SWITCHERS ONLY: What might we NOT like about switching?

[Fgirl]

become fluent in both...

this is probably the most hilarious thread ive read at MR...
not trying to insult anyone, but it's like the blind leading the blind...
'rumors' that you cant do this or you cant do that, LOL, OMG, obviously some people have no idea how to use their own computer!

i have several pc and mac that i use every day, 3 of each just at this desk im at now. neither is annoying, theyre just different.

look, the closest analog that i can describe is learning to speak a new language, perhaps french.

if someone told you dont bother learning to speak a new language because it does no good to say 'yes' or 'fries with that', youd obviously think the guys a fool.
maybe right now you dont know the words, but you know intuitively that the words are all there. you already know the language works the same, it's just different: 'oui, avec frites'.

when someone says you cant do this or you cant do that, just imagine a person who's been speaking another language for just a short while, and is trying to advise you as if they were able to speak fluently in the new language.



i think some people just hold their preference too dearly sometimes, and then insist that anything that falls outside their comfort-zone is annoying.

that's like saying it's annoying because in another language you have to say 'house white', instead of 'white house', or english is better because you only have 'the' and not 'la' or 'le'... or german is annoying because 'no' sounds like '9'.

in my opinion nothing is annoying about one or the other, they're just different.
take control of the situation and become fluent in both.

approach it with the right frame of mind.
you either 'want' to learn, or you 'have' to learn.

 

[Sounds Good]

What do you DO with your Windows box?

Web development, website management, domain name management, some graphics, some photography, lots of asking questions on forums.

What applications are important to you?

Firefox. Wordpress. MS Excel. MS Word. Notepad. Domain Name software (Windows only). Photoshop. Lightroom. CuteFTP. MS FrontPage (yep, really). TeamViewer. Slysoft AnyDVD and CloneDVD.

 

[SolarJ]

What if I just want my top 10 favorites? In Windows I just drag the icon (of whatever I want) to the Start button, then drop it into the list of my favorites (I'm not sure of the actual term for this). Can this be done on a Mac?

Since I open the same 10 or 12 programs or folders or files many times throughout the day, every day, this is pretty important to me. It would absolutely mess up my work flow to lose this feature.

A way around this is to create shortcuts (make alias) in a new folder of the applications you use most and put the folder in the dock and set the folder to a grid pattern.

Switched almost three years ago! However I still use Parallels to operate windows specific programs.

 

[wlh99]

Can't just hit Delete? Can't move up a level in the directory structure? Yikes.

Ya know what? These may all be little things individually, but collectively as a whole I think they'd drive me nuts.

I'm still on Vista... maybe going to Windows 7 might be the smarter move in my particular case.

Thanks for your help everyone, I sincerely appreciate your input.

Gotta do some serious thinking about this...

It's cmd-del. And yes you can move up the directory structure.
As someone else pointed out, it's just different. I have used PC's since around DOS 3. I still use them extensively, and also use Macs and manage both as the IT person at work.

My belief is the better a person is at both, the more they realize it doesn't matter. Both have problems, and both work very well. They are just different. When someone thinks one is far better than the other, they probably lack skills in the system they don't like - whether they know they lack the skills or not.

If when you swtich, you will have a month or so of frustration as you struggle to do things that were easy with the PC, like how to delete a file with the keyboard, or that there isn't an up button in the finder. But you will soon find that cmd-del works, and that you can click on the directory hierarchy at the button of the finder window.

My biggest frustrations have been that shortcuts are very different. I use office products a-lot on both platforms, and it is hard to go back and forth. Particularly the usage of the home and end keys. Also, shortcuts are inconsistent between apps on the Mac.

If your PC is old and needs replacement, get a Mac or a Windows 7 PC. You will probably be happy with either in the long run. If you like learning new things, the Mac might be more fun and exciting. Although if you were still on XP, Windows 7 would be different as well.

 

[spacemanspifff]

The good stuff...

Good stuff, Spaceman, very helpful.

Question: where can I go online to learn about some of these "more advanced" things? Not just the basic "Why a Mac?" videos, but the good stuff.

Probably the best place to start is on Apples own site, check out:

http://www.apple.com/uk/macosx/what-is-macosx/

I used to run Apple training courses for people switching from Windows to Mac and most people were very surprised how little was different. Remember Windows is a copy of the original Mac OS. Microsoft Word was a Mac app before it was available on a PC! Bill Gates only wrote windows because Apple wouldn't licence their system to run on the IBM systems of the day.

