Tom O'Dea

I bought a Mac (used) a few weeks ago to use for work because developing anything but asp.net on Windows is a train wreck and my Linux desktop computer is really slow and shitty. I needed a Macbook Pro so I bought a used one off a friend. Last week was my first week using a Mac full-time since the late 90s, so I thought I’d share my thoughts.

First, and most importantly, I find the Mac experience to be equal to the Windows experience. Some things are better, some are worse. They are different, but equal. I have found the same to be true after switching to an Android phone after using an iPhone for 2+ years.

Things that I like:

• The keyboard glows.
• The multi-touch touchpad is pretty slick, although I much prefer a mouse (with 2 buttons).
• The magnetic power plug is brilliant.
• Obviously, for development, it’s great. This alone is why I own a Mactop.
• Exposé is great for switching between windows.
• Navigating through things with just the keyboard is much better.
• Great battery life and it’s smaller and lighter than my comparable Windows laptop.

Things that annoy the crap out of me:

• A standard installation of the Mac OS does not include the ability to maximize windows in any program. Overall, window management/arrangement/sizing sucks.
• CTRL + ENTER in Chrome doesn’t do what it does in Windows.
• Every program’s menu bar being the same thing. This is more annoying when using multiple monitors, but maybe it’s something I need to get used to.
• I HATE how Photoshop has no minimize button and there is no Photoshop “desktop.” This infuriates me and is a terrible user experience.
• Chrome won’t reopen my previously open tabs on startup for some reason.
• I can’t cut and paste files in Finder.
• I can’t open Finder with a keyboard shortcut like I can Windows Explorer (Windows + E).
• It only has 2 USB ports (but at least they work).

Hopefully some of these annoying things go away over time!