Things you HATE about Macs...

[Killyp]

It works fine in Safari, but I tend to prefer changing the window size myself, means I can have Safari, iChat, Adium, iTunes and VLC windows on the screen all at the same time on a 15" MBP display.

As for the OS gripes, there are very few. Maybe the slowdown when Airport isn't connected to a network, but on, or the way in which the Finder sidebar seems to get stuck every now and then. These all seem to be Leopard early adopter glitches though, so I wouldn't put them down as 'things I hate about Macs'.

 

[adamfishercox]

Another hatred: Spinning up my External HD everytime I search, even though I tell it NOT to search on the external!!!

 

[HLdan]

For EVERYONE who gets upset by what I'm saying, please listen closely. I like Mac OSX. It's my primary platform. However, I use Vista, XP, and Linux as well, every day. I have a long list of complaints about all of them. Now, the title of this thread is "Things you HATE about Macs.". So I listed the things that I think can be improved. People are suggesting I should go back to Windows, what crybabies. THAT is another thing I hate about Macs, that it's treated like a religion and I'm a heretic for daring to say it isn't perfect. That's what made me hesitate about ever buying one in the first place.

The thread should really be called "Things you hate about Mac OS X" because "Mac" in generally is the hardware. However what I hate about Macs are the attitudinal newbies and other people they bring like the above poster and especially the Windows switchers.
Quick to call someone a fanboy or refer to people as belonging to a cult or a religion just because Mac users defend what they like and switchers want it the Windows way so they get mad when they are recommended to go back to Windows which they should if they have nothing but complaints about Mac OS X and make continuous comments like, "Mac OS X should do such and such a feature LIKE WINDOWS".
If there's nothing wrong with going back to using Windows full time then so you should (because the Windows way works for you) but if there IS something wrong with that then you must remember why you decided to buy a Mac before the next time you expect things to work on Macs LIKE WINDOWS.

 

[slotcarbob]

Dislike

The inability to use hierarchal menus in Stacks. What is that about?

 

[adamfishercox]

I know how it works. The only saving grace (power-wise) is that they didn't put another light emitter in there to suck up power, they're leeching off of the display backlight. But still, wouldn't the screen be that much brighter if the logo wasn't leaking light?

That light would go to waste anyway, it's not "leeching" anything.

 

[vansouza]

Price

Price and the fact that as soon as you buy one something better is always around the corner.

 

[tMac85]

does anyone else have the lag problem when you click on airport or bluetooth or even spotlight. That 2 second wait where you out of habit click it 3 or 4 times, thinking that its not working. drives me crazy.

oh and the heat in this beast.

 

[Ubuntu]

The eject button doesn't eject the disc straight away - but I think it should. Regardless of what it's doing/trying to do.

The DVD drive on my macbook pisses me off. If I have a scratched disc in my windows pc, it's easy to eject before everything locks up.

But on the macbook... it just freezes up, and there is no manual way to eject the disc.

 

[dejo]

The inability to use hierarchal menus in Stacks. What is that about?

That'll be fixed with 10.5.2!

 

[72930]

That'll be fixed with 10.5.2!

Check this software out for now

 

[ezekielrage_99]

As mentioned already, they play HD.

I should have been more specific, not including the HD format. For a standard DVDs on my Macbook the DVD player that come with Mac OSX is still very good value for money (e.g. being free).

As for HD/Blu Ray formats that's why I bought a PS3 (well for the Blu Ray), IMHO computer playback of DVD have always seem to be behind the stand alone units.

 

[DaveF]

I don't know why you are having troubles with it. Just drag a file to the application icon and it will open it (of course only if the file format is supported by the application).

You can even drag-n-drop files to application icons in Finder, not just in Dock and to application aliases (yes it works, I've just tried it)

Aha! Great! I just tested this with a Pages document and found what I was doing wrong: another hangover from Windows habits.

However what I hate about Macs are the attitudinal newbies and other people they bring like the above poster and especially the Windows switchers.

