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What would I miss going from Mac back to pc?

Ghost31

Ghost31

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 9, 2015
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So I know this is pretty controversial to say in this place, but I haven't been impressed with the hardware of the new MacBook Pro. I've had hands on time with new windows 10 pcs all year from the hp specter 360 to the Lenovo yoga to dell xps. So going from that to the macboook pro...I don't know? I just wasn't impressed with the hardware at all. I liked the oled screen on the last hp laptop I tried as well as dell xps better. The speakers on the new MacBook Pro are good but so are those on windows pc. Speed on windows pcs easily trump macbooks and with all that, I get a touchscreen and maybe even a pen. Not to mention neat folding options.

So I think the days of buying macs for hardware that is light years ahead of pc are pretty much gone. It now comes down to the value of Mac OS. What small things would the everyday person notice switching to pc full time that would make them miss Mac? I assume some of you tech heads switch back and forth regularly
 
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JPNFRK7 said:
Well for one, if you have an iPhone or iPad (or both), handoff and keeping data between devices would be what I would miss the most. I love being able to take a picture on my phone and have it go to my other devices without doing anything.
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But doesn't windows have iCloud photos? I think I read that somewhere.

But I DO love copy and paste going to all my devices. Just did that with my iPad and iPhone and if it works as well with Mac, that is a definite plus for sure
 
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1. Smooth scrolling, Windows can never get that right.
Trackpad + Gesture, that has always been macOS exclusive.
Its just amazing how Windows or Android could never get the damn scrolling feature right, is the algorithm really that hard?

2. Command + C and Command + V is ergonomically easier to type than Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.

3. Swiping between full screen apps or desktop using 3 finger drag.

4. All apps look more beautiful on OSX than their Windows alternatives (subjectively speaking, you may have different opinions)

5. Docks have been aesthetically more beautiful and more practical than Windows taskbar. Windows taskbar was never designed for high DPI screen, even when zoomed it just doesn't look right. It's too small that its completely out of proportion.

6. Mac always has menu bar present at the top of the screen, I use that to display vital system information like CPU, RAM and network usage using iStats Menu. Regardless of whatever app I'm in that information is always there.

7. Terminal is just better than Command Line Prompt, I'm a Unix person.

8. Integration between iPhone and macOS. So I can reply to SMS on my mac, or pick up phone on my mac.

9. Universal clipboard between all Apple products. I use that a lot for OTP. When a site prompts me for secondary password, I swipe down my notification center on my iphone, which has all my accounts' OTP displayed -- then I click the corresponding account, which will copy the number to clipboard, then all I had to do is paste them on my Mac. I don't even need to unlock my phone for that.

I will add to the list if I missed something.
 
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Antairez said:
1. Smooth scrolling, Windows can never get that right.
Trackpad + Gesture, that has always been macOS exclusive.
Its just amazing how Windows or Android could never get the damn scrolling feature right, is the algorithm really that hard?





4. All apps look more beautiful on OSX than their Windows alternatives

.
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Would be useful if you could show us a side by side example of this. Interested to see if you have time to do it. I know that is most DEFINITELY the case for android vs iOS apps
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Mxbzz said:
For me, it'd be the ability to reply to SMS/iMessages from your Mac. It's so handy not having to reach for my phone when I'm on the MBP.
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I love that! Only thing I didn't like when I had my MacBook is when I finally open it up again after a couple days, I hear like 2 full minutes of dings as all my messages from the past couple days come rolling in. Does it still do that?
 
Ghost31 said:
Would be useful if you could show us a side by side example of this. Interested to see if you have time to do it. I know that is most DEFINITELY the case for android vs iOS apps
[doublepost=1481855242][/doublepost]
I love that! Only thing I didn't like when I had my MacBook is when I finally open it up again after a couple days, I hear like 2 full minutes of dings as all my messages from the past couple days come rolling in. Does it still do that?
Click to expand...

Beauty is a subjective term, just because I say they are more beautiful doesn't mean other people will agree with me. I switch between Mac and Windows back and forth daily (because my machine is Mac and every other office machines are Windows), and I just fail to fall in love with Windows every single day, I tried, but no. I only switch to Windows when I absolutely have to (aka when I can't find a mac alternative, or if I want to play games).
 
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For me it's Preview and how wonderfully it handles PDF's.

I agree that trackpad scrolling is just plain better on a Mac. That is pretty much what keeps me from switching.

I used Windows 10 and tweaked it to where I was working pretty well with it. Got used to using a touch screen fairly quickly. I still try touching my Apple laptop screen every now and then.

Driver support for monitors is superior on the PC.
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Antairez said:
Beauty is a subjective term, just because I say they are more beautiful doesn't mean other people will agree with me. I switch between Mac and Windows back and forth daily (because my machine is Mac and every other office machines are Windows), and I just fail to fall in love with Windows every single day, I tried, but no. I only switch to Windows when I absolutely have to (aka when I can't find a mac alternative, or if I want to play games).
Click to expand...

