Yeah I was more pointing out that my Acer Predator already has per-key RGB color, etc., There is far more creativity on the Windows hardware side--even the Surface Pro line as an example.
I like your idea for QEMU, thanks! I'll check it out.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Flip Flopping between macOS and Windows
- Thread starter LiE_
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I like your idea for QEMU, thanks! I'll check it out.
Microsoft's shenanigans is the major reason why I returned to the Mac fold myself. I'm further annoyed that they largely closed off the ability to create a local account when install windows - that's the death knell for my pc usage, at least for the foreseeable future.
I enjoy level1techs, he makes some very informative videos
Evidently you are still free to do local accounts, so everyone is just doing a "dummy" cloud account and then deleting it once you have created your local account. But, yes, annoying.
That's good to know, I was concerned they killed off local accounts completely. So all is not lost after all
Actually it sounds like all the main ways are still there...most people just use RUFUS with Win 11 Pro, and then it works out of the gate...etc., etc., I think this is mostly overblown, and they can't really afford to crew with their corporate IT admins out there...
Selling off my gaming PC today.
No issues with Windows, honestly, especially after going to an LTSC version.
I've just seemingly aged out of caring much about PC gaming, which is why I had it.
🤷♂️
No issues with Windows, honestly, especially after going to an LTSC version.
I've just seemingly aged out of caring much about PC gaming, which is why I had it.
🤷♂️
Interesting...tell me how to do that. My life would be much easier LOL.
Age out of gaming? haha! No clue, just seemed to happen for me.
I've always been into sports games, and that genre I feel has really gone downhill since about the end of the PS3 era.
I still occasionally play some older games via emulation on my iPad 9 and this time of year I'm a sucker for a couple months of RetroBowl on my Mini 5.
The iPad Mini is such a great size for handheld gaming.
You know, I am right there with you! I have tried a few times over the past few months, to get back into gaming. But, I am just not 'feeling it'.
For now, I will still keep my PC, as a backup computer of sorts. But, I simply won't worry about the gaming portion.
At some stage, I might sell/get rid of my gaming PC, and replace it with a 'basic' Windows 11 PC (with decent ram and storage)...
For me personally, I feel as if other 'things' in my life have somehow become a priority, and thus, I haven't felt the need or urge to game.
And, when I have sat down to do so, I first need to update the game (since it hasn't been opened in ages), and by then, I simply can't be bothered 🤣
If you do, I HIGHLY recommend and vouch for a Mini PC.
I set one up for a family member who only needed the basics and to play 10-15 year old games.
We went with a Beelink that was about $180 and it's stunning how powerful those have become. They have a full lineup, up and down the price spectrum, to cater to your preferences.
They are tiny .. and so powerful. So awesome.
Just STUNNING value on offer.
The M5 MacBook Pro 14 looks interesting for $2,200. I think that the major thing that I wouldn't like is Tahoe. Tahoe broke one of my important programs:
I suspect this problem is causing problems with other applications out there. I'd guess that it will be fixed by 2026 but I'm waiting on Tahoe until it stabilizes.
I took my Lenovo Yoga with Lunar Lake on a ten day trip to see whether or not I could do my usual stuff with Windows instead of macOS.
I set up Thunderbird instead of Apple Mail for email. I much prefer Apple Mail but I got by with Thunderbird.
I had a macOS Ventura virtual machine for some programs that I use. It allowed me to do most macOS stuff but I wasn't able to move files from the VM to the host. I had planned to use iCloud for that but setting up a Windows share and copying it from the guest would have been more efficient. I will have to set that up.
Performance on the Yoga was very nice. It might be faster than the M1 Pro or it may be that the software that I run on it performs better than the same software on the M1 Pro. The M1 Pro is TSMC 5 while Lunar Lake is TSMC 3.
The trackpad on the MacBook is much better than the diving board on the Yoga. A wireless mouse fixes that problem. The trackpad on the Yoga is usable but not as efficient.
I was planning to wait for M6 to get a MacBook Pro but the new M5 looks nice too. I'd really like Apple to drop about one-half pound on the 14 but will have to wait for M6 for the possibility.
I set up Thunderbird instead of Apple Mail for email. I much prefer Apple Mail but I got by with Thunderbird.
I had a macOS Ventura virtual machine for some programs that I use. It allowed me to do most macOS stuff but I wasn't able to move files from the VM to the host. I had planned to use iCloud for that but setting up a Windows share and copying it from the guest would have been more efficient. I will have to set that up.
Performance on the Yoga was very nice. It might be faster than the M1 Pro or it may be that the software that I run on it performs better than the same software on the M1 Pro. The M1 Pro is TSMC 5 while Lunar Lake is TSMC 3.
The trackpad on the MacBook is much better than the diving board on the Yoga. A wireless mouse fixes that problem. The trackpad on the Yoga is usable but not as efficient.