Quick to call someone a fanboy or refer to people as belonging to a cult or a religion just because Mac users defend what they like and switchers want it the Windows way so they get mad when they are recommended to go back to Windows which they should if they have nothing but complaints about Mac OS X and make continuous comments like, "Mac OS X should do such and such a feature LIKE WINDOWS".

If there's nothing wrong with going back to using Windows full time then so you should (because the Windows way works for you) but if there IS something wrong with that then you must remember why you decided to buy a Mac before the next time you expect things to work on Macs LIKE WINDOWS.

Perhaps I misunderstand, but I can't grasp how you're unable to admit that OS X isn't perfect.

OS X is a good, even great, system. It's been a fun switch and I enjoy using it at home for personal use. (no option to use it at work.) And obviously things must be weak in areas, because we're now on 10.5.1. Perhaps you're still on 10.0.0, as your OS X is perfect? But the reality is that OS X is not perfect. This isn't about being like Windows. And I assert it's not just about personal taste: there are some features and behaviors that are objectively bad.

A major improvement from 10.4 to 10.5 is that the system no longer hangs for two minutes when a network drive is unexpectedly dropped. Certainly that was a problem in 10.4 worth hating? (I did). And certainly 10.5 is better with that fixed?

Is it impossible that 10.5.1 has some bum features? Even some features that, as good as they are, could be improved?

 

[CalBoy]

So again I'll ask: What's the green button intended to do? I doubt it was intended to be a catch-all button for whatever the developer wanted to slap in there. Yet that's how it behaves.

A key attribute to Apple UI design is consistency. I remain surprised that the green button, a key UI element, so defies normal Apple elegance.

The green button is intended to resize windows according to the content within the window. Obviously since content is always different, you aren't going to see a standard "half to full" effect, or some other "restore" effect like you'd expect in Windows.

A handful of apps behave differently because their nature is different. For example, one doesn't need a giant calculator, so hitting the + will get you a toggle between the three types of calculator views. Otherwise, every app behaves the same way (the window is resized according to the content being displayed). That seems perfectly consistent to me.

 

[HLdan]

Perhaps I misunderstand, but I can't grasp how you're unable to admit that OS X isn't perfect.

Either you misunderstood (most likely) or I don't have my glasses on but where did I say OS X was perfect? I never said that or even implied it. I've been on Mac most likely much longer than most on this forum and I have owned Wintel PC's which I will never again but there are things about the Mac OS system I don't like but the one thing I don't do or have NEVER done is emphasize what Windows can do better, it's just unnecessary.
Picking apart the OS that I use and consistently say that this and that feature should work "LIKE WINDOWS" which are the switchers favorite 2 words just shows that either you are not willing to really "switch" or you will never get Windows out of the brain.

Now picking out what annoys you about the system is one thing, to say it should do it LIKE WINDOWS presents the fact that x-user should be running Windows, flat out.
For me it's the other way around, when I switched to the Mac OS all I kept saying is, "Why doesn't Microsoft's OS work like the Mac OS, they copied it for goodness sake".
Referring back to good things about the old system means you are not really divorced.

BTW I'm on Leopard and teach computers for a living.

 

[Live Steam]

-Not having the ability to resize a window by dragging any edge of a window such as can be done in Windows.

-Not having the end/home keys actually go to the end/start of a line of text. What's with that?

-The tab key does not jump to a box with drop down menus. It skips it and goes to the next open field.

 

[eXan]

-The tab key does not jump to a box with drop down menus. It skips it and goes to the next open field.

Enable Full Keyboard Access

 

[dpaanlka]

I hate the way new Windows to Mac converts complain about all the things that don't work the way they're used to, like the green fit-to-content button or various keyboard shortcuts, and expect long time Mac users to happily convert their work habits to fit their needs rather than taking the time to learn and familiarize themselves to how the Mac has always worked.

 

[mr.light]

I think mostly what I hate about macs is having to listen to windows people who have never tried it tell me it is just a toy or has no software. The best one is that Apple will be going out of business any day now so don't waste your money. Then they drone on about how much better windows is ...."and look, now we have VISTA!" Brother... and they call us zealots!

