Switch from Windows to Mac. Switching from Windows to Mac
Pitfalls when switching from Windows to OS X. Impressions of using an iMac after a long time working on computers with Windows on board.
Introduction and purchase background
I've been thinking about changing my computer for a long time. The first thoughts began to appear after testing the budget nettop 3Q Sign. I immediately noticed that the room became suspiciously quiet. It turned out that my old “system unit” was very noisy, the noise of the coolers was just so familiar that I stopped paying attention to it. However, you quickly get used to good things, and after returning the nettop the difference in noise level was audible to the “naked ear.” Then thoughts about an “upgrade” began to appear. My “system unit” is about four years old; at one time it was bought as a gaming PC, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and now I hardly play on the computer.
After testing the nettop, it became clear: small, quiet boxes that don’t take up much space and are productive enough for everyday tasks are what I need.
As luck would have it, various information about OS X appeared on Twitter and on the website; at about the same time, Alexander Zubkov published his huge “Experience in operating the Mac Mini”. I trust Sasha’s opinion; in many ways, our use cases from this article were similar, so I turned my attention to Apple technology.
It was clear that if we were to take a Mac Mini, it would have to have an SSD, so as not to worry about the speed of operation. But I didn’t see such models available on any website (by the way, they have now appeared). It became clear that most likely I would have to install the disk myself. I adequately assessed my technical knowledge and decided that although I could install the SSD myself, it was better to turn to specialists.
Among my friends there was only one person working in this field - Alexey, known to some of you on Twitter as @androidioswp. Lesha and I had a long conversation about customizing the Mac Mini: initially I planned to take the cheapest version and simply install a 128GB SSD + 1 or 2 TB hard drive into it. But it turned out that such an “upgrade” would have been very expensive, and it was more profitable to take an older version of the Mac Mini (with Core i5 Quad-Core+1 TB HDD) and simply install a solid-state drive into it. Thus, the price tag for the Mac Mini gradually increased to 35 thousand for the configuration I needed.
In addition to the nettop, I also wanted to replace the monitor. Artem Lutfullin rightly noted that this is the main tool for work, so there is no need to save on your eyes. He even recommended that I pay attention to the same monitor as his, we are talking about the Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D model. Its main features are a PLS matrix with soft colors and high resolution (2560x1440 pixels), as well as support for MiniDisplayPort (and a compatible Thunderbolt connector is found in the Mac Mini).
Thus, the total cost of the computer was close to 60 thousand rubles. Continuing the discussion, Alexey mentioned that from conversations about custom Mac Minis, people often come to iMac. And then it dawned on me: the iMac really is the best option, but I didn't consider it, assuming it was crazy expensive. However, it turned out that the configuration I needed would not be more expensive than a combination Mac Mini + monitor from Samsung.
In addition, the iMac has a number of significant advantages over this combination. Firstly, this is the only cable for connecting your computer and monitor. Secondly, built-in speakers, which again has a positive effect on the number of wires. And thirdly, of course, cool appearance and materials. The only problem was the hard drive; there were no SSD versions available.
Alexey said that they can pre-order the version with Fusion Drive, and as soon as it arrives at the warehouse, I will be notified immediately. It is important to note here that almost no one is engaged in custom deliveries of iMacs (they were not at the time of writing this article, now the Apple online store has already appeared): for example, I went to “MVideo” and “White Wind”, and they had not even heard of them there . I didn’t contact Re:store because of high prices. In general, Lyosha advised me in quite some detail, so I purchased an iMac from www.max-up.ru.
It’s important to note here that I pre-ordered it in mid-February, but the iMac only arrived at the end of April. This is due to a delay in deliveries from the official dealer. As far as I know, now custom iMacs are delivered much faster. In addition, with the opening of the official Apple online store, ordering custom configurations has become even easier.
I apologize to the reader for such a long introduction, I wanted to describe my background purchase and note that I came to the iMac through much thought, that is, it was not an impulsive purchase.
Appearance, materials
The monoblock comes in a large “trapezoidal” package. It’s interesting that Apple’s new shipments use a double box: cheap cardboard on top and high-quality packaging underneath. I will not describe the unpacking in detail, since there is nothing special to say about it.
When you take the computer out of the package, you immediately notice how light the iMac is, especially if you have dealt with other all-in-one PCs (its weight is just over five kilograms, while the weight of analogues starts from 8-9 kg).
Looking at a newly purchased computer, you can’t help but notice that after all, at Apple, designers don’t eat their bread in vain. The iMac looks very beautiful: stylish appearance, aluminum body, strict black frame around the screen. It is immediately clear that this is a computer that was made so that, among other things, it was simply pleasant to look at. I had experience working with other all-in-one PCs; in terms of design and materials, Apple leaves them far behind. After purchasing an iMac, you understand what “overpaying for design and materials” is and why it is justified.
In his review of the iMac 2012, Sergei Kuzmin noted that reducing the thickness of the candy bar does not bring any functional advantages, but from the point of view of appearance, this solution looks very impressive.
Thanks to the light weight for all-in-one PCs and the good coating of the iMac support leg, it is very convenient to turn right/left, but you will have to do this, because all the connectors are located on the back of the device.
If you need to move your iMac all the way to rotate left/right, you can adjust its tilt by tilting the monitor slightly. I note that initially the screen tilted very easily, but as the device became overgrown with various cables, it became a little harder to raise/lower it.
The design of the iMac is something amazing, even after six months of use it is still pleasing, the candy bar is simply pleasant to look at. Among the functional features, I liked the back leg, on which you can put some frequently used item, such as a notepad or phone.
Screen
Before describing the screen, I would like to note that before this I used an old ViewSonic with a resolution of 1280x1024 pixels as my main monitor. Its characteristics seemed to me sufficient for comfortable work, and thanks to the convenient aspect ratio, I could manage my workspace as productively as possible (primarily, we are talking about Word and web surfing).
I had experience using a couple of Windows all-in-one PCs, so I assumed I knew what quality monitors were like. As it turns out, I was deeply mistaken.
When you turn on the iMac, you immediately notice how big the difference in picture quality is between it and everything that you had to test before. The image seems to float out of the screen, the picture is amazingly bright and clear. It’s not for nothing that I mentioned the computers and monitors that I used and tested before; an experienced reader will notice that among them there is neither MBP Pro Retina 13/15 nor iPad 3/4. In fairness, I note that I dealt with both devices, albeit for a very short time. And the fleeting memory of “what amazing screens they have” quickly faded from my mind.
Why all this long introduction? The fact is that to me, as a person who has not previously used Apple technology with Retina displays, the iMac screen seems wonderful: bright, clear, with rich colors, however, for example, Sergey Kuzmin no longer seems good enough, using an iPad 4 and MBP Pro Retina 15 makes a significant difference to the experience.
As you remember, the previous generation had two significant problems with the screen: dust got under it and it glared a lot. This, by the way, was one of the reasons why I did not consider the iMac initially: my workplace is located near a window, and the sun often hits the screen. The iMac 2012 has undergone significant work on the display; the absence of an air gap eliminates the problem of dust under the glass, and a special anti-reflective coating eliminates almost all glare and reflections. Even in strong sunlight, you can work comfortably at the computer (of course, the barely noticeable outlines of your face will be visible on the screen, but this is not at all the same as in the same monoblock from Acer, where in sunny weather the monitor turned into a mirror).
