M3 air wifi problem... The wifi constantly goes in and out.

[cuzo]

I'm guessing apple got some issue with public wifi like the phone does which it takes a while to connect to it, like 5 minutes.

Guessing that's the same issue here, wifi is terrible, stupid gestures and I don't understand them and have a hard time figuring out how to remove programs.

Thing doesn't hold connection at all, constantly stops working, I had it fixed and it came back with the same issue so it's software based and I'm sure apple doesn't even want people in public wifi.

Sorry but this thing is very overrated, the gesture crap, the time machine, it's just a stupid machine that doesn't get hot and stays cool, nice keyboard but the os sucks and the gestures are trash.

Integration is nice for certain but apple being so extra scared to get sued is getting tiresome.

Software is the problem with these macs.

 

[Howard2k]

Ouch. If you're new to MacOS there is a transition that you need to go through. But not all OSs are for everyone. I'm sure I'd feel the same way if I was making a move to Linux, and my first few weeks on MacOS (OS X back then) were a little frustrating. Ironically, removing programs was one thing I struggled with too. (Couldn't possibly be as easy as dragging to the Trash, right?)

I'd ask AI for a crash course on gestures and Time Machine. I'm not big on gestures but Time Machine has saved my bacon before.

Wifi is solid on all the MacBook Air models in my experience.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Gestures are known to cause public wifi to drop out.

 

[ignatius345]

Hard to follow this general rant. If you slow down and post about each individual issue you're having instead of crashing out, people here are usually willing to help.

 

[TumbleDryer]

Not sure what gestures you're referring to. Mouse/trackpad?

As for removing programs just drag them to the trash. The odd app may come with an uninstaller but easiest thing is to just drag it to the trash.

Time Machine is for when you've accidentally deleted a file. You can open it up and search for that particular file and it will go back in time to find it and ask if you want to restore it. It's very good. Its rare I use it but its been a lifesaver on more than a few occasions.

As for your wifi problems if two different devices struggle to connect it more likely the access point (or wifi provider) is the problem not the devices. Not saying that is the case just the most likely based on probability.

 

[raythompsontn]

Yes, Apple is different. Some of the stuff is easy to figure out, some is confusing. Uninstalling an app by dragging to the trash many times leaves remnants stashed in oddball folders. Not much different than Windows when uninstalling.

I loathe using COMMAND-C,X,V to copy, cut and paste. CTL is easy because of the key location on the keypad where the pinky finger can be used rather than the thumb.

I don't like image thumbnail display in folders. Those cannot be copied as the images are just links, not the actual file. It is necessary to use list mode to get the actual files to be able to copy.

When copying to a folder, where the files exist, the merge button should be swapped with the replace button. That is probably just me.

I am not a fan of the top menu changing depending on which app has focus. I like the idea of each app, in its own window, with its own window. That is more likely a "muscle memory" thing from my Windows background.

WiFi has been solid. Where I live there are just three WiFi networks, one being my own. The other two are much weaker signals and therefore do not interfere.

I despise the "." dot files that are created on thumb drives. When the thumb drive is full, trying to copy and replace existing files from a PC, the dot files get written regardless of free space. I have had more than one thumb drive corrupted because of the dot files being written. Then moving the files back to the PC all those hidden dot files get copied and need to be manually removed.

There are things about Windows I don't like. There are things about MacOS I don't like. I loath Linux in almost all aspects. A dozen different distributions, maybe LT, maybe not, cryptic commands to make something as simple as printer work. Support that consists of RTFM, when the question is "where is the manual". Or the classic "if you don't know, you are too stupid to be running Linux".

There is no perfect OS. Learn and adjust to what is being used.

 

[Basic75]

I am not a fan of the top menu changing depending on which app has focus. I like the idea of each app, in its own window, with its own window. That is more likely a "muscle memory" thing from my Windows background.

If you come from an Amiga you feel right at home with the menu bar at the top of the screen changing with the app.

 

[raythompsontn]

If you come from an Amiga you feel right at home with the menu bar at the top of the screen changing with the app.

Another feature that Apple stole copied from another company.

I had a friend with an Amiga in the early '90's. A fairly amazing machine when it came to graphics. Windows 3.1 was no competition to what the Amiga offered. At that time, Apple was nothing and was mostly considered a niche product. Some high-end (high cost) machines. I wrote some software packages for the Apple II for a stock broker in the middle '80s. Apple was considered by many to be nothing but a toy. In my opinion VISICALC is what really kept Apple alive, the killer app, for business use and without that software package, Apple may have folded the same as the Amiga.