I was planning to wait for M6 to get a MacBook Pro but the new M5 looks nice too. I'd really like Apple to drop about one-half pound on the 14 but will have to wait for M6 for the possibility.
^^This is actually the reason I switched back to Windows for my main computer setup and mostly left MacOS.
There are way to many broker applications that either don't run on MacOS at all especially the serious ones(DAS) or you end up with poorly supported ones like ThinkorSwim, Fidelity Active Trader Pro, Lightspeed..etc. MacOS users are the minority and the bug testing will never be on par with Windows and running these things through parallels is just another possible point of failure.
This guy runs a youtube channel and its mostly testing ThinkorSwim and Active Trader Pro for MacOS since you are literally one Apple security update from breaking your application.
Michael Moy
This channel started out to provide a workaround for running Think or Swim on Apple Silicon Macs but I've added other tech videos since then. Some of them relate to Fidelity's Active Trader Pro as I use both platforms for trading. The main reason for the channel is now tech support on Macs but I...
www.youtube.com
I love Apple hardware(Macbooks are the best laptops) and would buy a Mac Studio in a heartbeat but MacOS is just too limiting for software support. Most complain about gaming but its much more than that.
Last edited:
That's me.
I have to do a video on that Reddit link. We just got back home yesterday.
Here's the Google AI response on 18A yields. It would be nice if Intel just came out and said how they are doing like they have done in the past.
I've mentioned in this and other threads at how poorly macOS handles resolution scaling, especially compared to windows. My 34" 1440p monitor was looking rather poorly. Running at 1440p, meant the text and UI objects were too small, 1080p, was large and fuzzy. I used BetterDisplay to find a resolution that tried to balance both, and that was an ok short term option, but I wanted to improve the situation. I've been looking for monitors for a couple of months now. I initially was going to settle on the Apple Studio Display, but at 1,500 it was more money then I wanted to spend.
How macOS handles scaling, its basically 2 logical pixels handle 1 physical pixels, a 5k monitor will look just as crisp at 1440p as 5k. A 4k, will be 1080p, etc. There's more to it, but that's my very basic understanding.
Anyways, long story short, I found the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX it offers a number of high end features, and a great display panel, but it was at high priced for 4k. I could have purchased an Asus Proart 5k for about 800 but reviews tended to be inline with, you get what you pay for, and an $800 5k is going to skimp and cut corners. I thought I'd rather spend that sort of money on a 4k, and get a great 4k,then a cheap 5k
Amazon originally had the Benq at 1049, and that was more then I was willing but last week I saw that dropped the price to about 750 and I didn't hesitate - placed my order immediately.
I'm dialing in the configuration, I like my displays to run a bit cool, and with different display types/profiles built in, I'm trying to nail down what I like the best. One thing is true, the mini-led display is fantastic, and if someone is in the market for a 4k display, this should be on the short list.
I know people complain about how a 32" 4k isn't "retina" but for my eyes, it really is. I've had people argue that I needed to get a 27" monitor to increase pixel density, but this thing is amazing.
How macOS handles scaling, its basically 2 logical pixels handle 1 physical pixels, a 5k monitor will look just as crisp at 1440p as 5k. A 4k, will be 1080p, etc. There's more to it, but that's my very basic understanding.
Anyways, long story short, I found the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX it offers a number of high end features, and a great display panel, but it was at high priced for 4k. I could have purchased an Asus Proart 5k for about 800 but reviews tended to be inline with, you get what you pay for, and an $800 5k is going to skimp and cut corners. I thought I'd rather spend that sort of money on a 4k, and get a great 4k,then a cheap 5k
Amazon originally had the Benq at 1049, and that was more then I was willing but last week I saw that dropped the price to about 750 and I didn't hesitate - placed my order immediately.
I'm dialing in the configuration, I like my displays to run a bit cool, and with different display types/profiles built in, I'm trying to nail down what I like the best. One thing is true, the mini-led display is fantastic, and if someone is in the market for a 4k display, this should be on the short list.
I know people complain about how a 32" 4k isn't "retina" but for my eyes, it really is. I've had people argue that I needed to get a 27" monitor to increase pixel density, but this thing is amazing.
Last edited:
Same.
I’ve long ago realized that what’s important is how I feel about these things and not what I get told on forums.
My setup is 3xDell Ultrasharp 4K at 27 inches + the iMac Pro. The iMac Pro is the best. I use the highest scaled resolution.
I run the 4k 27 inch monitors unscaled and it is fine for what I use it for. Sometimes I go 2,560 x 1,440 on one of them while I'm not trading.
The Apple 5k 27 inch panels are really great. But the price.
I run the 4k 27 inch monitors unscaled and it is fine for what I use it for. Sometimes I go 2,560 x 1,440 on one of them while I'm not trading.