The screen brightness is conveniently adjusted using the F1/F2 keyboard buttons. Interestingly, this combination does not work on third-party keyboards, but more on that below. During everyday work, I used about 30% brightness, in sunny weather I increased it to 60-70%. To be honest, I have never had a situation where I needed 100% of the screen brightness, it is excessive.
I really liked the screen in the iMac, I would gladly buy a separate monitor from Apple with the same characteristics. Before, I never understood why buy expensive monitors for 30-40 thousand, and even more so for 90 and above. However, after using the iMac, I can see the validity of such decisions even for the average user.
Operating system and firmware
In absentia, I was very loyal to OS X: a lot of positive reviews on the Internet, some of which were from very authoritative people. Mentally, I was ready for changes, a different OS logic, since I assumed that this would be associated with some functions that would improve the usability of the computer. It is important to note here that I have never considered myself a conservative user: new things are always interesting, especially if this new thing will ultimately be more convenient.
Before moving on to describing my impressions of OS X, I would like to briefly talk about my scenarios for using the computer:
First of all, this is a tool for work - a typewriter and a simple photo editor (quickly rename files, correct something, nothing more). Of course, all this is combined with web surfing, Twitter, checking email and other routine activities. In addition, I use the computer as a video player along with a TV connected to it.
It would seem that OS X should cope with such simple actions without unnecessary problems, but that was not the case. Working at the Mac for the first couple of weeks, I directly felt how it did not want to fit into my usual environment. It all started with the fact that I didn’t want to get used to switching the language via Command+Space; Twitter immediately suggested a solution in the form of the KeyRemapforMacBook program, but as luck would have it, the Alt+Shift combination couldn’t be properly configured there. The same thing happened with Alt+Tab. It’s amazing how difficult it is to retrain for other combinations: imagine that for ten years, in response to your mental command to raise your right hand, your right hand rose, and now with the same command, your left hand rises. These are approximately the impressions I experienced from changing the usual “hotkeys”. But my misadventures did not end there. In addition to changing the language, I'm used to Enter opening a folder, Backspace taking you back a section, and F2 being responsible for renaming a file. On OS X, Enter is responsible for renaming, Cmd+down opens a folder, Cmd+up takes you up a section, and Backspace has no specified actions at all. And yes, I could do everything through KeyRemap4Macbook in the same way as on Windows, but I liked the quick actions assigned to the default actions so much that I didn’t do it. In addition, some users on Twitter logically noted that one should try to adapt to the system, and not try to “make a second Windows out of it.”
But what caused me the most problems was the built-in photo viewer and iPhoto. I need very little from such programs: open a picture, rename it (in the same window), move on to the next one. However, when you open a photo in this viewer, you can't quickly rename it or move on to the next one. It's the same with iPhoto: you can only rename a photo if you click on its name. In general, there are a lot of unnecessary actions, and I could not find any key combinations that cause quick renaming (similar to F2 in Windows).
I’ll say in advance that I successfully solved both problems, but the first two weeks with the iMac were just a nightmare. I seriously considered either trading it back, selling it, or installing Windows as my main OS.
The main message of such a long introduction is that you need to get used to OS X, and even if you are mentally prepared for the changes, it is far from a fact that in your individual case the transition to Apple technology will be easy and painless (although there are many such cases) .
I have already mentioned the disadvantages of OS X above, now it’s time to move on to the advantages.
Desktops
In OS X, you can create multiple desktops. In addition, each of them can host specific programs. That is, let’s say for work I need Finder, Pages and CyberDuck, and for entertainment I need a browser and a video player. I can configure desktops so that when I open Pages, a second desktop will open immediately. Thumbnails of all tables are called up by pressing F3 or swiping up with four fingers (if you are using a touchpad).
In addition, there is a separate desktop with widgets. To access it, you need to swipe four fingers across the touchpad from left to right. I use this table to post sticky notes and sometimes to view the weather.
Screenshots
I really liked how this feature is implemented in OS X. You can take a screenshot of the screen (Command+Shift+3), a screenshot of part of the screen (Command+Shift+4) and a screenshot of the active window (Command+Shift+4 and then spacebar). By default, all pictures are on the desktop.
Active angles
A favorite feature of many OS X users. Its essence boils down to the fact that when you point at a corner, some action is performed (for example, windows are minimized). Personally, I was never able to start using it, since any chaotic movement of the cursor towards a corner results in an unnecessary action.
Installing and uninstalling applications
OS X has three methods for installing third-party programs. The first one is the simplest. You install the application from the App Store. After downloading, it automatically appears in the list of programs. Long-pressing the left button on an icon allows you to easily remove it (similar to iOS).
The second is installation using a pkg file. This method is somewhat reminiscent of installation using “executable files” in Windows.
The third method is to copy the program's app file directly to the application folder. As a rule, such files are packed into a dmg archive, and you just need to drag the file icon into the folder. If you copy the file to another folder, the settings and permissions for the application may not be registered.
Finder
Already at the file manager level, you begin to understand that in OS X the logic is completely different. There is no hard drive that you are used to; files are sorted by category. I really like this approach, I sorted them the same way on Windows (separate folders for videos, music, photos).
The Finder (as well as all of OS X) has a handy preview option. You click on the file you need and press the spacebar, after which a preview of the selected image appears in front of you, text (if it’s a text file), or a video starts playing. Using the navigation arrows you can quickly move to the next/previous files, the preview will also be updated in real time. For me it was simply a salvation. It was possible to easily view pictures using previews and immediately rename them by pressing Enter. However, there was one more problem: when renaming, the file I needed “went” to the beginning of the list, and I had to scroll through the entire list from the beginning. I tried to set the settings to sort by creation date, but this sorting only applied to a specific folder, and I had to set it manually each time. I suspect there is a simple solution to this problem, however I haven't been able to find one.
iTunes
It's amazing how different the experience of the same program can be on different operating systems. For example, using iTunes on Windows is not very convenient: the program sometimes slows down, sometimes freezes, sometimes crashes, in general, it’s not very pleasant.
But on OS X there are none of these problems. The application “flies”, fits perfectly into the OS interface and does not cause any complaints. I happily use iTunes as my main music media player. However, it is important to note that the logic of iTunes is different, and you most likely will not be able to use your usual sorting by folders. Here they are replaced by playlists. Of course, it’s inconvenient to re-make playlists of your favorite tracks, but having done them once, you can then easily synchronize them with both another Mac and an iPod/iPhone.
The purchase of audio and video content deserves special attention. I fully and completely support the purchase of licensed music, another thing is that most of the tracks I need are most likely sold only in the Japanese section of iTunes (where you can’t figure it out without knowing the language). However, if we talk about Western or Russian performers, the range here is quite extensive. I liked the ease with which you can buy tracks on iTunes. In my opinion, this is what a good music store should be: ease of purchase and convenience of listening.
In addition to music, you can also purchase films. I was pleased that among the available resolutions there are HD/FullHD, as well as subtitles and audio tracks in several languages.
I was almost ready to call the movie purchasing service ideal, if not for a number of “buts”. Firstly, all movies are DRM protected, and you can't just copy a movie to your Android smartphone. Secondly, when watching via iTunes, you cannot select the size of the subtitles; for me, this disadvantage turned out to be decisive, since I like to watch films with the original track and Russian subtitles. Thirdly, these same films cannot be played by a third-party player (MPlayerX could not), in which I could adjust the size of the subtitles. Fourthly, I would really like to see film premieres released on iTunes simultaneously with cinemas or with a two-week delay. I think that many, like me, would prefer to watch a movie at home for the same money instead of going to the cinema.
Update: In Mavericks you can now customize the size of subtitles.
