New Mac user - Returning

[Jmgilliam18]

I'm a brand new mac user. Always been PC. Got a macbook pro Monday and have been trying to love this thing ever since. I wanted the cool laptop lol. I will have to say the design is great. Very solidly built and cool looking. But it is heavy. Like really heavy compared to others. And not very crazy about the thicker front edge, macbook air much sleeker for sure. I heard a lot about the keyboard and I agree its not great. Keys don't seem like they go down very much and very loud. I can't imagine what last few years were like if this is upgraded.

I will say this thing is fast. I got 16 gb ram and 256ssd. One thing that kind of threw me was the look of the screen. I didn't realize it was 13, not 13.3. Not a big difference, but it has a more square tall look than an air or other 13.3 laptop. I do a lot of web work, lots of tabs, windows, bouncing around bookmarks and tabs all day and I was looking forward to the touch bar also, but am disappointed it only works for those functions in Safari. I need to use Chrome and its just basic functions on the bar in that.

I knew the OS would be clunky to work in to start and was prepared, but I really wasn't. We use Google Drive for everything and the stream interface is terrible.

AND, I paid almost $2k for this, over $2k with tax and shipping. Maybe i expected too much, but I think I am going to return it and go with a higher spec'd Dell xps 13 for about $700 less. I think it looks better, is sleeker and is really fast also. The monitor on it looks wider, but its just 13.3 so not sure, maybe its the bezel or lack of design. Right now, I'd have to say if I tried again, I'd go with an Air.

Thanks to those who helped me when I asked stuff before buying.

Talk me down lol.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

One question and this annoys me to no end... when I take the mouse up to the top of the screen the toolbar with the apple icon and the app you have running and the menu for it pops down and moves your whole window down, then it goes away when you move back down.... Can you stop that?

 

[DeltaMac]

One question and this annoys me to no end... when I take the mouse up to the top of the screen the toolbar with the apple icon and the app you have running and the menu for it pops down and moves your whole window down, then it goes away when you move back down.... Can you stop that?

that would happen when you use full screen mode. If you back out of that, the top menu doesn't pop in and out - just remains in view. But, also one of the distinctive differences between the macOS and Windows. Sounds like you really will be more comfortable with Windows. Nothing wrong with that, just different.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

that would happen when you use full screen mode. If you back out of that, the top menu doesn't pop in and out - just remains in view. But, also one of the distinctive differences between the macOS and Windows. Sounds like you really will be more comfortable with Windows. Nothing wrong with that, just different.

Ahh I see. So just resize the window so that doesn't happen? Got it. Thanks. Lose some real estate but works. Thx.

 

[DeltaMac]

I should also point out that both the MacBook Pro, and the MacBook Air 13-inch screens are both identical size and proportions - both 13.3-inch, same proportions.
Not sure what you are referring to about the "look" of the screen.
Maybe you are comparing to those from other manufacturers, such as that Dell XPS, which would have narrower bezels. That would make the screen seem different, to some users.
If you prefer the Dell - get it (nice laptop, I often use an XPS at the shop. Works well enough for a Windows 10 system ) 3 or 4 ounces of weight doesn't make much difference for me.

 

[whiteonline]

One question and this annoys me to no end... when I take the mouse up to the top of the screen the toolbar with the apple icon and the app you have running and the menu for it pops down and moves your whole window down, then it goes away when you move back down.... Can you stop that?

The green "maximize" button on a window doesn't behave like it does in Windows by default. When you click on the green button, it will maximize the window, effectively creating a new virtual desktop. You can get the traditional maximize by holding option/alt when you click it (the button changes, containing a plus instead of the two arrows).

Enable three-finger drag in settings. You'll never go back to Windows (sorry, double-tap to drag is far inferior).

 

[jerryk]

If you have been using windows for a while, MacOS can be a little jarring. On a given day I move back and forth between Windows, MacOS, and Linux. All 3 are little difference. UI wise I don't see any one be better.

