Switching from Windows to Mac OS – The Reason

Since I switched jobs three years ago, I have been at the helm of a Mac and MacOS. This is a huge change from my decades of using Windows 3.x to Windows 7. I was a bit lost at first, but that quickly wore off and I found MacOS extremely functional. So much so, that I have decided to move away from Windows machines to Mac machines.

I’ve never been a fan of Windows 8 or 10, so there was only the slimmest of chances I would upgrade and was already leaning toward Ubuntu. The latest versions of Windows haven’t been winners and in my opinion contain too many questions about security and privacy, not to mention the tricks Microsoft has used to get people to upgrade.

But, I haven’t made a change because of Windows’ flaws, but rather the beneficial and useful features of MacOS.

For example, here is a short but meaningful list of features that I like.

I prefer the Launchpad, which oddly looks like the old Program Manager from Windows 3.x

The Menubar at the top gives a consistent place for menu choices.

Time Machine feels more like a reliable backup tool.

Full Unix with handy utilities like Grep, Head, Tail and Diff, plus full scripting, editors and other tools.

I like the App Store in the same way I like Steam. It’s a trusted source and can be installed to multiple machines. It’s one place for updates rather than dozens of little apps running in the background wasting resources.

Integration with iPad, iPod and iPhone is obviously superior.

I use iMessage on the desktop quite a bit.

The UI is far more consistent and less “cartoony”.

I’ve used ObjectDock for years and now I get the real thing.

Grammar, Spellcheck and Dictionary are available at the OS level.

Volume names instead of drive letters. No more losing files because the OS lost where it put Drive D:\.

Cleaner app removal. No need for uninstallers or registry cleaners. Apps are files and folders, so they’re easy to delete or move.

Built in Font Management

Built in Text Expansion and a slew of 3rd party tools

File sharing with AirDrop

Running scripts and creating services with Automator

Multiple desktops as part of the OS

Mail that hooks into Google and Hotmail

Better integration of Contacts and Calendar

And in general a more “hand off” experience. There’s not a need a need to continually run tools to MacOS working correctly.

And these last two are benefits because I won’t miss them.

No .NET framework with its multiple iterations and variations.

No annoying Windows activation.

I will keep Windows 7 for my gaming machine and it runs on my Shuttle box that plays DVDs, BluRays and streams movies.

I’ve had a good run up to Windows 7, going all the way back to Windows 3.0. But, I find that Apple and MacOS offer more in how I want to work today.