 

[Live Steam]

Enable Full Keyboard Access

Ok! I need a cheat sheet for the key strokes

 

[DaveF]

The green button is intended to resize windows according to the content within the window. Obviously since content is always different, you aren't going to see a standard "half to full" effect, or some other "restore" effect like you'd expect in Windows.

A handful of apps behave differently because their nature is different. For example, one doesn't need a giant calculator, so hitting the + will get you a toggle between the three types of calculator views. Otherwise, every app behaves the same way (the window is resized according to the content being displayed). That seems perfectly consistent to me.

And that just doesn't make sense to me. "Resize according to content" is meaningless. Finder seems to illustrate what I think was the goal: resize to contain only the visible material. But every other app is a toss up. As for using it as a mode changer in the calculator, it makes no sense -- would you expect the green button to toggle Numbers from from normal to Page Layout? (It maximizes, by the way, in a devilishly Windows-like manner )

I guess I just need an exhaustive GBB (Green Button Behavior) list, because I just can't figure it out.

 

[Eluzion]

I, too, can't stand the green + button. Yes, I understand it resizes to the content in the window but it's extremely inconsistent. A lot of websites are designed using width attributes that are relative to the browser so how do you define what the content "size" is? This is the same with most applications in my opinion.

If it was my choice, I'd make the green + button toggle between two different window sizes that are defined by the user. Let me resize a window to what I consider the "maximized" view.

This leads me to another aspect I dislike about OS X, the lack of customizability. Apple seems very "our way or the highway" about its things (maybe it's just me). I mean, come on, a simple option to adjust the opacity of the menu bar? How hard can it really be? Maybe a few more options to let us customize the appearance of OS X to our liking. It's not just appearance either, but what about an option to disable windows moving to the next space when at the edge of the screen? Just little things like that Apple really seems to neglect. I'm pretty sure it's all a part of their business plan though. It gives them something to add in the future for customers to "look forward to". It's funny how they will boast about the most simple features and the response a lot of customers will give (like it's the next best thing since the slice of bread).

Anyways, enough complaining. I'm sure most who read my post will think I'm some "Windows Fanboi". Unfortunately, I'm just not a "Mac Fanboi" and don't think Apple or OS X is perfect by any means.

EDIT: Oh, and I can't stack the lack of customizability with Stacks. In fact, I kind of hate Stacks all together since it wasn't what I originally thought it was going to be which was a group of icons you could turn into a "Stack". It's more of just another pretty/pointless way of viewing a folder.

 

[CalBoy]

And that just doesn't make sense to me. "Resize according to content" is meaningless.

Not for all of us.

Finder seems to illustrate what I think was the goal: resize to contain only the visible material. But every other app is a toss up.

I've noticed fairly consistent results. When I click on the '+' I get what I want: everything in the window displayed correctly.

As for using it as a mode changer in the calculator, it makes no sense --

That one is a bit unusual yes, but it does follow the same pattern of logic (going from less to more, to even more, just as tapping the '+' button twice in Safari will yield one shorter and one longer window respectively).

would you expect the green button to toggle Numbers from from normal to Page Layout? (It maximizes, by the way, in a devilishly Windows-like manner )

I don't use Numbers, so the only comment I have (in reference to the way it maximizes) is that the button is meant to follow in the same less>>more vein as before.

I guess I just need an exhaustive GBB (Green Button Behavior) list, because I just can't figure it out.

I think you're thinking too hard about it. Just let it "grow" on you. If you give it a chance, you'll come to realize how wonderful it can be sometimes.

 

[carrotsandsmart]

-Not having the ability to resize a window by dragging any edge of a window such as can be done in Windows.

-Not having the end/home keys actually go to the end/start of a line of text. What's with that?

-The tab key does not jump to a box with drop down menus. It skips it and goes to the next open field.

But you DO have the option to resize the windows - loook in the bottom right corner of an open window - see those little tiny lines right on the window corner - grab that with your mouse and you can resize the window as you like - just like in windows, only difference is that you have to grab the "sweet spot".

