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

Flip Flopping between macOS and Windows

LeeW said:
It works for some, I have worked with Linux for over 20 years, but I wouldn't use it on a desktop and would never openly recommend it to anyone. Most people find it great, to begin with, but quickly find out it's not all that great days or weeks later.
Click to expand...
It's gotten pretty darn good if you ask me. Certainly much more usable than when I started playing with it in 2007. But, the alternatives have also gotten (arguably) worse.

I think to be into Linux for the long run you need two things:
  1. A strong dissatisfaction with the other OSes
  2. An ongoing interest in coding, but not dead-set on one particular language.
You need 1 because in all reality linux desktop is still sort of ****, so that dissatisfaction motivates you to stick with it instead of abandoning it for greener pastures.

The importance of 2 is being able to troubleshoot. In my experience, troubleshooting linux is not much different than the troubleshooting you have to do when you want to try out a new programming language but need to figure out how to set it up on your machine (aside from GO, which has a ridiculously simple installer).

I've generally struggled with Linux (and MacOS) due to not having a strong enough dissatisfaction of Windows (my go-to OS since 3.1). Windows 11 may very well have reached that threshold for me by not only e-wasting damn near every machine in my house but also making me click twice to get to my installed list of programs in the start menu. No, I don't want to see your suggested websites or whatever, I just want an A-Z list of programs!

The only two real programs I miss are Adobe Bridge/Photoshop and Microsoft Excel. The Adobe stuff just works better than anything out there, but luckily it now costs more than I can justify paying for my home use. Microsoft has made saving files in Excel super tedious thanks to trying to force you to use the "backstage" view rather than the default Windows "Save as" dialog, so good f*&%*(ng riddance to that pos.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eltoslightfoot and LeeW
for me, Linux (in my case Fedora WS aka vanilla Gnome desktop) is by far the best OS overall, which actually surprised me, as i always thought that Linux is just for tinkerers who enjoy installing and configuring stuff in the Terminal and JS config files.
but it's actually the best straight forward and fast to use OS i've ever tried with great workflow, and not all the annoying **** Microsoft is putting more and more into the more recent versions of Windows.
The pre-installed state of Win 11 on my Dell laptop was the most annoying piece of crap, with MS and the McAfee malware having a competition who's having the most recommendation pop-up windows per minute, but also the Windows 10 Enterprise installations we use at work were already very annoying in insisting to install teams and their cloud stuff almost every single time.
trying to do a clean install didn't work for me, as Windows didn't even recognize the hard drive, which Linux had no trouble with at all.
if not for that, Windows workflow is solid, but just not as good as said Linux distro for me (or macOS, but it's behind in other workflow areas which could easily be fixed, but they're rather focusing on putting "useless" iOS apps that don't make that much sense on Mac, than improving the actual workflow on the OS)

the only downside for that i wouldn't recommend people wiping their Windows installations for it would be if they are gamers, or need some specific apps like the adobe stuff and couldn't live with alternatives.
 
LeeW said:
It works for some, I have worked with Linux for over 20 years, but I wouldn't use it on a desktop and would never openly recommend it to anyone. Most people find it great, to begin with, but quickly find out it's not all that great days or weeks later.
Click to expand...
I've used it in my job, and I've had it on various laptops. I tend to agree with your assessment, in a server environment, its hard to beat. As a desktop replacement, it has more cons then pros, imo.

System 76 is almost always on my short list when looking at laptops, and in all honesty, I think PopOS is one of the better distros. At the end of the day, I'd rather not deal with tinkering why something isn't working and instead use the apps/games. I find I need to mess with the system more in Linux then Windows. Its great that we have the ability, but sometimes I just want to play a game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LeeW
maflynn said:
I've used it in my job, and I've had it on various laptops. I tend to agree with your assessment, in a server environment, its hard to beat. As a desktop replacement, it has more cons then pros, imo.

System 76 is almost always on my short list when looking at laptops, and in all honesty, I think PopOS is one of the better distros. At the end of the day, I'd rather not deal with tinkering why something isn't working and instead use the apps/games. I find I need to mess with the system more in Linux then Windows. Its great that we have the ability, but sometimes I just want to play a game.
Click to expand...
I've looked into System 76 laptops, but by most accounts they're terrible. They're just a sticker and new bios on cheap Clevo-made laptops. Better to go with the Dell or HP models with Linux preinstalled.
 
  • Like
Reactions: maflynn
TheOtherAndy said:
It's gotten pretty darn good if you ask me. Certainly much more usable than when I started playing with it in 2007. But, the alternatives have also gotten (arguably) worse.

I think to be into Linux for the long run you need two things:
  1. A strong dissatisfaction with the other OSes
  2. An ongoing interest in coding, but not dead-set on one particular language.
You need 1 because in all reality linux desktop is still sort of ****, so that dissatisfaction motivates you to stick with it instead of abandoning it for greener pastures.

The importance of 2 is being able to troubleshoot. In my experience, troubleshooting linux is not much different than the troubleshooting you have to do when you want to try out a new programming language but need to figure out how to set it up on your machine (aside from GO, which has a ridiculously simple installer).

I've generally struggled with Linux (and MacOS) due to not having a strong enough dissatisfaction of Windows (my go-to OS since 3.1). Windows 11 may very well have reached that threshold for me by not only e-wasting damn near every machine in my house but also making me click twice to get to my installed list of programs in the start menu. No, I don't want to see your suggested websites or whatever, I just want an A-Z list of programs!

