Running it on my 16". Everything is stable and works well. I like the new look, very fresh and modern.
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Simply speaking - are you enjoying Big Sur?
- Thread starter thadoggfather
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Running the Public Beta on a partition on my 2020 10th gen. MacBook Pro 13". My overall impression is that it is 'busy.'
I'm also loving the new interface. It's a refreshing change for the better, IMO. Given that this is a beta, I'm sure some of the minor glitches will get fixed before release.
I haven't installed the Adobe CC apps yet, that'll be the big test for me, as I use them pretty much all day for work.
I haven't installed the Adobe CC apps yet, that'll be the big test for me, as I use them pretty much all day for work.
After a while, the design now feels like "the default" and checking out Catalina again seems like something old 
A few design quirks here and there, I still like the new look and macOS is still the most beautiful OS on any platform to me.
A few design quirks here and there, I still like the new look and macOS is still the most beautiful OS on any platform to me.
I prefer muted colours and simplified icons, so the new UI is not to my taste at all.
That said, I do find it easier to locate what I'm after, which could be because the rest of the UI fades into the background while the content ‘pops'. Maybe what I prefer aesthetically about a UI is not necessarily what's most useful to me.
That said, I do find it easier to locate what I'm after, which could be because the rest of the UI fades into the background while the content ‘pops'. Maybe what I prefer aesthetically about a UI is not necessarily what's most useful to me.
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I'm an old adopter, migrated back to Windows (where I started with computers in 88), and recently back to Apple (thanks in part to moving from a Samsung Android platform to iPhone).
I just moved from an 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 with the Magic Keyboard (not a replacement for a laptop, I don't care whose arguing for it), to the May 2020 Macbook Pro 13" i5 4 port with 16Gb RAM and 512Gb storage. Since I was using the iPad exclusively with the Magic Keyboard I decided a laptop would make more sense. I've only had the Macbook Pro for one day 8/7/2020 and am excited for Big Sir. I've been reading as much of the beta testing reports (not everyone has to be an early adopter), and like what I'm hearing in general. Since my desktop is a 2019 Mac Mini with 32Gb RAM and the i3, which does the job well for my desktop requirements, but is not a beta environment, I'll first try Big Sir on my new laptop.
What I find interesting about this thread, and it's explained by the title soliciting an emotional response not a logical one, is how many people are responding they don't like it while admitting they have not tried it.
As I was reading I was a bit put off by the responses of how people don't like the icon, color, or layout changes, but then I went back to the question that's driving the thread.
If folks don't mind me taking a tangent, I'll run onto a few things I'd like to see (as a long time Windows user).
A more standardized file structure. I have taken to making folders and segregating files using a Windows practice (old dog, same tricks).
Having a predetermined set of default associations or groups/folders that come directly from Apple might better help me understand how Apple sees associations of their applications.
Unification of hosted storage services ('da Cloud, sorry, as a 28 year IT Engineer the term drives me bananas). Build in integration or aggregation associations for the larger cloud services. Or a tool that allows you to have a consolidated view of your files and folders across hosted storage providers (Box, iDrive, One Drive, et al).
One of the functions that I really like within the Windows environment is the tools or control panel view. You can choose to see an abbreviated list of control panel functions, or a detailed icon view. For me I see the System Preferences as Apple's version of Control Panel. Not suggesting the Apple came before the Window or visa versa, but that is as I see it, and to me the default System Preferences view is akin to the limited view within Windows. It would be nice if you could hover over User Groups, Doc, Network (etc) and have the details that lay under the icon pop up in a box so details could be directly selected.
It seems some are not enjoying the drop downs, but if Apple wants to win over more Microsoft converts, they need to do so with a bit of mirrored functionality so as to shorten the learning curve. They can also promote this as a Windows friendly migration platform only easier.
I'm not lost on the fact that this environment is a concatenation of BSD and NeXT, although those origins have been so revised through updates and changes, I'm guessing any legacy code has been absorbed into the collective. And having worked with Linux distro's since 1992, I still attempt to view the MAC OS from a Linux perspective, which might be the crutch that is holding me back from larger successes with the platform.
