Ask HN: Switch to mac?
11 comments
After using a new Mac for two weeks, here's what I've noticed:
- The typography is a lot nicer once you get used to it. It's great to look at websites using type as it was designed rather than in the blocky rendering Windows uses.
- Keyboard shortcuts are worse. On Windows, all the menu options have underlined shortcuts, so I could usually guess what the shortcut was based on its menu position, even if I hadn't memorized it (i.e. Alt-F, S to save, Alt-S, A to Select All). Mac has 3 modifier keys that have to be pressed in combination, and the shortcuts have to be memorized. It took me forever to figure out Command-D was the shortcut for "Don't Save" because there was no onscreen indication.
- Desktop programs for the Mac are of higher quality, more creative, and seem to be free of viruses and spyware, thus safe to download and install. I rarely download any desktop programs for PC, but on Mac I've found a bunch of great ones that are worth paying for.
- Everything is smaller on a Mac screen and harder to adjust, so if you don't have perfect vision it can be a problem. There is no systemwide DPI setting.
- Having a Unix shell is very convenient. MacPorts is a pretty good installer for Unix programs but not as good as something like yum on Linux.
- The windowing system is document-based rather than applicaiton based, so you get lots of overlapping windows strewn across your screen. Once you get used to this, dragging and dropping between apps makes more sense.
- The progams I miss which don't have Mac equivalents yet are VanDyke SecureCRT and Macromedia Homesite (a great HTML editor but several years old)
- I haven't had to restart it for any reason. Installing software is much easier and doesn't seem to modify the underlying operating system or registry as it does on Windows.
- Peripherals just work. It recognized my printer, digital camera, etc. right away without problems. No futzing around with BIOS settings or drivers.
- Some of the system UI controls feel less standardized, are often missing keyboard navigation, and more annoying. For instance, the tree view control in TextMate for browsing projects has little arrows you need to click to open a folder, but clicking the folder name does absolutely nothing. On Windows this would be standardized, it would let you click on the folder name, and also respond to the keyboard.
- You need to get mouse with a right button.
- The typography is a lot nicer once you get used to it. It's great to look at websites using type as it was designed rather than in the blocky rendering Windows uses.
- Keyboard shortcuts are worse. On Windows, all the menu options have underlined shortcuts, so I could usually guess what the shortcut was based on its menu position, even if I hadn't memorized it (i.e. Alt-F, S to save, Alt-S, A to Select All). Mac has 3 modifier keys that have to be pressed in combination, and the shortcuts have to be memorized. It took me forever to figure out Command-D was the shortcut for "Don't Save" because there was no onscreen indication.
- Desktop programs for the Mac are of higher quality, more creative, and seem to be free of viruses and spyware, thus safe to download and install. I rarely download any desktop programs for PC, but on Mac I've found a bunch of great ones that are worth paying for.
- Everything is smaller on a Mac screen and harder to adjust, so if you don't have perfect vision it can be a problem. There is no systemwide DPI setting.
- Having a Unix shell is very convenient. MacPorts is a pretty good installer for Unix programs but not as good as something like yum on Linux.
- The windowing system is document-based rather than applicaiton based, so you get lots of overlapping windows strewn across your screen. Once you get used to this, dragging and dropping between apps makes more sense.
- The progams I miss which don't have Mac equivalents yet are VanDyke SecureCRT and Macromedia Homesite (a great HTML editor but several years old)
- I haven't had to restart it for any reason. Installing software is much easier and doesn't seem to modify the underlying operating system or registry as it does on Windows.
- Peripherals just work. It recognized my printer, digital camera, etc. right away without problems. No futzing around with BIOS settings or drivers.
- Some of the system UI controls feel less standardized, are often missing keyboard navigation, and more annoying. For instance, the tree view control in TextMate for browsing projects has little arrows you need to click to open a folder, but clicking the folder name does absolutely nothing. On Windows this would be standardized, it would let you click on the folder name, and also respond to the keyboard.
- You need to get mouse with a right button.
Obviously this topic will tend to be highly subjective as the tools (at least for me, ymmv) have not been different enough to matter.
I personally feel it's a matter of what you enjoy using more. Before Windows 7 I would have given OSX with the better user experience overall, but after using Windows 7 for the last 2-3 months, I am so impressed that I don't dread going back and forth between it and my mac at all. It's a fine operating system that is a pleasure to use.
That said, for development reasons, I tend to stick with OSX simply because of the unix shell (though with how easy it is to spin up a virtual machine with linux now days, this might also not matter as much anymore).
So really I don't see a clear advantage either way, I think it all depends on how much you enjoy using one vs the other, as your environment enjoyment will probably affect your productivity more than just the actual platform.
I personally feel it's a matter of what you enjoy using more. Before Windows 7 I would have given OSX with the better user experience overall, but after using Windows 7 for the last 2-3 months, I am so impressed that I don't dread going back and forth between it and my mac at all. It's a fine operating system that is a pleasure to use.
That said, for development reasons, I tend to stick with OSX simply because of the unix shell (though with how easy it is to spin up a virtual machine with linux now days, this might also not matter as much anymore).
So really I don't see a clear advantage either way, I think it all depends on how much you enjoy using one vs the other, as your environment enjoyment will probably affect your productivity more than just the actual platform.
After 15 years of being a PC advocate, last year I switched over as the main development platform we were using was Mac only.