The Apple 5k 27 inch panels are really great. But the price.
One of the issues that I had with the Yoga is that I had to use external power on my portable monitor. I had this issue with my MacBook Pro as well. So I went to investigate this this morning. The Yoga is supposed to be able to put out 15 watts on the USBC ports but that's not happening right now. I suppose it could be a driver or setting issue and I'm looking around to find a solution for that. I had to use another USB charging device and only brought three so I couldn't charge my iPad mini, iPhone and run the laptop with portable monitor at the same time. I do not have a solution other than to carry and additional charging block - which results in the problem of needing enough outlets, or using a second USB-C port. The latter would be the easiest solution if I can't get high-power to work.
I read up on the MacBook Pro USB-C power output and it works like this: the first USB-C port you use delivers 15 watts. Subsequent ports deliver 7.5 watts. I tested this this morning and it works. It appears that my practice when using the MacBook Pro 16 with my portable monitor was to plug a mouse in first and then plug in the external monitor.
My first thought was to buy a multi-output charging block but finding those that are small, light, and put out enough power is very difficult. It seems like the companies that make charging devices assume that you just buy more small blocks if you want all three of those attributes.
I had a visit to my surgeon in Boston yesterday and just grabbed the Yoga and it was perfect. It is my go-to now for traveling. I still prefer the MacBook Pro for Apple Mail and iCloud Notes but I can manage with the Yoga.
I read up on the MacBook Pro USB-C power output and it works like this: the first USB-C port you use delivers 15 watts. Subsequent ports deliver 7.5 watts. I tested this this morning and it works. It appears that my practice when using the MacBook Pro 16 with my portable monitor was to plug a mouse in first and then plug in the external monitor.
My first thought was to buy a multi-output charging block but finding those that are small, light, and put out enough power is very difficult. It seems like the companies that make charging devices assume that you just buy more small blocks if you want all three of those attributes.
I had a visit to my surgeon in Boston yesterday and just grabbed the Yoga and it was perfect. It is my go-to now for traveling. I still prefer the MacBook Pro for Apple Mail and iCloud Notes but I can manage with the Yoga.
I solved the USB-C power issue. I think that we've all done this at one point or another.
I started by trying all of the USB-C ports with nothing plugged in and the portable monitor came on and worked for ten seconds and then it went off and on back and forth. The portable monitor has two USB-C ports and a mini-HDMI and the USB-C ports are supposed to do power delivery and video signal.
So then I tried the lower USB-C port and was surprised that that port worked with no issues.
So my hypothesis is that the upper port gets the 15 watts and then negotiates a lower power setting but it really needs more power. It's possible that there's a firmware bug on the upper port. Uperfect makes a lot of different monitors of varying size, resolution and brightness so I could see a bug like that. But I imagine a lot of other customers do the same thing that I do and test the other port, find out that it works, and don't report the bug.
This is one of those things where you run into a problem on a trip and don't feel like trying to debug it because you don't have extra cables for testing. Then you get home and have some spare time where you can work on it looking things up on the web and testing it with your home environment - and then you get it solved.
It's nice when you can ask on a forum and get the problem resolved quickly but sometimes you wind up answering your own forum question when you get home and figure it out yourself.
I started by trying all of the USB-C ports with nothing plugged in and the portable monitor came on and worked for ten seconds and then it went off and on back and forth. The portable monitor has two USB-C ports and a mini-HDMI and the USB-C ports are supposed to do power delivery and video signal.
So then I tried the lower USB-C port and was surprised that that port worked with no issues.
So my hypothesis is that the upper port gets the 15 watts and then negotiates a lower power setting but it really needs more power. It's possible that there's a firmware bug on the upper port. Uperfect makes a lot of different monitors of varying size, resolution and brightness so I could see a bug like that. But I imagine a lot of other customers do the same thing that I do and test the other port, find out that it works, and don't report the bug.
This is one of those things where you run into a problem on a trip and don't feel like trying to debug it because you don't have extra cables for testing. Then you get home and have some spare time where you can work on it looking things up on the web and testing it with your home environment - and then you get it solved.
It's nice when you can ask on a forum and get the problem resolved quickly but sometimes you wind up answering your own forum question when you get home and figure it out yourself.
I'm really enjoying the Benq, but I ran into one oddity, so for my work laptop, I'm running at the native resolution, with scaling set to 150%. Everything works fine, except RDP, so when I remote into a server, the text is 4k, regardless of the RDP settings. Not a huge issue, or a show stopper, but its just one of those things
Sounds like a software bug. I have that issue with QEMU on Windows. No matter what resolution or scaling you set it to, it runs at the same size based on native resolution.
I hate dealing with 4k scaling issues with RDP. I have this problem on my work laptop remoting into servers. Some stuff scales at 150% fine, but every once in a while I get really tiny print LOL.