New to iMac - Windows User

[GalaDaliGirl]

After using windows for 25 years I thought I would finally try and use a Mac and truly see if it’s a better platform.

1 month later I have to say it’s not nearly as user friendly as Windows with regards to managing the UI. I can’t turn off auto hide for the dock is one thing that bugs me. So easy with M$.

Managing browser windows is also terribly confusing. It took me like 5 minutes to figure out how to get out of full screen mode as I was trying to view video tutorials while using a new program. I just shook my head as Windows is so much easier.

For a power user the system doesn’t offer nearly as much customization options as Windows. Less easy to break, of course. But I guess this is their purpose with iOS and macOS.

Placing the Window controls on the left side is so unintuitive as well. The eyes are trained to manage on the right hand side. Having the controls on the left is just counter intuitive.

I feel like Apple does the same with Macs as they do with iOS. Make it as simple and non customizable as possible. Make it difficult to break.

Yes, Windows is way complex and can be broken with one or two wrong clicks by grandma or a child.

I will keep the Mac only for garage band. But I am glad to know that Windows is still such a better and more intuitive OS in the management of the UI and overall flexibility.

I will never understand why people can say mac is better than Windows. There is just no way. Things that are simple to do in Windows is a struggle on Mac.

Now I know why the biggest Mac freak in the world I know ditched them for Dell a few years ago. That was shocking to me since he ridiculed us for being Windows users.

This is not a flame thread. I’m just sharing that I spent $2500 on an iMac and it’s not the greatest user experience whatsoever. I’m not returning it and will continue to keep it around but now I know that Microsoft truly makes a superior OS by far. For me, anyway.

 

[trsblader]

Your first 2 points give me the feeling you either didn't try hard, or don't want to learn.

Settings -> dock -> automatically hide or show the dock. Done.

If you are full screen and go to the top left where the controls are, they auto show the controls in most apps (though VLC does their own custom controls and I'm sure other programs do the same. This is a gripe with them, not Apple).

The rest of your post just sounds like you were already anti Apple but bought a computer anyway. Not sure what you hoped to achieve. I think if your biggest complaint is that it looks different, then you're just trying to convince yourself you have a complaint; perhaps a little bit of buyers remorse setting in.

For what it's worth, I haven't even been using computers 25 years, and my work computer is Windows while all 3 computers at home are Mac's and I have zero issues going back and forth between the 2 on a daily basis. I even sometimes have my laptop with me at work and am working on both simultaneously.

EDIT: looked through your post history -- you are absolutely just anti-Apple. Every piece of hardware or software Apple has made since the 5s is garbage to you. I'd suggest if you're that unhappy to go to other products.

 

[gian8989]

To make all easier (at least for me that i am used to older OS) install:
- TotalSpaces 2
- TotalFinder
- mySYMBL (usefull to remove the fullscreen volume icon, having colored icons in sidebar and use full screen app like in windows OS)

Also don't use VLC and install IINA


About the usability of MacOS I still find it better than windows in some things but is way worse than how it was years ago with snow leopard

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

Good lord. I looked at that screen 10 times yesterday and did not see that check box. Google searches also came up with so many “you can’t do that hits....”

Thanks.

I’m just sharing that this OS is just so dumbed down and so unintuitive.

The fact that I have to use a third party tool to manage files intuitively is lame as well.

Also, the mouse jitters when using the scroll wheel in any window I’m in. This is hideous. Is this a known issue when using a non Apple mouse? I hate the stock Apple mouse and KB so I bought a 3rd party one.

 

[Apple Fritter]

So you let Microsoft burn itself into your neurons for 25 years and now it's Apple's fault you can't get used to another way of doing things within a mere month.

Since you clearly aren't even able to flip a switch in the—compared to your beloved OS—wonderfully intuitive system settings to toggle the dock I recommend you do take it back a.s.a.p.

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

So you let Microsoft burn itself into your neurons for 25 years and now it's Apple's fault you can't get used to another way of doing things within a mere month.