Pages
In Pages, I immediately liked the synchronization with iCloud. Every time I create a document in Pages and make any changes to it, a copy of it is automatically saved to the cloud. It is very comfortable. For example, I can turn off the computer, and the system itself will save the latest changes in a copy. Or here’s another example: one day I was finishing another review, and our power suddenly went out. To say that I was upset would be an understatement. Five minutes later the light was turned on again, I started the iMac without much hope... And what do you think? All my documents were there, and the iMac even kindly opened the programs it was using before shutting down. What would happen on Windows? He would most likely restore the last saved copy, and 2-3 hours could have gone down the drain.
But I didn’t like the spell checking in Pages at all. She doesn't correct even the simplest mistakes, and this, of course, is frustrating. Out of grief, I installed MS Office for Mac 2011. However, I could not use it, since I experienced noticeable delays when entering text. That is, I enter “check”, and the word appears only after a couple of seconds.
And one more thing: the cost of Pages is 600 rubles. You pay for the program once and receive all subsequent updates for free. The $20 price tag compares Pages favorably with MS Office, which is constantly updated and asks some wild sums (5 thousand rubles) for its license.
By the way, I still left MS Office, since it works much better with tablets than Numbers from Apple.
Safari
Before installing Google Chrome, I decided to give Apple's built-in browser a chance. At first glance, everything was great - well-drawn fonts, a nice interface, a convenient reading mode and much more. I configured the zoom for myself and started using Safari. After some time, it became clear that the browser does not save the scaling settings, which means that each time you need to scale the site manually. A partial solution could be to set the font size in the settings, but in this situation the formatting would get lost, that is, you would see large letters with tiny pictures. Frustrated, I went to download Google Chrome.
Some time later, I finally forced myself to switch to Safari, and all because the rendering of fonts in it is much better than in Chrome.
iPhoto
At the beginning of the section, I noted that iPhoto did not suit my needs, but, nevertheless, I cannot help but talk about the capabilities of this program. If you are a complete novice in photography, but want to tweak this or that image a little, then iPhoto is perfect for you. Using a simple interface and clear settings, you can easily change the brightness or other parameters of a photo.
Notification Center
Just like in iOS, in OS X all notifications come through the notification center. In the settings you can change their appearance; I liked the notifications in the form of pop-up windows the most. Unfortunately for me, the font used in these bubbles is very small, so I was not able to fully enjoy the Twitter client, which is praised by all Apple users without exception.
Mail & Sparrow
Two great email clients for OS X, one built-in, the other third-party. I won’t describe their functionality in detail, I’ll just note that this is exactly what a “mailer” should be: beautiful, convenient, functional. Personally, I went with Sparrow because Mail doesn't allow you to adjust the font size in the Inbox column.
iMessage
Own messenger for Apple devices. Very simple, but no less convenient. You can also connect the same Google Talk to it. For me, its main advantage is the ability to immediately add pictures to the chat. It is very comfortable
Original accessories
Apple Wireless Keyboard. One of the most beautiful wireless keyboards and one of the few that works using Bluetooth. Before that, I worked on a simple Genius SlimStar i220 White keyboard and got very used to it. Initially, I assumed that switching to Apple's solution would not cause any problems; the keyboard seemed beautiful and comfortable. But it was not there. My fingers literally ached from how unusually the keys on the Apple Wireless Keyboard were arranged after the solution from Genius. I got used to this keyboard for almost three weeks, and the only argument in its favor was: “Well, it’s so beautiful and matches the look of the iMac.” Now all I need is full-fledged navigation arrows and a separate digital panel. And of course, it’s a shame that the keyboard, which has both arrows and a separate panel... is wired!
Apple Magic Mouse. I was biased towards the Apple mouse even before I met it. While I fully supported people criticizing its flat appearance, it was immediately clear that this mouse would be uncomfortable to hold and use.
However, at first glance, everything was in order. Yes, the mouse is flatter, but this did not cause any particular inconvenience. However, after half an hour I realized that this was not so. Due to the fact that the index and middle fingers are suspended rather than resting on the mouse, after a while they become fatigued, which was not the case when using a regular mouse.
However, Magic Mouse also has undeniable advantages. For example, horizontal gestures, with their help it is convenient to flip through the same photos or scroll through some large picture in the browser. In addition, the mouse also supports two-finger gestures; horizontal swipes allow you to switch between desktops.
Magic Trackpad. At one of the presentations, I complained to my colleague about the uncomfortable Magic Mouse, as well as the lack of comfortable mice that match the design of the iMac. He suggested that I pay attention to the Magic Trackpad and spoke very flatteringly about it. In addition to this recommendation, I also had my own interest in getting to know this accessory. To be honest, I haven’t used Apple laptops for a long time and have long wanted to understand why their touchpads are praised.
Its main advantage is, of course, multi-touch gestures.
Swiping up and down with two fingers allows you to scroll through a web page or any other page.
Swiping with three fingers emulates selecting an area on the screen.
A four-finger swipe lets you switch between desktops.
And yet, despite the amazing convenience and functionality of touchpads, we should not forget that these devices act as a replacement for a mouse, so even the simplest mouse can be more convenient than the most sophisticated touchpad. Personally, I find it easier to scroll through articles in a browser using a touchpad, but I find it more convenient to select objects with a mouse. As a result, I still have Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad lying next to me.
Time Capsule. One of my friends once told me that any OS X device can also act as a router. I became curious and decided to test this feature by first taking speed measurements on my previous router. The difference between the performance of my router and the performance of the iMac as an access point simply amazed me. It turned out that the router cut the speed by almost half, while the iMac reduced it by no more than 10%.
After such sad (for my router) tests, it was decided to replace it with an AirPort Time Capsule. A regular router from Apple costs about 5-6 thousand rubles, but the “capsule” is only five thousand more expensive, but at the same time has a built-in 2 TB hard drive (there are also modifications with 3 TB). An additional payment of five thousand seemed appropriate to me, and I took the recently announced updated Time Capsule model.
According to many Apple users, the entire process of setting up the capsule boiled down to connecting an ethernet cable to it and two or three clicks “Next” in the settings menu. In the worst case, you will have to enter the IP address and DNS server manually. I, of course, was the luckiest one. Neither automatic nor manual settings helped. Perhaps this was the only call from a technician to my home during the entire time I worked with my provider. By the way, he was able to easily set up the capsule, although he clarified something and asked the adjusters from the office to change it.
Once you've connected and configured the capsule, a separate icon for it appears in Finder, and you can easily copy and open files stored on it. They just open with some delay, apparently due to the fact that the capsule works via a wireless connection. I end up storing almost nothing on the Time Capsule, other than backups.
Windows installation
You have two ways to use Windows on your iMac. The first is using Bootcamp, this utility allows you to install Windows on a separate part of your hard drive and run it as a full-fledged OS on your computer. However, there are two nuances here. First, if you use Windows, it will install on your hard drive and you will lose the benefits of Fusion Drive. Secondly, the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics will not work on Windows, that is, the monoblock will make more noise.
The second option for using Windows is using the Parallels program. Parallels allows you to run Windows in two modes:
- A full-fledged emulator, that is, you have a separate window with Windows in it.
- "Windowed mode". Each program has its own separate window; in fact, you can work on OS X, and if you wish, switch to the window with the desired program. This is an ideal option for those who are satisfied with everything in OS X, but lack a couple of programs from Windows.
Important note: If you plan to use Parallels frequently, it's best to get an iMac with 16GB of RAM.
