I switched to a MacBook after using Windows for over 30 years. Here is what happened.
My dad introduced me to computers with a Windows 3.1 laptop when I was in elementary school, and I’ve been a Windows fan ever since – almost ever since.
When Apple released its M1 processor in 2020, I finally buckled down and bought my first MacBook. I used it for light work while traveling because it only has a 13-inch display and can use my three external monitors. That meant I spent 80% of my working time on my Windows PC.
I eventually upgraded to a 15-inch MacBook Air when it arrived, but I still held off on using it as my daily driver until I finally found a way to use my triple-monitor workstation with it.
But now that I have a DisplayLink dock to work around that monitor problem, I knew I had to try using it as my main device – and after a week, I don’t think I’m sold on the Apple ecosystem.
Amazing battery life and sleek form factor
The extended battery life and slim form factor that Apple silicon brings is a game changer for me, as it allows me to work between three and four hours without needing to charge my laptop. Besides, the laptop is small and light enough to bring anywhere I go, do it second-guess my purchase of an iPad Air.
This is not possible with my Windows laptop, which can take over an hour. Granted, that’s the gaming PC I bought in 2020, and many new and better options have come out since then, but the best MacBooks are still among the. laptops have the best battery life.
macOS has its quirks and features
As a long-time Windows user, I know my way around the operating system and have memorized the apps and hot keys that allow me to work faster. But when I switched to macOS, I had to relearn a lot of things, like how to take a screenshot and getting used to the placement of the Option and Command keys.
The Finder was one of the Mac apps that I had a hard time getting used to. For example, I open applications, files, and programs by pressing Enter and delete them by pressing Delete in File Explorer in Windows; these intuitive hotkeys make navigating my drive so much easier. But Apple requires you to press Command + Down Arrow and Command + Backspace to perform the same actions, adding one more keystroke to what should have been one simple step. I solved this by downloading third-party apps that helped me get the Windows experience on my MacBook.
Besides, macOS does a few things better than Windows. I like Spotlight Search as it gives me almost everything I need in an instant. This feature is usually faster and more accurate than Windows search from the Start Menu. In addition, I like how macOS allows you to calculate and change calculations from the search bar. You can also do this with Windows, but it’s not as fast.
Installing and managing apps is also not that complicated, especially if you stick to the App Store. But even if you download apps from a website and not from Apple’s marketplace, adding software to your Mac can be as simple as dragging and dropping its icon into the Applications folder.
Apple’s trackpad is also so good that I invested in a separate Magic Trackpad to use at home. The gestures just make sense, and dipping your finger into its glass surface is just heaven. It’s something many Windows laptops have tried (and failed) to copy.
No, 8GB is not enough RAM
Apple VP of global product marketing Bob Borchers once said in an interview BiliBili that 8GB of RAM was good for macOS because of how well it runs – but my experience says otherwise. I’ve only chosen the base specs for the 15-inch MacBook Air because I’ll be using it mostly as a travel and storage device.
There were no problems during that time when I used several applications. But now that I’m using it as my main work laptop for my normal work flow, my MacBook Air is stuttering. When I looked at the Memory tab in Activity Monitor, it showed my device using more than 7GB of the 8GB RAM it had.
This is a problem, especially since I haven’t launched Trello yet, which can use a lot of memory. When I edit photos in Photoshop and Lightroom, the lag is so severe that I have to close other browser tabs I need or restart the computer.
Development is not allowed
Old memory from my Windows laptop, and a stack of SSDs I recently installed.
This is a big drawback for me with MacBooks – you need to specify the hardware you will need in the future at the time of purchase, as you will not be able to upgrade the storage and memory on these devices. Since I originally bought my MacBook as a backup device, it only has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
This was adequate for its original purpose, but now that I’m using it as my primary computer, I’m struggling with the available hardware. I wish I could bump this up to 32GB of RAM and at least 1TB of storage, but it’s not possible with Apple silicon Macs.
I can’t help but compare this to my Windows laptop. It had 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and 1TB HDD when I bought it, but I’ve upgraded it to 32GB of RAM and 2.5TB of SSD storage. This added more life to my already five year old laptop, and the upgrade cost me less than $200.
If I wanted to upgrade my current Mac, I would have to sell or trade it. Apple currently costs $540, but I still have to pay at least $1,200 if I get MacBook Air 15-inch M4. This will give me 16GB of integrated memory and 256GB of storage, but if I want to upgrade to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, I need to pay $1,200 more. This doubles the price of the laptop to $2,400.
Even with the discount, I’ll shell out over $1,900 just to get the memory and storage I need. Sure, I’ll get a new processor (which I don’t really need) – but it’s about 10 times more than I paid to upgrade my Windows laptop. It’s not worth it.
I’m still stuck with Windows
MacBooks are great devices, and Apple offers an option at almost every price range. It’s easy to carry around everywhere I go, and the efficiency of the M series chips changed my life.
But after 30 years of using Windows, macOS is actually slowing me down. I can get used to the operating system, but it will probably take a year or two of full use before I can achieve the same efficiency I have with Windows. Yes, Windows isn’t perfect and has its fair share of bugs, but at least I can use it when I sleep.
More importantly, economics are holding me back from going all in with macOS. I can buy a Windows laptop that delivers the same performance as a MacBook for a fraction of the price. In addition, I have the option of getting a Windows laptop that can be upgraded, allowing me to use it for years to come.
Still, that doesn’t mean I’m giving up my MacBook Air. It is the best laptop and serves as my backup device for my main PC. Maybe I’ll be a full Apple convert once it’s up and running GTA 6 traditionally. It is possible.