Since you clearly aren't even able to flip a switch in the—compared to your beloved OS—wonderfully intuitive system settings to toggle the dock I recommend you do take it back a.s.a.p.

So aggressive and mad. wow.

 

[Apple Fritter]

So aggressive and mad. wow.

Nah. Just the obvious reaction to a mindless post. Wish I had 1$ for every user ever switching the system he's used to and expecting everything to be the same. Uttering the mere expectation just beats me.

 

[NajamQ]

It's actually funny. Windows now look and feel rubbish to me after only 3 years on Mac. I migrated after using windows for 15 years and you may be right about steep learning curve initially, but MacOS is the most intuitive OS I have ever used.

1. Learn to use Spotlight, your daily tasks will be 10 times better.

2. Learn to use Terminal without fearing it. MacOS is Unix based system and you can control even the minute things using command line. Far more than windows.

3. You will never need to reinstall the OS. Ever, unless for a specific purpose. It doesn't slow down after a while like windows.

4. You will have to let go of refresh the desktop habit. I know it's hard but you will get through it.

5. The first two weeks are difficult as you come from windows and have developed an intuition towards managing your OS. It doesn't give you right to criticize Apple for not being intuitive, it's absurd to do so.

5. The most difficulty you'll ever face in first few days is getting used to Finder as Explorer replacement.

6. Apps are extremely easy to install and uninstall.

7. Learn keyboard shortcuts. E.g. command+option+D makes dock autohide on or off. It's that simple. Also you can right click the dock for same options. I am actually amazed how nit picking you are doing.

Windows give you an illusion of control. It lets you "customize" the OS to your heart and it ends there. On Mac you have Terminal which gives you complete control.

 

[NajamQ]

Nah. Just the obvious reaction to a mindless post. Wish I had 1$ for every user ever switching the system he's used to and expecting everything to be the same. Uttering the mere expectation just beats me.

Everything is same if you understand the basic concepts. Simple doesn't mean dumbed down. It's same as saying windows in powerful because it looks complex. (Refreshing the desktop makes your windows PC faster - pun intended)

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

It's actually funny. Windows now look and feel rubbish to me after only 3 years on Mac. I migrated after using windows for 15 years and you may be right about steep learning curve initially, but MacOS is the most intuitive OS I have ever used.

1. Learn to use Spotlight, your daily tasks will be 10 times better.

2. Learn to use Terminal without fearing it. MacOS is Unix based system and you can control even the minute things using command line. Far more than windows.

3. You will never need to reinstall the OS. Ever, unless for a specific purpose. It doesn't slow down after a while like windows.

4. You will have to let go of refresh the desktop habit. I know it's hard but you will get through it.

5. The first two weeks are difficult as you come from windows and have developed an intuition towards managing your OS. It doesn't give you right to criticize Apple for not being intuitive, it's absurd to do so.

5. The most difficulty you'll ever face in first few days is getting used to Finder as Explorer replacement.

6. Apps are extremely easy to install and uninstall.

7. Learn keyboard shortcuts. E.g. command+option+D makes dock autohide on or off. It's that simple. Also you can right click the dock for same options. I am actually amazed how nit picking you are doing.

Windows give you an illusion of control. It lets you "customize" the OS to your heart and it ends there. On Mac you have Terminal which gives you complete control.

Using terminal I assume, requires bash/PERL/C/Python.....correct?

I’m not a programmer in those languages. If I need a Linux box I can have one. I don’t want my desktop to be a command line juggernaut. I want simplicity. Windows allows you to do so much more from a system management perspective from what I can tell so far.

Windows is like a LearJet.

Mac is like, Herbie the LoveBug. Cute but not powerful or easily customizable at all. Funny that I hate Android.

I’m keeping it so it’s not a complete waste of money. But I’m just glad to know that M$ Winders creams it out of the water based on one month of forcing myself to use it as an alternative.

Windows is just a better, more fluid all around OS.