Staying with my tangent, I'm not happy with the situation Apple has put me in with wanting to stay with the Apple ecosphere. I needed a laptop, but in buying one I got a platform that has not been changed from the outside since 2014? The bezels are still massive. There is finally a 10th gen Intel CPU, but out of the other side of their neck on upgrade day they tell all of us that they are in effect going to be invalidating the Intel platform for their own silicone? This single notification has a very large part of their user base up in arms, and people in my situation are forced into trying to navigate the crystal ball as to do I wait, buy, linger with a less powerful older solution, or do I switch back to Microsoft and get a laptop that costs 35% less, with almost no bezels, lighter with a larger display, a variety of ports, that is not nearly as hot (granted I was doing a lot last night to personalize the laptop, and downloading Xcode was 8 Gb). I don't want to go back to a Windows laptop, but I am far from impressed with my new one, it's astronomical price, and its antiquated look and feel, especially with the threat of mine being a museum piece as soon as this year.
Sorry for the rant and the side track, just needed to vent.
I just moved from an 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 with the Magic Keyboard (not a replacement for a laptop, I don't care whose arguing for it), to the May 2020 Macbook Pro 13" i5 4 port with 16Gb RAM and 512Gb storage. Since I was using the iPad exclusively with the Magic Keyboard I decided a laptop would make more sense. I've only had the Macbook Pro for one day 8/7/2020 and am excited for Big Sir. I've been reading as much of the beta testing reports (not everyone has to be an early adopter), and like what I'm hearing in general. Since my desktop is a 2019 Mac Mini with 32Gb RAM and the i3, which does the job well for my desktop requirements, but is not a beta environment, I'll first try Big Sir on my new laptop.
What I find interesting about this thread, and it's explained by the title soliciting an emotional response not a logical one, is how many people are responding they don't like it while admitting they have not tried it.
As I was reading I was a bit put off by the responses of how people don't like the icon, color, or layout changes, but then I went back to the question that's driving the thread.
If folks don't mind me taking a tangent, I'll run onto a few things I'd like to see (as a long time Windows user).
A more standardized file structure. I have taken to making folders and segregating files using a Windows practice (old dog, same tricks).
Having a predetermined set of default associations or groups/folders that come directly from Apple might better help me understand how Apple sees associations of their applications.
Unification of hosted storage services ('da Cloud, sorry, as a 28 year IT Engineer the term drives me bananas). Build in integration or aggregation associations for the larger cloud services. Or a tool that allows you to have a consolidated view of your files and folders across hosted storage providers (Box, iDrive, One Drive, et al).
One of the functions that I really like within the Windows environment is the tools or control panel view. You can choose to see an abbreviated list of control panel functions, or a detailed icon view. For me I see the System Preferences as Apple's version of Control Panel. Not suggesting the Apple came before the Window or visa versa, but that is as I see it, and to me the default System Preferences view is akin to the limited view within Windows. It would be nice if you could hover over User Groups, Doc, Network (etc) and have the details that lay under the icon pop up in a box so details could be directly selected.
It seems some are not enjoying the drop downs, but if Apple wants to win over more Microsoft converts, they need to do so with a bit of mirrored functionality so as to shorten the learning curve. They can also promote this as a Windows friendly migration platform only easier.
I'm not lost on the fact that this environment is a concatenation of BSD and NeXT, although those origins have been so revised through updates and changes, I'm guessing any legacy code has been absorbed into the collective. And having worked with Linux distro's since 1992, I still attempt to view the MAC OS from a Linux perspective, which might be the crutch that is holding me back from larger successes with the platform.
Staying with my tangent, I'm not happy with the situation Apple has put me in with wanting to stay with the Apple ecosphere. I needed a laptop, but in buying one I got a platform that has not been changed from the outside since 2014? The bezels are still massive. There is finally a 10th gen Intel CPU, but out of the other side of their neck on upgrade day they tell all of us that they are in effect going to be invalidating the Intel platform for their own silicone? This single notification has a very large part of their user base up in arms, and people in my situation are forced into trying to navigate the crystal ball as to do I wait, buy, linger with a less powerful older solution, or do I switch back to Microsoft and get a laptop that costs 35% less, with almost no bezels, lighter with a larger display, a variety of ports, that is not nearly as hot (granted I was doing a lot last night to personalize the laptop, and downloading Xcode was 8 Gb). I don't want to go back to a Windows laptop, but I am far from impressed with my new one, it's astronomical price, and its antiquated look and feel, especially with the threat of mine being a museum piece as soon as this year.
Sorry for the rant and the side track, just needed to vent.