You won't really see the differences until you get to use the Mac yourself. But when you do, the best thing to do is just go with it. Don't try to think - how would a PC do this, just think - if I wanted to do this how would I logically do it and you'll find that 9 x out of 10 that is the way it "just works!"

Apple have designed the Mac OS to be very powerful, but also to get out of your way, there is a reason that they don't supply a manual with the Mac - you don't need one, it really is that good. Most users only scratch the surface of what the Mac OS can do [which is fine] and a lot of PC switchers fail to find the more productive features because they tend to think 'Oh the Mac doesn't do that' when it usually does. You just have to be prepared to change the way you do some things [usually for the better] and you'll be fine.

If you get stuck click the Help menu item and go from there. If you're still suck ask a question here, I'm sure we'll help out if we can.

 

[wlh99]

I'm was a complete Mac virgin when I switched a couple of months ago but some of the small things that still annoy me.

1. Pressing delete when you've selected a file in finder doesn't delete the file. You've gotta use the context menu or <gasp> actually drag it to the garbage.

Try cmd-del. (or cmd-backspace. I don't recall what it's labeled on a Mac keyboard, as I prefer a PC 101 key style)

2. It's kinda' weird that the menu bar shows at the top of the screen and not the window. When you have alot of windows open I sometimes go into the menu bar thinking it belongs to another program than what I intended.

Even more confusing with dual monitors.

3. There's no ".." button in finder(i.e. go one level up a directory structure)

At the bottom of the finder window it shows the complete hierarchy. You can click on that to go wherever you need. This is actually the was Vista and Windows 7 now work too, but they put the hierarchy at the top.

4. Not having an actual uninstall program procedure kind of makes me paranoid.

I have actually had some serious problems with this. A WD USB hard drive installed some POS backup software with a daemon that ran in the background. There was no uninstall program. Dragging it to the trash didn't uninstall or stop the daemon. It was a PITA to find where it was loading on boot.

I do love the magic mouse and obviously Macs look slicker than PCs so overall I guess I'm satisfied and I'm sure any reasonable person would be as well but from what I've seen of Windows 7 I would think most reasonable people would be happy with that too.

I hate apple keyboards an mice and use Dell versions, but each to their own. It is nice to have the same keyboard at work and at home.

Most reasonable people would be happy either way, give a time of learning and adjustment.

 

[Cyrax]

I just switched. Like, a week ago.

1. Expose + Spaces are GREAT window managers. I took to both like ducks to water.

2. Spotlight is pretty awesome and intuitive. However, Win 7 has features like that integrated.

3. I never used the Explorer, always just navigated through folders one by one (bad habit, I guess). So Finder has been a bit of a learning curve especially since the opening folders behavior is not quite the same. Like when you double click on a new folder a new window opens up.

4. No registry is great. Installing/uninstalling apps is clean and efficient. Just the way it should be.

5. The Dock is a mess. Of course, this is nothing new. Many, many people have spent tons of time talking about it. However, it is fairly intuitive and simple to use. It's also very tweakable for those who want to do it. I guess that's why Apple has kept it around.

6. I like how Mac OS X keeps all the power user features out there and accessible. Automator for example. OS X looks nice and is easy to use but is actually extremely flexible and powerful. Windows, of course, you can do a lot to tweak it, but it just doesn't feel the same.

7. Quicktime-stuff and iTunes run MUCH better on the Mac. No surprise there.

 

[iCole]

I've switched in 2007 just because i was curious. No regrets but these are the things that I still think are annoying:
- Viewing/deleting files in/modifying/... zipfiles without having to extract them first. In windows, I could just mess around in zipfiles or rars with files. If someone has a good app for that, let me know ;-)
- Dragging a folder with the same name in a location with a folder with the same name overwrites it. Windows merges. I prefer merge.
- Making screenshots. Altho i prefer to have more options to make a screenshot on mac, I just can't freaking memorize the keyboard shortcuts to make one. I always have to google them.
- I also prefer the tree structure of windows explorer. I want to be able to drag something from one folder to another one without having to open either 2 finder windows or waiting for the folders to open by themselves. Drag and drop in MacOS is awesome btw but I would've loved the tree structure.
- resizing windows on only one side. (gets fixed in Lion, so yippie) What were they thinking? Maximize i don't mind. Its silly anyway to maximize a window on a 27 Incher ;-)
- If you install a program in the programs folder, and want to try and find it again: What I do is just sort them by date. But that doesn't always work. Also, the programs folder is a mess.