Are the Windows machines you are using daily all running Windows 10?
 
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Good question. Makes me think why it is exactly that I spend this extra coin on the MBP. Since you aren't impressed by the build or the hardware (I still am with my XPS experience), I will try to list why I still go Mac.

Got to agree with @Antairez, the scrolling and trackpad are so much smoother and accurate. Hard to show an example of this, so you'll just have to try out a Windows laptop. Sure you could slow down the pointer speed as well, but it just isn't as smooth. Sorry I can't be more technical.

Handoff is awesome. I'm just scratching the surface of it, but all those instances where I just wanted to transfer whatever I was doing from phone to MBP and vice versa, problem solved now.

I use imessage for google hangouts as well. I have a single place to get SMS, Google, and imessage. Super convenient since I'm always chatting with someone.

Facetime for phone calls. I use a headset at my desk for skype and cell calls now. Everything is seamless. I no longer need to say "can I call you right back" because I can answer on a headset with perfect wifi reception.

I just saw @bopajuice comment about PDF's. Yes, Preview can edit, mark up, combine PDF's that on Windows, you need a full Adobe subscription for. That's kind of a crazy perk.

Don't get me wrong, I use Windows for what it is and always will. I am actually a fan of Win 8-10. They just can't seem to get the little integration things right. I always have problems scaling when using an external monitor and laptop monitor together. There's all these update requests from everyone, not just MS. Apple seems to put a lock down on what software packages can interrupt me. Mac gives me a choice to turn off any particular notices in a convenient, one-stop place.

And these are all mainly software things. Tried to keep it there since you don't seem impressed by the hardware.
 
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bopajuice said:
For me it's Preview and how wonderfully it handles PDF's.

I agree that trackpad scrolling is just plain better on a Mac. That is pretty much what keeps me from switching.

I used Windows 10 and tweaked it to where I was working pretty well with it. Got used to using a touch screen fairly quickly. I still try touching my Apple laptop screen every now and then.

Driver support for monitors is superior on the PC.
[doublepost=1481855885][/doublepost]

Are the Windows machines you are using daily all running Windows 10?
Click to expand...

7 and 10, with some occasional ones still running the good old XP lmao. I run a VM with Windows 10, so yes I know what I'm talking about. As a matter of fact I've been a Windows user since Windows 95. I'm a software engineer who stares at screen 12 hrs a day, 6 days a week, so I'm very sensitive to tiny details in general.
 
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For me, it's the touchpad.

I don't understand why no one else has made the touchpad works as well as the one on the MacBooks.

That said, some devices have come close (Surface Book, Dell XPS)

EndlessBuffoonery said:
Windows is an atrocity and MacOS is beautiful. So there's that.
Click to expand...

What an insightful comment you've made! /s

You should have said: "Windows = bad, macOS = good"
 
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It really all comes down to Mac OS. If the user experience isn't super important to you then go Windows. I have both in my house, and one of those machines is a Lenovo Yoga 900-dedicated to my 3 little ones. Not a bad little machine, decent build, great for them. I often have a chance to go from my Mac to that machine, and in those moments I realize what an absolutely AWESOME machine this MBP really is, inside and out. The overall feel of the hardware is just completely better, and the scrolling (as previously mentioned) in Mac OS is much smoother (MUCH smoother) proving the thought that goes into Mac OS programming is laser show. Often this Mac feel likes an extension of my body as I work on it, I do not feel this way on that Lenovo-ever.

I can't convince you to stay with Mac, it's a personal decision. And yes you will be giving up some integration benefits if you have any iOS devices. But thats small potatoes compared what you will give up in user experience when Windows is all you have to rely on.
 
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Antairez said:
1. Smooth scrolling, Windows can never get that right.
Trackpad + Gesture, that has always been macOS exclusive.
Its just amazing how Windows or Android could never get the damn scrolling feature right, is the algorithm really that hard?

2. Command + C and Command + V is ergonomically easier to type than Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.
Click to expand...
Funny you say that about Command + C, etc. I can never seem to get used to this. I'm always a Ctrl guy due to heavy MS Office use. I still use Ctrl in the new Office for Mac.

Totally agree about that Trackpad. It seems worlds above Win laptops. I don't understand why they can't get that right. Most underrated feature about MBP's.
 
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Mxbzz said:
For me, it'd be the ability to reply to SMS/iMessages from your Mac. It's so handy not having to reach for my phone when I'm on the MBP.
Click to expand...

You can already do that in Windows 10 from the Messaging app.

messaging.png
 
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thesaint024 said:
Funny you say that about Command + C, etc. I can never seem to get used to this. I'm always a Ctrl guy due to heavy MS Office use. I still use Ctrl in the new Office for Mac.

Totally agree about that Trackpad. It seems worlds above Win laptops. I don't understand why they can't get that right. Most underrated feature about MBP's.
Click to expand...

I know right, don't tell me Apple patent smooth scrolling ....
 
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