 

[MacDawg]

If macOS did everything exactly like you are used to in Windows it would, umm, be Windows
There are differences to get used to, yes, but the core capabilities between the two are the same

I use Windows 7 and Windows 10 extensively for work
Yet I have my MBA on my desk between 2 Windows boxes
I wouldn't say Windows blows chunks, but when given a choice, I choose macOS without even blinking

And no, you don't need PERL/C/Python to run a command in terminal
Besides you will prolly never need to use terminal anyway

 

[NajamQ]

Using terminal I assume, requires bash/PERL/C/Python.....correct?

I’m not a programmer in those languages. If I need a Linux box I can have one. I don’t want my desktop to be a command line juggernaut. I want simplicity. Windows allows you to do so much more from a system management perspective from what I can tell so far.

Windows is like a LearJet.

Mac is like, Herbie the LoveBug. Cute but not powerful or easily customizable at all. Funny that I hate Android.

I’m keeping it so it’s not a complete waste of money. But I’m just glad to know that M$ Winders creams it out of the water based on one month of forcing myself to use it as an alternative.

Windows is just a better, more fluid all around OS.

You are just being stubborn and inventing ideas to hate on Apple.

Hopeless. Might just return your iMac. Save your $2500. Why did you buy it in first place. Apple store has display units and they let you play around as much as you like. Wouldn't it occur to you it's not your cup of tea before spending money on an expensive machine. Your post history also tells you like to nit pick on Apple more than taking it as a windows alternative.

This is a flame thread indeed.

PS: What sort of customization you are looking for anyway?

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

You are just being stubborn and inventing ideas to hate on Apple.

Hopeless. Might just return your iMac. Save your $2500. Why did you buy it in first place. Apple store has display units and they let you play around as much as you like. Wouldn't it occur to you it's not your cup of tea before spending money on an expensive machine. Your post history also tells you like to nit pick on Apple more than taking it as a windows alternative.

This is a flame thread indeed.

PS: What sort of customization you are looking for anyway?

LoL

Look at the SaveAs dialog box in Windows Word -vs- Mac Word.

The MAC SaveAs dialog box is just so blatantly lacking.

Windows is just easier to manage and manipulate objects. Everything is so clear.

MacOS is just not nearly as friendly in that small example which to me is so important.

It’s just all the little things that Windows has that Mac doesn’t that start to accumulate and you start to miss the other. I wanted to walk into this first purchase with an open heart and mind - and really see if it’s better. There is no way on earth I can even come close to saying that. Again, I worked with a guy that was one of the most prolific game designers in the world and he totally threw his MACs out and it was absolutely shocking.

Windows is just so crystal clear in all UI aspects. macOS tries to be this sublime, borderline pretentious, unnecessarily mysterious, functionally inferior experience.

I wanted to love it. But I just can’t at all. It’s weird because I know so many people that do. But I just find it impossible with all of the little things that are nowhere to be found that make desktop computing still important to content creators and people that cannot possibly produce important, valuable work on tablets of any kind.

Desktops still matter so much. Regardless of what trends they’ve tried to establish or force. Desktops is where the real work is done.

 

[w4z]

also 20 years windows user here, still using windows at work, 2 years with mac

i think the difference is between windows & mac, you can use windows with only mouse but mac needs keyboard & mouse for faster workflow, you must learn keyboard shortcuts,

my game changer shortcuts;

Expose → System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Mission Control → Application Windows → ⌘ + ~

you can use tab to switch apps after activation expose, its pro level alt+tab

Mission Control → System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Mission Control → Mission Control → ⌥ + ~

Show Desktop→ System Preferences → Keyboard → Shortcuts → Mission Control → Show Desktop→ ^ + ~

for finder;

⌘ + ⇧ + G : go to file/folder path

⌘ + ⌥ + C : copy file/folder path ( also you can create a service for this to add right click menu )

and drag and drop features is quite powerful in mac, you can drag selected text/image/file to app icon etc., you can drag target folder icon to save dialog to quick navigation

use spring delay feature for many thing, you can drag files to back/forward buttons too

use tabs in finder

bettertouchtool is must have, edge snap feature built in, you can map new shortcuts like double click on menubar to take screenshot, 3 finger middle click for trackpad...

only disadvantage of macos, u can't disable window animations, its really time saver on windows for me, but if you use expose & mission control animations will be less disturbing

don't try to find winrar alternative for mac, just use wineskin for that, install the unarchiver for basic use

everything is different in mac, think different

 

[jerwin]

Using terminal I assume, requires bash/PERL/C/Python.....correct?