Interestingly, when installing Parallels, the program automatically downloads a clean system image itself, this is very convenient. Parallels can also “pick up” your Windows installed via BootCamp.
Performance
I intentionally ordered the simplest configuration available. I don't need a powerful graphics card, so I didn't see the point in paying extra for one, but I knew for sure that Fusion Drive was something worth paying extra for. So my iMac has the following configuration:
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce 640M
- Internal storage: Fusion Drive (128GB SSD+1TB HDD)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Processor: Intel Core i5 Quad-Core Ivy Bridge
The first thing I immediately liked: the iMac turned on very quickly, as if I had turned on the TV and not the computer. A little later, I noticed that Apple uses a clever trick: as soon as you turn on the device, a gray apple appears on a white background with the sound “Ta-dam”, and you subconsciously think that the computer is already turned on. However, this bullseye hangs for about three to four seconds, during which the system is still loading, but the user is sure that it has already loaded.
Second: Apple computers do not need to be turned off, they do not load with “garbage” and do not start to work slower without long reboots. In the case of the iMac, this, of course, is not so impressive, but I am sure that all MacBook owners really love this feature.
Third: the almost complete absence of noise, if you switch to the iMac from a regular desktop computer, this will be immediately noticeable.
Now I propose to talk about the features of Fusion Drive. Ideally, the iMac would automatically move frequently used files to the SSD and less frequently used files to the HDD. In fact, all new files are first written to the SSD by default, and then, when the threshold of 4 GB is reached for a one-time transfer, they are transferred to the HDD. To be honest, I don’t really like this approach; I prefer that the HDD and SSD be two separate drives, and I could independently define the folders that will definitely be on the SSD.
As for performance, there are no complaints when performing my daily tasks (video, browser, Twitter, email, browsing and minimal photo processing). The only thing is that sometimes when quickly scrolling through the “previews” of photos, the iMac can think for a second or two. As other Mac owners told me, if the photos were on an SSD, there would be no such problems.
I'm not afraid that the hardware on my iMac will become outdated, given that new versions of OS X work stably even on devices with the previous generation of processors and Intel HD 3000 video cards.
Webcam, microphone, speakers
As I already said at the beginning of the article, the indisputable advantage of monoblocks is the minimum number of cables. So, you do not need to specifically connect the same webcam or external microphone. However, the convenience and quality of built-in components do not always meet user requirements.
In my opinion, the iMac has excellent stereo speakers; they can perfectly replace speakers for a couple of thousand rubles. The sound in them is clear and without wheezing, even at maximum volume.
I was very pleased with the built-in microphone, it has excellent sensitivity, you can be heard perfectly, even if you are sitting at a distance of two meters from the monoblock.
The quality of the webcam is also beyond praise; I would especially note the fact that it works better in FaceTime than in Skype.
Conclusion
I paid 67 thousand rubles for the iMac configuration I needed. Now it costs 62 thousand. Perhaps the key question I wanted to answer is: “How convenient is the iMac and OS X for the average user?” If we talk about the iMac itself, then there are no complaints about it: stunning design, high-quality display, pleasant body materials and fast operation. But I can’t say so unequivocally about OS X. Each user will have an individual impression of it, it all depends on how well it suits your needs. It took me about a month to get used to it, and I can’t say that the transition was “smooth and painless.” Now I am happy to use OS X, because all the necessary programs have been found, and I have become accustomed to all the features of the OS. Of course, OS X has many strengths: excellent synchronization of your documents with iCloud, fast operating speed, a nice interface, and easy system backup. But some functions seem simply illogical, for example, why you need to use a two-key combination to open folders, although this is a frequently used operation, why couldn’t there be a separate hotkey for cutting, etc. Of course, I really don’t like Apple’s “we know what’s best, do as we say” approach. On the other hand, they use a clever trick: they make 80% of the actions in their OS very convenient, and the user is forced to put up with the remaining 20%, because in general, almost everything suits him.
I found OS X more convenient in many ways than Windows, but at the same time, I understand that both operating systems have their pros and cons. Another question is that I don’t like the direction in which Windows is now developing (we are talking about the “tiled eight”), but in OS X so far everything seems to be stable (and I really hope that the colorful trends from iOS7 will not affect "Poppy")
Now I would like to talk about the possible configurations of Apple home computers and which one I think is the best.
In my opinion, it makes sense to take the iMac 2013 Late with a 256 GB SSD, and then buy an additional external hard drive of the size you need. Now there are many models (from LaCie to 3Q) that look great with Apple technology. A model with an SSD will work faster than a Fusion Drive, and all rarely used data can be stored on an external drive.
Another interesting option is a combination of a Mac Mini and any external monitor. The ideal option is Apple Thunderbolt Display, but it makes sense to wait for an update based on the current iMac line.
A little more about price: Apple computers are expensive, on average 30% more expensive than their Windows counterparts. Yes, in some respects (appearance, materials) they win, but for everyday work the capabilities of a Windows laptop/all-in-one are enough. And the last piece of advice I would like to give to prospective “switchers”: don’t jump right off the bat, if you decide to switch to OS X, then don’t start with an expensive iMac or MacBook Pro Retina, choose something simpler, the same Mac Mini or Air of the previous generation. No one can tell in advance whether you will like this operating system or not.
Evgeniy Vildyaev (
Apple computers are considered to be much better than their Windows counterparts. In many respects this is true, which is why many users are looking to change their Windows PC to a Mac. Switching from a Microsoft operating system to macOS is not that difficult, but there are a few things to keep in mind. These tips are intended for those new to the world of Apple and for users who have previously only used Windows.
Desktop
The Windows and macOS desktops have a number of differences. It's often cleaner on Apple devices, so the first time you set it up you'll have to spend more time getting it just the way you like it. Keep in mind that there is no Refresh option on the Mac desktop.
Finder
Finder is similar to File Explorer on macOS, but it's actually much more powerful. On Windows, you can get to Explorer by clicking on the corresponding icon or by pressing the Win+E keys; on Mac, Finder is always open, and by default you can’t even close it.
You can create a new folder in Windows using the combination Ctrl + Shift + N, but on Mac Cmd + Shift + N is responsible for the same action. If you prefer to use the mouse, then in Windows you need to right-click, “Create” and select “Folder” On a Mac, you need to right-click and select “New Folder.”
In order to rename a file in a Microsoft system, you need to right-click and select the appropriate item in the context menu or select the file and press F2. On a Mac, you can also rename the file through the pop-up menu, or select the document and press Enter on your keyboard. Please note that on Windows the file is opened by pressing the Enter button; on Mac the combination Command + O or Command + the arrow below is responsible for this function.
Finder supports tabs, which can be created by pressing Command + T.
In addition, the Mac has a different file system organization. Windows users are used to seeing disk partitions (C, D, E), but you won’t see this on Apple devices, since all data is stored on one partition.
If you connect an external USB device, then on a Mac, to safely remove them, you need to click on the “Eject” button in the file manager.
To get to the properties of a file or folder in Windows, you right-click and select “Properties”. On a Mac, you can also right-click and go to Properties, or select the file and press Command + I.
Hotkeys
To copy on Windows, use Ctrl + C, but on Mac it is Command + C, and for pasting, use Ctrl + V and Command + V, respectively.
In order to cut and paste a file on a Microsoft system, you need to press Ctrl + X and then Ctrl + V, on macOS everything is a little more complicated - Command + C to copy and Command + Option + V to move.
