It just works

[Steve Adams]

I used all modern OS'es. I find windows 10 the best out of all of them. Sure MacOS got little swirly animations etc, But, for ease of use, forward thinking and modern thinking, Win10 has them all beat. MacOS looks and operates basically the same with not MAJOR changes to the overall UI since I had my 2007 macbook. My son now has a MB air with Big Sur on it and I see no real difference in functionality and the backwards thinking is still there "just to be different" from windows.

I am a marketing specialist, photographer and videographer as my profession. I spend countless hours editing everything and creating graphics etc and my dell desktop chews right through it. My notebook is a little slower at the tasks as its a lower spec'ed 2 in 1 which I wanted to sit down with clients, have it in tent mode to show them things etc.
MacOS needs to modernize and for gods sake, embrace touch.

 

[Aoligei]

I find these posts amusing.
I'm using PopOS (ubuntu based) at the moment. Installed it on my thankpad x1 extreme and my PC.
Installation takes about 10mins or so. Way less than installing Windows for example.

I didn't have to do anything besides few clicks during installation. And everything works after installing. All drivers for my hardware simply work. Now, reading these posts, this seems like a miracle, and I must have won a lottery or something

P.S.
Besides how 'hard' some OS is or isn't, Linux simply isn't for photography or designers. It's not about OS, but the apps that are available on OS. And Linux really lacks high quality photo/design apps. Any other OS is easily better than Linux in this field. And this is coming from a guy that uses Linux as his main OS, but uses other 2 OS as well from time to time

I installed Kubuntu yesterday my other PC that I occasionally use.

Yes the installation is easy. That all about it. I have tried to format 4TB drive from existing NTFS partition to ex4. Use GPartrd, it will not format as single partition. It keep splitting the drive into 3 different partition. And then all the partition don’t allow me write to it. All I get is lost and found folder and I am not able to access it.

Windows and MacOS all capable formatting large drive without issue. Linux is clearly not capable of or without tinkering.

I have tried to use Linux full time few times, each time was filled with issue. Sorry, I dislike commend line.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and have gone through a number of popular Linux distributions.
It really does depend on what you want to do.
Video and photo editing --> Mac.
Fitting in with what your employer does --> almost certainly Windows
Writing documents --> Linux is a good choice*.

My favourite distros would be Ubuntu Mate, Linux Mint Cinnamon and Elementary OS (so far ignored in this thread).
The first two I move the bottom task bar out of the way and put in a dock (usually Plank). The third just needs some good writing software installed. All three are high performance (faster than macOS and much, much faster than Windows), highly reliable, easy to install software, easier to network than Windows and free (although Elementary IO do ask for a voluntary donation). All three can be installed on both Mac and PC hardware.

And I am speaking here from a position of a lot of experience with computers -- mainframe, mini and personal -- across a multitude of operating systems.


* Mostly because it doesn't have MS Word**.

** MS Word is an abomination that should have a cost per seat of at least $10,000. That way it wouldn't be purchased and inflicted on employees unless a proper cost-benefit analysis had been done. It should not ever be allowed into a private home.

 

[Steve Adams]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and have gone through a number of popular Linux distributions.
It really does depend on what you want to do.
Video and photo editing --> Mac.
Fitting in with what your employer does --> almost certainly Windows
Writing documents --> Linux is a good choice*.

My favourite distros would be Ubuntu Mate, Linux Mint Cinnamon and Elementary OS (so far ignored in this thread).
The first two I move the bottom task bar out of the way and put in a dock (usually Plank). The third just needs some good writing software installed. All three are high performance (faster than macOS and much, much faster than Windows), highly reliable, easy to install software, easier to network than Windows and free (although Elementary IO do ask for a voluntary donation). All three can be installed on both Mac and PC hardware.

And I am speaking here from a position of a lot of experience with computers -- mainframe, mini and personal -- across a multitude of operating systems.


* Mostly because it doesn't have MS Word**.

** MS Word is an abomination that should have a cost per seat of at least $10,000. That way it wouldn't be purchased and inflicted on employees unless a proper cost-benefit analysis had been done. It should not ever be allowed into a private home.

Video and Photo editing is now a tie between windows and macos now. MS photos can do anything photos and imovie can do plus more now. I use affinity suite, polarr, resolve and a few other programs to create everything for my clients.

 

[09872738]

Use GPartrd, it will not format as single partition. It keep splitting the drive into 3 different partition. And then all the partition don’t allow me write to it. All I get is lost and found folder and I am not able to access it.

Windows and MacOS all capable formatting large drive without issue. Linux is clearly not capable of or without tinkering.

I have tried to use Linux full time few times, each time was filled with issue. Sorry, I dislike commend line.

Well, this is on you. I‘ve done exactly that (gparted or even better, the KDE partition manager) without issues on various occasions.

