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New to iMac - Windows User
- Thread starter GalaDaliGirl
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I was a PC person for 30+ years and during that time I used one Apple computer seriously (the Apple llc) & goofed around on 2 (My Sister's Macintosh (the original) and my late Aunt's MacBook). I can tell you from personal experience that I almost never bought an Apple Computer having tried working on my Aunt's MacBook. Thankfully I did and I'm know finding working in OS X just as easy Windows. I found that one has to sit down with an Apple Computer and take your time getting to know the OS if you're coming from the PC side. While it might be "dumb" down as you call it, I found it more confusing for a lot of operations are just the opposite. What I mean is top right on Windows is top left on OS X and what is bottom right on Windows is top right on OS X. I do have to say getting to setting is more intuitive on OS X than Windows, well at least for me it is. I even now find myself wanting to close a window by going to the upper right and I have been solely an Apple user for about 4 to 5 years now.
I used to build my own computers when I was on the Windows side and be up on the latest computer component specs, but know I just use my computer(s) as a tool. Sure there are faster and cheaper computers on the PC side, but computers in general are fast enough. Heck, even some of you cheaper model Apple computers can keep up with the faster models. Granted they might take more time, but in the end the job will get done. I like that fact that I can just tap a key and start working on my iMac without turning it on and I rarely reboot. I know towards the end of the PC side that Windows was getting just as reliable when it came to that. In my opinion a computer is just a tool.
I used to build my own computers when I was on the Windows side and be up on the latest computer component specs, but know I just use my computer(s) as a tool. Sure there are faster and cheaper computers on the PC side, but computers in general are fast enough. Heck, even some of you cheaper model Apple computers can keep up with the faster models. Granted they might take more time, but in the end the job will get done. I like that fact that I can just tap a key and start working on my iMac without turning it on and I rarely reboot. I know towards the end of the PC side that Windows was getting just as reliable when it came to that. In my opinion a computer is just a tool.
Give it some time and relax. 
These matters are not quite a matter of taste, but what makes it hard to speak about usability, ease of use etc is because if is a multifaceted question. You say you've been on Windows for 25 years, so of course the change will be somewhat rough. Don't worry. And it is quite possible that you are among the ones who prefer Windows better and that is ok too.
There are plenty of reasons to like each system and a place like this is already getting close to a flaming fest with people talking about 'intuitive', 'usability' and other terms without any idea what they are talking about and overgeneralizing personal feelings and habits. Chill, lean back, have a beer and lean back with a nice cup of coffee.
To me, the value of something like macOS is that while I don't have to adjust that much, it is predictable, rather reliable and has a good app support and many of the technical factors for photo/video/design work are done correctly from ground up. And I find it is often faster to do more simple actions than fewer but which require thinking and consideration. But that's just me, of course.
These matters are not quite a matter of taste, but what makes it hard to speak about usability, ease of use etc is because if is a multifaceted question. You say you've been on Windows for 25 years, so of course the change will be somewhat rough. Don't worry. And it is quite possible that you are among the ones who prefer Windows better and that is ok too.
There are plenty of reasons to like each system and a place like this is already getting close to a flaming fest with people talking about 'intuitive', 'usability' and other terms without any idea what they are talking about and overgeneralizing personal feelings and habits. Chill, lean back, have a beer and lean back with a nice cup of coffee.
To me, the value of something like macOS is that while I don't have to adjust that much, it is predictable, rather reliable and has a good app support and many of the technical factors for photo/video/design work are done correctly from ground up. And I find it is often faster to do more simple actions than fewer but which require thinking and consideration. But that's just me, of course.
there is no need for a third party tool to manage files
don't use a windows mouse, there are many issues with them.
scrolling is not precise at all and only in one direction, give your hand some months with the magic mouse, as with any other peripheral your muscles will adapt and you gonna feel comfortable and notice this is the best mouse shape ever invented.
you miss the most important feature of macOS using windows mices: multitouch & gestures, which are used across the board
don't try to use it as a windows machine, you have to learn how things are done on a mac properly
learning a mac actually takes years, its not like switching from android to iOS
I will have to concur with this statement that out of the box macOS is pretty unusable for me outside of going on the internet. Once you get through customizing it and adding a 'snap it' app the OS starts to shine much more and file management becomes much more usable. It would be great if Apple had some kind of profile for advance users that you could flip a switch.
On Windows 7 for example out of the box i'm tinkering with it much less to get it to somewhat of a decent file management setup. I could get that thing up and running to my liking much quicker(assuming it's a clean install and not some bogus version that has ad-ware installed from the manufacture). With this said macOS is really nice in that regard.