I do think the MacBook Pros have a better looking display, but the resolution difference from some 4K laptops is noticeable.
Not too impressed with the Air display or performance, it is a step down from the Pro. But if money is a real driver, than it is a good buy for Mac laptop users.

 

[SantaClawz]

I am never "returning" after switching from windows to macbook pro over the last few months, I never looked back. Macbooks are absolutely amazing, and windows pc's can't even light a candle to a Macbook, far superior products, in every way, shape and form, from inside out.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

I am never "returning" after switching from windows to macbook pro over the last few months, I never looked back. Macbooks are absolutely amazing, and windows pc's can't even light a candle to a Macbook, far superior products, in every way, shape and form, from inside out.

How long did it take you to get used to it?
I'm struggling just to take a downloaded file and cut or drag it over into my google drive folder I want... lol
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I should also point out that both the MacBook Pro, and the MacBook Air 13-inch screens are both identical size and proportions - both 13.3-inch, same proportions.
Not sure what you are referring to about the "look" of the screen.
Maybe you are comparing to those from other manufacturers, such as that Dell XPS, which would have narrower bezels. That would make the screen seem different, to some users.
If you prefer the Dell - get it (nice laptop, I often use an XPS at the shop. Works well enough for a Windows 10 system ) 3 or 4 ounces of weight doesn't make much difference for me.

This look - pretty significant. Looks like xps is wider and macbook may be taller. Probably has the same surface area but different shape... IDK.

 

[Mortis360]

MacBook's have 16:10 displays, while Dell and most other manufacturers use 16:9 displays on their laptops, both are 13,3", in a different format.

Maybe watching a guide on macOS could be useful? When I switched to Mac in 2011, I certainly used a week or two to get used to it, and I have a much better workflow on macOS now than I ever had in Windows, with the good use of virtual desktops.

 

[Pravius]

One of the places Apple really shines is its Ecosystem and how well they design "Apple" applications and functionality to "just work" seamlessly between all of their devices. If you are not deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and have no plans to be then MBP might not be the best option for you.

I have an iPhone and a MBP. I love the integration between them. I also mainly use Safari on both of those devices. I use chrome on my windows PC (gaming and at work) I work in IT and like the ability to function on a Linux based system, also coding to me is much more "comfortable" on a Linux based OS, not that you can't code in windows, I think Apple systems are just more true to source with better features for coding, it's native.

I will say that the MBP is probably one of the best designed laptops on the market today, Dell XPS is pretty nice as well.

I guess the point of all of this is that if you do not have a specific use case for a MBP and you are already balls deep in the google ecosystem, it will be hard to truly see all of the benefits an Apple machine has to offer. You will be missing out on most of the features people will pay a premium price for.

 

[BarredOwl]

Yes, I think a Dell would definitely be more your speed. Good luck with that.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

One of the places Apple really shines is its Ecosystem and how well they design "Apple" applications and functionality to "just work" seamlessly between all of their devices. If you are not deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and have no plans to be then MBP might not be the best option for you.

I have an iPhone and a MBP. I love the integration between them. I also mainly use Safari on both of those devices. I use chrome on my windows PC (gaming and at work) I work in IT and like the ability to function on a Linux based system, also coding to me is much more "comfortable" on a Linux based OS, not that you can't code in windows, I think Apple systems are just more true to source with better features for coding, it's native.

I will say that the MBP is probably one of the best designed laptops on the market today, Dell XPS is pretty nice as well.

I guess the point of all of this is that if you do not have a specific use case for a MBP and you are already balls deep in the google ecosystem, it will be hard to truly see all of the benefits an Apple machine has to offer. You will be missing out on most of the features people will pay a premium price for.

Thanks for that. I am keeping for a couple weeks and going to give it a go. We are stuck in google drive which is fine, as many are. Same with Chrome I suppose. I use an iPhone and it has been nice to iMessage when working from my laptop and FaceTime as well.

I hear people talk about the ecosystem and that being a big pull. Is it just the iPhone you refer to and that? Other than iMessage and FaceTime on the MBP what else can I integrate ?

 

[Howard2k]

Thanks for that. I am keeping for a couple weeks and going to give it a go. We are stuck in google drive which is fine, as many are. Same with Chrome I suppose. I use an iPhone and it has been nice to iMessage when working from my laptop and FaceTime as well.

I hear people talk about the ecosystem and that being a big pull. Is it just the iPhone you refer to and that? Other than iMessage and FaceTime on the MBP what else can I integrate ?

iPad, watch, etc.

I don't use an Apple Watch but I do use a MacBook, iPad, and iPhone, and the integration is fantastic.

 

[FFR]

Thanks for that. I am keeping for a couple weeks and going to give it a go. We are stuck in google drive which is fine, as many are. Same with Chrome I suppose. I use an iPhone and it has been nice to iMessage when working from my laptop and FaceTime as well.

I hear people talk about the ecosystem and that being a big pull. Is it just the iPhone you refer to and that? Other than iMessage and FaceTime on the MBP what else can I integrate ?

Download your bookmarks into safari and try it out.
You can still use chrome, it’s just safari is a much better experience on the Mac, plus you get to use your new Touch Bar.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

Download your bookmarks into safari and try it out.
You can still use chrome, it’s just safari is a much better experience on the Mac, plus you get to use your new Touch Bar.

I do like how it syncs with my phone. I use safari on phone and chrome on pc. But all my friends who use Mac said use chrome ?

I do need a coupe extensions that safari doesn’t have like Facebook pixel helper etc. I could always use chrome just for that

 

[Pravius]

Thanks for that. I am keeping for a couple weeks and going to give it a go. We are stuck in google drive which is fine, as many are. Same with Chrome I suppose. I use an iPhone and it has been nice to iMessage when working from my laptop and FaceTime as well.

I hear people talk about the ecosystem and that being a big pull. Is it just the iPhone you refer to and that? Other than iMessage and FaceTime on the MBP what else can I integrate ?

Apples ecosystem is really centered around iCloud in general and it’s what makes a lot of the “magic” possible. As mentioned earlier if you move your bookmarks into Safari you will start to see some of the synergies but that’s really just the beginning.

Some real world examples. My close family pretty much all have apple devices. We use a shared iCloud calendar to plan events, we put everything in it. It makes it easy for us to all know what we have going on and schedule family events around that.

I store all of my favorites, music, and documents in iCloud. It makes it very simple to access all of that data regardless of which device I am on. I can also share those documents with other Apple users if I want which is nice.

I use Apple Music generally and all of my local rips I upload into iCloud and it integrated into iTunes.

Facetime is nice to have on both my mbp and iPhone.

iMessage is also a really powerful texting tool. Not only can you send texts from all of your Apple devices it gives you the ability to send large videos and multiple photos at once to other iMessage users. Something MMS sucks at doing.

Mac OS also comes with a ton of software for free that you won’t find in windows machines (garage band, iMovie, etc etc) you also get all OS updates for free. Windows you need to pay for each large OS release (win 7, win 10, etc).. I think with Win10 Microsoft May have changed this model a little though to their credit.

I am sure I am missing a ton of other really handy integration features Apple offers but that’s a good representation of some of the benefits of using Apples ecosystem. Now, you can achieve similar with other tools but I don’t think there is one single tool that handles everything like Apple devices can.

It’s also really important to mention that Apple typically will use very high quality components in their hardware. For instance I’m a music guy, and have higher end audio equipment. The digital to analog converter and amp (sound card) inside of a MacBook Pro is far superior to 90% of windows machines. The build quality and engineering that goes into Apple devices is not really rivaled by many hardware companies.

 

[FFR]

I do like how it syncs with my phone. I use safari on phone and chrome on pc. But all my friends who use Mac said use chrome ?

Not just sync, there’s also continuity and handoff.