 

[maflynn]

Well, this is on you. I‘ve done exactly that (gparted or even better, the KDE partition manager) without issues on various occasions.

Perhaps, but isn't that one of the knocks on Linux, in that its a bit more complicated and requires more technical knowledge then installing macOS or Windows?

I've installed various operating systems over the years and I can say installing linux is probably the one that was more risky - especially if you want to keep windows (or macos) running on your system. I've gotten myself into deep weeds trying to dual boot.

 

[Aoligei]

Well, this is on you. I‘ve done exactly that (gparted or even better, the KDE partition manager) without issues on various occasions.

Well, I get it. But Windows disk management or MacOS’s disk utility will format large drives no problem.

This is example of how Linux is very user unfriendly. And when asking for help, all you get are few commend lines which makes no sense to average folks like me.

Why is lots of Linux applications are not packaged in a way that install within a click? How is installing application inside terminal user friendly?

 

[Aoligei]

Perhaps, but isn't that one of the knocks on Linux, in that its a bit more complicated and requires more technical knowledge then installing macOS or Windows?

I've installed various operating systems over the years and I can say installing linux is probably the one that was more risky - especially if you want to keep windows (or macos) running on your system. I've gotten myself into deep weeds trying to dual boot.

Well, when I install Linux along side Windows, I will install Linux boot loader to separate drive. I do not want Grub mess around with Windows or MacOS boot loader.

I have tried. Grub will mess up Windows so badly, i could not boot Windows at all.

God, I hate Grub.

 

[maflynn]

Well, when I install Linux along side Windows, I will install Linux boot loader to separate drive. I do not want Grub mess around with Windows or MacOS boot loader.

I've installed Linux numerous ways over the years. Some successful, some challenging

 

[09872738]

Well, I get it. But Windows disk management or MacOS’s disk utility will format large drives no problem.

This is example of how Linux is very user unfriendly. And when asking for help, all you get are few commend lines which makes no sense to average folks like me.

Why is lots of Linux applications are not packaged in a way that install within a click? How is installing application inside terminal user friendly?

Again: Multiple Linux tools (KDE partition manager, gparted) can easily do what you are trying without issues. I‘ve done that and much more complicated things. In Kubuntu. No command line. I have no idea how you tried, but apparently you did something incorrectly.

 

[Aoligei]

Again: Multiple Linux tools (KDE partition manager, gparted) can easily do what you are trying without issues. I‘ve done that and much more complicated things. In Kubuntu. No command line. I have no idea how you tried, but apparently you did something incorrectly.

Well then. Maybe it is easy for you, but not for me.

Even hackintosh is easier than getting drive formatted under Linux.

That says a lot

 

[09872738]

Well then. Maybe it is easy for you, but not for me.

Even hackintosh is easier than getting drive formatted under Linux.

That says a lot

Have you tried wit KDE partition manager? Its really not any more complicated compared to the Mac or Windows (where I find the UI "Disk Manager" way more messy).

Can you describe what you were aiming for exactly and how you did it?

 

[c0ppo]

I find formatting drives/partitions/etc. to be really easy on any OS.
Also, never used command line to format drives in any OS. Why would I when it's just few clicks?

 

[Aoligei]

Have you tried wit KDE partition manager? Its really not any more complicated compared to the Mac or Windows (where I find the UI "Disk Manager" way more messy).

Can you describe what you were aiming for exactly and how you did it?

Yes.

The whole reason I used Gpart is because KDE partition manager won’t format disk as whole. For 4TB drive, it will won’t format the whole 4TB, it will leave 1TB as one partition.

The GPart will format as whole, but both won’t give me write access.

I don’t know what I did wrong. I was using Linux Mint and it format drive no problem.

Anyway, my point is Linux is not always user friendly. There are lots of things different from Windows or MacOS. And online help is not entirely easy to understand. Most of time, when you ask for help, you just got bunch of commend line non-sense.

 

[Hastings101]

Over the past year due to the whole work at home thing I became the unfortunate "tech support guy" for friends and family, and I always recommend that people just buy a Windows machine. I love Linux and open-source software, but even if people do 99% of what they do on a computer strictly in a browser there is always that 1% moment where they're screwed because some obscure program they need for one moment in time is unavailable. Always being able to do something when needed is what I consider "just works", and Windows 10 has come a long way from past version of Windows and is pretty reliable in my experience.

macOS is just a different story due to killing off x86 + older apps and now the new M1/AS transition. I don't really recommend Macs anymore because software-wise they are going through a "growing pains" period imo. Great, stable operating system and Apple Silicon is super impressive, but it's not worth the hassle unless (like me) someone really loves Apple products and can work around limitations. So macOS is the platform I would rely on 100% if i had to, but I wouldn't suggest it to others at the moment.