Ctrl + A in Windows is responsible for selecting all files, the same operation on Mac is performed with the combination Command + A. A useful function on devices running Windows is to select files and press Delete to move them to the trash or Shift + Delete to permanently delete them. If you want to do the same on a Mac, you need to press Command + Delete to move it to the trash or Command + Option + Delete to permanently delete it.
Speaking of the Delete button, it is worth noting that its functionality on a Mac is somewhat different, since it acts as a regular Backspace. To delete subsequent text, use fn+ Delete.
Alt + Tab on a Windows PC moves users through open applications; on a Mac, Command + Tab is used. To close the application you need to press Alt + F4 and Command + Q respectively.
Trackpad Gestures
At first glance, it seems that the trackpad on a MacBook is no different from that on a Windows PC. In fact, it supports a huge number of gestures.
On Windows computers, the trackpad's functionality is often limited to page scrolling and zooming, but on a Mac there is much more of these functions. Swiping up with three fingers opens Mission Control, where you can see all your running apps. If you have several tabs open in a program, swiping down with three fingers will open a similar menu, but instead of running applications, active tabs will be displayed. It often happens that while working with an application, you need quick access to the desktop in order, for example, to move a file. In this case, you can make a gesture with three fingers. To access Launchpad, you need to perform a four-finger pinch-out gesture.
Spotlight
Spotlight is a lot like Windows Search. To launch the search in Windows, use the keyboard shortcut Win + S; on a Mac, the search is opened using Command + Space or the icon in the menu bar.
Just like on Windows, Spotlight on macOS lets you find word meanings, perform web searches, launch apps, and do simple calculations.
Because of Spotlight, many people forget about Launchpad altogether, since the search is very fast and saves a lot of time.
Exit the application
Clicking the red X in an app on a Mac doesn't exit it. In order to close the program, you need to use the Command + Q combination or click on the name in the menu bar and select “Exit”. You can also right-click an application in the Dock and select Exit.
Multitasking
As noted earlier, you can switch to multitasking mode using trackpad gestures. macOS supports multiple desktops; in Windows, this feature appeared only with the release of “tens”.
If you want to use multiple desktops in Windows, click the Task View button in the taskbar and a preview of your existing desktops will appear at the bottom. On macOS, you need to go to Mission Control, and desktop previews will appear in the same way, but at the top of the display. Microsoft encourages users to use shortcuts. For example, to create a new table you can simply press Win + Ctrl + B, to switch between them - Win + Ctrl + left or right arrow, to close - Win + Ctrl + F.
Mac unfortunately doesn't support keyboard shortcuts in this case, but you can use triple swipe left or right to switch between desktops.
Installing and uninstalling applications
Installing and uninstalling applications is one of the most common actions performed on a laptop. To install the program on Windows, use an installation file with the extension .exe. On Mac, the installation file has a .dmg extension. after opening it, a window will appear in which you just need to move the application icon to the folder with all programs, which is much simpler than the installation process in Windows.
Removing programs on a Mac looks as simple as installing them - go to the applications folder through the Finder and press Command + Delete, after which the system will ask you to enter your username and password.
Working with Windows
Both systems support displaying two apps on one screen, but Windows slightly outperforms macOS in this regard. You can open 4 applications at once and work with them simultaneously. By default, there is nothing like this on Apple computers, so you will have to use third-party software, such as Better Touch Tool or Better Snap Tool.
Voice assistants
Microsoft has introduced its own voice assistant in Windows 10 – Cortana. Apple followed suit and ported Siri to the Mac in macOS Sierra. Compared to Cortana, Siri looks more functional because, in addition to basic tasks, it can also display information about the computer and change settings.
The only problem is that Apple's assistant can't handle written commands, while Cortana can handle both voice and text commands.
Formatting disks
If you used Windows, most likely the file system of all your external media is NTFS, but Mac does not support writing to NTFS devices. The problem can be solved by formatting the external drive into a compatible FAT32 or exFAT format, or by installing a third-party driver, such as Paragon NTFS for Mac.
Screenshots
If you find yourself taking screenshots often, you'll definitely love macOS. Screenshots in Windows are performed using the combination Win + Print Screen or the Snipping Tool utility. The Mac has several hotkeys: Command + Shift + 3 to take a screenshot of the entire screen, Command + Shift + 4 to take a screenshot of a specific area, Command + Shift + 4 + Space to take a screenshot of an application window.
Backup
Backing up your data is never a bad idea and should be done on a regular basis. Both macOS and Windows offer quick backup methods. All you need is an external hard drive. Creating a backup and restoring on a Mac is very simple - connect an external device, go to settings and select Time Machine. If you need to restore data, connect your hard drive, click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select “Enter Time Machine.” Next, you can select which files need to be restored.
Applications freezing
On macOS, you will rarely encounter the “Application is not responding” error, but if this happens, press Command + Option + Esc to open the Windows version of the Task Manager, and close the unresponsive application.
Today I will tell you in an accessible way about the pros and cons of switching from a computer running Windows to a Mac computer running OS X. Our site has been successfully getting people onto the iPad for several years now, let’s see if I can shake the blind faith in Windows at least some of our readers.
In the article I will talk about buying my MacBook Pro, upgrading, and impressions of the work.
Attention! The article shows an increased level of love for MacBooks and OS X. Please be understanding. :)
My history
Until 2011, I used Windows exclusively at home. Through his studies and work, he was able to handle various varieties of Linux at a fairly deep level. Several generations of computers have passed through me, from the first Pentium to the modern laptop with a Touch screen. In 2011, on a hot March day, my friends and I spent 2 days on the beautiful island of Penang (Malaysia) in order to obtain another Thai visa.
I've been toying with the idea of buying a MacBook for about six months. And Malaysia is the ideal country for this:
- firstly, the price there does not include taxes, that is, initially almost the lowest for Apple equipment in the world,
- secondly, laptops come with an English layout.
We bought the latest MacBook Pro from early 2011. First impressions were: Wow! Nothing ever slows down. How beautiful and pleasant it is to the touch.
Do you know how long I didn’t reboot it after purchasing it? Six months. I’m not kidding - for about 6 months I didn’t even think about such a thing as a reboot. Now I reboot once a month, but usually these are some updates to beta versions of the system...
Speaking of brakes, I embellished a little above. Still, if you tried, it was possible to boot the computer. Therefore, I decided to make a working computer without weak points from my Mac. Over these 4 years I have made 4 small upgrades:
a) I bought an SSD drive and installed it instead of the DVD-RW, which was the default. I ordered from the USA - around 6,000 rubles came out for 128 gigabytes. For 2011 - normal. This is enough for the system and programs.
c) I changed the second hard drive for data: instead of 320 gigabytes, I installed a 1 terabyte screw. 3000 rubles.
d) I bought a new battery for 1500 rubles on e-bay. The original battery became damp in Bali and died after a couple of years of operation.
That is, the total cost of the laptop + maintenance for 4 years worked out for me: 35000+6000+3000+2000+1500 = 47500.
At the moment, I have a decent working laptop on which I can edit videos, download programs, and download movies for years to come. That is, after 4 years, my MacBook is not only not outdated, but I am completely satisfied with it and I am not looking for a replacement.
The only “weak” link for me in it is the lack of a retina screen, but nothing can be done about it.
Now let's get back to Windows computers. I changed them every 2-3 years (or more often). I was constantly unhappy with something. Either you need a newer video card to run the game, or the purchased components are incompatible. Something was breaking. If you do the math, Windows computers from 2007 to 2011 cost me 1.5 times more. :)
Pros of switching to Mac
Let's take a look at the advantages that I would highlight based on my experience. I won’t list everything, but I’ll tell you why I use Apple computers and don’t plan on leaving them.