I would never go back to PC now, and I can't even give you a succinct or informed reason why, there's just something about using a Mac, when you get used to it, that just feels 'right'.
I'd go Mac.
I would never go back to PC now, and I can't even give you a succinct or informed reason why, there's just something about using a Mac, when you get used to it, that just feels 'right'.
I'd go Mac.
As much as I agree with you, that's highly subjective - that mysterious draw to Macs. There's also a silent, mutual bond between Mac users as well that is also a draw - the idea you're in an exclusive club. But those aren't really reasons to switch from one OS to Macs.
I actually can't abide the 'mac club' mindset, it's partly the reason I avoided the platform for so long - the idea of being part of a brand 'family' is hideous I think. The association of the fact that you use one particular brand over another, in some way makes you superior to other computer users, is an appalling, but highly effective piece of marketing hype.
Just as a machine to use, I find it very efficient, I couldn't care less who made it.
Just as a machine to use, I find it very efficient, I couldn't care less who made it.
You could actually debate the Mac pricing and you would find numerous articles on it.
Anyhow, I switched to Mac recently and I don't think there are any downsides. You can still run Windows using VM seamlessly only if you want to do some windows dependant development.
>wondering what can I gain from switching to Mac
As a person who has been using a Mac for about 5 years now, not much. Macs have a slightly better UX(for now, personally I think Win7 makes them equals) if you don't like the command line at all(or are command line only, but then it offers nothing over Linux). If you are a fan of both the command line and the GUI Mac OS is a bizarre halfling that doesn't play well with itself. Windows is much more coherent if you use both(even when you use Cygwin for the CL side of things.) If you stray off the blessed path with Macs things get ugly quickly(Steve Yeggie has a rant about trying to make Focus Follow Mouse work properly that is quite amusing.)
As a person who has been using a Mac for about 5 years now, not much. Macs have a slightly better UX(for now, personally I think Win7 makes them equals) if you don't like the command line at all(or are command line only, but then it offers nothing over Linux). If you are a fan of both the command line and the GUI Mac OS is a bizarre halfling that doesn't play well with itself. Windows is much more coherent if you use both(even when you use Cygwin for the CL side of things.) If you stray off the blessed path with Macs things get ugly quickly(Steve Yeggie has a rant about trying to make Focus Follow Mouse work properly that is quite amusing.)
I've done a half-switch, but completely agree with stonemetal. I have both a Mac and Windows that I use for development. OSX is pretty. I'm running Windows7 on my other machine.
stonemental's 'halfling' comment is dead on, and I find it the strangest thing about macs.
Also, what I wasn't prepared for was the need to learn so many keyboard shortcuts. No button to go right to your desktop, there's a keyboard shortcut for that (but who knows what it is). Not 'rename' in the dropdown menu, but there's a short cut for that (I don't know what it is). It seems like the things like this that I use all the time and are basic on a PC are obscured on a mac.
stonemental's 'halfling' comment is dead on, and I find it the strangest thing about macs.
Also, what I wasn't prepared for was the need to learn so many keyboard shortcuts. No button to go right to your desktop, there's a keyboard shortcut for that (but who knows what it is). Not 'rename' in the dropdown menu, but there's a short cut for that (I don't know what it is). It seems like the things like this that I use all the time and are basic on a PC are obscured on a mac.
Default shortcut to go to the desktop is F11. Default shortcut to rename a currently selected file is Enter.
These keys are unusual if you're already coming from another OS but I've found them to be quite comforting after you get past the initial learning curve. But that's the point, there is a curve to everything.
I don't think it really matters what OS you use as much as the fact that you constantly try to get more adept at using it (w/ the underlying assumption that the limit is not infinite yet unattainable.. but that's another story ^_^).
These keys are unusual if you're already coming from another OS but I've found them to be quite comforting after you get past the initial learning curve. But that's the point, there is a curve to everything.
I don't think it really matters what OS you use as much as the fact that you constantly try to get more adept at using it (w/ the underlying assumption that the limit is not infinite yet unattainable.. but that's another story ^_^).
My brother said that go to shortcut was F11, but F11 is volume control on my mac. F11 was screen brightness on my brothers older generation MacBook Pro.
These is some of the inconsistencies that I'm really surprised to see, but kinda go hand in hand with the inconsistency with command-line from linux.
I agree with your comment about getting more adept. However, with Microsoft, I find that you learn as you go. Keyboard shortcuts are listed, menus may be longer, but show you the functions you can use. It is more cluttered, but it is a platform that allows you to learn. Macs (and of course Unix) force you to go look for the solutions. This makes for a cleaner interface, but doesn't provide the opportunity for discoverability.
Personally, I'd rather spend my time learning a new language than a new OS.
These is some of the inconsistencies that I'm really surprised to see, but kinda go hand in hand with the inconsistency with command-line from linux.
I agree with your comment about getting more adept. However, with Microsoft, I find that you learn as you go. Keyboard shortcuts are listed, menus may be longer, but show you the functions you can use. It is more cluttered, but it is a platform that allows you to learn. Macs (and of course Unix) force you to go look for the solutions. This makes for a cleaner interface, but doesn't provide the opportunity for discoverability.
Personally, I'd rather spend my time learning a new language than a new OS.
Make sure your Nokia emulators work on the Mac, or you'll end up running a windows VM anyway.
Thank's and Regards