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Impressions from a first-time Mac user

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Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#371

Post by victor106 »

CSMastermind wrote: post #257

There's a lot of people in comments defending macOS saying that the difference in switching between operating systems will lead to a bad experience no matter what and people just need to power through and learn the new system. I'll say that I've used Windows and macOS both personally and professionally for two decades now (longer for Windows). I'd consider myself a power user in both OSes, I know the keyboard shortcu…

Microsoft has zero respect for my privacy.

They regularly show ads when I am searching for files and doing routine file management stuff

I don’t care how good Windows is. If they can’t keep ads off a product that I purchased they don’t deserve to get my dollars.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#372

Post by ARandomerDude »

mch82 wrote: post #365

This review is misses for me due to these two quotes: > I’m using this Macbook almost exclusively with the lid closed, with a USB-C adapter to connect my keyboard/mouse/monitor. > However, that keyboard doesn’t have the Option (⌥) or Command (⌘) keys like on my Macbook. The reviewer isn’t using the built in webcam, Touch ID, trackpad, or the Mac keyboard layout! Why even have a Mac with that setup? Opening the lid so…

I typically use my MBP on a dock with the lid closed too, because:

1. I like Linux and Mac is essentially Linix/BSD that "just works." After years of putting up with annoying bugs in Ubuntu and Manjaro, Mac has been a breath of fresh air.

2. I sometimes need Mac only tooling like XCode.

3. I don't like the glare on the MBP monitor.

I have a Mac keyboard, so the command key isn't an issue.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#373

Post by jonnycomputer »

zmmmmm wrote: post #285
jonnycomputer wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, if Finder is in the folder, and you enter a search, then I see three options reading to just search in the folder. It pops up between the command bar and the folder contents.

yeah ... I guess I don't think that is simple when I have to click extra options to get to it. But also, it still insists on searching within files. I ONLY want it to filter on the file name.

I admit, I hardly use Finder. I usually use linux terminal with linux tools like find.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#374

Post by einichi »

brimble wrote: post #117
lbrito wrote: post #20

>you use what they give you, how they give it to you, using their workflows, barely customizing anything. Apple products are supposed to be revered the world over as the pinnacle of design, used by artists, engineers, professionals, and creators. Why do I feel like there are training wheels on a machine I use for productivity? Gosh, this is exactly how I felt in a similar situation. Really hit the nail on the head. I…

What are people doing with their computers that a Mac is so stifling? I'm late to the Mac game, have been on it for about a decade, and was a 15-year Windows and Linux desktop user before that. Still, I don't even know what it might be.

Similar usage pattern here. MacOS desktop design is not perfect, but it's fine.

I could never have the majority of apps in full screen though, I switch apps far too often. My desktop is just a pile of windows on top of each other.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#375

Post by bliteben »

mch82 wrote: post #365

This review is misses for me due to these two quotes: > I’m using this Macbook almost exclusively with the lid closed, with a USB-C adapter to connect my keyboard/mouse/monitor. > However, that keyboard doesn’t have the Option (⌥) or Command (⌘) keys like on my Macbook. The reviewer isn’t using the built in webcam, Touch ID, trackpad, or the Mac keyboard layout! Why even have a Mac with that setup? Opening the lid so…

I don't see why you can't like a mouse if you like MACs. Also if you like a mouse that you have to turn upside down and can't use while charging you are just a glutton for punishment.

USB-C mice are not really a thing, so you have to use a Bluetooth mouse instead of using a mouse you may have had for the last 10 years and replaced the omron switches in several times. All this for what arrogance?

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#376

Post by rewgs »

All the classic complaints that show this person hasn’t really given it a chance.

Window snapping and maximize are the only two things I agree with here, but they are easily fixed by many third party apps. To those that say that’s “cheating” or something like that: the amount of third-party software required to give me a usable Windows system far outweighs what I install on a Mac. Yes macOS’s window snapping/maximization are non-existent/weird, but BetterSnapTool is one of the few “first installs” I feel I MUST make on a Mac. Contrast that with OneCommander, Everything Search, 7-Zip, etc that I absolutely require on a Windows machine. And even then the experience is…crusty. And of course you can’t even talk about Linux here — the whole thing is third party software, that’s the point.

