Lifelong Windows user. Sell me macOS

[thebart]

When it comes to Microsoft Office, I like the one-time cost of Office 2021 but is Microsoft 365 worth the yearly subscription? I just need Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Also, do both versions natively support Apple silicon?

I also read that Office for macOS is inferior to that of Windows. As in it is missing features and functions. Is this true? I remember the reverse being true about a decade or two ago.

Office is silicon native

Yes there are missing features. For example, Word is missing the legacy controls and active x controls so there's no way to make a button, among other things. I have to run Windows 11 ARM in a VM so I can run the Windows version of office.

I haven't been able to find a comprehensive list of missing features; it's kind of a crapshoot whether something you need is going to bite you

 

[Bazza1]

When it comes to Microsoft Office, I like the one-time cost of Office 2021 but is Microsoft 365 worth the yearly subscription? I just need Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Also, do both versions natively support Apple silicon?

I also read that Office for macOS is inferior to that of Windows. As in it is missing features and functions. Is this true? I remember the reverse being true about a decade or two ago.

These days, the full magilla Microsoft Office Suite can often be found for around $30 online. I've given up on 365 on both my home office (M2 Mini) and travel laptop (Intel) and moved to the one-time version purchased this way.

So far, I've not found any feature missing in the standalone that I used in 365, and updates still keep coming in for it, as with 365. And, in the greater scheme of things, if something significant was to happen with an upcoming MacOS that made the one-off Office incompatible, $30 for whatever use I got out of it beforehand is still better than the ongoing subscription price.

And yes, while MacOS has its own free iWork Suite, sometimes translation is not that great and a pain in the butt when dealing with others in a MS Office environment.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

If you have to be convinced after using the machine for 3 weeks, using a Mac is not for you.

Maybe, but it took me a long time to get used to macOS coming from being a lifelong Windows person. There’s still things I’m learning. But the more I’ve used it the more I prefer it. It can take a while.

 

[Jack Neill]

I use both frequently with Macs being preferred for anything other than gaming. Mostly just a UI preference at this point for me. macOS and Windows 11 both suffer bugs and stability issues that annoy me. I prefer the photos and music offerings on macOS much more as well as the hardware is nicer and "feels" more premium to me. For gaming, my G15 Strix mops the floor with any Mac I have and won't be switching away from that anytime soon.

 

[Alameda]

I was born in 1984 and have been a lifelong Windows user. Only extremely briefly using Macs in middle and high school. I got my first Mac (a MacBook Pro 14" with the M2 Pro chip) on October 10, 2023 just to try it out because I have been always curious and fascinated by Macs. It was my first time actually getting deep into macOS. I used it for 3 weeks but then Apple had the Mac event and announced the M3 chips. I returned my MacBook Pro with the goal of getting one with the M3 chip.

Now that it is returned, I am having second thoughts about getting another MacBook Pro or just a new desktop gaming PC. My current desktop gaming PC was built in January 2012 and I have been using it ever since so it is definitely time for a new computer whether it be a Mac or Windows PC. The thing is getting a new gaming desktop PC might not be worth it because I really don't game much these days.

However, with the 3 weeks I had the MacBook Pro, it definitely took some time to get used to and I'm not sure if I got completely used to it. Multitasking seems easier on Windows because of the taskbar. Also, maybe it's because I have been using Windows all this time, Windows seems easier to use and more logical than macOS. I don't have a "genuine reason" to use macOS (meaning there is no app that I must use that is only available on macOS) so I am not sure if the switch is worth it.

What do you guys say? I know it is ultimately up to me but I'm looking for any feedback and opinions I can get.

If you're a gamer, then Windows is for you. It's just that simple.

But for being productive, I believe that the Mac is a vastly better platform. There are more reasons than I can list, but for starters, the Mac touchpad and cursor control is always extremely smooth, and the mouse pointers are always much easier to see and manipulate than Windows pointers. Two finger window scrolling works much more efficiently and smoother on my Mac than on my employer-supplied Windows laptop.

Then there's the million little annoyances of Windows, like when it can't discover a Bluetooth device and you need to dig into the Control Panel or Systems Settings or whatever they call it this week. In part, the Mac is better because the OS is tested with the full hardware platform - laptop, screen, graphics card, Bluetooth controller, WiFi controller, etc. All of this results in an experience that's very consistent from one application to another, making applications and windows easier to manage and use.

One change that takes getting used to is that in Mac OS, you Alt-Tab between Applications (programs), not windows. If you have five windows open in the Chrome browser, you Alt-Tab to Chrome, then you Alt-tilde between Chrome windows. Same thing with MS-Word; you Alt-Tab to Word then you Alt-tilde to the Word window you want to work on. If you only have three windows open, this seems clumsy, but if you have one or two dozen windows open, it's great.

I've had to use Windows and Mac systems for decades and these days, I believe that Mac is much superior. It's just a lot easier to focus on my work and I don't spend fifteen minutes a day trying to fix some stupid OS problem.