This caught my eye when skimming, but I just wanted to say that I can with damn near absolute certainty say that they would absolutely never want to "win over Microsoft converts" by mirroring windows functionality. I really could never see apple caring about that at all. There's been a few times in interviews where they've clarified they don't care about market share but making the best product.. and I remember Steve jobs said something about PC's or windows I think, but he in that realm of comparison, said he'd rather sell dog ****. So I think it would be a huge stretch for them to want to mirror windows functionality to win over market share. But I guess I'm sure someone on this forum could bring up an example and say they did.
Sorry to hear your frustration with Apple moving on from ARM (although as you should probably already know, Intel isn't going anywhere for at least 5 years or so id imagine, the transition itself still taking 2 years, and support's still coming for years after that) and the hot expensive oldish style intel laptops.
how is battery life for people on newer Mac laptops (2019/2020 Pro's or 2020 Air specifically, the latter being mine so of course most interested in that but Pro's would serve an interesting data point as well)
There are aspects that I really like and some that i despise.
I fully understand it takes time to get use to change, especially after decades of Mac OS looking the same.
Having said that, the icons are terrible. I always liked Mac because it was warm and inviting, I enjoyed spending time with the OS vs windows which always felt too clinical /corporate...
Well I hate to say it, but a handful of these new design elements feel clinical / dry. I don't like spending times in certain areas of Big Sur...if that makes any sense.
Overall iI like a lot of the changes, but something is just "off" about it as a whole.
I fully understand it takes time to get use to change, especially after decades of Mac OS looking the same.
Having said that, the icons are terrible. I always liked Mac because it was warm and inviting, I enjoyed spending time with the OS vs windows which always felt too clinical /corporate...
Well I hate to say it, but a handful of these new design elements feel clinical / dry. I don't like spending times in certain areas of Big Sur...if that makes any sense.
Overall iI like a lot of the changes, but something is just "off" about it as a whole.
Its a total non-event. I don't enjoy it or not enjoy it - the experience is the same except the retro icons. Not sure why everybody gets so excited about so much lipstick on the old girl. Time to reimagine the user experience.
I like it. Yes, the icons, spacing, overall color scheme is certainly different and takes some getting used to. Took me a while to find Safari lol. However, I find it really exciting with thoughts to what is coming next. This is a next step to the full integration of iOS/IpadOS/MacOS. Not only will this be a great aid to developers in regard to keeping their GUI standardized, but it will be a great boon to new computer buyers who already have an iPhone or iPad and are looking for a computer that looks and feels familiar. When Apple silicone hits, then obviously that opens the flood gates to the millions of iOS apps that can be much more easily ported to the Mac. While iPad pro is not yet a "real" laptop, there are already some very very powerful professional quality apps running on iPadOS, and I can only imagine what some of those will be like if ported to a full Mac. Or visa versa, take the core functionality of FCPX and bring it to the iPad pro, similar to Logic/Garageband.
Apple has always been about the highest level of hardware/software integration, something that Windows, Android etc just can't achieve. It is being theorized that once fully Apple spec'd silicone is inside a Mac, the performance gains are going to be many many times what an be achieved with a next-gen Intel chip. Like I said, I like it and I am excited. Yes I am going to take a hit like everyone, I just bought a new Mac desktop and a new 16" MBP in the last 2 months but I won't hesitate to part with them when the time comes.
Apple has always been about the highest level of hardware/software integration, something that Windows, Android etc just can't achieve. It is being theorized that once fully Apple spec'd silicone is inside a Mac, the performance gains are going to be many many times what an be achieved with a next-gen Intel chip. Like I said, I like it and I am excited. Yes I am going to take a hit like everyone, I just bought a new Mac desktop and a new 16" MBP in the last 2 months but I won't hesitate to part with them when the time comes.
Thanks for the heads up about Logic plugins. I loaded Big Sur into a second container, and was considering loading it in over Catalina as I'm so impressed with the beta, but I am a Logic user, so I'll let things be the way they are for now. Thanks again, @fisherking
you may be the only one !
Nope, I've had no issues with Catalina either. Well, one very minor graphics glitch only on the machine with an intel integrated gpu: wandering red dots along the top of a window that was positioned just under the menubar, occasionally. Literally that was it, and I think it was probably only Electron apps, and it seems to be gone in Big Sur.
