Flip Flopping between macOS and Windows

[keithop]

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.

I'm on windows desktop at the moment, S23ultra as daily driver and I'm looking at the microsoft september surface announcements for a surface laptop studio 2 to replace my aging surfacebook 2.

My usage pattern has settled to desktop for work, laptop when out and about, ipad mini or phone for a quick browse. I've just remembered samsung sent me a free s6lite with one of my phones so I suspect I should dig that out and replace the ipad mini!

I still like the Apple experience and I'll no doubt be getting a 15pro max anyway to keep up to date but right now, I'm enjoying the freedom windows/android is offering.

 

[LiE_]

I like the look of the 15 Pro. It addresses some of the issues I had with the iPhone 13/14 Pro. It's lighter and no longer has glosses side rails. This matters since one of the reasons I love my current phone is due to it being light and having a fast refresh rate screen. Previously to get a light phone you'd have to go with the non-Pro models and those are 60hz.

Something else I've pondered is that I don't like using a case on my phones and Apple makes this easier with AppleCare+. I feel that with Apple I have peace of mind of great service, a store to visit and a first-party insurance. Something that Google isn't able to offer.

So right now I have a reservation for an iPhone 15 Pro 256gb in Natural Titanium. What's giving me pause is that when I had the 14 Pro it gave me a headache when using it, I'm not sure why, the 13 Pro is fine. The other is I really like Android notifications, it's how I triage and deal with anything on the phone.

 

[Expos of 1969]

I like the look of the 15 Pro. It addresses some of the issues I had with the iPhone 13/14 Pro. It's lighter and no longer has glosses side rails. This matters since one of the reasons I love my current phone is due to it being light and having a fast refresh rate screen. Previously to get a light phone you'd have to go with the non-Pro models and those are 60hz.

Something else I've pondered is that I don't like using a case on my phones and Apple makes this easier with AppleCare+. I feel that with Apple I have peace of mind of great service, a store to visit and a first-party insurance. Something that Google isn't able to offer.

So right now I have a reservation for an iPhone 15 Pro 256gb in Natural Titanium. What's giving me pause is that when I had the 14 Pro it gave me a headache when using it, I'm not sure why, the 13 Pro is fine. The other is I really like Android notifications, it's how I triage and deal with anything on the phone.

Oh boy....I am calling your wife right away

 

[The_Interloper]

What's giving me pause is that when I had the 14 Pro it gave me a headache when using it, I'm not sure why, the 13 Pro is fine.

Sounds like you are sensitive to the OLED screen's Pulse Wave Modulation (PWM). There's a thread on it, 351 pages and counting!

I believe it was even worse in the 14 Pro than older models, causing issues at much lower brightness levels.

 

[maflynn]

I like the look of the 15 Pro.

I'm generally underwhelmed by the 15. I'll be buying new phones this year for myself and family but I'm not seeing anything that gets me excited. the changes between the 12 to the 13, to the 14 and now 15 are boring

Something else I've pondered is that I don't like using a case on my phones and Apple makes this easier with AppleCare+.

That becomes an expensive endeavor for me as I have 4 phones, but at the moment two of those 4 phones are smashed so it might be something I consider

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I'm generally underwhelmed by the 15. I'll be buying new phones this year for myself and family but I'm not seeing anything that gets me excited. the changes between the 12 to the 13, to the 14 and now 15 are boring


That becomes an expensive endeavor for me as I have 4 phones, but at the moment two of those 4 phones are smashed so it might be something I consider

I feel your pain on this with a family of four. It definitely makes it easier to stick with older iPhones...which I guess is a good thing? I see zero reason to upgrade, and if I had to, I would just get a 14 plus and be done with it LOL.

 

[maflynn]

which I guess is a good thing? I see zero reason to upgrade, and if I had to, I would just get a 14 plus and be done with it LOL.

