Flip Flopping between macOS and Windows

[LeeW]

Rant incoming (trigger warning for Apple users).

So I spent maybe 2.5 hours building my new PC yesterday and then spent the next 10 hours on and off setting up and configuring it, installing all the software I need, and so on.

Then this morning when I started up my M2 Mac Mini to do some tasks on it. My first reaction after I spent a long period of time on my PC yesterday - Why is this thing so ****ing slow?

Same whether it's a native app or run through R2, always a delay in opening a browser, app or software whilst on the PC it's buttery smooth and instant. Not just because the PC is a brand new machine, I noticed it on my old PC as well.

Everything on the PC just feels so much smoother and faster. Ok, I am not talking seconds here, but the difference is enough that even I am sensitive to the difference. I just came back onto the PC, and right away the difference is clear.

Anyway, just saying. Very few things annoy me but this does

 

[maflynn]

then spent the next 10 hours on and off setting up and configuring it, installing all the software I need, and so on.

That's the differences between macos and windows. Getting a new Mac, you really only need to spend time installing the software, where as windows machines you can (and should) spend time configuring it. The advantage as I see it, is that with the time spent setting up a windows machine offers greater control, and improved performance, plus you get the machine to a point where you can work the way you want to work. With macOS you work the way apple tells you, and there's little you can do to alter the settings.

I also feel that in windows things feel more snappier, macOS things seem slow. I don't mean actual computing performance but the Finder, working with the desktop, windows and what not. Using macOs vs. Windows, I feel that I things just move quicker. Totally subjective, I get that, and this is just my own perspective.

 

[LeeW]

I don't mean actual computing performance but the Finder, working with the desktop, windows and what not. Using macOs vs. Windows, I feel that I things just move quicker. Totally subjective, I get that, and this is just my own perspective.

Yes, exactly this. Windows just move faster, with macOS it's a click, slight pause, move on, click, slight pause, move on.

 

[keithop]

Yes, exactly this. Windows just move faster, with macOS it's a click, slight pause, move on, click, slight pause, move on.

yeah agreed. The mac only folks never know anything different of course, but flip/flop and it's instantly noticeable.

(I'll add the lack of click through adding to the feeling of slowness to. Having to click to make the app active and then click again to use the control adds so many clicks v windows)

 

[LeeW]

yeah agreed. The mac only folks never know anything different of course, but flip/flop and it's instantly noticeable.

And in fairness, it usually doesn't bother me as I am mostly on macOS but right now, ARRRGHHH!

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Rant incoming (trigger warning for Apple users).

So I spent maybe 2.5 hours building my new PC yesterday and then spent the next 10 hours on and off setting up and configuring it, installing all the software I need, and so on.

Then this morning when I started up my M2 Mac Mini to do some tasks on it. My first reaction after I spent a long period of time on my PC yesterday - Why is this thing so ****ing slow?

Same whether it's a native app or run through R2, always a delay in opening a browser, app or software whilst on the PC it's buttery smooth and instant. Not just because the PC is a brand new machine, I noticed it on my old PC as well.

Everything on the PC just feels so much smoother and faster. Ok, I am not talking seconds here, but the difference is enough that even I am sensitive to the difference. I just came back onto the PC, and right away the difference is clear.

Anyway, just saying. Very few things annoy me but this does

This is so true. One of the reasons I don't miss having a Mac. Windows is slower from hardware and efficiency point of view (aside from GPU depending) yet my M1 Macbook Air always felt like it was slow to do things--especially open apps and the like. It has to be software-based on the part of Apple, doesn't it?

Edited to add: Do Android phones vs iPhones feel the same way? It has been a while since I owned an Android phone.

 

[LeeW]

Do Android phones vs iPhones feel the same way?

I would say so. Not owned an Android for years but in using friends' phones it does feel snappier than my iPhone 14 Pro. Not the lowend Android but on the higher end devices, Pixel, Samsung, One Plus and so on. I found in particular that the Pixel I bought for my father last year made me twitch a little because I was so impressed with it.

 

[maflynn]

Couldnt get the mini-itx version but I really like this one so a new PC build incoming tomorrow.

View attachment 2225787

What case is that? Your earlier post has a 10 liter case, I can't image using something that small, yet so many people do.

