I used Windows for a Year, But I’m Switching Back to Mac
And here’s why
I am a life-long MacOS user who has never owned a Windows computer — until about a year ago when I got a strong desire and need to purchase a Windows PC.
Don’t get me wrong, It wasn’t because I was frustrated or unsatisfied with my Mac, but it was for the following reasons:
- I wanted to try Windows out because I rarely used it, and all of my friends were using it.
- I felt like getting more familiar with Windows would be beneficial for my further college classes (we use Windows there mostly)
- I just wanted to play some videogames that aren’t Minecraft
After a few days of research, I purchased an upper mid-range prebuilt PC. While I did consider buying all components individually, I decided not to mess with the PC building part because I didn’t have any experience in building PCs.
Furthermore, I found it cheaper to purchase this prebuilt PC than individual components, which happened to be on sale, making it a better deal than buying parts individually.
Anyway, here’s what I think after almost a year of using a PC with Windows 11 — And why I decided to switch back to a Mac.
First of all, I would like to talk about things that I appreciated the most about Windows.
Software Availability
The first positive thing I must say about the Windows ecosystem is the sheer amount of software that works on it. Any application, program, or tool that you might need, almost certainly works on Windows. This comes as no surprise because, given Windows is the most used desktop operating system in the world.
As a MacOS user, I found this incredibly convenient. I could easily find any software that I needed for my environment without having to worry if it would work on my device.
Coincidentally, a few months after buying the PC, we started working on C# programming language and .NET Windows Forms framework as a part of a college course. That technology only works on Windows so having my own Windows machine became incredibly convenient. I could practice and work on my project outside of class without compatibility worries.
Gaming Dominance
Secondly, the ability to play virtually any gaming title I wanted was mind-blowing. I felt like a kid in a candy store trying to decide which candy to buy.
In this aspect, I was definitely limited in a Mac environment. As bad as it might sound, this was one of the major reasons why I wanted to buy a PC. And I must say that I wasn’t disappointed, I could play almost any game at medium to high settings at 1440p resolution with above 100 FPS.
Most of my time in gaming, I spent playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare from 2019, and the more recent Modern Warfare II. There was a period when I played quite a lot and logged some serious hours.
I had a blast playing!
However, I felt quite guilty after playing that much so I had to cut it down and replace it with something more productive.
Great Configurability
Customization on Mac often feels focused on the surface — pick a nice wallpaper, choose a light or dark theme, and that’s about it. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, Windows however lets you dig deeper if you want to.
And I’m not just talking about UI configuration. Windows also allows you to customize things like:
- Hardware Control: Overclocking settings on the CPU, GPU, or memory and fan curve adjustments for performance optimizations.
- System Settings: Deeper access to network configuration, power management options, battery profiles, and more.
- Peripheral Customization: More advanced keyboard and mouse settings and configuration options
- Third-Party Tools: Other utilities that allow further customization for various things
Things that MacOS Simply Does Better
Even though Windows undeniably has some advantages over a Mac, there were many areas where I simply liked Mac better.
Simple Design & UX
Even though Windows has much improved its UI and design in its version 11, it still doesn’t compare to MacOS.
The MacOS interface is undeniably elegant, with its focus on minimalism and intuitive design. Everything from the dock to window controls seems so carefully considered and polished, creating a visual harmony that I miss on Windows.
Beyond aesthetics, Mac consistently delivers a smoother user experience. Simple tasks like navigating folders, managing files, and multitasking feel effortless and fluid. This lets me focus better on my work instead of fighting with the operating system.
Apple Integration
This is a huge one!
The real magic of the MacOS ecosystem, for me, lies in its seamless connection to the wider Apple ecosystem. Having multiple devices Apple devices, saves me a considerable amount of time and effort, leading to greater productivity and fewer frustrating interruptions.
The two features I most take advantage of here are Universal Clipboard and AirDrop. Universal clipboard lets me copy text, images, or some other media on one device and paste it on the other. As useless as it may sound at first, it actually comes quite handy.
Similarly, AirDrop allows quick file transfers between Apple devices and I simply can’t live without it.
While using Windows I tried to do this but then remembered I couldn’t, so I had to send myself the files via Email or WhatsApp.
This ended up being one of the main reasons why I decided to switch back to MacOS as my main device.
Better Development Ecosystem
As a developer, I often use a terminal, and when I realized that it doesn’t work the same on Windows, I was very frustrated. I became so comfortable with the Unix-based tools and seamless terminal integration on my Mac that Windows felt like a constant struggle. Having to re-learn basic commands or find clunky workarounds just to navigate my projects was a major drain on my productivity.
Apart from the terminal, many open-source developer tools and frameworks seem designed with Unix-like systems in mind. Their installation and setup on Windows often involved extra steps or compatibility headaches.
Even though Windows has many powerful development tools and it’s surely possible to achieve a productive setup, for me, Mac just works better and I run into issues much less often.
Conclusion
During my year-long Windows experience, I had some good times. It allowed me to do some things that I usually couldn’t on my Mac. Like using almost any software out there and opening the world of gaming possibilities. More than that, it taught me new things and gave me valuable experience working with a different system.
But, it wasn’t without its issues.
Ultimately, the Mac’s elegance, intuitive interface, and seamless integration with my other Apple devices are what drew me back to it. It’s where my work and ideas flow most naturally, and that’s the OS that I grew up with. That’s why I’ve decided to continue using a Mac as my main device.
Let me know what you think about this topic in the comments. What OS do you prefer?
This is one of my first stories on Medium. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!