Do you not use powershell?

 

[NajamQ]

LoL

1. Look at the SaveAs dialog box in Windows Word -vs- Mac Word.

2. The MAC SaveAs dialog box is just so blatantly lacking.

Windows is just easier to manage and manipulate objects. Everything is so clear.

MacOS is just not nearly as friendly in that small example which to me is so important.

It’s just all the little things that Windows has that Mac doesn’t that start to accumulate and you start to miss the other. I wanted to walk into this 3. first purchase with an open heart and mind - and really see if it’s better. There is no way on earth I can even come close to saying that. Again, I worked with a guy that was one of the most prolific game designers in the world and he totally threw his MACs out and it was absolutely shocking.

4. Windows is just so crystal clear in all UI aspects. 5. macOS tries to be this sublime, borderline pretentious, unnecessarily mysterious, functionally inferior experience.

1. See that Chevron alongside file name text box, it opens up more options.

2. It depends what options is given by App, and MS Office save dialogue on both Mac and Windows is same.

3. Then try to keep an open heart and mind and try to give it some time and learn it. Try to make your workflow the same as on windows and soon you will be able to use the new UI as efficiently as windows.

4. It depends on what version of windows you are referring to. Windows UI was best up to windows 7 and it's a downhill after that. I don't blame you if you are used to Windows 7, It's a lovely OS albeit a bit old.

5. There is nothing mysterious about UI experience on Mac, it's actually very powerful and streamlined. You are saying that because it's an alien environment to you. Once you have learned it, you will like it.

 

[jerwin]

I regularly use a bit of software on my windows partition that makes it inconvenient to Save As or Open a file on my F: drive (or my various google drive, dropbox, etc). I have to open up a file tree each time. Gah!
it's GUI predates the current standard.

On my Mac, I simply drag the my current work directory into the "favorites" side bar. Easy peasy. So, I might have mysterious folders like "LMP" or "figs", or "article due July 2018" littering my sidebar for a time until the contracts been fulfilled.
If I need to save or open a file, I click on the sidebar, and the working directory changes..

When they're all sorted, and my work's been published, I drag the shortcuts out of the sidebar-- and god willing, drag in some new shortcuts.

 

[kazmac]

OP, if you ask nicely, you will find some very helpful people here at Mac Rumors including some awesome folks in this thread. I've been using both platforms for about the same amount of time (Windows at work, Macs at home). I consider myself a Mac user.

For me, OS X is not dumbed down, I see it as an OS that stays out of my way so I can use my iMac to create content. I do not have to think running my iMac so I can write, design etc. I'll leave any thinking I do for the content.

If Macs aren't your thing, no worries there, but if you want to learn, politely asking for help is a great way to learn how to use your iMac.

Thanks to the folks who posted tips.

I also add heavily used directories to my dock.

 

[borgranta]

setting up wireless printer using air print on Apple devices is much easier than doing so on windows based on my experience with 2 separate windows 7 computers and an iPhone 4S. My WIN 7 laptop would install the HP ENVY 4500 but not the Samsung Xpress multifunction laser printer. My WIN 7 desktop would install the Samsung Xpress multifunction laser printer but not the HP ENVY 4500. My iPhone has no problem printing from both. I also have an aging Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 that will print on both as well.
[doublepost=1529306608][/doublepost]Bing rewards gives increased rewards for searching using the Edge browser in Windows 10 so that may be a good reason to use windows 10 in addition to Mac.

 

[alien3dx]

After using windows for 25 years I thought I would finally try and use a Mac and truly see if it’s a better platform.

1 month later I have to say it’s not nearly as user friendly as Windows with regards to managing the UI. I can’t turn off auto hide for the dock is one thing that bugs me. So easy with M$.
.