Another feature of Macs is that they are very highly integrated with iPhone. If you use your iPhone to store your Contacts, Calendars and Notes, that data is seamlessly shared on your Mac. When you get a text message, it pops up on your Mac. It's all seamless and perfectly integrated. It can be distracting at times to get text message alerts while you're in a meeting or working, but you can enable a Do Not Disturb mode with two clicks.

 

[MapleBeercules]

If you're a gamer, then Windows is for you. It's just that simple.

Anyone who is still using windows to game is wasting their money..
Xbox
PS5 or
Switch <-- recommend highly SUPER MARIO RPG RELEASED TODAY BABY!

Spending 3500$ on a video card and 1500$ on screen just to play the latest game is nothing short of stupid..

but you enjoy windows gaming, back to Mario RPG

 

[davidlv]

in Mac OS, you Alt-Tab between Applications (programs), not windows. If you have five windows open in the Chrome browser, you Alt-Tab to Chrome, then you Alt-tilde between Chrome windows. Same thing with MS-Word; you Alt-Tab to Word then you Alt-tilde to the Word window you want to work on.

What keyboard and Mac are you using? On my Japanese keyboard, M2 MBA, running 14.2b3, Command-Tab switches between apps and Option-Tab between windows. (There has been no Alt key on any Mac I have ever owned.)

 

[zevrix]

While I've been using Macs nearly exclusively since mid-90s, macOS now does have a serious issue with its UI approach (although not all users are affected by this).

Ever since the release of macOS Lion in 2011, Apple embarked on a crusade to destroy the enjoyable experience of using the Mac for many users. That is, for those users who can't tolerate UI animations and other UI convulsions.

The flood of UI convulsions had opened on Lion and didn't stop ever since (with a few exceptions).

While there's a Reduce Motion control in System Settings, it's a fake control. It doesn't do anything (except maybe some obscure animations that I've never even noticed).

Most of the convulsive macOS behavior can, fortunately, be disabled through all kind of obscure Terminal commands. You'll need to scavenge the Internet to find bits and pieces of what you need. (It's possible that they can be also disabled via some 3rd party tweak tools. I just have my collection of shell commands that I copy-paste in Terminal to make macOS tolerable.)

Some of the most annoying animations, however, can not be disabled. Most notably:

-The outline view expand/collapse animation (such as when you expand/collapse a folder in the Finder list view).

-The scrollbar rollover animation: every time you move a mouse over a scroll bar, the scroll bar will be highlighted for no reason whatsoever. Which brings your attention to various scroll bars the mouse happens to pass over countless times a day. It's an enormous distraction (and a severe accessibility violation).

Apple doesn't care.

Android has an option to disable all animations outright (or tweak their duration). One of the main reasons I ditched iOS years ago.

Windows has an option to disable animations (although, with all fairness, I don't know how effective it is - my experience with Windows is only minimal).

With macOS, Apple corrals users who are unwilling to watch the distracting UI convulsions into some kind of a ghetto where they're left to fend for themselves.

 

[ChrisA]

What do you guys think about the Magic Mouse? I've never used one so just looking for some feedback. I assume it would be better integrated into macOS than a third-party mouse?

Yes, if you use a mouse, it works well. Because the top surface is touch sensitive, there is a lot you can do with it. But you can also use a Microsoft mouse. MS makes quality mice.

That said, Aple's track pad is the best device. You can do more things, more gestures with the trackpad then the mouse. Track pads you may have used on PC are generally horrible. Apple's is much better. It is presure senitive and has a glass top surface, not cheap feeling plastic.

Many Windows users say that it took them years to become familiar with Windows and they don't want to "start over". The counter-argument is that it only takes minutes or hours to become familiar with the Mac.

The Mac makes more sense if you own an iPhone. The apps share data so you rarely have to move anything. I take a photo with the iPhone when out on my bike and then come home to find it already on the Mac, so on the Mac I edit it and then text it to someone. Very seemless and there is nothing to do. It just works.

The Mac is not dumbed down to make it easy. It is in fact a full-on UNIX workstation with a software history going back to the early 1970s.

On the other hand, most people could do perfectly well with a $250 Chromebook and don't need Windows or Mac.

 

[zevrix]

The Mac makes more sense if you own an iPhone. The apps share data so you rarely have to move anything. I take a photo with the iPhone when out on my bike and then come home to find it already on the Mac, so on the Mac I edit it and then text it to someone. Very seemless and there is nothing to do. It just works.

With all fairness, it's the same if you own an Android phone. You take a picture with your Galaxy, then come home to find it already on the Mac (in Google Photos).

 

[ProQuiz]

It was just delivered. Time to set it up.

 

[VivienM]

But you can also use a Microsoft mouse. MS makes quality mice.

Not anymore. They've discontinued all their peripherals except a small lineup to go with the Surface products...