Sadly with two smashed phones, and the battery more or less worn out on all of them. Its time to upgrade. Also in three of the four phones the lightening port is wonky. Most of us struggle to get the lightening cord (even new ones) to charge our phones

Sadly its time to upgrade, I'm just not sure to proceed in the actual process if I go down the pre-order route. I normally wait until November (or later) but this time around I think it will be easier to buy sooner, as it won't be terribly close to Christmas

 

[Expos of 1969]

Sadly with two smashed phones, and the battery more or less worn out on all of them. Its time to upgrade. Also in three of the four phones the lightening port is wonky. Most of us struggle to get the lightening cord (even new ones) to charge our phones

Sadly its time to upgrade, I'm just not sure to proceed in the actual process if I go down the pre-order route. I normally wait until November (or later) but this time around I think it will be easier to buy sooner, as it won't be terribly close to Christmas

I assume you have taken the lint out of the ports?

 

[maflynn]

I assume you have taken the lint out of the ports?

Yeah, I've tried all sorts of things, canned air, blowing, tweezers. I've peered inside and I think there might be some level of corrosion. The phones weren't submerged but I do wonder just walking in the rain with phone in our pockets could have done it, or even just high humidity.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Yeah, I've tried all sorts of things, canned air, blowing, tweezers. I've peered inside and I think there might be some level of corrosion. The phones weren't submerged but I do wonder just walking in the rain with phone in our pockets could have done it, or even just high humidity.

I read your response too quickly and thought you said "I've peed inside..." There is the problem I said to myself.

 

[maflynn]

"I've peed inside..."

Well you do that for jellyfish bites, so why not for malfunctioning lightening ports

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Yeah, I've tried all sorts of things, canned air, blowing, tweezers. I've peered inside and I think there might be some level of corrosion. The phones weren't submerged but I do wonder just walking in the rain with phone in our pockets could have done it, or even just high humidity.

Does anyone feel that the overall hardware and software quality of the iPhones has decreased the last few years? I have to reboot about once a week now, when a few versions ago I didn't reboot at all. MIL's iPhone SE was malfunctioning with Siri, rebooted and was back to okay?

 

[Expos of 1969]

Does anyone feel that the overall hardware and software quality of the iPhones has decreased the last few years? I have to reboot about once a week now, when a few versions ago I didn't reboot at all. MIL's iPhone SE was malfunctioning with Siri, rebooted and was back to okay?

I do not use Siri and turn off my SE every night and have not had any problems except twice in the past month the battery went from about 80% to 15 or 20% overnight with the phone turned off. I read some other folks had the same issue.

 

[maflynn]

Does anyone feel that the overall hardware and software quality of the iPhones has decreased the last few years?

I'm of the opinion that innovation has largely stopped at Apple - at least for iPhones. There are more exciting trends occuring from google and samsung. I'm not about to leave the platform, but I've been very underwhelmed with the state of the iPhone

 

[GalileoSeven]

I'm of the opinion that innovation has largely stopped at Apple - at least for iPhones. There are more exciting trends occuring from google and samsung. I'm not about to leave the platform, but I've been very underwhelmed with the state of the iPhone

Same here. I think they plateued whenever it was they introduced the 6.7" 'Pro Max' form factor. Now that I went from an XR to a 13PM, I see next to no incentive for me to upgrade again unless my 13PM suddenly craps out for some odd reason.

 

[LiE_]

Cancelled my reservation. I'm not actually in desperate need to get a phone on launch so I'm going to wait until the Pixel 8 is out and check out reviews/camera comparisons etc before I decide.

 

[keithop]

Cancelled my reservation. I'm not actually in desperate need to get a phone on launch so I'm going to wait until the Pixel 8 is out and check out reviews/camera comparisons etc before I decide.

Sensible!

However I'm not sensible so I'm keeping my 15pro max reservation.

I always upgrade and pass the old unit down to the family so fine, I'll do that again.

But, with the Samsung S23u and the apple iPhone 15pm sitting there on my desk, which would I grab?

Well IOS17 will give the iPhone a bit of a new feeling kick but what else? 5x zoom compared to 10x Samsung? and what, 0.5x. 1x, 5x ? basically getting rid of the 3x which is a really useful optical range?

Perhaps I'm wrong but it's not looking good for apple in my usage other than smoothness, faceId, JUST WORKS.

still think if I was about to be marooned on a desert island, I'd grab the S23U.