It's auto hide sir. Not sure i'm pressing anything

Managing browser windows is also terribly confusing. It took me like 5 minutes to figure out how to get out of full screen mode as I was trying to view video tutorials while using a new program. I just shook my head as Windows is so much easier.

Yes alt-tab in windows , much intuitive and expose..

For a power user the system doesn’t offer nearly as much customization options as Windows. Less easy to break, of course. But I guess this is their purpose with iOS and macOS.

Placing the Window controls on the left side is so unintuitive as well. The eyes are trained to manage on the right hand side. Having the controls on the left is just counter intuitive.

I feel like Apple does the same with Macs as they do with iOS. Make it as simple and non customizable as possible. Make it difficult to break.

Yes, Windows is way complex and can be broken with one or two wrong clicks by grandma or a child.

Yes, it's fill kinda odd when askin people to do terminal. But in osx, i rather go to terminal.. Compare to windows, i just type at the address bar.. go to control panel/folder/and so on..

Folder in OSX same as normal linux, Don't touch it it. Put all junk in document instead.

I will keep the Mac only for garage band. But I am glad to know that Windows is still such a better and more intuitive OS in the management of the UI and overall flexibility.

I will never understand why people can say mac is better than Windows. There is just no way. Things that are simple to do in Windows is a struggle on Mac.

Something thing like up one folder, i need to search into internet, not to forget control X sometimes work or you need to press multiply keyboard for it.. I don't like to remember a lot of key .

Now I know why the biggest Mac freak in the world I know ditched them for Dell a few years ago. That was shocking to me since he ridiculed us for being Windows users.

This is not a flame thread. I’m just sharing that I spent $2500 on an iMac and it’s not the greatest user experience whatsoever. I’m not returning it and will continue to keep it around but now I know that Microsoft truly makes a superior OS by far. For me, anyway.

Treat as new platform, ubuntu have their own style, fedora have own style, so as OSX. Yes,it totally struggle to move one mindset windows/linux flavour to OSX.

I'm waiting all major OS to customise service on demand, if gaming this service, if doing video editing use this service, if normal work, this service.

Have a great new journey with OSX sir .

 

[NajamQ]

When I migrated to Mac, I was already using windows as a power user. Over time I got tired of managing and troubleshooting OS itself rather than being productive. Random BSODs, driver problems, inconsistent App designs, fragmated file management, OS being too aggressive in security related alerts. And with windows 8.1 onwards, the dreaded updates, being forced onto you and interrupting your work. Coratana is a joke in itself.

I wanted simplicity for I wanted to work, instead of spending few hours every now and then to troubleshoot windows related problems. So I started using Mac exclusively, after few days of learning, it became second nature to me. I don't know how I spent so many years on windows while MacOS built in features are way more powerful and intuitive.

I think it's the same problem OP is facing. Suddenly the focus has been shifted from tinkering with OS towards being productive and content creation. The mind wants to dig into OS and "customize" it. Mac on the other hand tells you to be productive and gets out of its way.

For example simply pressing spacebar on any file gives you a preview whether it's a PDF or movie or audio or any document. Typing "files I edited yesterday " in spotlight gives you a list of files you were working on a day before. Grab is built in screen shot tool and very powerful. There are countless similar intuitive shortcuts and built in features which makes windows look dumb after a while. And how can you not realize how awesome is Airdrop, built in internet accounts integration, Safari's own amazing password Manager which syncs with keychain on all Apple devices. It's an integrated environment, everything is seamless.

The TLDR is migrating to mac os is almost entirely based on MacOS being better than windows in many ways. Hardware is secondary. It's about user experience and it's quite amazing once you learn it.

 

[allan.nyholm]

This discussion about having buyers remorse is something to talk to your spouse or partner about. No one gives a flying hat about how you don't like macOS.

 

[alien3dx]

When I migrated to Mac, I was already using windows as a power user. Over time I got tired of managing and troubleshooting OS itself rather than being productive. Random BSODs, driver problems, inconsistent App designs, fragmated file management, OS being too aggressive in security related alerts. And with windows 8.1 onwards, the dreaded updates, being forced onto you and interrupting your work. Coratana is a joke in itself.