 

[Powerbooky]

I'm guessing apple got some issue with public wifi like the phone does which it takes a while to connect to it, like 5 minutes.

Two things, first I understand technology can be frustrating - but getting mad doesn't help.

Second, what you're describing looks a lot like the public wifi you're trying to use is overloaded. This is not unusual at many shopping malls, schools and other places. These days internet usage is huge and cheap routers or badly configured networks used for public access can't handle the sheer amount of connections it gets - DHCP pool too small - the router not being able to process all the connections - not to mention idiots trying to DDoS the thing for fun - or it's just configured so that it kicks off devices connected after a few minutes when there's no significant traffic going on.

If you have phone with a good dataplan and coverage, connect your Mac with that phone instead. The easiest way with an iPhone is to use USB cable between Mac and iPhone. Fast and no wifi hassle. I use that as it is a bit more safe than public wifi.

 

[cuzo]

Apologize for the rant...

Mostly this happens at my local library, it used to happen at home but I disabled ipv6 and it fixed the issue.

The library still has this issue, wifi just drops and won't connect.

I'll work it, I won't sell the machine.

 

[McScooby]

Probably the rotating Private WiFi address being on and the Limit IP tracking - when connected to their wifi, head in to the WiFi settings by clicking the WiFi icon on the menu bar, then 3 dots against the WiFi name & select network settings.

Have a play about with Off, fixed or rotating (in my house I have it fixed) & turn limit IP tracking to off.

Or could simply be because you maybe have iCloud Relay on, so turn that off in your iCloud menu, tbh I'd probably try this first.

Imo, these settings make it harder for a provider to track your activity (monetise) which is why they're there, but can also have adverse reactions with places that expect it.

 

[Petite messe solennelle]

[...]

I don't like image thumbnail display in folders. Those cannot be copied as the images are just links, not the actual file. It is necessary to use list mode to get the actual files to be able to copy.

[...]

This is not correct (if by thumbnail display you mean 'View as icon', or via menu: View > as Icon). All four views – icons, list, columns, gallery – treat files the same way, which includes cut/copy/paste and drag/drop.

Keyboard shortcuts available when dragging and dropping which alter what is done with the source file(s) at the target location:

Move within the same volume:

–> Drag

Move to a different volume (network folder or external drive):

–> Drag with 'Command' key pressed

Copy to a different volume (network folder or external drive):

–> Drag

Copy within the same volume:

–> Drag with 'Option' key pressed

Create alias:

> Drag out of a protected folder (like '/Applications' or '/System' or a user folder which has been marked as read only). If you rather want to make a copy, refer to 'Copy within the same volume' above.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Another feature that Apple stole copied from another company.

Apple Lisa predates Amiga Workbench by about two years.

 

[M.Brane]

My M3 Air has no problems with WiFi, but then I don't use "free". I even keep it turned off when I'm not using it just like BT.

 

[ignatius345]

I loathe using COMMAND-C,X,V to copy, cut and paste. CTL is easy because of the key location on the keypad where the pinky finger can be used rather than the thumb.

Super easy to change this if you haven't already.

 

[CalMin]

I guess at the end of the day it comes down to this. You have to WANT to use MacOS to overcome the friction involved in switching from a lifetime of Microsoft Windows.

This will be an unpopular thing to say here, but MacOS isn't better than Windows, it's different. Whether or not you prefer it is a very personal thing.

For me, there had to be a killer app where something I wanted to do was a better experience on MacOs than I could get with Windows. I switched in the early 2000's with the advent of iTunes and iLife software. They enabled things I couldn't get on Windows at the time and therefore all of the little stumbling blocks were just that, stumbling blocks and I overcame them. There was occasional frustration, but online communities and forums helped me overcome them. Back then, David Pogue's missing manuals textbooks were great for switchers.

MacOS isn't inherently better. It's just an operating system. If you find the experience with Windows more pleasant and there is no killer app on the Mac platform, just sell the machine and get one with Windows 11. The new ARM laptops are pretty nice and if you prefer Windows, then that has to be a no brainer. Life is too short to be this upset with your computer!

 

[raythompsontn]

This will be an unpopular thing to say here, but MacOS isn't better than Windows, it's different. Whether or not you prefer it is a very personal thing.

Exactly. No OS is perfect. I have to use MacOS and Windows. They both have things that irritate me. They both do some things I think they got right. Where is MSDos when you need it, then try and use CP/M. Yikes.