The only two real programs I miss are Adobe Bridge/Photoshop and Microsoft Excel. The Adobe stuff just works better than anything out there, but luckily it now costs more than I can justify paying for my home use. Microsoft has made saving files in Excel super tedious thanks to trying to force you to use the "backstage" view rather than the default Windows "Save as" dialog, so good f*&%*(ng riddance to that pos.
Click to expand...
I added PowerToys to solve a lot of these problems, honestly. Now I have the equivalent of BetterSnapTool for windows and Run—which is basically spotlight for windows. I don’t even use my start menu much now. I simply ALT+Space Bar. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Annv
So been thinking about a situation that I may be in soon. If I get this new job in the next few months I will be given a locked down corporate laptop that I have to use. This will hook up nicely to my keyboard/mouse/webcam/monitor so not much of a change there. Not sure I will be able to run music streaming software on this laptop which make using my speakers tricky.

I started to think about what I would want to use for my personal devices - does it make sense to keep my Windows desktop and switch between that and the work laptop, or do I move my personal life into Apple once again - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. A very nice clean separation.
 
LiE_ said:
So been thinking about a situation that I may be in soon. If I get this new job in the next few months I will be given a locked down corporate laptop that I have to use. This will hook up nicely to my keyboard/mouse/webcam/monitor so not much of a change there. Not sure I will be able to run music streaming software on this laptop which make using my speakers tricky.

I started to think about what I would want to use for my personal devices - does it make sense to keep my Windows desktop and switch between that and the work laptop, or do I move my personal life into Apple once again - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. A very nice clean separation.
Click to expand...
Good to start thinking but I recommend that you take no action in selling or purchasing any hardware until you actually get the job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire and maflynn
LiE_ said:
does it make sense to keep my Windows desktop and switch between that and the work laptop, or do I move my personal life into Apple once again - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. A very nice clean separation.
Click to expand...

A lot of my friends do exactly that. We're remoting to different servers, powershell for 365 (parts of which only work great on windows).... mounting samba mounts faster etc. but once that's over, back to apple for the nicer experience* (subjectively)
 
Okay, I am going out to the local shopping centre as I have my grandson and he needs to get out or I am going to go nuts. There is an Apple Store. This is a placeholder comment for will I purchase something? Will report when I get back :)
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: LiE_, The_Interloper and maflynn
Such a ****ing liar..

IMG_1412 2.JPG
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: WriteNow, keeper, LiE_ and 3 others
I bought the base model M2 MBA, with my new PC I don't need a heavy lifter as a Mac. I will game and use office on the PC which leaves the MBA for my server management, web development and general use. I am fortunate in that when it comes to my server/web work it needs the performance of a potato so this will cope totally fine.

13", when I saw them side by side I just felt that the 15" albeit only slightly bigger was just too big.

But, as per the written in blood contract with my wife, it's one in, one out so the Mac mini needs to go.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire
LiE_ said:
Good choice with the MBA
Click to expand...

It's perfect for my needs, 8GB RAM sticks in my throat a little on the price at £1,149. Not that I need more for what I will use it but it just still annoys me.

The MBA will do just fine and give me good portability options and my new PC is performing incredibly well for everything else.

It's the only way, one foot in Windows and the other in macOS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mvdrl, BigMcGuire, keithop and 1 other person
LeeW said:
Okay, I am going out to the local shopping centre as I have my grandson and he needs to get out or I am going to go nuts. There is an Apple Store. This is a placeholder comment for will I purchase something? Will report when I get back :)
Click to expand...
Well, maybe you went out too late to stop from going nuts. The temporary insanity resulted in purchasing that MBA!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: BigMcGuire and LeeW
There are a lot of reasons I doubt I'd go back to the macOS as my primary OS. But I definitely could see a MacBook Air as a secondary device (that might get used heavily at times). At a distance, there seem to be a lot of pluses--good battery life, good trackpad, and quiet operation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LeeW
While I am with iPhone, Watch, iPad and AirPods, it makes sense to bring it all together with macOS. Especially when my family are also in the ecosystem. We all share locations, calendar events, notes, and use Airdrop amongst others.

Just for that alone, it's worth having my personal life with Apple and my day-to-day tasks such as browsing, media, etc. I like the simplicity of Apple across all devices for those things. And it's great for my professional needs.

But, as we all know, it's not perfect. I hate Office on macOS, I have to use Windows for that. I want a good PC for gaming. I don't game a lot these days but even if I jump into WoW, Cities Skylines or Satisfactory for an hour, I want the best experience, not a mediocre one. Whilst the M1/M2 chips are leaps ahead of the old Intel devices they are still a fair bit away from good when it comes to gaming.

If and when my gaming interests go away, and they gradually are I would probably settle for macOS and Parallels to get Office via Windows. For now, I will keep both and have options.

I have this base M2 MBA all up and running, mirroring my M2 Mac Mini. Honestly, I don't notice any difference at this stage at all (even with 1/2 the RAM and a single Nand for the SSD). But again, my actual usage is not pushing it that hard.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire and WriteNow
LeeW said:
But, as we all know, it's not perfect. I hate Office on macOS, I have to use Windows for that.
Click to expand...

can't help thinking MS just purposely make Office subpar on the mac. However, I found myself using docs, spreadsheets more and more using web office and sharing them with colleagues in sharepoint. So to be honest, it doesn't really bother me now.

The 15" MBA is great for me. No fans, thin, light, eats any day to day I throw at it
 
  • Like
Reactions: WriteNow and LeeW
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