moore's law and all of the money is in iPhones, I get that they're jumping ship on Macs altogether?

I'd just like to be prepared - and I'm guessing the best way to start would be to invest a great deal more time in learning a new OS on my current machine?

Thanks very much for any advice.

 

[Trusteft]

It's as bad as you want it to be. There is no year that there isn't either a new model or an update of a model of one or more of their computer lineups. They just released a new OS and even more importantly, a new file system. That's not a small thing.
If you have a problem with them also looking into other technologies and you don't like they are not working on just their computers then I guess that's your prerogative.
If you think they are forcing anything, then good luck with moving to Windows or even Linux, that will be a funny experience.
I am writing this as someone who never had an Apple computer since recently when I got a mac mini 2012 model. Ever since the early 80s I used and owned a variety of computers and OSes but never Apple based.
Apple isn't perfect. Far from it. But if you think the other side is better...good luck.

 

[Bart Kela]

It's impossible to make any real suggestions for the primary reasons that A.) you do not specify your usage case, and B.) you do not explain how your current system is failing you in accomplishing what you need to do.

Since you have chosen to keep this information to yourself, you are the only person who has an idea of what to do in the future.

One thing for sure if you switch to a different operating system, your system administration load will increase.

Best of luck.

 

[CrashX]

But if you think the other side is better...good luck.

Thanks for the replies. I don't think that the other side is better.

My usage case is that I expect Apple to continue to be the best? But I honestly don't know if that's even a priority for them any longer?

I definitely don't care for a "Meh... it's all junk. Apple junk ain't no worse than the other junk out there" approach?

They're no longer Apple Computers - and, with all of the focus on iPhones, is there ANY focus whatsoever on Macs? Or is that just the dying legacy branch of the business now?

Honestly - does anyone know if they're just planning on shuttering the Mac division? Is the reason for the new file system just so they can eventually do away with OS X altogether? They're not making "iPhone" money off it - so what's the point?

Sierra brought us... Siri? I'm not sure who cares about that - but it's not me?

Then, High Sierra is the first step toward merging OS X with iOS? I don't know - but what else is it?

With Gatekeeper and the rest of it - is Apple planning on forcing an App Store on us? Then would they do away with allowing Virtual Machines without hacking - because they're not making any money off it and VMs allow a "desecration" of Apple purity?

Those are my fears. If Apple is shoving me off and planning to bank on the geniuses who look to them for the "best" in facial scanning, Animojis, Siri, and whatever other silliness -

Then how to best prepare myself for being forced to contend with the other junk? Do I need to start learning Linux in preparation?

Thanks again.

 

[Trusteft]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think that the other side is better.

My usage case is that I expect Apple to continue to be the best? But I honestly don't know if that's even a priority for them any longer?

I definitely don't care for a "Meh... it's all junk. Apple junk ain't no worse than the other junk out there" approach?

They're no longer Apple Computers - and, with all of the focus on iPhones, is there ANY focus whatsoever on Macs? Or is that just the dying legacy branch of the business now?

Honestly - does anyone know if they're just planning on shuttering the Mac division? Is the reason for the new file system just so they can eventually do away with OS X altogether? They're not making "iPhone" money off it - so what's the point?

Sierra brought us... Siri? I'm not sure who cares about that - but it's not me?

Then, High Sierra is the first step toward merging OS X with iOS? I don't know - but what else is it?

With Gatekeeper and the rest of it - is Apple planning on forcing an App Store on us? Then would they do away with allowing Virtual Machines without hacking - because they're not making any money off it and VMs allow a "desecration" of Apple purity?

Those are my fears. If Apple is shoving me off and planning to bank on the geniuses who look to them for the "best" in facial scanning, Animojis, Siri, and whatever other silliness -

Then how to best prepare myself for being forced to contend with the other junk? Do I need to start learning Linux in preparation?

Thanks again.

You are worried too much for things that are not real. You jump to conclusions based on nothing but the trolls and their spam of anti Apple rhetoric (not talking about this forum only). I am not going to reply to every point you mention as I see no reason to. Worry less, you will live longer.
There is no merging of iOS and macOS. Apple senior staff have mentioned again and again they see them as two separate entities. There are new and/or updated Macs released EVERY YEAR. Stop worrying!

 

[Significant1]

Intels latest Chips have added 2 extra cores in the same power envelope. So if you stay with Mac, I would at least wait for next processor update, not to feel burned.

 

[CrashX]

You are worried too much for things that are not real. You jump to conclusions based on nothing but the trolls and their spam of anti Apple rhetoric (not talking about this forum only). I am not going to reply to every point you mention as I see no reason to. Worry less, you will live longer.
There is no merging of iOS and macOS. Apple senior staff have mentioned again and again they see them as two separate entities. There are new and/or updated Macs released EVERY YEAR. Stop worrying!