 

[balamw]

Firefox. MS Excel. MS Word. Notepad. Photoshop. Lightroom. TeamViewer.

These are a wash, you can pretty much do what you can do in Windows on the Mac. Though I would suggest a better text editor, something like Notepad++ for Windows or TextWrangler on the Mac. Some particular features of MS Office may be a bit different so you'd have to be more specific about how you use Excel/Word.

Web development, website management, domain name management

MS FrontPage (yep, really). Slysoft AnyDVD and CloneDVD.
Domain Name software (Windows only).

These may be a problem. While there may be equivalents. The fact that you are still using FrontPage may be an indication of resistance to change. Of course you could use all of these on a Mac in a Windows VM or Boot Camp install. (Or via TeamViewer on a regular PC).

Wordpress. CuteFTP.

IIRC Wordpress is unix based and would be perfectly at home on Mac OS X, and there is a CuteFTP version for the Mac and many other FTP clients that may be more Mac-like, like CyberDuck.

Don't try to think - how would a PC do this, just think - if I wanted to do this how would I logically do it and you'll find that 9 x out of 10 that is the way it "just works!"

This. Though there are exceptions. As iCole suggests taking a screenshot out of the box is a bit counter-intuitive when the keyboards lack a "print screen" button. However you can do that using Preview or Grab.

B

 

[AdrianK]

- Viewing/deleting files in/modifying/... zipfiles without having to extract them first. In windows, I could just mess around in zipfiles or rars with files. If someone has a good app for that, let me know ;-)

Get Springy. It's literally *the* WinRAR alternative for OS X.

It's nice and Finder-esque. Allows you to view the folder structure inside and extract only the particular files you want. What I really love is the ability to extract only the first part of a multi-archive package, and keep the 'broken' files (great if you're downloading a movie and want to check the quality).

 

[AdrianK]

This. Though there are exceptions. As iCole suggests taking a screenshot out of the box is a bit counter-intuitive when the keyboards lack a "print screen" button. However you can do that using Preview or Grab.

Mac:
cmd-shft-3 to get a screen shot *instantly* on your desktop

Windows:
Opening snipping tool
switching to full screen mode
click
choosing a file name
quit the app

 

[lbraud]

Can we stop feeding the trolls now?

Imagine Joe, who is strongly considering buying a Mac for the first time. He goes to the popular Mac sites to get excited about the purchase by being involved in the community. What does Joe find when he visits MacRumors? Big capital letters on the side bar, "SWITCHERS ONLY," discussing all possible reasons that switching could lead to, albeit minor, bad experiences. Joe wants to be informed. Joe reads the three pages of differences that other people found annoying.

These posts are from people that are similar to himself, he identifies with them. One minor annoyance that he reads about won't shift his attitude away from buying a Mac, nor will that one poster look like a troll. If he reads many slightly negative messages all at once, they will change Joe's attitude toward "switching." If Joe is tentative and apprehensive enough to read all these posts, then it is a good chance he isn't yet committed to buying a Mac. This is exactly the kind of attitude that is most influenced by these types of messages.

After reading the thread, Joe is left with Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt) about buying a Mac. His attitude has changed and in a couple of days he won't remember why it changed–just a vague, uneasy feeling of uncertainty.

Being informed is good. Free speech is good. Persuasion is a tool that is used for good and evil. Don't help evil screw Joe.

 

[wlh99]

Mac:
cmd-shft-3 to get a screen shot *instantly* on your desktop

Windows:
Opening snipping tool
switching to full screen mode
click
choosing a file name
quit the app

Or press print-screen. It puts the screen capture on the clipboard instead of saving to the desktop, but just as easy. AFAIK there is no simple equiv. to cmd-shft-4. I usually open in Paint and crop.

 

[notjustjay]

forgot to add that the "+" (maximize) button is wildly inconsistent in its function.

maximizing to full screen in general isn't the way OS X "works", which is why most programs don't do that...but it seems Apple never really decided what the maximize button is supposed to do.

That's because Apple didn't decide what the maximize button was supposed to do. That was supposed to be up to each application developer.

Don't think of it as a "maximize" button, think of it as "optimize". As in "Hey, application, the user just clicked your green button. Go ahead and resize yourself to whatever you think is most appropriate given what document is currently open." Most apps should resize their window to display the full width without needing scrollbars. In theory.

I agree with the person a few posts up who said "Don't think about how you did it in Windows. Think about what you think would make sense" and it usually works.