In my mind it's like this (not saying I'm right, just how I feel)
Iphone+ios17 - smoother, slower, slicker, works, happy if I can live with the way apple think it should work
Samsung s23u - faster, less integrated/slick but free to do whatever I want and configure the way it should work
pixel 8pro (upcoming) - all google (fine), less good hardware but great software almost makes up for it. (wish there was a pixel 8 ultra)

So where does that leave me for windows/mac ?

hardware, Apple silicon m1/m2 fast, quiet exactly right and what I want... but software, feels like they're still working on a mac se with 12" monitor and single tasking, full screen apps sure, fixes, hacks but ARGH.

Windows, yet to find a laptop running intel that compares to an m2 apple laptop. They wake up randomly in my bag, get hot, fans come on, battery life rubbish and so on... software 1990 (and before) hacked to keep relevant in 2023.

I WANT to go all in Apple but apple keeps giving me the finger and saying if you want us, you'll have to understand that we're made for a single 12" screen. beautiful fonts but depending the dpi on your screen it may look rubbish. you want to mount that smb share? ok it'll get there eventually but it'll be slower than windows and not feel native.

Windows sits there and says "every app you ever liked will run (just about). I wont do too many fancy animations, I'll just get the job done the way I always have". I won't look the best, I won't be as slick, but what do you care if I get out of your way and let you work?

My tech this year will be:-
Apple, macbook m1 pro 16", macbook air 15 m2, apple studio, iphone 15 pro max
microsoft surface laptop 2, custom built 13th gen i9 desktop, samsung s23ultra

my day to day use will probably be iphone 15pm, i9 desktop windows, macbook air m2

I'll want to use, iphone/macbook/mac studio but I just know I'll end up back on windows desktop.

 

[TheOtherAndy]

Sensible!

However I'm not sensible so I'm keeping my 15pro max reservation.

I always upgrade and pass the old unit down to the family so fine, I'll do that again.

But, with the Samsung S23u and the apple iPhone 15pm sitting there on my desk, which would I grab?

Well IOS17 will give the iPhone a bit of a new feeling kick but what else? 5x zoom compared to 10x Samsung? and what, 0.5x. 1x, 5x ? basically getting rid of the 3x which is a really useful optical range?

Perhaps I'm wrong but it's not looking good for apple in my usage other than smoothness, faceId, JUST WORKS.

still think if I was about to be marooned on a desert island, I'd grab the S23U.

In my mind it's like this (not saying I'm right, just how I feel)
Iphone+ios17 - smoother, slower, slicker, works, happy if I can live with the way apple think it should work
Samsung s23u - faster, less integrated/slick but free to do whatever I want and configure the way it should work
pixel 8pro (upcoming) - all google (fine), less good hardware but great software almost makes up for it. (wish there was a pixel 8 ultra)

So where does that leave me for windows/mac ?

hardware, Apple silicon m1/m2 fast, quiet exactly right and what I want... but software, feels like they're still working on a mac se with 12" monitor and single tasking, full screen apps sure, fixes, hacks but ARGH.

Windows, yet to find a laptop running intel that compares to an m2 apple laptop. They wake up randomly in my bag, get hot, fans come on, battery life rubbish and so on... software 1990 (and before) hacked to keep relevant in 2023.

I WANT to go all in Apple but apple keeps giving me the finger and saying if you want us, you'll have to understand that we're made for a single 12" screen. beautiful fonts but depending the dpi on your screen it may look rubbish. you want to mount that smb share? ok it'll get there eventually but it'll be slower than windows and not feel native.

Windows sits there and says "every app you ever liked will run (just about). I wont do too many fancy animations, I'll just get the job done the way I always have". I won't look the best, I won't be as slick, but what do you care if I get out of your way and let you work?

My tech this year will be:-
Apple, macbook m1 pro 16", macbook air 15 m2, apple studio, iphone 15 pro max
microsoft surface laptop 2, custom built 13th gen i9 desktop, samsung s23ultra

my day to day use will probably be iphone 15pm, i9 desktop windows, macbook air m2

I'll want to use, iphone/macbook/mac studio but I just know I'll end up back on windows desktop.