Thanks - I'll try to worry less

Hopefully High Sierra will stop being a hot mess and I can finally upgrade - then I'll feel MUCH better.

 

[sracer]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think that the other side is better.

My usage case is that I expect Apple to continue to be the best? But I honestly don't know if that's even a priority for them any longer?

I definitely don't care for a "Meh... it's all junk. Apple junk ain't no worse than the other junk out there" approach?

They're no longer Apple Computers - and, with all of the focus on iPhones, is there ANY focus whatsoever on Macs? Or is that just the dying legacy branch of the business now?

Honestly - does anyone know if they're just planning on shuttering the Mac division? Is the reason for the new file system just so they can eventually do away with OS X altogether? They're not making "iPhone" money off it - so what's the point?

Sierra brought us... Siri? I'm not sure who cares about that - but it's not me?

Then, High Sierra is the first step toward merging OS X with iOS? I don't know - but what else is it?

With Gatekeeper and the rest of it - is Apple planning on forcing an App Store on us? Then would they do away with allowing Virtual Machines without hacking - because they're not making any money off it and VMs allow a "desecration" of Apple purity?

Those are my fears. If Apple is shoving me off and planning to bank on the geniuses who look to them for the "best" in facial scanning, Animojis, Siri, and whatever other silliness -

Then how to best prepare myself for being forced to contend with the other junk? Do I need to start learning Linux in preparation?

Thanks again.

As I've mentioned in other threads on this forum, I'm not pleased with the current direction that Apple is going in. If they don't change their trajectory, the current Apple devices that I own (quite a few) will be my last. Since there doesn't seem to be a change, I've been exploring various alternatives for that possibility (looking more like the eventuality).

I have ruled out Windows 10 as an option. I have a Dell Inspiron running Windows 10 for testing its viability. I'm not a privacy paranoiac but the amount of user telemetry data being sent to Redmond is troublesome to me. Much of it cannot be disabled... even with registry tweaks and disabling services. The frequency and scope of OS updates is very disruptive, even when adjusting the update window to "off-hours".

I have been tinkering with Linux quite a bit. I'm liking what I see. I like being able to use different distros for different family members depending upon their needs. I can easily see my wife using a notebook with Elementary OS. (she currently has a 13" Macbook Air) I've been running Linux Mint MATE as well as Peppermint OS. Both work great and I was able to get my critical Windows apps running under WINE on both distros easily and reliably.

I've also been experimenting with chromebooks. HP Chromebook 14 and Acer R11. Chromebooks have come a long way and the addition of support for Android apps has made the Acer R11 a very viable notebook option. Depending upon when such a migration away from Apple takes place, it is possible that chromebooks could be in ADDITION TO Linux laptops. (they are so inexpensive)

For tablets, I'm spending a lot of time with my Lenovo Yoga Book (Android version). This thing so far is the closest thing that I was hoping to achieve with my iPad Pro. So very close. For 1/4 of the price of an iPad Pro+Apple Pencil+ASK it is a compelling option. MS Office for Android for free (screen size qualifies for free Office) is a nice benefit.

I recommend that you explore open source, cross-platform software options. Many of them run on macOS, Windows, and definitely on Linux. Try to accomplish your various workflows with those different apps, keeping in mind that you may need to re-think how you do things. This way you won't necessarily be locked in to an OS from the start.

Those are some of the avenues that I'm exploring, your needs may be different so some of the things I mentioned won't be relevant, but hopefully it'll get the gears turning as to some avenues to explore.

 

[r.harris1]

Just my own experience here, take it for what it's worth:

I've built and run high-end Windows and Linux machines and they were awesome but the least friction for me has been in the Apple space. I am a software developer and data analyst by trade, photographer by hobby, so I do push my machines fairly hard. Additionally, I am the IT guy at home. I grew tired of messing with machines about 10 years ago (lots better things to do) and for me, Macs have been the sweet spot between power/specs and lack-of-trouble I've come across. They are great for work and pleasure and are super easy to maintain at home (I don't have to do much, compared to Windows/Linux). While they are expensive, for me they provide significant value. No, not the highest specs, you can't tweak and fiddle with the innards if that's your thing, and because they've always had a penchant for removing ports, drives and whatever else suits their fancy, you pretty much have to be willing to go along for the ride, otherwise you end up very frustrated, enraged, etc, as you've seen on the various fora.

Specs aside, I can generally run all the OSs I need, there are a LOT of tools from a development standpoint (brew, etc) and most linux based things I can do on the MacOS that I can on linux. High Sierra was probably the most complex OS upgrade they've done in a very long time replacing the file system (kind of like replacing a major organ) so it's about where I expect it to be from a stability standpoint (not, mind you, where I'd like it to be).

Go kick the tires on Windows and Linux as @sracer suggests - you may find your nirvana. But for me, Macs win hands down.

My 2 cents.