I vastly prefer macOS for the work I do, but the upgradability and cost of a desktop PC makes the PC hardware a very enticing choice. For laptops though, MacBooks are an easy choice for me ever since the transition to Apple Silicon. Desktops are where I start to flip flop. I wish you could build your own PC and put macOS on it officially. Hackintosh seems like more trouble than it's worth, and at this point who knows how much longer it'll even be possible when Apple stops supporting Intel down the line.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
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
- Thread starter LiE_
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The only PC laptop I've found that comes anywhere near Apple's quality is the Surface line. And I can only speak to their tablets as I haven't used a Surface laptop. Otherwise it's hard not to recommend an Apple for laptop users.
As for desktops though, PCs are a pretty easy choice these days if you can build your own. I'd be using my Mini more, but it's really hard to justify that as I have a homebuilt PC next to me with 16gb of ram and nearly 2tb of storage (3 drives in a dual-boot setup with the Linux home directory on its own drive) which cost me under $300 to build.
I am no expert on the Hackintosh but I just can't imagine it has a future, as you say, outside of Intel software support. Apple Silicon has to make it impossible to have any future? Maybe the experts will find a way to make it work but I doubt it, Apple will have made sure of that.
I think it is, and now that Apple's entire lineup is ARM based, its only a matter of time when they drop Intel from MacOS. My experience with Hackintoshs is from years ago, but it was a headache to get it fully working, and if you updated or upgraded you ran the risk of causing problems.
I have made many a Hackintosh...it was way harder before the current set of tools. But I completely agree. It can't have a long-term future and really it feels like a choice one needs to make at this point. If you want the intel/AMD world that bad, probably should just go Windows. If you need Mac that bad, probably just go with ARM Macs...
That said, if you wanted to get by for a year or two before being forced to make a decision, it is a lot easier than it used to be to make a Hackintosh (just look at the Opencore stuff).
That said, if you wanted to get by for a year or two before being forced to make a decision, it is a lot easier than it used to be to make a Hackintosh (just look at the Opencore stuff).
My pendelum here has swung back towards the Windows camp - I've moved my MBA/stand and the keyboard I used with it to my bookcase for now. Reason being, I'm looking to score some new external speakers and a) want to ideally use these for both gaming & music/YT etc and b) don't want to clutter up my desk with 2 setups and 2 sets of speakers.
I did this before and it didn't last long, mainly because I missed the 'polish' of macOS - the way things worked together in concert with the aesthetics. Now though, I've adopted a much more utilitarian/K.I.S.S. mindset and want to see if I can get by with one machine here (and if so, for how long).
I did this before and it didn't last long, mainly because I missed the 'polish' of macOS - the way things worked together in concert with the aesthetics. Now though, I've adopted a much more utilitarian/K.I.S.S. mindset and want to see if I can get by with one machine here (and if so, for how long).
If it makes you feel any better, I had an M1 MBA 16/512 and a windows gaming desktop. When I added an office shed, I decided to use a Asus G14 Zephyrus with a 3060 and sell my Macbook.
I haven't regretted it at all. Windows 11 really is pretty good. I can add far more color and I like the look of it honestly. I did use Shutup10 to disable the telemetry, and I was pretty cross-platform already. I have had a mac in some shape or form since about 2008 and I really don't miss it. (I even replaced my M1 iPad Pro 12.9" with a Surface Pro 9 I got on Swappa.) The biggest change was using Windows Mail/Calendar with an App-Specific password for iCloud. That allowed me to avoid having any iCloud for Windows on my machines. I do also use the Apple Music Beta program. It works really well.
I run both windows and mac in my household. I grab my macbook when im out and about or want to sit on the couch. But when im set up at my desk, i generally use my Lenovo laptop instead.
I, too, have shifted back away from MacOS. Currently using Linux Mint on a Dell G15 laptop. The mini has been relegated to the basement where it's driving a zebra label printer for ebay stuff.
Loving Mint, and it runs quite happily on this machine.
Loving Mint, and it runs quite happily on this machine.
Same here, in reverse. Mac for the desk, Dell XPS for couch and travel.