Cmd+tab is simple: it is for apps. Cmd+~ is for windows within apps. This is, I think, a very fair way to approach a system wherein “having all windows closed” != “the app is closed;” a design decision that I think is far, far more useful than Windows/most Linux DEs (it also arises out of the fundamental difference of “being in app (Finder) when you’re not in any other apps” — again, a better overall UX decision, I think.

The comments from supposed “power users” claiming that you can’t cut/paste within Finder clearly aren’t power users.

Etc.

As usual, these rants and arguments come down to little more than familiarity. I have met very, very few people with a truly objective and measured take on desktop OS UX and are power users.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#377

Post by Noumenon72 »

kevingadd wrote: post #278
teilo wrote: post #5

Someone needs to tell him about option-click on the maximize button. Most of these "rants" really just amount to: "this different OS doesn't work exactly the same way as the OS I am used to." That's why 3rd party utilities exist to give you the functionality you wish to have. That formula cuts both ways.

People on corp hardware can't install third party utilities, though. You're basically saying "it's fine that this OS can't do what you need it to do, because I can customize it for my purposes". Not to mention - even if the author could install those third party utilities, now they're pulling untrusted code into a work environment and potentially exposing trade secrets to random software developers. Any IT department…

My job lets me use everything from Contexts to Karabiner and I am so happy. Now I'm afraid to ever switch jobs and lose my productivity.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#378

Post by mattl »

K7PJP wrote: post #190
olyjohn wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, that did work. But now I just have a massive pile of minimized window icons... and still no keyboard shortcut to switch to them.

I never minimize windows at all on the Mac, perhaps because of this behavior. I hide apps with (Command-H) instead, and use multiple desktops for managing different workflows instead.

Yeah I hide stuff all the time and I find myself using Single Window mode a lot too, especially on a smaller screen.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#379

Post by ddingus »

bliteben wrote: post #375
mch82 wrote: post #365

This review is misses for me due to these two quotes: > I’m using this Macbook almost exclusively with the lid closed, with a USB-C adapter to connect my keyboard/mouse/monitor. > However, that keyboard doesn’t have the Option (⌥) or Command (⌘) keys like on my Macbook. The reviewer isn’t using the built in webcam, Touch ID, trackpad, or the Mac keyboard layout! Why even have a Mac with that setup? Opening the lid so…

I don't see why you can't like a mouse if you like MACs. Also if you like a mouse that you have to turn upside down and can't use while charging you are just a glutton for punishment. USB-C mice are not really a thing, so you have to use a Bluetooth mouse instead of using a mouse you may have had for the last 10 years and replaced the omron switches in several times. All this for what arrogance?

Oh I don't know about that. I just put a little adapter on the end of the cable of the crappy three-button Mouse I've used for years and it worked fine.

I also happen to really like the little crappy mouse that comes with the Raspberry Pi computer. That one works with the same adapter. I just leave it on the end of the cable.

Edit: I generally like little crappy lightweight mice with good Glides and good resolution. I don't care much past that and if it has three buttons and a wheel I'm good.

And I'll plug in mouse in when I really want a mouse. For a lot of tasks the trackpad on the Mac is fantastic. I really love using the thing.

Re: Impressions from a first-time Mac user

#380

Post by wintermutestwin »

_s wrote: post #370
wintermutestwin wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have mostly enjoyed my transition from Windows to Mac. I agree the the default of not being able to Cut and Paste in Finder was annoying but there is one thing that absolutely makes me furious: The file save dialog box has this unbelievable limit of 38 viewable characters! I regularly have to deal with 50+ character naming conventions where the first 38 characters are the same among many files. It is a huge hassle…

If your workflow is dependant on many files, and with that naming convention because of it - there’s a good chance the workflow could be cleaned / simplified greatly. Wether it’s worth the effort or not, I don’t know - but lots of tools / freedoms / restrictions make certain processes possible and it’s always worth revisiting.

The naming conventions that require >38 characters come from a vast number of business entities that I have worked with through the years: Customer_Project_Subtask_Blaa How does anyone in the real working world not have this issue?
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