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Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

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Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#101

Post by hamandcheese »

jccalhoun wrote: post #65
owenwil wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not spin it around the other way? What advantages does Mac now have over Windows, in a world where Microsoft is catering to developers from both sides?

While I don't want to hijack the op's thread, I would like to hear more about the advantages of the mac. I listen to some mac-centric podcasts and hear them complain about the current state of the mac so much but when they mention windows they just say vague things like "but windows is worse." So what is better about a mac? To give more detail on my use case: I'm not a developer so things like terminal or unix don't…

> so things like terminal or unix don't really matter to me.

That's really what it's all about though. Many developers prefer a unix environment. Windows is often neglected in open source, so getting up and running with a working dev environment can be a challenge. So, for many, Windows just isn't really an option.

That leaves macOS as the only option that's a first class citizen in all regards -- hardware support from manufacturer, support in open source projects, support for proprietary applications (I.e MS Office), etc.

For non-programmers though, there really isn't a meaningful difference. Take your pick.

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#102

Post by ivraatiems »

edko wrote: post #99
ivraatiems wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite my bellyaching, Windows is built on much more solid ground than macOS is these days. All the new stuff introduced in 8/10 - Metro stuff, control panel stuff, etc. - can be wacky, but the core OS is strong. It works, it doesn't crash, it acts the way you expect it to. That's all I really want from a desktop OS, and given that Apple has total control over their ecosystem, they are frighteningly bad at providing…

I have switched from Mac to Windows a few months ago. My biggest annoyance is privacy. I do not feel my data is safe while using Windows. I had to switch off too many defaults (keylogging, for example!), and I really do not know if I missed any, or if some update has sneaked in any new way for MS to spy on me.

I totally understand. Even with the bugginess, it's my single biggest issue with W10.

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#104

Post by hamandcheese »

vhakulinen wrote: post #69
owenwil wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not spin it around the other way? What advantages does Mac now have over Windows, in a world where Microsoft is catering to developers from both sides?

If you "can" switch between Windows Mac, why not give linux a spin? Like, if you're not building apps with native UI kits on those platforms, what is holding you on them?

Lack of compelling evidence that there's a *nix distro out there that will serve me better than macOS.

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#105

Post by castle-bravo »

wtbob wrote: post #83

If someone wants a good development platform and is leaving the Mac, why not switch to Linux rather than Windows? Windows is IMHO not pleasant to use: the ads, the UI, the lack of speed. Linux is ad-free, pleasant & beautiful (with StumpWM anyway; Unity, GNOME & KDE aren't so great), and blazingly fast. Plus it's free software.

When I read "ads" I had to do a double-take. I find it really surprising that people are willing to tolerate an OS with built-in "malware". Is it because people simply aren't aware that there are alternatives?

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#106

Post by sparkling »

As someone who has only recently made the switch to a mac and does not remember the "good old times" - switched in Late 2015 with no prior Mac experience whatsoever, was running Ubuntu/Windows dualboot up until then: MacOS is not perfect but it is by far the best daily driver for me. I am now running Sierra on a Hackintosh and would not trade it for anything else.

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#107

Post by klurriplurrr »

ivraatiems wrote: post #81
Cowicide wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes Windows 10 better than macOS Sierra, in your opinion? I use both every day for similar projects and find that Windows 10 is lacking compared to Sierra overall.

Despite my bellyaching, Windows is built on much more solid ground than macOS is these days. All the new stuff introduced in 8/10 - Metro stuff, control panel stuff, etc. - can be wacky, but the core OS is strong. It works, it doesn't crash, it acts the way you expect it to. That's all I really want from a desktop OS, and given that Apple has total control over their ecosystem, they are frighteningly bad at providing…

I find W10 lacking in consistency.

Poke around in the settings for a while and you will find remnants from the NT days.

The dark theme is another example, it works for a handful of their own apps, not even half of them.

Half baked and unpolished. I'm a daily W10, macOS sierra and Fedora Linux user. I develop on all the OS:es and play games mostly on W10.

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#108

Post by Chyzwar »

otterley wrote: post #13

The question I'm left asking from posts like these is: As a non-game developer, what practical advantages does Windows hardware and software provide over Mac? The writing doesn't make it clear to me. Sure, there are some interesting facts noted, but there's no connection drawn or relationship established between the facts and the impact on the author's ability to work, or the work product itself.

1K $

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#109

Post by OJFord »

elcritch wrote: post #96
baobrain wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wireless charging is horribly inefficient...IIRC there aren't even any that go over 10W. Magsafe may be deprecated by Apple, but that's a step backwards in functionality. One cannot deny that using USB C for charging is inferior in terms of protecting the device.

Thought the same thing, but then saw this: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/branchusb/magneo-first-... Gotta say the idea of a single USB C adaptor carrying power, data, and having a general purpose mag-safe like adapter is pretty compelling.

That looks massive though.

Re: Why I left Mac for Windows: Apple has given up

#110

Post by Clubber »

jmcdiesel wrote: post #17

I used to be hardcore windows guy... Then 10 years ago I got a mac. I never went back.. But what am I saving money for right now? To build a nice PC again. Mostly because of the exact reasons in the article. I have a fondness for apple... but they have definitely lost their way. First, they were a computer company driven by a man who loved computers ("first" here is the Jobs return era) ... then they became a Compute…

I'm in the same boat. I switched around 2008-2009 to jump on the iOS app wave, but am more interested in Windows since 10 and Azure.

I still think their rMBP 15s are the all around the best you can buy. I haven't tried the track bar version yet though. Also, OS X (or whatever) on a rMBP is still great for surfing the web. The zoom with the trackpad is flawless.

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