I think both OSs have their strengths and their isn't one that does everything better.
i small person . I only used magic mouse like a track pad alternative
One thing that really pisses me off about the mac interface is the option key.
if you hold down the option key, while using certain user interface elements, different things can happen. These additional effects can be quite useful. But the existence of these additional items isn't well documented.
if you hold down the option key, while using certain user interface elements, different things can happen. These additional effects can be quite useful. But the existence of these additional items isn't well documented.
After using Windows for most of my life and then going to an iMac ten years ago....I gotta say....it's nice to be back on OSX...er...macOS. I received my SSD powered iMac today and it's the bees knees. Couldn't have more of a COMPLETE opposite experience as this poster.
iPhone integration with this computer is extremely intuitive. I've had an iPhone since the 3G (when I had my first iMac) and it's come such a long way in both hardware and software integration. Siri works great on the Mac. I like using Siri on the Mac more than I do on my phone. The OS is phenomenal, the computer is as quiet as a mouse, and the display is to die for. I will never not own an iMac again from this point on now that I'm an adult and can afford to upgrade when I want to (hurray!).
Good luck on Windows!
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Mmm-- I'm thinking more like this.
https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how-to-really-use-the-magical-option-key-on-the-mac
Secret menu items for people in the know.
One major issue I have now which is a showstopper is the jumping mouse track wheel issue.
Scrolling jumps al over the place. I have read so many posts on fixes for all types of mice that I am dizzy.
It’s a globally painful issue so much so that people write utilities to combat it.
I cannot get rid of it and at this point it’s truly unbearable.
Scrolling jumps al over the place. I have read so many posts on fixes for all types of mice that I am dizzy.
It’s a globally painful issue so much so that people write utilities to combat it.
I cannot get rid of it and at this point it’s truly unbearable.
What mouse/trackpad are you using? I've been using MagicMouse (2) and MagicTrackpad for as long as I can remember... no "jumping mouse track wheel issue" whatsoever.
yes it possible , i rarely use magic mouse because of that , lower palm and finger . The reason i used magic mouse like a trackpad, used it to scroll with finger only .**small hand
Re post #29 above:
"don't use a windows mouse, there are many issues with them"
THIS is not true.
A "windows" (i.e., 3rd-party) mouse will work as well as any Apple mouse, perhaps BETTER.
I haven't used an Apple-branded mouse since the end of "ADB" days. A lot of posters here won't even understand what that means.
Logitech makes great mice, been using them for years with both desktop Macs I own.
OP:
What brand mouse are you using? What model?
Suggestion:
Download "SteerMouse" and give it a try.
"don't use a windows mouse, there are many issues with them"
THIS is not true.
A "windows" (i.e., 3rd-party) mouse will work as well as any Apple mouse, perhaps BETTER.
I haven't used an Apple-branded mouse since the end of "ADB" days. A lot of posters here won't even understand what that means.
Logitech makes great mice, been using them for years with both desktop Macs I own.
OP:
What brand mouse are you using? What model?
Suggestion:
Download "SteerMouse" and give it a try.
what browser ?
Flash player ?
ad blockers?
what mice are you using ?
logitech and razer are the worst, usually they work best without the driver installed
use apple devices and safari to enjoy "analog" butter smooth scrolling, and many more features unavailable else
Yea I use SteerMouse. Works great.
Apple branded mice are terrible for tracking / ergonomics (IMO). Some of the multi-touch stuff is cool, but I realized after a few hours a good'ol regular mouse was more comfortable and easier to use.
I really think this person is trolling. I do not think it's a real account.
It seems that nearly all the OP's complaints can be summarized as "I'm used to Windows and MacOS is different". Of course things are "intuitive" for you on Windows, you have been doing things that way for decades. Of course your eyes are "trained" to go to top right to close a window as you have doing that for 20 years. However, you'd be hard pressed to prove top right or top left is "better". Though actually playing devil's advocate, most cultures read left to right, so if anything the "eye" is trained to go the left.
If you took a long-time Mac user and sat him in front of a Windows computer, things would seem confusing, non-intuitive, difficult, etc. All these advanced things you can do on Windows simply, is because you have experience and know how to do them. If one was starting from scratch, those "simple" thing would have to be researched and learned.