 

[janstett]

That light would go to waste anyway, it's not "leeching" anything.

How would it go to waste? The only place for light to go should be out of the LCD. If light reflecting off the back goes to waste, then in theory we should be able to completely remove the lid and the LCD should be no dimmer. Somehow I doubt this is the case.

Also, I have to add, when you work in bright direct sunlight (say in a conference room with the sunlight shining in a window) then you get an Apple silhouette on your screen.

 

[janstett]

However what I hate about Macs are the attitudinal newbies and other people they bring like the above poster and especially the Windows switchers.

Waaah, somebody criticized my golden idol. Waaaaaah! Stop complaining and drink the Kool-aid!

Quick to call someone a fanboy or refer to people as belonging to a cult or a religion just because Mac users defend what they like and switchers want it the Windows way so they get mad when they are recommended to go back to Windows which they should if they have nothing but complaints about Mac OS X and make continuous comments like, "Mac OS X should do such and such a feature LIKE WINDOWS".

First of all, in most of my points, I didn't say to "DO IT LIKE WINDOWS". Certainly not just for the sake of being like Windows.

And you know what, sometimes Windows gets something right (like right-dragging for a context menu). And sometimes, every other frigging operating system on the planet does something one way and Apple does it some other way that is shown to break down when applied to a logical argument (e.g. using an app on the 2nd display and having to go to the 1st display for the app's menu). Maybe there's a reason everybody else does it another way and Apple isn't infallible. Again for example, look at the dock. Useful as it is, it is grossly inconsistent and breaks Apple's own UI guidelines. When you break it down, the dock is a train wreck of user interface design that makes Windows' confused Start Menu look well thought out by comparison.

What I'm finding here is a small subset of people like you stuck in the Guy Kawasaki Windows-is-evil-incarnate era defending Apple's difference just for the sake of difference, and lots of claims of superiority without a logical argument to back it up. Remember all the "Mac is faster than peecee" arguments that dismissed SpecMark scores? (Oh I loved the irony when Apple quoted the very same SpecMark on the Intel switch vs G5). Just nebulous assertions that it's better because Apple does it that way. To me, that shows that the people making these arguments don't actually use other systems and thus have nothing upon which to base their comparisons and conclusions.

If there's nothing wrong with going back to using Windows full time then so you should (because the Windows way works for you) but if there IS something wrong with that then you must remember why you decided to buy a Mac before the next time you expect things to work on Macs LIKE WINDOWS.

Does that mean I can't ask for Apple to fix some of the retarded quriks in OSX? You get highly offended at the notion that Windows gets something right, and you assume that anything wrong with OSX is in fact not wrong because Apple chose to do it that way and therefore it is beyond reproach; you also assume it's switchers who want OSX to become more like Windows. I certainly don't -- but I do want it to adopt a good idea from Windows when it's there; I want it to become better than it is.

I mean, look at your signature.
Using Mac OS X is like making a new friend.
Using Windows is like losing your best friend.

Nope, no fanboyism there, right? Stop for just a moment and think just how silly that kind of statement is, how emotionally invested you are in your choice. That's the problem with people who use a Mac as a lifestyle statement. And frankly it's a component of Apple that belongs in the past and even Steve Jobs doesn't embrace it anymore.

It's not an all-or-nothing propsition. I have three Macs in my home, but twice as many PCs. I work with XP, Linux, Vista, and OSX every day. My MBP is my primary machine. But I couldn't use it without Parallels. There is no "all or none" here. I bounce back and forth. I choose to spend most of my time in OSX + Parallels. I could easily go to any other OS; I could live with Linux if I had to. I'm flexible. But I'm certainly not going to say OSX is perfect and that there's nothing wrong with it. Nor will I say that for Windows, or Linux.

But spending my time in OSX doesn't mean I have to be blind to its shortcomings or refrain from criticism of dumb design decisions that are there for whatever reason -- legacy, etc.

Pop quiz -- give me some criticisms of OSX. Let's see if you can objectively look at your Mac and find something wrong with it, or will you prove my point.