Breaking News from a 3 Decade Mac Guy -- Windows 11 and PCs are on the brink


The Pool Man

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Greetings All,

So I was as Mac as a person could be for 29 years. I wasn't into paying the big bucks but I simply couldn't accept any version of Windows as good enough.

Now I know when I say this many Windows users simply have no idea what I'm talking about. The best analogy I can think of is McDonalds. Around my 5th grade in the 70s I realized I couldn't eat McDonalds burgers anymore. Not because I didn't want to but because they made me literally sick to my stomach. When I tasted my first Burger King whopper, that was it for McDonalds. Game Over, Mayor McSleaze.

All Windows versions I ever played with didn't reach the minimum level of acceptable. They didn't qualify as an OS. They were buggy, incoherent, and ugly AF. The hardware usually was as weak. Once OS X came into the picture PCs were McDonalds puke burgers. A non-starter.

Windows 10 was the first OS that, to me, qualified as acceptable. Not preferable, mind you. So if a Mac equivalent of the same PC was only 20% more, I'd have gotten the Mac. The thing is that since typically the Mac was twice the price of its cousin PC -- it became clear the Mac was not twice as good. Only... lol... 20% better at best.

The thing was it was hard for me to rave to people. I couldn't honestly say, "Apple is over. Get a Windows 10 PC." More like, "PCs really aren't so bad these days and you can save a ton of money."

But one of my biggest problems to persuade Mac users to even try a PC was the Windows 10 OS. It was okay. But too big a backwards step for any Mac user. And so when I saw MS was putting some serious interest into Windows 11 -- I was one of the few PC users grinning ear to ear.

We all know 11 is a mixed bag that has received mixed reviews. Yet just the other day I was helping a Mac friend do something very basic on their Mac. While sitting before their M1 MacBook Air a funny kinda thing happened: I was no longer impressed. Sure, that thin metal hardware is to die for, but two things main selling points of the OS/Hardware were gone --

1. I can't really say that Mac OS is so much prettier anymore. This may sound funny but I really feel it's sort of over-designed at this point. Everything has become a bit 'precious'. Like a box of chocolate candies wrapped in pretty little pieces of shiny paper with unicorn designs on them. Strangely distracting.
This is to say that the Windows 11 design, although nowhere near finished, is more than acceptable and breaching 'preferable'. If MS keeps polishing it up a year from now I may shock myself when I tell people, "I actually prefer the cleaner less distracting look of Windows 11 over Mac OS." Not there yet, mind you.

2. So there I was in front of the M1 Apple Silicon. Opening and closing windows, apps, rebooting. Spoiler: if it was faster than my PCs, I didn't really notice it. Now I know that since I wasn't editing video I was 'missing the best part' of M1. But the owner of that Mac and 99% of people don't edit video. They surf. And I tell you it wasn't impressive. At all.

Now, a Machead would say wait wait a minute and talk about the amazing M1 battery life. I agree. When parents ask me what their kids should get for college, I say if they intend to roam around campus all day you can't quite beat the lightweight diminutive all day battery bright screen thing known as the MacBook Air. Sorry but no contest.

But I'm watching the Intel 12th Gen. The new AMD stuff. When those units can promise an all day battery --

-- I'll see absolutely no need to recommend a Mac. Zero.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    11 if on this site
I could use a MAC if I had to, (but would not like the slowdown in performance :wink: My current workstation is tested as four times faster than the fastest M1 Mac for the work I do )

I do not spend my days staring at the OS User Interface, I use applications to do work, and major applications are basically the same when run in full screen whatever OS you are running.

My case is probably not common as I have spent many years using Operating / Graphical User Interface, systems, designed for a specific, industrial, purposes, (and have designed a few myself), so switching is "Normal"

Unfortunately Apple lately seem to spend more time in the courts on Patent cases than thinking about what's best for the user ( RIP Steve Jobs :wink: ).