Makes me very sad - I've used MS mice and ergonomic keyboards on my Windows machines for about 25 years. And after a few years of some mediocrity (why wasn't there a flagship wireless ergonomic set the past few years?), they've pulled the plug on everything.

It's worth noting there's a general trend of nice quality peripherals, especially on the Windows side, being discontinued in the past decade. Try buying a high-quality set of computer speakers, there used to be tons 20 years ago and now... nearly none, especially if you wanted 5.1. Seems like Windows land is all about the tacky gamer peripherals and the elcheapo laptops nowadays...

 

[VivienM]

One change that takes getting used to is that in Mac OS, you Alt-Tab between Applications (programs), not windows. If you have five windows open in the Chrome browser, you Alt-Tab to Chrome, then you Alt-tilde between Chrome windows. Same thing with MS-Word; you Alt-Tab to Word then you Alt-tilde to the Word window you want to work on. If you only have three windows open, this seems clumsy, but if you have one or two dozen windows open, it's great.

Windows used to be the same way in the 1990s, but then in the early 2000s, starting with Word 2000, Windows programs started to move away from MDI (multiple document interface).

 

[ProQuiz]

Okay, I had half a day of working/playing around with it. Setup and getting everything up and running was much easier this time since I already had the basics down. Internet browsing is SUPER snappy on this thing. Completely destroys my desktop PC when it comes to Internet browsing speed and snappiness. This is with using Safari on macOS 14.1.1. My score on Speedometer 2.1 is 100 points higher (which is a massive difference for this benchmark) with the M3 Pro than with the M2 Pro. As I noticed with the 14" M2 Pro, the screen is simply awesome and blows away my 27" ASUS PQ279Q in picture/image quality. Overall, yes I am going to stick with it and sell my desktop PC (which is now going to be 12 years old this January). I don't game these days and I won't miss not really having the ability to game. In the worst case scenario, I could just get a PlayStation 5 later on if I do come across some game that I just must play or build a new desktop PC just for gaming.

Oh, and the Space Black color is awesome. I like how it changes hue depending on the lighting conditions and also when looking at it from different angles. Happy I got this over Silver.

 

[ProQuiz]

By the way, I am not sure if I want to get a mouse for this. I always got a mouse when working on Windows laptops. The trackpad on this thing is awesome so I am not sure if a mouse will be better?

 

[auxbuss]

By the way, I am not sure if I want to get a mouse for this. I always got a mouse when working on Windows laptops. The trackpad on this thing is awesome so I am not sure if a mouse will be better?

I'm right-handed, but got used to using a mouse with my left hand after a touch of RSI years ago. So I use both a mouse and the trackpad when sitting at a desk: mouse left hand, trackpad right. The trackpad is useful for accessing Mission Control, Exposé, and switching Desktops. On the move, I just use the trackpad, obvs.

 

[jido]

For my work MacBook I use an angled stand, that makes the keyboard more ergonomic and I use a mouse on the side.
For my own MacBook that moves around the house I use the trackpad only.

 

[Pandyone]

By the way, I am not sure if I want to get a mouse for this. I always got a mouse when working on Windows laptops. The trackpad on this thing is awesome so I am not sure if a mouse will be better?

I’m really happy with the Magic Mouse, but my “natural” grip is like a claw, so it works for me.
Bettertouchtool makes it awesome, best of two worlds with different gestures and double tap and so on, while still being a mouse.

 

[Bazza1]

By the way, I am not sure if I want to get a mouse for this. I always got a mouse when working on Windows laptops. The trackpad on this thing is awesome so I am not sure if a mouse will be better?

I use both - and either a USB or Bluetooth mouse can often be had for under $30 (I use Logitech). Its probably a throwback to my Windows days, but I find I use the mouse for most of the stuff I do.

 

[ProQuiz]

Is it normal when you secondary click or Control-click on a link or forum thread title in Safari, that link or thread title becomes highlighted in a different color as if you highlighted/selected it when trying to copy it?

 

[jido]

Yes. You can then copy the text (vs copy the link in the contextual menu).

 

[ProQuiz]

I've started to really love this MacBook Pro. My grasp of macOS improves everyday. I've been spending far more time on it than my desktop PC (which I put up for sale).

 

[Steve121178]

By the way, I am not sure if I want to get a mouse for this. I always got a mouse when working on Windows laptops. The trackpad on this thing is awesome so I am not sure if a mouse will be better?

I use the trackpad 99% of the time, but sometimes a mouse is better if you want more precision or if you are doing some work in Photoshop for example.

 

[davidlv]

It was just delivered. Time to set it up.

What it that "it" you speak of?
(Put your hardware in your signature, ot list it in every post you make. Nobody but you can remember what you are talking about, first mentioned two or three pages ago!)

 

[ProQuiz]

What it that "it" you speak of?
(Put your hardware in your signature, ot list it in every post you make. Nobody but you can remember what you are talking about, first mentioned two or three pages ago!)

Base model 14" M3 Pro in Space Black with 18 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD.