macOS isn’t the be-all and end-all of desktop working programs, however there’s a purpose I’ve settled on a Mac as a every day driver. I’ve used and proceed to make use of Home windows and Linux regularly, however I all the time flip to macOS when it’s time to knuckle down and get work accomplished.
So right here’s why macOS beats Home windows for me, somebody who nonetheless routinely complains about all of the issues that Apple ought to be doing higher.
6
System Stability
My Mac’s present uptime is 26 days, however that is one thing I actually by no means take into consideration. I can’t bear in mind the final time I purposefully restarted, and I needed to run the “uptime” command in Terminal to verify. Whereas restarting is the only greatest option to repair issues along with your laptop (no matter working system), I simply discover myself needing to do it fairly often.
Associated
16 Terminal Commands That Every Mac User Should Know
A couple of easy and highly effective Terminal instructions ought to be in each Mac consumer’s repertoire.
That is most likely the only largest profit I’ve had from switching to macOS all these years in the past. There’s a standard perception that the “it simply works” mantra is a cliché from ingesting an excessive amount of Cupertino Kool-Help, and whereas there are some fairly obtrusive points I’d love Apple to repair, this phrase rings true for the bedrock of the working system.
On high of the system itself being dependable, primarily by no means grinding to a halt (on my growing old M1 Max MacBook Professional with 32GB of RAM), the suite of first-party apps that I exploit each day additional evokes confidence. There’s simply not rather a lot to complain about, so I discover that my largest gripes normally concentrate on lacking nice-to-have options reasonably than fixes (the exception to this rule is Apple Music).
I’ve by no means had macOS randomly eat itself and refuse as well, however I had this occur on a Home windows machine in simply the final yr. After I used Home windows, this was a relentless concern because of the many instances I’d been burned previously.
5
No Advertisements on the Desktop
I used to be fairly stunned after I discovered first-hand that Home windows now contains advertisements on the desktop, together with within the Begin Menu. You can and should turn these off, however it’s wild that even paying customers are being marketed to. I shouldn’t be stunned, I exploit an Xbox as my console of alternative and advertisements are par for the course there (even Sony’s doing it now).
Many Home windows customers have been rightly miffed when Microsoft determined to kill Windows Mail and Calendar in favor of Outlook, not as a result of Outlook is a nasty Mail consumer (it’s nice, really) however as a result of the “free” model bundled with Home windows contains advertisements. These seem on the high of your inbox, like an e-mail message.
Although it’s simple to disregard (I’ve used Outlook a good bit since this growth), it’s nonetheless bizarre that Microsoft has determined to show its working system into one thing of a billboard. Conversely, macOS is technically free and options none of that. Certain, you pay for macOS whenever you hand a wad of money over to Apple, however not in the identical approach that you simply’re shopping for a license for Home windows.
4
A Complete-Ecosystem Strategy
For those who occur to make use of different Apple gadgets, notably the iPhone, then macOS stays probably the most logical alternative. This isn’t to say that it’s not potential to use Android and macOS in tandem, however there are a number of huge upsides to cocooning your digital life inside Apple’s ecosystem.
Integration with an iPhone is one thing I undoubtedly take without any consideration at this stage. I can ship messages, each through SMS (RCS) and Apple’s personal iMessage platform, utilizing the Messages app for Mac. I’ll get notified about incoming calls on my iPhone, and I’ll even have the ability to take them proper there on my Mac if I would like.
As of macOS Sequoia, Apple even added iPhone Mirroring. This characteristic permits me to do virtually anything on my iPhone from the comfort of my Mac desktop. I get all my iPhone notifications within the top-right nook until I’ve determined to make use of a Focus mode to mute them and focus on work.
To additional illustrate my level, these Focus modes additionally sync between gadgets, permitting me to snooze all the pieces as soon as and have it mirrored on all my gadgets. Every thing else I care about can be dealt with for me just by sharing the identical Apple Account between gadgets. That features my contacts, the contents of media libraries in Pictures and Music, Notes, Reminders, and so forth.
There are a number of different nice-to-have options like Common Clipboard, which lets me copy one thing on my iPhone and paste it proper there on my Mac (or one other Mac). My Mac routinely unlocks when it detects my Apple Watch is inside vary, and even permits me to confirm different actions like Apple Pay purchases and admin actions.
A variety of that is made potential by Apple’s iCloud infrastructure, a service that was a damaged mess when it first launched. Today it’s one other a type of issues that simply works, that I barely take into consideration. It’s one of many causes I’m comfortable paying my monthly iCloud subscription.
3
Closing Your Laptop computer Doesn’t Break Every thing
It took me some time after I first bought a Mac to belief that I may simply shut the lid of my MacBook with out breaking all the pieces. This was the results of being conditioned over years of Home windows utilization that my laptop computer would do one thing supremely dumb because of this.
Today I simply shut the lid after I’m accomplished for the day, and even after I simply want a break and wish to not stare at a display screen for some time. After I subsequent open my laptop computer, macOS seems instantly. I’m normally logged in by the point I’ve totally prolonged the lid because of the aforementioned Apple Watch authentication.
Amazingly, that is nonetheless one thing that numerous Home windows customers complain about and one thing that numerous switchers comment on once they get their fingers on a MacBook. I do know that not all Home windows laptops are adversely affected, however it’s sufficient of a sore spot to trigger many customers to nonetheless not belief the conduct.
It is a small level, however it’s one thing you get used to. No extra turning your backpack right into a small oven as a result of Home windows determined to randomly energy up whereas your laptop computer was closed!
2
macOS Delivers the Better of Each Worlds
Finally, the primary purpose I switched to a Mac again in 2012 was that I received uninterested in fixing issues. After years of being let down by Home windows, I’d tried my justifiable share of Linux distros and located them to be extra steady and pleasing to make use of, however cumbersome when it comes to {hardware} and software program compatibility.
I needed the most effective of each worlds within the type of stability and user-friendliness. I knew that the Mac OS X platform (because it was then identified) lacked the software program ubiquity of Home windows. I knew concerning the sorry state of Mac gaming. I additionally knew that I’d find yourself paying by the nostril, however I used to be additionally conscious that point is a commodity you may’t all the time put a worth on.
So I made a decision to place up the white flag, pay the Apple tax, and provides the Mac a shot. It could be silly and dishonest to say that issues by no means go flawed, however they don’t go flawed with the identical frequency or severity as they did throughout my Home windows days. I additionally don’t should compile my very own binaries when trying to find new software program or spend three days determining why my webcam isn’t working (Linux customers hate this one bizarre trick).
Within the final 13 years, I’ve solely needed to repair a Mac that wouldn’t boot as soon as. This occurred after I put in a serious OS improve with little or no free house, one thing I’d argue that Apple most likely shouldn’t have let me do. The repair was to unlock house by deleting issues utilizing the command line till I had sufficient house for the replace to use correctly. I’ve really by no means needed to “wipe” a MacBook and reinstall macOS from scratch, ever.
My time with Linux helped me change into extra snug with different, extra technical points of the OS. macOS has entry to the highly effective *NIX command line, in any case. You’ve frequent utilities like grep, vim, discover, and so forth that you simply’d be used to utilizing on Linux. What’s extra, you may use the Homebrew package manager to install a huge range of “missing” Linux utilities must you want them (along with common outdated apps like Firefox and Audacity).
1
It’s a Nicer Place to Be
Whereas it’s totally subjective which method you like, it didn’t take me lengthy to really feel most at dwelling in a Mac setting. I could have made the leap some time in the past, however I used to be as soon as on the fence tossing up between Home windows, Linux, and macOS.
I say this as somebody who grew up on a eating regimen of Amiga Workbench and MS-DOS earlier than transferring on to Home windows 95, 98SE, and XP. My first Mac expertise, utilizing OS 9 throughout a piece expertise journey, was like pulling enamel. I couldn’t wait to get again to the consolation of Microsoft’s Bliss wallpaper. However tastes and priorities change. I now genuinely desire Apple’s total look, really feel, and method to frequent workflows.
The UI and total expertise feels prefer it has a layer of polish that’s missing on Home windows. Issues are cleaner and simpler on the eyes. I don’t thoughts observing my Mac for 8 hours a day, however I discover Home windows to be grating after solely an hour. It’s not horrible, you simply get used to what you already know and that turns into your new regular.
I depend on Highlight for all the pieces, and in contrast to Home windows search it really works. I navigate macOS effortlessly with trackpad gestures, which really feel easy and responsive. I really feel like I’m spending extra time getting the place I wish to go on Home windows, whereas macOS can take me there sooner and look good doing it.
Home windows is a workhorse that may get the job accomplished, however macOS feels extra prefer it was designed with human interplay in thoughts.
Arguing about working programs is, in the end, a pointless endeavor. Home windows remains to be the world’s hottest desktop working system, along with being the world’s largest gaming platform. It’s received the lion’s share of software program, and the large established neighborhood of Home windows customers advantages the ecosystem as an entire.
Regardless of this, it might take Apple doing one thing monumentally silly to tear me away from macOS any time quickly.
Source link