 

[maflynn]

I don't really recommend Macs anymore

I tend to steer people clear of Macs due to a couple of reasons.
First the price - Most people don't need to spend nearly 3,000 dollars on a laptop (MBP) and the MBA generally wasn't equipped to a point where it was beneficial. I remember a friend who had a Mac had one of those "ah ha" moments when he was ready to buy a new mac and he's like why should I spend 3k when I can spend 1/2 that for something just as good.

Second reason - Tech support, no not Apple's but me. I don't want to be tied to that family member/friend when he's trying to do something on the Mac when he knows how to do it on a PC. With a PC they'll know what to do and how to do it. I'd rather not turn into the Mac guy that can help you all the time

There's now a third reason - the immaturity of the ARM platform why pay apple to beta test a revision 1 product. How long will apple allow Rosetta 2 to be supported? Correct me if I'm wrong but when Rosetta goes away doesn't emulated windows support or is that something different?

 

[I7guy]

I tend to steer people clear of Macs due to a couple of reasons.
First the price - Most people don't need to spend nearly 3,000 dollars on a laptop (MBP) and the MBA generally wasn't equipped to a point where it was beneficial. I remember a friend who had a Mac had one of those "ah ha" moments when he was ready to buy a new mac and he's like why should I spend 3k when I can spend 1/2 that for something just as good.

Second reason - Tech support, no not Apple's but me. I don't want to be tied to that family member/friend when he's trying to do something on the Mac when he knows how to do it on a PC. With a PC they'll know what to do and how to do it. I'd rather not turn into the Mac guy that can help you all the time

There's now a third reason - the immaturity of the ARM platform why pay apple to beta test a revision 1 product. How long will apple allow Rosetta 2 to be supported? Correct me if I'm wrong but when Rosetta goes away doesn't emulated windows support or is that something different?

We have a bunch of MBPs in the family. However, I think Windows 10 has been catching up for years and while Windows does have "it's thing that annoys people to the nth degree", is there really anything a MBP can do "better" than Windows 10 these days from a functional perspective and given the cost to value relationship?

 

[maflynn]

"it's thing that annoys people to the nth degree"

No question, no OS is perfect and Windows has its own annoying idiosyncrasies

 

[09872738]

There's now a third reason - the immaturity of the ARM platform why pay apple to beta test a revision 1 product.

That reason will naturally disappear though.
Plus: the M1 easily beats any x86 machine by 1:2 when it comes to battery runtime. Its the first machine ever allowing me to leave the house without even thinking about bringing a charger.

 

[maflynn]

That reason will naturally disappear though.

Of course, I more or less implied that with my mention of immaturity of the platform

Plus: the M1 easily beats any x86 machine by 1:2 when it comes to battery runtime

Yep, and the PC easily beats the M1 on software compatibility, and availability. You're missing my point where I provided my reasons for steering people away. You have your reasons why you like the M1 and that's fine.

 

[09872738]

Yep, and the PC easily beats the M1 on software compatibility, and availability. You're missing my point where I provided my reasons for steering people away. You have your reasons why you like the M1 and that's fine.

No, I get that. I‘m not sure if you do people a favour though. Depending on what the priorities are you may or may not

 

[maflynn]

No, I get that. I‘m not sure if you do people a favour though.

By advising them to avoid Macs - I'm definitely doing them a favor. I gave you some of the reasoning behind my motivations, you may disagree with that, and that's fine but they are my motivations. I think for friends/family asking for advice I by and large will say get a [insert PC brand] computer

Depending on what the priorities are you may or may not

Here's the thing, I'm dealing with my friends and my family I am uniquely qualified in knowing their priorities

Edit:
I'm not saying Macs are bad, poor quality but I have my opinions of what may be better

 

[Steve Adams]

That reason will naturally disappear though.
Plus: the M1 easily beats any x86 machine by 1:2 when it comes to battery runtime. Its the first machine ever allowing me to leave the house without even thinking about bringing a charger.

AH no, it does not "easily beat ANY x86" by a 2:1 margin with battery life. Stop eating the apple marketing cake. It has great battery life no doubt, but it does not last twice as long as EVERY OTHER pc. Sorry, that's just making up crap out of thin air.

 

[09872738]

AH no, it does not "easily beat ANY x86" by a 2:1 margin with battery life. Stop eating the apple marketing cake. It has great battery life no doubt, but it does not last twice as long as EVERY OTHER pc. Sorry, that's just making up crap out of thin air.

You are certainly entitled to your own opinion. I know what I experienced, so thank you for telling me what I should or should not believe.
Eating marketing cake? lol

 

[Steve Adams]

You are certainly entitled to your own opinion. I know what I experienced, so thank you for telling me what I should or should not believe.
Eating marketing cake? lol

Your old computer had bad battery life and now your new Mjesus has better. to say it has twice the battery life of EVERY intel/amd computer is 100 percent false, your experience or NOT. so yes, you are drinking the kool aid.