Q: I am a Gen X Home windows person, I have been constructing my very own techniques for many years, and I work primarily in 3D design for the constructing and development trade. I want to know in the event you really feel switching to Mac is smart with all this pointless tariff turmoil?
I have been making an attempt to make the leap for years … I really feel like I would like somebody to only inform me to go for it and never look again. — Jim from Bainbridge Island, Washington
A: It is undoubtedly a good time to make the bounce from Home windows to Macs. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are among the many highest-rated laptops we have reviewed over the previous couple of years, and the Mac mini and iMac are additionally improbable options for desktop customers. There is definitely a little bit of a studying curve when leaping platforms, however it’s principally only a drawback in the event you require specialised software program that solely runs on Home windows.
What are the advantages of transferring from Home windows to Mac?
There are three large benefits from switching from Home windows to Mac.
Velocity
In the intervening time, the most important benefit is the sheer velocity of Macs. That is totally because of Apple Silicon, the corporate’s customized chips which can be constructed to be environment friendly and really quick. In our benchmarks, even essentially the most fundamental M4 chip blows away many of the {hardware} from Intel and AMD. Apple’s benefit solely grows as you progress as much as its Professional, Max and Extremely chips.
Apple Silicon’s velocity would not simply present up in benchmarks. It is easy to see that trendy Macs, even the entry-level MacBook Air, really feel zippier than comparably-priced Home windows PCs. That goes for all the things together with net searching and workplace productiveness apps, in addition to extra advanced duties like rendering video. Apple’s chips additionally embrace some {powerful} graphics cores, supplying you with the flexibility to simply run many video games from the App Retailer. When you actually would not mistake any Mac as a real gaming PC, I used to be nonetheless stunned that the MacBook Air was in a position to run a posh new recreation like Lies of P in 1080p at 60 fps.
Battery life
Since Apple Silicon is predicated on Arm’s cell chip structure, it is also much more environment friendly than Intel and AMD’s extra demanding CPUs. That results in killer battery life throughout the board for Mac laptops. Each the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air lasted nicely over 18 hours in our video benchmark, whereas the MacBook Professionals went past 30 hours. In real-world utilization, you may count on most Macs to final two full work days while not having a cost. Macs additionally have a tendency to carry their cost in standby mode much better than PCs, so you may have a bit extra religion that they’re going to be able to work the moment you flip them on.
Sturdiness
After reviewing Macs for the final 15 years, and supporting them as an IT employee for a decade earlier than that, I may confidently say that Mac {hardware} lasts longer than PCs. Apple’s aluminum circumstances stand up to bumps and drops much better than a budget plastic you will discover on some PCs. Now that is to not say they’re resistant to put on and tear, however from what I’ve seen Macs simply have a tendency to carry up nicely. For those who do must get one thing fastened, it is also comparatively simple to get that finished at an Apple Retailer, as a substitute of delivery a Home windows PC off to its maker.
What are the downsides of switching from Home windows to Macs?
Whereas I feel it’s value making the bounce to Macs total, there are a couple of downsides:
Home windows to Mac studying curve
Given how a lot of our computing lives revolve round cloud apps like Gmail and Google Docs lately, transferring to Macs primarily includes studying the fundamentals of Apple’s platforms. Putting in software program outdoors of the App Retailer works a bit in a different way than Home windows — you usually have to pull an app to the Functions folder, as a substitute of clicking by an installer. Apple’s trackpads additionally do not help right-clicking by default. As a substitute, you both have to carry down the Management key and click on, or allow a Secondary Click on characteristic (System Preferences > Trackpad). There you may assign right-clicks to a two-finger faucet, or a faucet on the underside corners of the trackpad.
The macOS Dock might be complicated since it will possibly’t present your entire open apps just like the Home windows taskbar can. Subsequently, managing your entire open apps is usually a ache. My suggestion? Arrange Sizzling Corners (System Settings > Desktop and Dock > Sizzling Corners) in order that your Mac will reveal your apps everytime you drag your pointer to a nook of your display.
Since that characteristic debuted (it was initially referred to as Expose), I’ve set it as much as reveal present app home windows in a single nook, all of my home windows in one other, and the desktop in a 3rd. Apple’s Stage Supervisor, which debuted in macOS Ventura, may show you how to wrangle apps, however I sometimes solely use that once I wish to concentrate on one or two applications.
Lackluster gaming library, restricted improve choices
Apple has traditionally been horrible in the case of supporting video games on macOS, however it’s getting higher. Latest titles just like the aforementioned Lies of P, in addition to Resident Evil Village and Dying Stranding, are available on the app retailer. There are additionally extra titles on Steam delivery with devoted Mac help, and cloud streaming opens up entry to companies like Microsoft’s Xbox Sport Cross library.