I don't disbelieve that others have problems. There is probably something that might be learned from studying why some people fall over Catalina bugs all the damn time and others just didn't seem to ever encounter any. I have a colleague in the former camp who's even basically given up and gone to Windows (+WSL) because of it, whereas for me... it's all fine. I don't know why. My only guess is that I fall into the same paradigm of use that's in the developers' heads - in the same way that handwriting recognition on the *newton* always worked perfectly for me because despite my handwriting being a ghastly tortured scrawl I used "proper" cursive stroke order.
Another possibility is that I don't very much use the Apple *apps*; I switched default web/email to Safari/Mail with Big Sur because I always do on a new version until they annoy me too much and I go back to Firefox/Postbox. Other examples apply with other apps. iTerm instead of Terminal, frankly spending most of my time in Sublime Text... and how many of people's issues are with the apple *apps*, which I've tended to avoid, and not with the core OS?
Relax..take a deep breath and read this:
I have the exact same laptop as you except it has 1Tb of SSD drive. My previous(and still in use Lenovo Yoga3) only has a 128Gb SSD hard drive so i went hog wild the other way. So, are you worried about the fact that your new laptop will be obsolete this year? Seriously? Apple just released the new intel based iMac 27". Your laptop will be supported for years to come(IMHO 5-7 years if not more) .
Form Factor: yep it's dated(Yoga3 has a touch screen as well as being convertible to a Windows "pad"-used it a few times that way, always went back to my iPad-
). I don't mind the dated look, it's the internals that count. Volkswagen built the "beetle" from the 1940's thru the late 1980's. And they always sold well..As far as MacOS vs Windows, it is what it is. Personally I've used Windows since the 3.1 days. And prior to purchasing my current laptop, MacOS 9.0 was the last MacOS that I've used. I don't know if you've ever used MacOS before but I'm guessing you haven't so you'll have to adjust to the current OS. It's not that hard just a different way to get to what you want. Don't forget you can load Win10 using parallels desktop to run AT THE SAME TIME as MacOS. At this moment the new ARM processors can't do that. Or you can partition the drive using Boot Camp. Can't do that on the new ARM processors.
Final Take: You have a great laptop. Enjoy it! Get used to MacOS, it's not that hard to adjust. And..you can always run Win10. For years down the road.....
P.S. I totally dig that my laptop chats with my iPhone and iPad. Blows Windows totally out of the water-even with their Android piggy back system. I know, could never get my Yoga3 to integrate with my Galaxy S9 for squat-sometimes it worked, most of the time it didn't.
P.P.S. Dell XPS 15" looks pretty nice too.....
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I loaded this on my Late 2014 Mac mini, 8GB RAM, 1 TB HD SATA 3 capable but link speed 3 GB. I noticed the rounded window corners. I'm open minded about it. It is quite slow on this Mac. I'm thinking of getting an SSD from OWC that may help the speed issue. The 8 GB RAM will make it ideal for general office applications, iWork, Office 365, Turbo Tax. Probably would minimally use it for photo editing. Use the Affinity products.
I'll stay open minded...I do like the interfaces up through Mavericks, through Catalina...being open-minded will help.
Apple always helps stay connected to my creative side. Saving up for an iPad Pro.
I'll stay open minded...I do like the interfaces up through Mavericks, through Catalina...being open-minded will help.
Apple always helps stay connected to my creative side. Saving up for an iPad Pro.
Very impressed with Big Sur. Installed it on an external hdd first but that's not the same. After reading there's few people experiencing bugs I installed it on my daily driver.
It runs very smooth on a MBP 13" 2015. All bugs I encountered till now are minor. I like the design a lot, apart from a few icons and size choices perhaps in other parts of the OS. Looking at MBA 15" 2018 of my girlfriend with Catalina on it I realise it looks old already, out-of-date. Which of course it is not but I was surprised of the difference already after half a day of use.
It runs very smooth on a MBP 13" 2015. All bugs I encountered till now are minor. I like the design a lot, apart from a few icons and size choices perhaps in other parts of the OS. Looking at MBA 15" 2018 of my girlfriend with Catalina on it I realise it looks old already, out-of-date. Which of course it is not but I was surprised of the difference already after half a day of use.
Have any of you guys tried if you can disable animations like in the older macOSses? The first thing I'd always do is disable all the fancy animations (dock, corner actions, mission control) and set the delays to 0 so it feels more fluid, but many of themjust didn't work any more after some new OS.
I've gotten used to the new design, even with going back-and-forth between my main machine and my Mini (home server), which only goes up to Catalina. It's a little more playful than it was before, and whether that's good or bad is the the part I'm still debating.