Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Scared To Take The Plunge! (macOS)

Drewps5co0tt

Drewps5co0tt

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 17, 2010
190
49
Hey guys,

I've been wanting a Macbook now for a LONG time! Everything in my house is Apple except for my computer (which is a Windows laptop) and I'm just not finding what I want in the Windows world anymore. I really like the materials and build quality of Apple's Macs!

HOWEVER...I'm absolutely terrified at buying a Mac! I have used Windows my entire life and I'm afraid I will not be able to learn this OS, it's a totally different beast than Windows is. I'm not by any means tech challenged but I still worry, that I'm going to spend a chunk of change and not be able to get comfortable with this.

I'm waiting on the MacBook Air 15" model to come out, I really want a decent sized screen (I prefer 17") but I know that's never going to happen 😂🤣, but I can live with a 15" model. I don't need anything more powerful than an Air (that I know for sure).

Does anyone have any advice for me?
 
There are many, many videos on EweTube to assist in converting from Windows to Mac (I highly recommend Gary's of the Macmost channel). It's really not too hard, and this community is very helpful for any snags you may encounter.

WRT Apple Care, and "extended warranties" in general: those companies are in it to make money, and over the long haul they'll make more money collecting those warranties than they spend doing repairs. But, your own peace of mind is worth something too, and may be worth the "known" costs to you (only you can answer that). I've never gone the ext. warranty route, but that's me.

Good luck!
 
Hi,
as a long time Windows user (and my corporate computer is a windows one), my biggest pain with MacOS was the Command Tab (to switch app like alt tab) where hidden apps were not showing (unless you hit Option), and the other was the keyboard shortcuts to move and resize windows.
A few weeks ago, I've discovered two free extensions, alt tab ;-) and Rectangle that are doing an amazing job for me.
Now, I like MacOS.
 
I figure I would just get the 1 year Apple Care Plus for $69.99. If I don't know what I'm doing by then, I have more important issues to worry about lol. My main concern is tech support, not hardware issues or damaging the device, etc. It will never leave my home - EVER! I just need to be able to pick up the phone and call someone when I have a "how to" question.
 
I'd say go for it. The thing in the past that has made me resistant to recommending my tech-challenged relatives for taking the plunge is some differences on how you install programs. Sometimes you would run an installer. Sometime they would want you to drag the icon to the applications folders. Having the Mac App Store really helps with that because it's like installing iOS apps and it's a consistent way to do it each time.

Don't be shy about posting roadblocks if you do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewps5co0tt
So like if I was going to install Google Chrome, I would not go to their website, I would download it from the app store?
 
MisterSavage said:
I'd say go for it. The thing in the past that has made me resistant to recommending my tech-challenged relatives for taking the plunge is some differences on how you install programs. Sometimes you would run an installer. Sometime they would want you to drag the icon to the applications folders. Having the Mac App Store really helps with that because it's like installing iOS apps and it's a consistent way to do it each time.

Don't be shy about posting roadblocks if you do it.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
Dayvidpriddy said:
lol
Click to expand...

I have bought probably 30 Macs since 1992. I have purchased AppleCare twice. Once for an iMac 5K because I was concerned about image retention that the previous one had, and once for a laptop I expected to be subjected to less than ideal handling. I ended up selling the former with zero issues a year after AppleCare expired, and the latter was stolen, which of course isn’t covered by AppleCare anyhow. The money I have saved not paying for AppleCare would cover quite a few Mac purchases.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewps5co0tt
When I first decided to transition to macOS ages ago, I didn't run out and spend a ton of money on a new Mac. What I did was buy one of the cheapest, yet fairly recent used Macs I could find off eBay (at the time, it happened to be a Mac Mini G4) and used it alongside my Dell XPS system (Windows XP) for a few months to be sure I was comfortable with the transition. Once I was, I eventually bought an iMac and MacBook new. So this is what I'd suggest you do as well since you're concerned about the outlay of money.
 
I initially used macOS on a Dell laptop [Hackintosh] but now I own a pre-owned 15 inch Macbook Pro 2015 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 non-dual graphics... It was using Monterey on purchase but I reset it to the version it came with which is High Sierra then I upgraded it to Catalina which lost support in 2022...

As a long time Windows user, it took me some time getting used to the difference in mouse scrolling in macOS vs Windows... Also, the difference with key combination in performing tasks, like copy, paste, and others... Now that I use both, at times I still get confused with performing some operations but I know that the longer I use macOS, it will soon be close to how I am accustomed to Windows...

You can start with an M1 based Macbook Pro or Macbook Air or any older Intel model, subject to your financial capacity and use case...
 
It’s many years since making the jump from PC to Mac, but it was simple to pick up the basics. There are some differences to learn about, but nothing so daunting. When I made the jump it was before today’s online forums and support, and David Pogue’s Switching to the Mac Missing Manual was a great support when looking for some explanation.
 
Yea, I definitely don't want to buy a used, cheap machine to "test it out first", that's not my style. I will know before the return window is up, if I'm going to be able to adjust to it or not. I'd rather buy what I want, outright, and if it doesn't workout for me, I can still return it. I think I'll be OK, but I will probably get the 1 year Apple Care for $69.99 just as a peace of mind.
 
I personally found switching to macOS pretty easy but we’re all different. What applications do you use the most that cause a concern for you?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewps5co0tt
Dayvidpriddy said:
So like if I was going to install Google Chrome, I would not go to their website, I would download it from the app store?
Click to expand...
With the Mac you *can* install things from the Mac App Store but that's just one option. Chrome is something you would install by going to a Google site and downloading something from there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewps5co0tt
Dayvidpriddy said:
So like if I was going to install Google Chrome, I would not go to their website, I would download it from the app store?
Click to expand...

There are multiple options for downloading, purchasing and installing apps, just like on Windows.

I’d consider Safari, Brave, Firefox or DuckDuckGo over Chrome for privacy reasons though.
 
If you already have all Apple devices outside of a computer like you said, then getting adjusted to macOS should be a piece of cake.
Most things, not all but most, pretty much act exactly the same as they do on an iPhone or iPad.
There are some differences, but it is quite easy to get adjusted.
Dayvidpriddy said:
Do you think I would need to buy the Apple Care on it?
Click to expand...
I would, even if you don’t think you’ll necessarily need it, it’s still nice to have.
If something breaks out of warranty, the out of warranty replacement costs can be absolutely outrageous.
Dayvidpriddy said:
So like if I was going to install Google Chrome, I would not go to their website, I would download it from the app store?
Click to expand...
Nope, you’d go to their website, download the DMG, mount the DMG (just double click it) then drag the .app into your applications folder.
Seems complicated but once you do it once it becomes the easiest process.
If apps are available in the Mac App Store, and a lot aren’t, but if they are, even better. Those just download directly into your applications folder.
Just don’t overthink it, if you’ve been using Apple devices for years, you should be used to a Mac definitely within the 15 day return period.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewps5co0tt
"Does anyone have any advice for me?"

Yes.
Get 16gb of RAM (not 8).
8gb just isn't "enough" any more.
Say this to yourself 3 times:
16gb is "the new 8"...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewps5co0tt
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back