I also see the adverts for the latest "Unique" function in the latest iPhone. that has been in Android phones for several years.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release Preview] [Win11 PRO HighEnd MUP-00005 DD]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Scan 3XS to my design
    CPU
    AMD RYZEN 9 7950X OEM
    Motherboard
    *3XS*ASUS TUF B650 PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    64GB [2x32GB Corsair Vengeance 560 AMD DDR5]
    Graphics Card(s)
    3XS* ASUS DUAL RTX 4060 OC 8G
    Sound Card
    On motherboard Feeding SPDiF 5.1 system [plus local sound to each monitor]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" UHD 32 Bit HDR Monitor + 43" UHD 4K 32Bit HDR TV
    Screen Resolution
    2 x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3XS Samsung 980Pro 2TB M.2 PCIe4 4 x 8TB Data + Various Externals from 1TB to 8TB, 10TB NAS
    PSU
    3XS Corsair RM850x 850w Fully Modular
    Case
    FDesign Define 7 XL BK TGL Case - Black
    Cooling
    3XS iCUE H150i ELITE Liquid Cool, Quiet Case fans
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitec MX Keys + K830 [Depending on where I'm Sat]
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitec - MX Master 3S +
    Internet Speed
    950 MB Down 55 MB Up
    Browser
    Latest Chrome
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security [Latest]
    Other Info
    Also run...
    Dell XPS 17 Laptop
    HP Laptop 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64 HP 15.2"
    Nexus 7 Android tablet [x2]
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Blackview 10.2 Tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    Samsung S9 Plus Smartphone
    Wacom Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom ExpressKey Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control Pad
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest release]
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 17 9700
    CPU
    i7 10750H
    Motherboard
    Stock
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Stock Intel + GTX 1650 Ti
    Sound Card
    Stock 4 speaker
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Stock 17" + 32" 4K 3840 x 2160 HDR-10
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400 HDR touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    2TB M2 NVMe
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock Aluminium / Carbon Fibre
    Cooling
    Stock + 2 fan cooling pad
    Mouse
    Stock Trackpad +Logi Mx Master 3 or MX Ergo Trackball
    Keyboard
    Stock Illuminated + Logi - MX Keys
    Internet Speed
    950 MB Down 55 MB Up
    Browser
    Latest Chrome
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security 2021
    Other Info
    Also use an Adjustable Support for Laptop and Adjustable stand for monitor
Maybe not then, but now I can fully understand why you were a Mac guy. Having used PCs since forever I can honestly say I had never touched an Apple product until 2017 when I bought my first ipad. When I did, I discovered what everyone had been raving about for so long. It flew on 2 gb ram. I had owned multiple Windows tablets up until that time and every one was a piece of crap. Last year i upgraded to an ipad pro but the old ipad is still as good as the day I bought it.

Quality wise, Apple products are so far out ahead of any OEM Windows or Android device, it's laughable to me, as is Apple support miles ahead of that one gets from Microsoft or any computer manufacturer. It's easy to understand Apple superiority since they are responsible for everything from hardware , design, and operating system. They don't cut corners in using quality components. Any operating system can only be as good as the hardware it runs on and the OEMs are in control of that rather than MS so a lot of issues arise from that.

From an operating system standpoint, I now have limited experience with MacOS and more with IOS but I feel both have always been more stable than Windows. I do think Windows is catching up but it's reliability has always been and still is questionable when compared to Apple stuff. Windows 10 really impressed me in its advances in that regard. The jury is still out regarding 11, and the verdict won't come down until 11 is fully cooked. I do think Microsoft released 11 earlier than they should have.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
This is just a simple case of "To each his own". Has nothing to do with Windows or Mac OS. I can say exactly the same thing for Mac OS being not a Mac guy. Or a Linux geek may feel the same. The same goes for Android and iOS phones. Gas or electric vehicles. Work from home or work from office. It's all a matter of personal preference. And there is no room for argument in that.
I know my way around Windows when I encounter a road block. But with Mac, I will surely get stuck.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)

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