I understand what you are going through right now...and IMHO...you are giving up too early.
Of course Windows 10 is not the best OS out of the box but you can still beat it to the shape you want it in. You don't have to use Photos - uninstall it. You have saved pretty penny going in for the Thinkpad, why not buy professional photo software like Adobe Lightroom? You certainly have some spare change for it now that you did not go for the Mac.
You might miss some third party apps like iStat Menus, Day One, Spark, LaunchPad, Little Snitch etc. Most of these apps do not have good replacements but note that none of these apps are crucial to your workflow. All you need to do is tweak your workflow in accordance with the apps available to you in Win10. And again, since I have saved a little cash going for the Thinkpad, I can easily afford to buy good replacements for these apps if they do turn up in Windows.
The one thing I don't understand is the slow startup time in your case (though it is not a big deal). My Thinkpad starts up in 3-4 seconds! Plus I don't even have to type a password cause of fingerprint! It is awesome! Maybe there are too many startup programs in you case? Maybe your AV is doing something funny.
And to be honest, an E series can never subconsciously replace your MBP. Wrong choice. Perhaps if you go for better hardware, like a Thinkpad T470 or a X1 Yoga or X1 Carbon or Yoga 910, pick one up during a sale...then you could try again maybe? If the hardware isn't as exciting, then I think the battle is already lost in your head.
I empathise with you. All these years we have been using Apple. We are addicted to it. We will have to wean ourselves off it. Because we are wired to resist change, we will want to go back to Apple at the first opportunity...even at the cost of gimped computing experience (in my view, iPad is no laptop replacement - even if Cook says so). If that is justifiable to you though...then you should. After all, you deserve to be happy. I like OSX...but whenever it comes to spending money on Apple now...I just can't help but think Apple is taking me for a b*tch and dumping its load on my face (vulgar but pretty much how I feel)
This is not the first time I am trying to quit Apple 😡 Failed twice now. Maybe third time is the charm.
I think it's because my SSD is a 2.5" drive - not the newest or fastest and of course, even if it was, bottle necked by the connector between it and the logic board. I use the Windows Defender anti-virus which I was pretty impressed by!
You're completely right. And to the point where, I know you're giving me the best advice by the head, but the heard is wired into Apple.
I won't sink 1,000+ into a Mac anymore. Not today, and not in the future because apple will 100% NOT change policies that are serving them well. It's not because of the ports or proprietary crap. I'm used to that. It's the fact if it breaks Apple won't let me buy parts to fix it. On a laptop, I don't accept that. So many parts can go wrong.
I view an iPad like an iPhone. A modern day miracle, built like a tank. Possibly at the point where it lasts so long it actively undercuts sales of new iPads. That suits me. Its also costs half as much to buy initially which suits me.
Sure, it doesn't have all the niche nice widget apps you mentioned and full functionality of the Mac. It's also FAR from perfect - I'm under no illusion there. And I don't expect many to agree with me.
My issue is I can't afford a Mac. So I'm looking at this from that point of view. Many of you can afford one, and wouldn't give that up - I get that. Neither would I if mine didn't break. Not for an iPad not for a windows 10 pc either.
It's Apples 'vision' that keeps me living in hope and tolerating the ipads gross inability to meet my needs 110% like the Mac did today. I have the faith that Apple are working towards that iPad. It could be 5 years away at this rate. I'll simply need to start enjoying the carefully implemented additions to iOS as they come.
The past five years of OSX has been useless iOS feature brought to the Mac. But snap back to iOS 6 and you'll agree iOS has certainly gotten miles better than it was. Slow process yeah, but directionally it's right. And Apple seem to be more committed to the dismay of Mac fans. I guess I'm sort of doing what they want by jumping into the tablet.
I was concerned that with no PC surely I'd be screwed for university. But they have computer suites of fast, ergonomically comfortable desktops available all the time. Same for work in the future, I doubt employers will expect you to have much more than basic internet facilities in most business jobs. Let alone allowing too much confidential info onto my personal devices. So in terms of that, I shouldn't be too worried.
This ThinkPad can't do basic games as well as it suggests on paper. It won't run sketchup etc for reasons unbeknown to me. Windows 10 is great like my washing machine is great. But I'm not thinking too much about using it tomorrow. Whereas with the iPad Apples marketing has got me.