I have two desktops, my intel build is using the O11 D Mini and my ryzen is using the TU-150 (both Lian Li). The 011D Mini is 38 liters where as the TU-150 is 23 liters. The 011D definitely has more room for air movement as you can see

On the TU-150, I feel like my GPU is not getting enough air, but by the same token, I absolutely love the TU-150, I'm really happy to resurrect that bad boy, though I can't imagine putting in a high powered GPU, i.e., anything like a 4080, as that would just be too much heat for such a constrained case.

 

[LeeW]

What case is that?

Fractal North is what I used.

North

North reimagines the gaming PC, introducing natural materials and bespoke details to make gaming a stylish addition to your living space. Leveraging design to give you a better experience, its airflow functionality and intuitive layout make building and gaming both smooth and enjoyable.

www.fractal-design.com

Fractal Terra is the one I was initially interested in.

Terra Archives

Inspired by the homes of modern gamers, Terra is a small form factor case crafted to lift the desk environment.

www.fractal-design.com

 

[keithop]

Edited to add: Do Android phones vs iPhones feel the same way? It has been a while since I owned an Android phone.

yep exactly the same feel as windows v mac. Side by side here I have an iphone 14 pro max and an s23ultra. The iPhone feels all nice and well thought out and IMHO the apps tend to be better quality even from the same developer, but move over to the s23ultra and everything is just snappier. Even just swiping to see the full app list, it just appears instantly, photo gallery likewise. Much like the mac, if I just use the iphone I don't notice any slowness but move back from android and wow everything feels slow.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Rant incoming (trigger warning for Apple users).

So I spent maybe 2.5 hours building my new PC yesterday and then spent the next 10 hours on and off setting up and configuring it, installing all the software I need, and so on.

Then this morning when I started up my M2 Mac Mini to do some tasks on it. My first reaction after I spent a long period of time on my PC yesterday - Why is this thing so ****ing slow?

Same whether it's a native app or run through R2, always a delay in opening a browser, app or software whilst on the PC it's buttery smooth and instant. Not just because the PC is a brand new machine, I noticed it on my old PC as well.

Everything on the PC just feels so much smoother and faster. Ok, I am not talking seconds here, but the difference is enough that even I am sensitive to the difference. I just came back onto the PC, and right away the difference is clear.

Anyway, just saying. Very few things annoy me but this does

Perhaps @LiE_ would buy your Mac Mini You are both in the UK so simply done. He could meet you behind Tesco with cash and his wife will be none the wiser.

 

[LeeW]

Perhaps @LiE_ would buy your Mac Mini

Not flipping, I will always use both but it just makes me feel like trying harder with Windows to make me not need macOS.

 

[LiE_]

Yep mentioned it a few times before, Windows feels really snappy and inputs are precise and connected. macOS feels slower actually doing things. The same thing in Android, I zoom around the OS and it keeps up no issues. iOS feels like it's been intentionally made slower, like in how long animations take for example. Scrolling on iOS feels crazy disconnected after being on Android for a while.

 

[Silvestru Hosszu]

To be honest, I'm not seeing major differences.
On mac side I have 16'' M1Max, 14'' M2Pro and Mac Mini M2Pro, and on windows side Lg Gram 17 i7 1260P w 32 GB of Ram. Both systems are snappy. My 16'' M1 was a bit laggy but a fresh system install solved the issue.
Same with iOS and Android. iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. Samsung Fold 4. Both are fluid and snappy.

 

[bobcomer]

To me, Windows is *slightly* faster at just about everything, but only slightly. There are more gotchas on the Mac side though that slow things down.

With this last update, there are some, I guess, gestures with the mouse that don't make sense to me at all.

For instance, clicking on a tab in Chrome, somehow brings that tab to the front (which it should), but then somehow it sends a click to the first link on that tab, so it follows that link. It *only* happens on MacOS, both with my Intel iMac, and with my M2 Pro Mini. I have to end up hitting the back button about half the time. It does not happen on my Windows machines. Totally annoying! I don't even understand how I trigger it.

 

[maflynn]

I will always use both

Yeah, I'm at that point as well. I have a use for my MBP, though the intention was to use it a lot more, when I bought it - I still find it fun to use. My kids use it a lot more once school starts up

 

[WriteNow]

Do Android phones vs iPhones feel the same way?

Not owned an Android for years but in using friends' phones it does feel snappier than my iPhone 14 Pro.

I really can't make fair comments about phones today, since I don't own a smart phone, and currently don't come into much contact with them. But I remember a number of years back playing with demo phones in a phone store, and noticing without even having to try, that the Android phones felt faster.

Of course, the usual disclaimers apply. Such as speed is only one issue to consider. That one has to have reasonably fair competition--no $1,000 iPhone vs. $35 Target special match. Although I'd find it amusing if someone did that and the $35 phone ended up faster (without doing any special trickery).

 

[WriteNow]

The iPhone feels all nice and well thought out and IMHO the apps tend to be better quality even from the same developer

Of course, for some, better apps alone might make the iPhone much more compelling. Slow hardware can be annoying--but bad quality software can be downright infuriating!

 

[LeeW]

I do feel that iPhone apps are better designed. Perhaps that is a byproduct of the way Apple forces apps to be built, not sure, maybe just the differences between IOS and Andriod generally. That said, I am sure if I built an App it would look **** universally

 

[J&JPolangin]

...back when my flip CDMA phone was getting kicked off the network in Japan, the company gave us free HTC Evo's and since the iPhone4(s) we're getting ready to refresh and we had to wait until our new "free" contracts ran out.
The timing was right to swap those horrible HTC droid phones out for iPhone5's for both my wife and I...been an iPhone user ever since (especially when I see my "droid friends" swapping out phones so much)...

 

[keithop]

Of course, for some, better apps alone might make the iPhone much more compelling. Slow hardware can be annoying--but bad quality software can be downright infuriating!

definitely agree! I have many examples but one today, I was messing with my naim audio system, happened to have my s23ultra and the search took nearly a minute on the app. rebooted, reset it, still the same, incredibly slow. Got the iphone and instant.

 

[keithop]

I do feel that iPhone apps are better designed. Perhaps that is a byproduct of the way Apple forces apps to be built, not sure, maybe just the differences between IOS and Andriod generally. That said, I am sure if I built an App it would look **** universally

I feel the same about iphone apps AND macos apps (the exception being microsoft office of course).

I got caned on another thread for saying iPhone apps seem like better quality but I stand by the comment. More consistent, more reliable, better laid out etc. and I do think that a lot of it is down to the way Apple dev apps work. There's a very strong UI which you have to try moderately hard to break should you want to and all the dev apps just give you everything right there unless you're trying to go well outside the box.

Some people hate that but some people, like me, really appreciate the consistency and quality in every day use.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Rant incoming (trigger warning for Apple users).

So I spent maybe 2.5 hours building my new PC yesterday and then spent the next 10 hours on and off setting up and configuring it, installing all the software I need, and so on.

Then this morning when I started up my M2 Mac Mini to do some tasks on it. My first reaction after I spent a long period of time on my PC yesterday - Why is this thing so ****ing slow?

Same whether it's a native app or run through R2, always a delay in opening a browser, app or software whilst on the PC it's buttery smooth and instant. Not just because the PC is a brand new machine, I noticed it on my old PC as well.

Everything on the PC just feels so much smoother and faster. Ok, I am not talking seconds here, but the difference is enough that even I am sensitive to the difference. I just came back onto the PC, and right away the difference is clear.

Anyway, just saying. Very few things annoy me but this does

I recently tried Arch Linux on my PC with the Trinity Desktop Environment which is a fork of KDE3 back from 2008, so think kinda similar to XP in features/look. It felt so snappy. Just insane, like open the second I opened anything. Had it supported any sort of window snapping I would have stuck with it. Windows 11 on the same PC is fine but I you can literally see cmd.exe render the outline then the insides.

 

[LeeW]

I recently tried Arch Linux on my PC

It works for some, I have worked with Linux for over 20 years, but I wouldn't use it on a desktop and would never openly recommend it to anyone. Most people find it great, to begin with, but quickly find out it's not all that great days or weeks later.

 

[salamanderjuice]

It works for some, I have worked with Linux for over 20 years, but I wouldn't use it on a desktop and would never openly recommend it to anyone. Most people find it great, to begin with, but quickly find out it's not all that great days or weeks later.

Yes, definitely has its pros and cons but for what I do and regularly use it's easier and better.