I wanted simplicity for I wanted to work, instead of spending few hours every now and then to troubleshoot windows related problems. So I started using Mac exclusively, after few days of learning, it became second nature to me. I don't know how I spent so many years on windows while MacOS built in features are way more powerful and intuitive.

I think it's the same problem OP is facing. Suddenly the focus has been shifted from tinkering with OS towards being productive and content creation. The mind wants to dig into OS and "customize" it. Mac on the other hand tells you to be productive and gets out of its way.

For example simply pressing spacebar on any file gives you a preview whether it's a PDF or movie or audio or any document. Typing "files I edited yesterday " in spotlight gives you a list of files you were working on a day before. Grab is built in screen shot tool and very powerful. There are countless similar intuitive shortcuts and built in features which makes windows look dumb after a while. And how can you not realize how awesome is Airdrop, built in internet accounts integration, Safari's own amazing password Manager which syncs with keychain on all Apple devices. It's an integrated environment, everything is seamless.

The TLDR is migrating to mac os is almost entirely based on MacOS being better than windows in many ways. Hardware is secondary. It's about user experience and it's quite amazing once you learn it.

Normal windows kinda unstable, every 6 month /1 year. You need to reinstall .If you install NT OS, it the best thing ever no need to think all the mess up windows.The best still to me windows server 2008 r2 . Cortana is a joke so as SIRI anyway.

Yes, keychain the best thing ever in OSX and if have iphone together.. I'm pretty lazy to remember or generate new passsword. It the most hardest to me, some website asking to this x ,this y, this z..

Spotlight and Windows Search is RAM plague, caching memory with it. Unless you have a lot of ram. Go for it. I disable both of them anyway.

Opps 1 year usage, i never need to think reinstall,thinking regedit. Virus in windows just scripting vbs/js for most. Maybe the market OSX is small , still got viruses but not much..

Long time ago , try osx and see a mouse. No left click.. only one. How to use this dumb thing. But today i still use my logitech m20.. It's much better then magic mouse.

 

[NajamQ]

Normal windows kinda unstable, every 6 month /1 year. You need to reinstall .If you install NT OS, it the best thing ever no need to think all the mess up windows.The best still to me windows server 2008 r2 . Cortana is a joke so as SIRI anyway.

Yes, keychain the best thing ever in OSX and if have iphone together.. I'm pretty lazy to remember or generate new passsword. It the most hardest to me, some website asking to this x ,this y, this z..

Spotlight and Windows Search is RAM plague, caching memory with it. Unless you have a lot of ram. Go for it. I disable both of them anyway.

Opps 1 year usage, i never need to think reinstall,thinking regedit. Virus in windows just scripting vbs/js for most. Maybe the market OSX is small , still got viruses but not much..

Long time ago , try osx and see a mouse. No left click.. only one. How to use this dumb thing. But today i still use my logitech m20.. It's much better then magic mouse.

+1 on mouse. I still use MX518 and now a days Logitech G302. A little app called smoothscroll takes care of smooth scroll problems. I also use trackpad and once gone about 6 months without ever touching the mouse. It's mostly subjective preferences.

And yes. Those windows versions were the best. Very stable just like on windows 2000 on which I spend almost all of my teen years.

I miss yearly 2000s of computing. It was magical. Internet was still in infency, smartphones were non-existent. Laptops were expensive and had a purpose. Mac was also undergoing metamorphosis. Those were good days. New generation doesn't appreciate technology, it's not about hating one because you don't understand it, we used to be amazed by it and still do.

 

[tarsins]

Placing the Window controls on the left side is so unintuitive as well. The eyes are trained to manage on the right hand side. Having the controls on the left is just counter intuitive.

How counter intuitive of Microsoft to put the Start button and menu, Office sidebars, Explorer Quick-Access toolbar, etc., etc. on the left.
Where is this eye-training school you speak of?
You just want to run some decent software that isn't available on Windows but just aren't prepared to put in the small effort required to learn some new ways.