In my opinion, the OS X operating system is more intuitive, friendly, advanced and secure than Windows. Let me explain with a simple example:
How are applications installed?
On Windows, you need to run the installer, click “Next” 150 times. Along the way, turn off the checkboxes so that unnecessary components are not installed.
In OS X, you either install the application from the Mac App Store (similar to the App Store) and the entire installation (and updates) comes down to the click of a button. Or run the installer and drag the program or game to the applications folder. ALL! It’s rare that a program asks unnecessary questions...
OS X was made so that any dummy could figure it out...
What about viruses?
If you want to win an argument about which system is better, then immediately remember the argument about viruses. In Windows, it is not safe to go online without an antivirus. Give an ordinary housewife a computer on Windows, and in a couple of hours she will bring you a whole breeding ground of Trojans.
I judge by my parents. They have a 2011 Windows laptop at home, plus a Mac Mini we gave them (also 2011). It so happens that they use these two devices on a 50/50 basis. I’m tired of listening to complaints about the laptop and am constantly cleaning something there. Viruses somehow get there even with antiviruses turned on. :)
On the Mac Mini, the biggest complaint I can remember is: “Why won’t my Safari tab close after updating to Yosemite?” Naturally, there can be no talk of any viruses in OS X. Kaspersky has been sleeping for 15 years and sees that viruses will finally appear on Mac... It is possible that they have an entire department unsuccessfully developing these viruses. "It's business, baby!" Skeptics predict, analysts and the media occasionally become hysterical, but things are still there. There are no viruses or Trojans in OS X! You can sleep peacefully.
How friendly is OS X?
I argued and maintain that OS X is easier to learn than Windows. The system has many useful standard programs. The principles of operation are obvious, the application menus are standardized. And switching from Windows to Mac is one of the easiest tasks that you least need to be afraid of. It’s the same as switching from an old Lada to a brand new foreign car.
Apple computer design
Looking at MacBooks, iMacs, Mac Minis, Mac Pros, there is no doubt: this is the best thing that is currently happening with computers. There is an almost perfect design and pleasant-to-touch materials... A standard inexpensive Windows laptop is a piece of plastic that you don’t want to pick up after a Mac. Well, the best representatives in terms of design on Windows are as expensive as Macs. Why pay the same amount if you can buy a Mac?
The ingenious and responsive Touch panel on the MacBook completely weaned me off the mouse. I seriously doubt that I could do this on a regular computer.
Operating system update
Well, an important advantage of the Mac is that Apple in one person sells the user not just a computer with an operating system, but also all future updates that are made in a couple of clicks. With a regular PC, you buy a computer and load it with Windows, which after three years becomes outdated and you have to pay again to upgrade to a new version. There is now a lot of confusion with Windows 10 - some will get it for free, others won’t... Do you need this hemorrhoid?
Cons of switching to Mac
I also decided to highlight only the most obvious disadvantages. Those arguments that I have heard more than once or twice from friends and acquaintances.
Price
Sky-high price of Apple computers. The cheapest Mac Mini costs 35,000. And laptops now cost 80 thousand and above. It is the high price that stops many from buying. We must state the fact that after the fall of the dollar and the jump in prices, Apple technology is again “the lot of the elite.” For some people there is a dilemma: “Should I go on vacation or buy a MacBook?” and the choice most often falls not in favor of technology.
Games?
OS X is not for gamers. No, there are plenty of games and expensive Mac models have decent video cards, but it’s still easier to play new games on a console or on a regular PC. Or get confused and buy a more expensive Mac with a powerful video card.
I solved the problem for myself a long time ago by purchasing a PS 3. After all, a laptop is a device for work and multimedia entertainment, but for games you need to buy a console.
No familiar programs
People are scared by the lack of Windows programs they are familiar with. And some people don’t even want to hear about analogues... There are no irreplaceable programs. So much software has been released for OS X that almost all Windows applications can be found with an adequate replacement. It's unpleasant if your work tool is released exclusively for Windows. I simply sympathize with these people: their transition is the most painful. :)
But software developers are not fools either: a large percentage of applications have versions for both Windows and Mac. Plus for OS X there is a lot of unique software written specifically for this system.
A short story about the purchase.
Quite a long time ago I thought about replacing my HP Pavilion dv6 6130sr with a lightweight 15-inch laptop for taking lectures at the university and using it as my main computer. HP is quite a heavy laptop for daily lugging to university (the situation is aggravated by a huge charger weighing almost a kilogram), it also barely survives to the end of the third pair, and the constantly coming out ultrabooks, albeit with 13-inch screens, constantly fueled interest in replacing it.
In addition, I had an unsuccessful attempt to replace the laptop with an Asus TF700 transformable tablet with a docking station, but, unfortunately, Asus made a very uncomfortable keyboard (squeezed to the right, short key travel), installed a slow internal memory chip, which is why the tablet constantly slowed down and a rather modest battery, and Android Offices are very poor in functionality, so its only advantage over a laptop was its size and weight. After using this tablet, I believe that Asus only knows how to make routers (the RT-N56U works great).
Brief characteristics of HP Pavilion dv6 6130sr: 15.6", AMD QuadCore A6 3410MX (1.6 GHz), Radeon HD6750M+HD6520G (CrossFireX), 8Gb RAM, 62 Wh battery, dimensions: 3.52x37.8x24.68 cm, weight 2.91 kg.
Brief specifications of Apple MacBook Pro Retina (ME293): 15.4”, Intel Core i7 4750HQ (2GHz), Intel Iris Pro (5200), 8 Gb RAM, 95 Wh battery, dimensions: 1.8 x 35.89 x 24.71 cm, weight 2 .02 kg.
Initially, the main conditions were: weight about 2 kg, high-quality 13-15” screen, discrete video card (for games), small charger, battery life of about 6 hours, which automatically means Haswell, and price/quality. But, unfortunately, I was faced with the fact that there were practically no offers on the market that interested me: HP, whose laptops I had used before, still do not want to make lightweight laptops with high-quality screens; Asus did not want to buy after the “successful” experience of using the TF700 tablet, although the UX302LG ultrabook looked like a very good purchase relative to the MacBook air: discrete video card (it turned out to be a bad bus, but still better than nothing), IPS screen, glass cover; Sony was not considered due to the sale of the Vaio brand, and I was also not satisfied with the filling for the money that our stores were asking for; Lenovo, let brand lovers forgive me, I don’t consider it a quality brand, and I didn’t consider the others due to their lack of availability in stores (I’m conservative in terms of purchases: first you need to look at it in person, and then buy in a store or order online). Also, I initially did not want to buy a MacBook, because I was used to Windows (putting it instead of MacOS is akin to blasphemy and mockery), I thought sometimes to play games, although I understood that it would be difficult for me to find something more autonomous and compact. That's why I put this topic aside.
Some time passed and I got hooked on the video of the walkthrough on YouTube, so the need for a discrete video card disappeared, I also realized that I needed a diagonal of at least 15”, the MWC, IFA, Computex exhibitions ended and I simultaneously fell out of reality while preparing for and passing exams in university. After passing all exams (I accept congratulations on receiving a red diploma), not seeing anything suitable, I seriously thought about switching to a Mac.
I compiled a modest list of programs that I use and began selecting analogues using Google and sites offering alternatives to specific programs, 90% of them turned out to be either available on MacOS or had analogues. After that, I finally decided to go to the dark side for cookies.
