ivanwi11iams
macrumors 601
Being able to reply to iMessages from my Mac Mini, versus having to pick up my phone. I seem to have better and longer conversations that way. With my phone, am often short with my responses...
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
yep that's me too, that's my main "not on windows" app hole... although I have put macos in a vm in the corner of my windows screen so I can use it but it's not as nice as native.
When you're on Mac, what do you miss from windows?
ivanwi11iams
macrumors 601
Honestly, only Quicken (I know I can get it on Mac OS, but, it is vastly different), and the fluidity of Excel...
jakey rolling
macrumors 65816
Would be interested to see if independent virtual desktops could be enabled in Windows.
FYI, though, you do have the ability to set individual windows to show on all virtual desktops. This generally covers most use-cases where people want certain applications (such as YouTube/Netflix, maybe their note-taking app, or productivity app or whatever) to remain visible when switching desktops.
To do so, you click Win-Tab to show the "Expose-like" display of windows for the current virtual desktop, and then right-click whichever window you want to adjust the virtual desktop assignment for. If you select "Show this window on all desktops", then the window will show on all desktops. If you set "Show windows from this app on all desktops", then all existing windows and any new windows from the app will show on all desktops (you can choose to still set individual windows as assigned to one or all desktops from any given app).
On my work computer, I generally have my time-billing app running with multiple windows on my left monitor and visible on all desktops, and I have my Teams windows showing on all virtual desktops (usually on my main monitor, but minimized when not in use). My Main Outlook windows are assigned to VD1 only, but the app is set to have open all windows on all desktops, so that when I open a client e-mail in the my outlook VD, it can be moved to any monitor and show on all VDs while I'm working on whatever it relates to. Finally, all my individual client projects I'm working on at any given time are assigned to their own VD.
So Windows does kind of what I think you're looking for, but not in exactly the same way as you're used to.
mi7chy
Suspended
Unless I'm not following I see independent virtual desktop working by default on Windows 10 Pro. For example, I have Chrome opened on primary display on virtual desktop 1 and Edge browser opened on 2nd display on virtual desktop 2.
To see for yourself, right-click on task bar and make sure "Show Task View button" is checked (should be by default). Open up one app and place on primary display. Press windows + ctl + d to open virtual desktop 2 and open up second app and place on 2nd display. To switch between virtual desktops use windows + left or right arrow key or click Task View icon on task bar.
To see for yourself, right-click on task bar and make sure "Show Task View button" is checked (should be by default). Open up one app and place on primary display. Press windows + ctl + d to open virtual desktop 2 and open up second app and place on 2nd display. To switch between virtual desktops use windows + left or right arrow key or click Task View icon on task bar.
One of my main issues with this is that I have to display on all desktops the windows I want every time I start the program up. The other problem is that sometimes I don't want to display a program on all desktops. Sometimes I want Independent Virtual Desktops. So that one desktop displays the same thing the vast majority of the time. But not always.
There's a reason why there are a ton of support requests to provide this feature for the past decade and that there are third-party programs to do this. And why Microsoft said that they would put in this feature in W10 and W11. They just haven't yet.
I was unable to get this to work because the hidden features aren't documented. There is a list of codes to unhide features but I don't have a list of what those codes do. I'm sure that one of them unhides it but I don't want to have to try them all.
Velin
macrumors 68020
Wanted to revisit this post. I had been considering going to a Windows desktop machine a few months ago. But I think I'm abandoning that idea, for a few reasons. First, the new M2 Macbook Air is everything I wanted. Brighter screen, square form, excellent keyboard, fast chip with world-leading battery life. Apple portable silicon is annihilating Intel/AMD portables.
Also, I got an Apple Watch Series 7, and I love it. Being able to answer calls, see messages/emails/notifications, all while doing it silently with haptic feedback (I keep AW in theater mode all the time), I'm now firmly in Apple wearable camp, and iPhone + AW are an amazing combo.
Finally, the new M2 chip, plus Parallels making significant improvements with OSX Monterey and the Apple ARM chips, I think the Apple studio desktop box is probably our future. I didn't think so a few months ago, but, I've been impressed with Apple's recent releases and updates.