Windows: "Every app you ever liked will run, but I'll make sure if you try to set it as a default I will harrass the bejeezus out of you. Also, did you know you can trade in your brand new PC for deals on Surface? Oh, btw, xbox controllers in different colors!
...
...
...
...
Oh, and OneDrive corrupted your important work file. kthxbye"

 

[keithop]

Windows: "Every app you ever liked will run, but I'll make sure if you try to set it as a default I will harrass the bejeezus out of you. Also, did you know you can trade in your brand new PC for deals on Surface? Oh, btw, xbox controllers in different colors!

I've heard people complain about ads but never seen a single one myself. I use win11pro and don't do anything special with the install to avoid ads.

Perhaps win11home is different or OEM versions or something?

Oh, and OneDrive corrupted your important work file. kthxbye"

at work we have several thousand people using onedrive and not one complaint of corruption.

The biggest complaint is, where are my files? I dont want to save to onedrive I just want to save to my local disk!! Why am I logged in with my personal MS account which has 5gb storage when I know my work account has 1tb ?

Not trying to stick up for windows, or Mac, just relaying my personal experience.

 

[TheOtherAndy]

I've heard people complain about ads but never seen a single one myself. I use win11pro and don't do anything special with the install to avoid ads.

Perhaps win11home is different or OEM versions or something?



at work we have several thousand people using onedrive and not one complaint of corruption.

The biggest complaint is, where are my files? I dont want to save to onedrive I just want to save to my local disk!! Why am I logged in with my personal MS account which has 5gb storage when I know my work account has 1tb ?

Not trying to stick up for windows, or Mac, just relaying my personal experience.

I always go and disable the notifications for everything, but a recent update had my domain-controlled work Dell on Windows 10 Pro spamming me with ads after apparently re-enabling those notifications. Microsoft Store and the "Tips, Tricks and Suggestions" are the main culprits.

But frankly, you cannot click on the start menu in Windows 11 without seeing ads for apps you didn't install. So, I think you and I have differing definitions on what an ad is.

 

[Cape Dave]

I always go and disable the notifications for everything, but a recent update had my domain-controlled work Dell on Windows 10 Pro spamming me with ads after apparently re-enabling those notifications. Microsoft Store and the "Tips, Tricks and Suggestions" are the main culprits.

But frankly, you cannot click on the start menu in Windows 11 without seeing ads for apps you didn't install. So, I think you and I have differing definitions on what an ad is.

I never see any ads and I click start A LOT! Maybe because I would not ever use Win11 without Start11? Have used StartX ever since Win7.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I always go and disable the notifications for everything, but a recent update had my domain-controlled work Dell on Windows 10 Pro spamming me with ads after apparently re-enabling those notifications. Microsoft Store and the "Tips, Tricks and Suggestions" are the main culprits.

But frankly, you cannot click on the start menu in Windows 11 without seeing ads for apps you didn't install. So, I think you and I have differing definitions on what an ad is.

I have never ever seen any of that at all? What version and edition are you running?

 

[maflynn]

But frankly, you cannot click on the start menu in Windows 11 without seeing ads for apps you didn't install. So, I think you and I have differing definitions on what an ad is.

I'm not seeing any of that, though I have seen some notifications pop up in the lower left hand corner for crap. I may run o&o shutup10 to see if that helps. I had done that on my Intel system, I don't think I did that on my AMD system which is now my primary computer

 

[keithop]

But frankly, you cannot click on the start menu in Windows 11 without seeing ads for apps you didn't install. So, I think you and I have differing definitions on what an ad is.

honestly zero ads trying to sell me something or get me to buy anything.

The closest I could find was that there's an icon for "solitaire and casual games" which is just pointing to good old windows solitaire and I was able to uninstall that in the usual way.

I do believe there are different experiences though based on the particular sku that you use and what you have installed.. for eg. you may get more ads for office 365 if it sees you have an old perpetual license of office xxx installed. I guess when I installed chrome I got a pop up somewhere saying edge is better <G> so you can count that as an ad.

So I believe you of course, but honestly, on a day to day use basis, I haven't and am not seeing any ads in windows 11, not on the start or the shutdown or in between.

 

[Cape Dave]

Bottom line, Win11 is more modern, prettier, and more usable than MacOS. The UI in MacOS has not been properly updated in well over 10 years. Pathetic.