Problems I encountered and their solutions:
1. Ukrainian keyboard layout.
If the Russian user does not feel any inconvenience during the transition, since the PC layout is “out of the box,” then the Ukrainian Windows user receives a clumsy Ukrainian layout (and a nervous tic of the right eye), and if the letters “i” and “i” are rearranged, It’s possible to come to terms with this, but I’m clearly not ready to come to terms with a period and a comma “via the Shift key”. The solution to the problem was found on Habré (http://habrahabr.ru/post/130471/) and has been in effect since 2011, all you need to do is place two files in the “Keyboard layouts” folder in the libraries, reboot and select the “Ukrainian” layout in the settings. The only thing that will remind you of the terrible Ukrainian layout is the engraving on the piano keys.
2. Finder.
After Windows Explorer, you begin to feel sorry for Mac users. I don’t understand at all how you can normally use the finder out of the box: the lack of automatic arrangement of files on a grid (why do I need two columns of files in a stretched window?); “free” arrangement of files in a folder when copying/moving and their layering (I don’t think it’s normal to go into submenus every time to arrange files); folders mixed with files, not first folders then files, etc. I solved this problem using the XtraFinder program (http://www.trankynam.com/xtrafinder/). Now Finder is in no way inferior to Explorer + you don’t need to install QTTabBar to get tabs. Unfortunately, the program sometimes crashes.
3. Working with archives.
Initially, when we purchase a Mac, we receive an archiver that, when double-clicked, automatically unpacks the archive in the same folder. At first I thought this was very cool and convenient, but later it turned out that you can’t look at the contents of the archive without unpacking it, and you can’t add files to the archive either. Using this after 7-zip on Windows is difficult and inconvenient, and I started looking for a solution. First of all, I paid attention to the free archiver Keka (http://www.kekaosx.com/ru/), but it differs from the standard one only in supporting a larger number of formats and having an interesting icon for an archiver. This didn’t suit me much, so I decided to look for a free opportunity to look at the contents of the archive in advance and found The BetterZip Quick Look Generator 1.2 (http://macitbetter.com/BetterZip-Quick-Look-Generator/), this program allows you to quick viewing (select a file and press spacebar) to see what’s in the archive, but it doesn’t solve the problem of adding files. I settled on BetterZip (http://macitbetter.com/, the solution is paid, but there are distributions on trackers), this archiver has the same capabilities as 7-zip on Windows.
4. Music player.
On Windows I used iTunes (until I sold the iPhone and iPod), and then AIMP3, but it wasn’t available for the Mac, and Google persistently offers VOX (http://coppertino.com/) as an alternative. First of all, we are greeted by a website where only one thought arises – when will they let me download this player. After installation - who made this terrible design, and after some time of use this player simply flew into the trash, this is definitely not AIMP: terrible design (dark spot on the edge of the screen), inconvenient playlist management, inability to delete several songs from the playlist at the same time, inability to switching tracks using the multimedia buttons of the laptop, etc. The solution to the problem was the same iTunes, but at the same time I had to convert my media library to ALAC (thanks to XLD it took less than two hours - just a miracle program), and it also solved my next problem.
5. Editing music tags in Flac.
It would seem that what could be simpler than editing tags in music? But when I switched to Mac, I was in for a big surprise. I like to add covers and write down all the tags, including the lyrics, and it was this moment that made me waste 2 hours searching for a suitable program. On Windows, I used the tag editor supplied with AIMP, where there was a separate window for adding song lyrics, when I started installing analogues selected in advance, I was surprised by the absence of such a window or at least a field. TriTag (http://old.feedface.com/software/tritag.html), Musorg (http://download.cnet.com/Musorg/3000-2141_4-127314.html), MusicBrainzPicard (https://musicbrainz. org/doc/MusicBrainz_Picard) are not at all aware of the lyrics of the compositions, and the program that suspects them costs $6 (Music Tag Editor, available in the AppStore). The ability to add song lyrics is also available in the Kid3 () editor, but it is implemented strangely: not only does the display of the Lyrics field need to be enabled in the settings, but it is just a thin strip in one row. The solution to the problem was iTunes with normal tag editing (the music is still in Alac again). I also want to draw your attention to the fact that not even all tag editors on Mac can add a cover image.
6. View photos and images in a folder.
As a Windows user, I am used to opening one image in a folder, and then scrolling through them in a row with the mouse buttons, but standard View does not provide this option when simply opening it. In order to be able to scroll through images, you must first select all the images in the folder (cmd ⌘ + A) and only then open them. This state of affairs did not suit me at all, and I began searching for a replacement for standard Viewing; it turned out to be the JustLooking program (http://chipmunkninja.com/JustLooking). Unfortunately, it has several shortcomings: there is no retina adaptation at all, the touchpad zoom does not work, and there is a slow transition animation that must be immediately disabled in the settings. The first is partially solved by choosing a small toolbar size in the settings. Also, the Xee 3 program is considered a replacement for Viewer with the function of viewing all images in a folder, but it has become paid.
The shortcomings that I encountered, but related more to the laptop and not very annoying:
1. Adaptation for retina. After purchasing a MacBook Pro retina, the user will constantly be accompanied by slightly blurry image previews on sites (for example, deviantart.com, mycolorscreen.com, 4PDA forum), unadapted/partially adapted program interfaces (for example, Word, Photoshop script editor, JustLooking, Photoshop up to version 13.0. 3). It's not very annoying, but it's hard not to notice.
By way of illustrationscreenshot of the Word window with open settings (non-adapted preview of styles and icons in settings). Possibly visible only on Retina-like screens:
2. Lack of speaker placement. On the MacBook Pro retina 15” there are “grids” of speakers on the sides of the keyboard, so due to the fact that I’m not a good touch typist, my grandmother types blindly and sometimes I raise my hands to see where the letter I need is, constantly The music is briefly muffled/distorted.
3. Icons “for the blind”. Every time I open Launchpad out of nothing to do, I see an iPad. Of course, I understand that it’s easier to hit a giant icon, but there are reasonable limits to everything. I would like to see in the settings the ability to regulate the size of icons, but since the Applications folder in the dock is much more convenient (the icons are also huge, but at least it’s clear why), I’m not going to do anything about it.
4. Gesture to show the desktop. I don't quite understand the gesture for showing the desktop. Before that, I only dealt with MacOS on my mother’s white plastic MacBook (a1342) where Snow Leopard was installed (on newer versions it was slow due to the small amount of RAM), there you had to swipe down with four fingers, which seems more convenient to me, although and is a matter of habit.
Separately, I would like to mention a very successful analogue of the CueTools program on Windows - X Lossless Decoder(http://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html). Thanks to it, converting music to Alac took me less than 2 hours, because it: does not change/erase tags and covers in files; conversion begins after dragging the selected files into the Finder onto the XLD icon in the dock; converts directly to the original folder. All I had to do after converting was drag the already selected Flac files to the trash. In general, I recommend it to everyone.
Good things that I would like to see on Windows out of the box:
1. Quick view(select the file and press Spacebar). The quick view here is simply omnivorous and opens not only images, but also PDF and Doc documents. This way you can easily view the contents of the document without opening it.
2. Switch keyboard layout. On MacOS, the layout is switched using cmd ⌘ + spacebar, which is the most convenient way to switch layouts. It was possible to install the iSwitcher program on Windows, but it did not work in some programs, sometimes it stopped responding or Alt simply worked.