Also, I got an Apple Watch Series 7, and I love it. Being able to answer calls, see messages/emails/notifications, all while doing it silently with haptic feedback (I keep AW in theater mode all the time), I'm now firmly in Apple wearable camp, and iPhone + AW are an amazing combo.
Finally, the new M2 chip, plus Parallels making significant improvements with OSX Monterey and the Apple ARM chips, I think the Apple studio desktop box is probably our future. I didn't think so a few months ago, but, I've been impressed with Apple's recent releases and updates.
Let's say I have program 1 on monitor 1, desktop 1, program 2 on monitor 2 desktop 1, program 3 on monitor 1 desktop 2, program 4 on monitor 1 desktop 2.
I want to be able to display program 1 with program 2, program 1 with program 4, program 3 with program 2 or program 3 with program 4. The same as you get with macOS. I also want to be able to drag and drop any program from any monitor/desktop to any other monitor/desktop.
Apple are doing really good things across their entire stack, it's a great time to be deep in the walled garden 😛
I've settled on a base 14" MBP (in silver) and a Apple Studio Display. Expensive, but my god they are amazing.
Haven't decided where to put the MPB yet.
I've settled on a base 14" MBP (in silver) and a Apple Studio Display. Expensive, but my god they are amazing.
Haven't decided where to put the MPB yet.
I like to use a vertical stand for laptops to minimize the footprint.
Curious on the speakers: the Studio Display speakers aren't enough?
Yea I've been looking at vertical stands and like the look of the Twelve South but have read mixed things about it fitting well with the 14". Need to gather some more first hand experiences from MacRumours community first.
The speakers on the ASD are good, but not a patch on proper speakers. These Q Acoustic M20 speakers create so much sense of space and provide amazing clarity while having some decent low end. When I switch to the ASD it's like the bass is turned off and everything sounds flat.
I bought stands for my Retina MacBook Pros years after the models came out so they worked well. We're seven months out from launch so there's been enough time for the manufacturers to get them right. But yeah, I like to read a lot of opinions before buying them.
Velin
macrumors 68020
Agree. I was initially really bummed about the 27" iMac disappearing, coupled with the very high base price of the Mac Studio. Was looking hard at PCs. But, ugh, the PC manufacturers, unfortunately, are nowhere in the same league, especially the silicon. And I can't deny the fact that, over the last fifteen years, I can count on one hand the number of times a Mac desktop has failed me. PCs, not nearly as good.
And then you look at mobile computing/communications, Apple is just so far ahead with their hardware/software synergy. I know this is the Windows thread, and I'm glad there's alternatives, but they need to improve. A lot.
rafark
macrumors 68020
I’m fully satisfied with the Mac (and fully unsatisfied with windows). Thank god I don’t have to use windows.
Loving the setup 🙂 do you find the studio display large enough? I have a 49" on my windows desktop and mmmm I mean it's great to have so much space but on the other hand, I have to move my head to see both sides.
It's hard to go from 49" to 27" though
(I can use the mac studio with the 49" but that's missing the wonderful "retina" display)
kamikazeeMC
macrumors 6502a
Ooo I think they are the successor to the Q Acoustic BT3s I have. Hoping my setup will be looking similar towards the end of the year.
I solved my problem with virtual desktops by using real desktops. I have 3x4k on my Windows system so I have everything right on the desktop. I have the iMac next to the monitors for running iCloud programs and some Mac-only programs. The M1 mini is next to it though I actually don't need the M1 mini. I did move some applications to the mini but I could move them to the 2014 iMac. The advantages of the mini is that it is fast and cool but the RAM limitation is a negative and the iMac 5k screen is just great.
DarthVader!
Cancelled
Didn't you just flop to the windows side something like 2 weeks ago 😳
Btw, I love my 14" MPB, its an excellent laptop, but I'm not exclusively on a Mac.
Nearly, work are sending me a laptop but I’m continuing with the BYOD Mac option.
DarthVader!
Cancelled
You do seem unable to settle on a platform - what ever makes you happy 🙂
I certainly live up to the thread title 😅