I'm a long time application developer for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Each OS has pros and cons. Across each there are very, very few OS features/aspects that are just bad or inherently worse. Operating systems are very complex and there are a lot of decisions and trade-offs that must be made and they don't always fit a particular workflow or mindset. It is important to not fight the operating system and try to make it be a different one. When I'm working with a Mac, I do things the Mac way, with Windows, I do it the Windows way, and the Linux way when working with Linux. Otherwise, you just set yourself up for headache.
Not sure if it is helpful to the OP, but for example certain Logitech mice require installing Logitech's drivers or scrolling doesn't work right.
And still not sure if OP is just trolling...
If you took a long-time Mac user and sat him in front of a Windows computer, things would seem confusing, non-intuitive, difficult, etc. All these advanced things you can do on Windows simply, is because you have experience and know how to do them. If one was starting from scratch, those "simple" thing would have to be researched and learned.
I'm a long time application developer for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Each OS has pros and cons. Across each there are very, very few OS features/aspects that are just bad or inherently worse. Operating systems are very complex and there are a lot of decisions and trade-offs that must be made and they don't always fit a particular workflow or mindset. It is important to not fight the operating system and try to make it be a different one. When I'm working with a Mac, I do things the Mac way, with Windows, I do it the Windows way, and the Linux way when working with Linux. Otherwise, you just set yourself up for headache.
Not sure if it is helpful to the OP, but for example certain Logitech mice require installing Logitech's drivers or scrolling doesn't work right.
And still not sure if OP is just trolling...
OP,
You didn't learn everything about Windows in 1 day. I am sure it didn't all feel comfortable or intuitive at first. The same learning process goes into learning any new OS system.
If you don't want to take the time to learn the Apple system, return your iMac and get your money back. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for having a lack of patience and understanding as to what is involved in learning and using a new OS. From reading your post, you appear to have been closed-minded from the start, and trying to use MacOS with the same mindset and mental reference as Windows. It doesn't work that way. And it isn't Apple's fault that it doesn't.
Your post reminds me of so many people that come to this site after buying an Apple product for the first time, and then complain about every single thing, instead of taking the time to learn the basics, which will allow one to delve deeper into being more comfortable with the device.
The iMac is an iMac. It isn't a Windows computer, so stop trying to treat it as such. Either take the time to learn the expensive device you purchased, or return it and keep using the same OS that also took you time to learn.
You didn't learn everything about Windows in 1 day. I am sure it didn't all feel comfortable or intuitive at first. The same learning process goes into learning any new OS system.
If you don't want to take the time to learn the Apple system, return your iMac and get your money back. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for having a lack of patience and understanding as to what is involved in learning and using a new OS. From reading your post, you appear to have been closed-minded from the start, and trying to use MacOS with the same mindset and mental reference as Windows. It doesn't work that way. And it isn't Apple's fault that it doesn't.
Your post reminds me of so many people that come to this site after buying an Apple product for the first time, and then complain about every single thing, instead of taking the time to learn the basics, which will allow one to delve deeper into being more comfortable with the device.
The iMac is an iMac. It isn't a Windows computer, so stop trying to treat it as such. Either take the time to learn the expensive device you purchased, or return it and keep using the same OS that also took you time to learn.
That sounds like my first month with an iMac, back in 2008. As far as "intuitive", using the right side of the road is intuitive for those of us in the US, but for those in the UK, it isn't. The point is that what we learn first sets the precedence for what is intuitive for the future.
I had a Windows domain (I was an MCSE, MCP, and a bunch of other Microsoft certs, all good stuff), and my kids broke the computers many times, and I was the IT person... Macs made it easy.
I'm also looking to go back. It goes back to my original argument that Macs are horribly expensive for the horsepower they have, and the fear is always that it breaks 6 weeks before they have a refresh, and you're stuck with a $2500 computer that is last year's model. On the counter point, we do keep our Macs for 8 years, and that isn't bad for a computer.
If I do go back, I'll make a Hackintosh, so I can do both O/S's.
Ive spent a great deal of time trying to function on the platform in the way that I am used to.
Windows is just a much more intuitive streamlined experience. Mac is obtuse and mysterious in its operational quirks.
No reason for people to get hurt by my opinion.
I am a huge fan of spj and I’ve always fantasized about being a MAC user but every time I try it just lacks so so so much power and control.
I do love garage band.
I do love messaging and data integration with iPhone.
That’s it. I’m keeping it around but so wish I could make it a primary platform but it just doesn’t live up to what I am used to.
The mouse scroll freak out issue I have is unsolvable, still. It is very good to know it is a huge problem for other people - I still don’t know how to resolve it but luckily I’m not using the Mac all that much anyway now.