As for the other little quibbles discussed in this thread: yes, OS X is a little different (most of these issues are with Finder versus Explorer, I notice). You just get used to it. I use XP at work and OSX at home every day, and I learn to work with each. I do some of the tricks mentioned in this thread (like adding a shortcut to my Applications folder on the dock to mimic a Start menu) but not so much because "I prefer the Windows way" as "this is efficient and makes sense".

 

[EmilH]

.

 

[balamw]

Don't help evil screw Joe.

If Joe has already gotten past the FUD from the vast majority of Windows oriented sources to come here, and seriously consider a Mac, this won't dissuade him as there is plenty of positive in the thread.

There's plenty of FUD out there. Macs are only good for dummies (It's Unix under the hood, plenty of serious power there), Macs are underspecced and overpriced (Not really by the time you compare apples to apples), Macs can't do X or Y (Especially since they run Windows they can do anything a Windows box can), ... By the time you are seriously considering a Mac you've got to be beyond that.

B

 

[dukebound85]

One off the top of my head is that everything costs money application wise, there is very little freeware.

Here is a nice site for freeware I have come across in the past

http://web.mac.com/simon_elliott/simon_elliott@mac.com/Software.html

 

[armandocerna]

One thing that got me was that you cannot make apps fill the screen without dragging and resizing. You can only resize from the bottom right corner. No real other annoyances for me that I can think of.

Try holding down SHIFT and clicking the green plus button it should full screen any app.

 

[iCole]

Get Springy. It's literally *the* WinRAR alternative for OS X.

It's nice and Finder-esque. Allows you to view the folder structure inside and extract only the particular files you want. What I really love is the ability to extract only the first part of a multi-archive package, and keep the 'broken' files (great if you're downloading a movie and want to check the quality).

Tnx. Ill check it out

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[Periastron]

3. There's no ".." button in finder(i.e. go one level up a directory structure)

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but Command-Up does this.

 

[Cyrax]

What if I just want my top 10 favorites? In Windows I just drag the icon (of whatever I want) to the Start button, then drop it into the list of my favorites (I'm not sure of the actual term for this). Can this be done on a Mac?

Since I open the same 10 or 12 programs or folders or files many times throughout the day, every day, this is pretty important to me. It would absolutely mess up my work flow to lose this feature.

Those programs are the ones you would put on your Dock.

 

[mscriv]

i think some people just hold their preference too dearly sometimes, and then insist that anything that falls outside their comfort-zone is annoying.

that's like saying it's annoying because in another language you have to say 'house white', instead of 'white house', or english is better because you only have 'the' and not 'la' or 'le'... or german is annoying because 'no' sounds like '9'.

in my opinion nothing is annoying about one or the other, they're just different.
take control of the situation and become fluent in both.

approach it with the right frame of mind.
you either 'want' to learn, or you 'have' to learn.

Fgirl, I just wanted you to know that I think your post is right on target and I enjoyed reading it.

I'm what I call "bi-platform" in that I use Mac in my personal life and Windows at work. I'm "fluent" in both and agree that it's not typically one being better than the other, but just being different.

For the OP, in terms of general navigation and customization I would say a Mac can do everything you are wondering about. It will do it differently than Windows does, but it can do it. The "shift" vs. "cmd" for shortcuts is an example. The buttons function the same, it's just a different button on a mac keyboard than on a PC keyboard.

Best of luck with your decision.

Oh, and for the person who made the "troll" post... seriously??? The OP put "for switchers only" because he wants to hear from people who have actually made the decision to switch. He wants to learn from their experiences as opposed to just getting bashed by Apple fanboys who'll belittle his question and not provide any genuine help.

 

[steveza]

All you have to do is press CMD+~ it's right above the tab key. I figured it out the other day. CMD+TAB to switch b/w apps, CMD+~ to switch b/w windows.

Thanks for that one. Been using a Mac for 6 years and never found it. Saves a lot of F3 and click action .

 

[mscriv]

All you have to do is press CMD+~ it's right above the tab key. I figured it out the other day. CMD+TAB to switch b/w apps, CMD+~ to switch b/w windows.

Thanks for that one. Been using a Mac for 6 years and never found it. Saves a lot of F3 and click action .

I find no need for this shortcut as setting Expose's all windows feature to a mouse button seems to be the easiest and quickest way to shift between open windows. Have you tried that?

 

[SolarJ]

Try holding down SHIFT and clicking the green plus button it should full screen any app.

Try Divvy. Its awesome