I am about 80/20. 80% of the time, I'm using a windows laptop or desktop, and 20% of the time I'm using Macs. I find the size and portability of my Mac to be the major reason. For instance, I'm setting up a protectli firewall/router. I find it incredibly useful to do that on the Mac.
As for my general usage, I'm about 90/10 on desktop vs. laptop. I was a bigger laptop user for years but that has all but dried up. There's an ebb and flow to life and I'm in a season of life that laptop usage is simply not needed. I was tempted for the 16" Framework laptop when it became available however after examining my usage, I didn't think it was a good use of my funds. My Razer laptop is largely unused at this stage, and while it can be considered pokey by today's standards its still fast enough for me when I do need it. Then there's the MBP, its getting less usage, but my kids will be using it more once school starts.
I have my 16” Lenovo Slim 7 hooked up to a 27” monitor at my desk when I use it. I definitely prefer the flow of windows when alll set up as a desktop. And love my MacBook Air for the portability and couch usage.
I am currently about 70/30 in favour of Mac. It's just too convenient for me whilst as a family unit we are still mostly Apple. Although two of my 3 kids are all Windows on their laptops/desktops. Shared calendars, photos, apps and so on make it too easy.
I can't see that split changing anytime soon. Best of both worlds though. Nobody needs to be all in anything if they don't need/want to be.
I can't see that split changing anytime soon. Best of both worlds though. Nobody needs to be all in anything if they don't need/want to be.
That's the beauty of choice that way lol. We are mostly all apple in our house besides a few windows laptops in the house for gaming/work
Yeah, I have to admit, even though we are down to only one Mac (an M1 MBP my daughter has), we are all still on iPhones and use Apple email, photos, shared calendars, and music...but that all works on windows also.
So the job prospect is progressing, if it comes off then I'll have a corporate laptop and no BYOD. I'll hook up the laptop to my current monitor and peripherals which will work well. Since it will be locked down I won't be able to use it for personal tasks.
My current thinking is selling my NR200 desktop to my brother, he's expressed interest in it already for his girlfriend.
That then leaves me with a personal device to do some of the admin for my wife's business. So either an iPad or a MBA with an iPhone 15 Pro. Assuming the new iPhone 15 Pro delivers a nice camera upgrade.
I know I said I'm firmly in Android land but there is still some issues I have with their hardware.
My current thinking is selling my NR200 desktop to my brother, he's expressed interest in it already for his girlfriend.
That then leaves me with a personal device to do some of the admin for my wife's business. So either an iPad or a MBA with an iPhone 15 Pro. Assuming the new iPhone 15 Pro delivers a nice camera upgrade.
I know I said I'm firmly in Android land but there is still some issues I have with their hardware.
Is anyone that is an active participant in this thread "firmly" in any specific technology land?
Is anyone that is an active participant in this thread "firmly" in any specific technology land?
Firmly for that the duration of the current post
Are you old enough to remember the bad (as in amazing) sci fi movie Flash Gordon?Firmly for that the duration of the current post
Zogi, the High Priest:
Do you, Ming the Merciless, Ruler of the Universe, take this Earthling Dale Arden, to be your Empress of the Hour?
The Emperor Ming:
Of the hour, yes.
Totally random aside, but whatever happened to the name Dale? It seems like it was a pretty popular girls name then it just fell totally out of favor in a way few names do.
I'm firmly in windows - I don't see that changing. Work requirements, play requirements, and just general usage is such that windows is not only a better fit but preferred at this pointIs anyone that is an active participant in this thread "firmly" in any specific technology land?
Yeah, I mean I "never say never", but at this point I have a Surface Pro 9 instead of an iPad Pro, and a gaming laptop and desktop instead of a Macbook. So I am right there with you. About the only thing that might entice me is an iPad Pro with Mac OS on it. But I don't think it will ever actually happen (hence the SP9). So right there with ya.
I mean, I have a work trip coming up and a two years ago I would have had to bring a 14" dell work laptop, an M1 Macbook Air, and an iPad Pro 12.9". Now (since it is just a few days) I am just bringing my SP9 and it can do it all.