Nothing else really compares to the overall ease and intuitive nature of Windows. Everything is clear. And not obtuse. It’s just such a better experience for the way I work. Believe me, I want to be a Mac guy but it just doesn’t even compare at all.
People are just pointing out the ridiculousness of saying "I've used X for 25 years and Y for 1 month so I find X more intuitive than Y."
In 1997 I worked for one of the most innovative multi media companies in the world at the time. Our CD titles were everywhere. I was forced to use a MAC.
It didn’t feel right then as well. Clumsy and obtuse. Lacking control.
Additionally, the fact that a friend of mine who was the single most insane MAC fanboy ever and the most brilliant, respected Flash game designer in the world ever, dumped all of his Macs and filled his house with Dell workstations.
There is nothing professionally appealing about the Mac, it’s not at all for people that want a powerful platform for all aspects of technical work.
99.999999% of the companies I do business for do not give new users a Macintosh as their primary desktop.
In my life I supported one company that was 100% mac. In addition to the MM company above.
Not trolling. I just wish I was a Mac guy. I wish it could be a deep reservoir in my soul like Windows is to me. It’s just never been able to get even close unfortunately. It’s a mystery why. Why do some products speak to us. Why on God’s green earth does my mother prefer Android. She has no concept of backing it up or managing it but she “hates iPhones....”
I was the same way. It took me years to let go of blackberry and I bashed iPhone touch screens as insipidly stupid. Once I got an iPhone 5 I saw the light.
Yes, I do bash the iPhone X because having to provide a selfie to unlock my phone is abhorrent.
Galadaligirl with all due respect if that is the real you in your picture then you are a beautiful woman, I'm sure you are also smart, it takes time to learn sometime new, many old time Mac users will feel the same way when transitioning from Mac to Windows, I know both systems, let me tell you that even old school windows users sometimes have problem finding options or features in windows 10, why? because Microsoft redesigned Windows, just look at Windows 7 then look at windows 10. many things are out of place, it will take time to learn and get familiar but don't get frustrated and don't let nothing stop you, I personally love any challenge and love to overcome the challenge, not only that make you smarter but also tougher, I can recommend or have a susgestion if that's all right with you, there are a few good youtube videos and the are also a few good books to teach you about Mac OS so you can speed up the learning process and you can find out things that you probably don't even know about. I'm in the advance level I build hackintosh. I build and fix computers and you don't know how much i hate windows for a lot of reasons, but it will be too long to explain. I know is a matter of taste or opinion for some people but I'm all about facts, you really have no idea how screwup w10 really is. anyway you can also install windows in your iMac via bootcamp so you can have windows.
that is one of the good reasons I like Mac OS, you can install windows in your Mac for free because the app is already integrated in the OS, yes there are also 3rd party apps some of them are free but others you have to pay for them, they are not free, but let's flip the coin, can you install Mac OS in Windows? well maybe you can get a free virtual machine, maybe you can buy a good app but is the option available already integrated in W10 and the answer is no,
anyway I respect your opinion and point of view and I can't force to like something or accept something right away, my experience is the total opposite I also used windows for over 20 years but one day I installed Mac OS tiger with my first hackintosh and I felt in loved with it, then leopard, snow leopard and so on, if you really think that Mac OS sucks please don't try linux
anyway
open iBooks and type
Mac Starter Guide macOS High Sierra
in the search bar
or simply go here
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mac-starter-guide-macos-high-sierra/id1331334960?mt=11
best of luck, hope one day you get to like the system
be ready for Mojave I think you are going to like that one
hope you understand my bad English
cheers
that is one of the good reasons I like Mac OS, you can install windows in your Mac for free because the app is already integrated in the OS, yes there are also 3rd party apps some of them are free but others you have to pay for them, they are not free, but let's flip the coin, can you install Mac OS in Windows? well maybe you can get a free virtual machine, maybe you can buy a good app but is the option available already integrated in W10 and the answer is no,
anyway I respect your opinion and point of view and I can't force to like something or accept something right away, my experience is the total opposite I also used windows for over 20 years but one day I installed Mac OS tiger with my first hackintosh and I felt in loved with it, then leopard, snow leopard and so on, if you really think that Mac OS sucks please don't try linux
anyway
Mac Starter Guide macOS High Sierra
in the search bar
or simply go here
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mac-starter-guide-macos-high-sierra/id1331334960?mt=11
best of luck, hope one day you get to like the system
be ready for Mojave I think you are going to like that one
hope you understand my bad English
cheers
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