3.Mission Control. A very convenient way to switch between open windows and see what is happening in them. It was possible to install the Switcher program on Windows, but it does not live up to the original. The only thing I don't really like about Mission Control is that it doesn't display minimized windows.
To summarize, I would like to say that in my case the transition was a success: there were no serious or unsolvable problems, almost all programs are available, and if not, there are analogues. On top of everything else, I received a light, silent and quite powerful laptop with a long battery life, a gorgeous screen and touchpad. Perhaps if I had used some unique software, the picture would not have been so rosy, but in such cases BootCamp is at hand or you can download Wineskin, although this cannot be called anything other than “crutches”.
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
Updated: 2017-3-4
Oleg Lazhechnikov
32Just recently I voiced mine and now, as promised, I am publishing a mini-faq on the topic of switching from Windows to Mac. If anyone remembers, at the very beginning I asked several questions about the use of poppy. Then I asked if there was a manual for beginners on the Internet. I was advised a lot of things in the comments, but no one gave me a link to the summary post, apparently everyone figured it out themselves without any problems. In principle, this is really true, it’s not difficult to figure it out, much easier than it seems. But nevertheless, I still wrote this article, which will contain what I needed then. Someone might find this useful during the transition.
The touchpad has taps and clicks (it presses quite hard), as well as various gestures. Therefore, first of all, you need to go to Programs/System Settings/Trackpad and look at everything that is there, some of the questions will end there. The touchpad here is excellent, and I don’t really use a mouse yet, I hope to get used to it without it, since when traveling it’s not always convenient due to the need for an additional surface.
I will list the most basic actions on the touchpad.
Double click: double tap or single click.
Middle click: cmd + tap.
Text selection: Click on the touchpad and, without releasing it, select the text. But you can’t do it through a double tap, as you can on Windows.
Moving a browser window or tab: Click on the touchpad and, without letting go, drag it where you need it. But it’s easier to do it with two fingers, click with one in the lower left corner (the cursor should be on the window title), and drag with the second. The second method allows you to drag to any distance, while the first is limited by the size of the touchpad.
Scroll down or up: Move up or down with two fingers at the same time (very convenient).
Three fingers up gesture: we get into mission control, or if, in Russian, then all windows are reduced and we see all running applications on the desktop at once. By clicking on the reduced window it is now very easy to go to the desired application.
Three finger left/right gesture: We move between desktops.
The last two gestures are just mega-convenient! Now I can’t imagine how you can work without them.
Multiple desktops
Desktops can be created while in Mission Control mode. You can run the required number of applications on any desktop or move existing ones there. Someone, for example, divides them by topic: work, communication, entertainment. Also, any application switched to “full screen” mode (usually shift+cmd+F) itself creates a new desktop. True, in this case, only one can be located on this desktop. Thus, we have the required number of desktops, each of which contains, or one full-screen
application, or several application windows.
Hot buttons on mac
What’s convenient is that the basic shortcuts are valid for any program, such as “open settings.” This will work everywhere. No less convenient is that you can create hotkeys for yourself for almost any action in any program. This is done in System Settings/Keyboard/Keyboard Shortcuts.
To the end of the page: cmd + down arrow
To the top of the page: cmd + up arrow
At the end of the phrase: cmd + right arrow
To the beginning of the phrase: cmd + left arrow
Close a frozen application: option + cmd + escape. Or open System Monitor (located in Programs), this is an analogue of the task manager, and there we select the process to close.
Hide the Dock: option + cmd + D. Frees up space on the screen, and appears only when you hover the cursor.
Copy: cmd+C
Insert: cmd + V
Cut in Finder: first just copy and then paste via option + cmd + V
Regular cutting: cmd + X. Works in all programs, and in particular in Pathfinder.
Delete: cmd+delete
Switch layout: cmd+space
Cancel switching punto switcher layout: option
Launch the spotlight window: control + space. Spotlight is a global search for poppies.
Exit the application: cmd + Q. Not exactly the same as the red cross, because some applications remain hanging in the background when you click on the cross. And here is a complete exit.
Close application window: cmd + W. It is convenient to close browser tabs or the Finder window (it always opens as a window).
Expand the window to full screen: control + command + F (less often shift+cmd+F)
Dot: cmd+7
Comma: cmd+6
Open program settings: cmd + ,
External hard drive on mac
I discovered the unpleasant news that Windows and Mac have different file systems, which means that an external hard drive can be used by default with either a MacBook or a Windows laptop. That is, my hard drive, formatted in NTFS, is visible on the Mac, but you can only copy files from it to the laptop, and you cannot write it back. To be fair, I can say that if the hard disk is reformatted to HFS+ (Mac file system), then Windows will not see such a disk at all, neither for copying nor for writing.
There are more or less ways out of this situation:
- Format hard drive to FAT32. But there will be a file size limit of 4 GB.
- Leave the hard drive in NTFS and install the NTFS Tools, NTFS-3G, Paragon NTFS, Tuxera NTFS and the like drivers on the Mac. The bad thing about this solution is that you can lose all the data on the external drive if you use it frequently with a Mac. Also, not all Mac programs will be able to work with the disk directly (I read about this, but did not check).
- Format the disk in HFS+ and install Mac Browser on Windows. The same thing, you can lose data if you use it frequently on Windows.
- Format in exFAT is seen by both operating systems, but the file system itself is not very suitable for storing important files, because it is not very reliable.
I did it differently. Since the files on the hard drive are very important to me, sometimes I only have them in a single copy, and this disk is also working and I work with it every day, the choice is obvious to me - HFS+! This is the most stable and safe solution, and there is no need to install anything additional anywhere. But since sometimes I have to transfer files with a Windows laptop, I also created an exFAT partition on the disk with a size of 50 GB, this is quite enough to transfer files to Windows or work with this disk on it. As an option, set up a network between laptops and use network drives.
Applications and analogues
You can find all the programs with pills on all sorts of trackers. You can buy or download free ones on the App Store or official websites. In fact, there are quite a lot of free programs.
Lightroom remains the same, there is a version for Mac with a tablet or for money. Instead, they still recommend a cheaper, but not worse analogue - Aperture, but I haven’t installed it yet because it’s unnecessary. And the analogue of Photoshop is Pixelmator, although Photoshop can also be installed.
The built-in image viewers (there are two of them) by default do not allow you to scroll through photos from one folder; to do this, you need to select a group of files and press enter or spacebar, depending on which viewer you like best. One could get used to this additional action, but they scroll through Raw on Retina with a delay, and besides, small pictures are too small, the resolution is high.
And I installed the free XnviewMP viewer. It scrolls through everything quickly, and scales the photo to fit the retina (multiplies the photo resolution by two), and in it you can change the image format, crop the photo, etc. The only bad thing is that it glitches a little for me, this is due to not remembering some settings. I also installed Xee and Sequential viewers, but they also scroll through RAW very slowly. Xee is still there and is used for scrolling through jpegs, maybe I’ll just leave it, because I started watching Raw only in Lightroom. There is also a Viewer from the App Store for 169 rubles, which is simple and scrolls through everything in a folder, but also scrolls through RAW with a delay.
Clipboard history - Clipmenu, free.
Punto switcher has a version for Mac, it’s a pity it doesn’t have a diary, it’s free.
Microsoft Office - available for Mac with tablet or for money.
Life hack 2 - how to find a hotel 20% cheaper
Thanks for reading
4,50
out of 5 (ratings: 2)
Comments (32)
Blue
Dmitriy