Chrome is a resource hog on Mac.
I would avoid it as much as possible.

I do need a coupe extensions that safari doesn’t have like Facebook pixel helper etc. I could always use chrome just for that

That could work.

 

[Pravius]

Also to mention because it’s really helped me. For password management I use a browser extension called last pass. It’s a secure application that stores all of my password information and it is compatible with chrome and safari. This way if I update a password on a site I don’t need to update it in both browsers, last pass handles that.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

Download your bookmarks into safari and try it out.
You can still use chrome, it’s just safari is a much better experience on the Mac, plus you get to use your new Touch Bar.

I’m going to do that. I have to use chrome for some extension we use but could only use for that. Thanks.
[doublepost=1567183416][/doublepost]I’ve noticed in the battery area chrome shows as significant energy usage but Safari shows up there also.

 

[slooksterPSV]

I honestly say return it and wait for them to fix the keyboards and stage light issues.

 

[jerryk]

Thanks for that. I am keeping for a couple weeks and going to give it a go

It you are thinking of returning you only have 2 weeks to get you money back if you got it from an Apple Store
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I’m going to do that. I have to use chrome for some extension we use but could only use for that. Thanks.
[doublepost=1567183416][/doublepost]I’ve noticed in the battery area chrome shows as significant energy usage but Safari shows up there also.

Use an ad blocker and see what impact it has.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

It you are thinking of returning you only have 2 weeks to get you money back if you got it from an Apple Store
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Use an ad blocker and see what impact it has.

I talked to them about returning and they gave me 30 days
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I honestly say return it and wait for them to fix the keyboards and stage light issues.

Well I ordered a Dell XPS 13 that will be here Tuesday and going to put them side by side and return one. Maybe lol

 

[bluespark]

I do like how it syncs with my phone. I use safari on phone and chrome on pc. But all my friends who use Mac said use chrome ?

I do need a coupe extensions that safari doesn’t have like Facebook pixel helper etc. I could always use chrome just for that

I personally far prefer Safari to Chrome. There will be a learning curve with that transition, too, but it's worth considering. Chrome does have its fans, though.

As to the rest, these transitions are always very difficult, and it's certainly possible that you may be so set in your ways that it's not worth it to you. But if you decide to persevere, there are rewards. Things like multiple desktops, the instant space-bar document/PDF/photo preview, the ability to save anything as a PDF, the Dock, etc., are all a joy. As to ecosystem things, you'll discover more and more as you go, but the Photos app is a big one for me. It's a great editor/organizer in its own right, but using iCloud to sync everything to Photos on the iPhone/iPad is way more seamless than anything I've seen on the Windows side. And there's some great workflow stuff you can do on the Mac.

Tip: Use Better Touch Tool to get more out of your Touch Bar.

But, in the end, it's your machine. The XPS is a great computer and you can't go wrong with it if you decide Windows is more your speed.

 

[Jmgilliam18]

I personally far prefer Safari to Chrome. There will be a learning curve with that transition, too, but it's worth considering. Chrome does have its fans, though.

As to the rest, these transitions are always very difficult, and it's certainly possible that you may be so set in your ways that it's not worth it to you. But if you decide to persevere, there are rewards. Things like multiple desktops, the instant space-bar document/PDF/photo preview, the ability to save anything as a PDF, the Dock, etc., are all a joy. As to ecosystem things, you'll discover more and more as you go, but the Photos app is a big one for me. It's a great editor/organizer in its own right, but using iCloud to sync everything to Photos on the iPhone/iPad is way more seamless than anything I've seen on the Windows side. And there's some great workflow stuff you can do on the Mac.

Tip: Use Better Touch Tool to get more out of your Touch Bar.

But, in the end, it's your machine. The XPS is a great computer and you can't go wrong with it if you decide Windows is more your speed.

Thanks for the thoughtful response!!

What is the instant space bar preview you mentioned??

Btw In Windows 10 you can save anything as a pdf too now.

Is Better touch tool an app?