I like to keep learning and ensuring I push myself to do things I’m not comfortable with. This often means reading a book I don’t agree with or watching a news channel with a different perspective. But it also means using technology that I am not comfortable with.
I’ve been using Windows for about 30 years and am quite comfortable with all things Windows. I’m even a happy Windows 8.1 user (although I’m not thrilled it’s not much better than 7).
So as I watch the increasing growth in the Apple world, I realize I need to see why people are switching. Plus, people ask me relatively constantly about whether they should switch to a Mac or not, and I almost always say no based on what I’ve read or heard.
Now it’s time for me to live with a Mac and decide for myself. For the next 30 days I’ll be using a Macbook Pro and leaving my Lenovo Yoga behind. The Macbook was purchased for someone else, so it is going back in 30 days unless I really love it.
I’ve been using the Macbook for two days and already I’ve found plenty of annoying things and nothing too exciting. I almost did not write this blog until I had more experience, but then I realized many of you would have suggestions on how I can get more out of the Macbook Pro.
First, the good things:
It’s similar enough to Windows that most anyone can use a Mac. Perhaps the stronger Windows user you are, the more comfortable you are. Things are in different places, but they make sense and just take a little figuring out (this is in fact the main reason I want to commit for 30 days).
Because I switched to Office 365 and had moved all my files into OneDrive, I was able to install OneDrive for the Mac and all my files are now on my Mac. I was also able to easily install my license for Office to the Mac. Chrome, Evernote and other applications downloaded and synched with the cloud version, so I was up and running very quickly.
The USB port works and most of my USB devices work.
I found my wireless printer fast, and Mac prints to it better than Windows.
The device is beautiful.
I have an iPad so I can now see FaceTime and iMessages right on my computer. I don’t use these applications much, so this isn’t big for me but may be for others.
Most every application I use is available for the Mac, so I’m not missing any key application I need to do my job.
It’s fast. Very fast. But I think that has more to do with being new than being that much faster than Windows.
Then, the annoying things:
The hardest thing for me is I use a ton of keyboard shortcuts. Mac has many of these available, but they are hard for me to get used to and some don’t work at all. For example, if I start an email on Windows Outlook and want to cancel it, I just press ESC. On the Mac, it does nothing. I have to click the X.
Speaking of the X, I miss having everything on the right side instead of the left where the Mac has the X-button. Just a small thing since they both do the same thing; it’s just a learning curve.
Home key does nothing. End key does nothing. I use both of those keys (along with CTRL and arrows) constantly.
The next worst thing has to do with hardware. There’s no standard HDMI port so I have to buy a special cable to make it work with my monitor. Some hardware isn’t compatible with the Mac, so I’m going to be spending more money to make it work.
I miss my touch screen.
Where is the right click? Oh my goodness. I never realized how much I love the right click. This alone may force me back to Windows.
I have a much longer list of things I don’t like, but it is too early to whine. I need to focus on the positive. Please help me!
Early verdict:
It is way too early to tell, but it seems that what I’ve been saying for the last few years may be true. Perhaps I’m trying to make sure it is; I welcome your comments to help me.
Using Windows or Mac is really about personal preference now. If you like the Mac, you should buy a Mac. If you like Windows, you should buy a PC. While it’s probably still true that any graphics person is better off with a Mac, I don’t think it is necessarily true that a businessperson needs a PC.
I don’t expect to want a Mac, but I’m really going to try to find reasons to want one. I welcome all your advice, tips and insights in comments or via email.
Geiger CIO Dale Denham, MAS+ provides practical insights on how you can benefit from technology in no nonsense terms. Follow him on Twitter @GeigerCIO.