However there’s no approach Apple will be capable to meet up with Home windows in the case of total gaming help anytime quickly. So in the event you truly care about at all times getting the newest titles, you may wish to persist with PCs. That is doubly true in the event you even have any curiosity in ever desirous to improve video playing cards, RAM or inside storage choices, all of which are not actually accessible on Macs — together with desktop fashions.
No touchscreen help
Whereas Apple pioneered the usage of touchscreens with the iPhone and iPad, it’s stubbornly refused to deliver that characteristic over to Macs. So in the event you’re used to casually flicking a laptop computer’s display to scroll, you’re simply out of luck with Macs… for now. A 2023 report claimed that we might even see a touchscreen MacBook Professional this yr, however it’s unclear if that may truly occur. Personally, I don’t miss having a touchscreen once I use Macs, since Apple’s glass touchpads really feel simply as fluid.
A quick historical past of Mac vs. Home windows
The battle between Mac and Home windows is almost as previous because the idea of private computing itself, and it’ll possible by no means finish. In 1983, Apple’s Lisa broke new floor as the primary client pc with a graphical person interface (GUI), and the corporate adopted that up with the extra inexpensive Macintosh in 1984. Microsoft countered with Home windows 1.0 in 1985, however the platform did not actually take off till Home windows 3.0 arrived in 1990.
By that time, the philosophical variations between the 2 corporations was clear: Apple was extra targeted on delivering pleasant person experiences for its customized {hardware}, whereas Microsoft constructed up Home windows as a platform that might run on all kinds of computer systems. Consequently, the person tradition round each platforms turned pretty distinct: Macs turned the go-to alternative for anybody working in inventive fields and academia, whereas Home windows was extra targeted on workplace work and easy productiveness. There’s additionally at all times been a serious value distinction between the platforms, as Apple’s customized {hardware} has sometimes value excess of your fundamental Home windows PC.
Through the years, Apple has gone from using Motorola’s PowerPC chips to Intel’s — a transfer that introduced Macs far nearer to Home windows PCs. And most lately, Apple utterly modified issues up once more by moving entirely to its own Apple Silicon chips, that are constructed across the identical cell structure utilized by iPhones and iPads.
Whereas Macs and Home windows stay very distinct, the variations between them have flattened a bit now that we’re counting on so many cloud companies. Utilizing Gmail or Google Docs on a Mac is not any completely different than on a Home windows system, in any case.
Which Mac is finest for you?
It could sound cliche to say this, however Apple’s Mac household now has one thing for everybody (until you’re a hardcore gamer). We’re 4 generations deep into Apple Silicon chips, and all the firm’s {hardware} has seen some useful spectacular revisions. The actual query is determining which Mac is finest for you.
A word on pricing: Whereas Apple’s entry-level costs are extra affordable than ever earlier than, they do skyrocket as you add extra RAM and storage. You can also’t add extra reminiscence or storage to Apple Silicon techniques down the road, so you will must assume onerous about what you want if you purchase a brand new Mac. I might advocate prioritizing extra RAM when potential, as you may at all times use cloud companies or exterior drives for storage past your SSD. I might additionally recommend snagging a brand new Mac quickly in the event you’re , as there’s an opportunity Apple may begin rising costs to maintain up with tariffs. (Only recently, each Microsoft and DJI have elevated costs for getting old units.)
However in the event you’re lastly prepared to drag the set off on a brand new Mac, these are your finest choices proper now. You can even discover some wonderful offers in the event you search for refurbished M3 and M2 variations of the techniques under.
The MacBook Air is the most effective ultraportable laptop computer out there at the moment. It’s quick, extremely gentle, has nice battery life and can be utterly silent, because it has no cooling fan. Now that it begins at $999 with 16GB of RAM, it’s additionally a surprisingly whole lot. Until you want the extra ports and improved display on the MacBook Professional, the Air shall be all the computer you want for a number of years.
Stepping as much as the MacBook Professional will get you a excessive refresh price display, sooner M4 Professional chips and all kinds of ports (together with extra USB-C connections, a microSD card reader and HDMI). Whereas it’s heavier than the Air, the 14-inch MacBook Professional continues to be comparatively gentle and is better-suited to sustained workloads, like video encoding or 3D rendering. The 16-inch MacBook Professional is just about the identical machine with a bigger display.
Beginning at $599 (however usually on sale for a lot much less), the Mac mini is a powerful-yet-tiny field that may outmatch full-sized Home windows desktops. It’s the perfect gateway to the world of Macs if you have already got a monitor, keyboard and mouse you want. The bottom mannequin is {powerful} sufficient to deal with any productiveness activity you throw at it, however in the event you want extra efficiency you may as well step as much as the M4 Professional-equipped Mac mini. Along with shrinking it down for this newest revision, Apple additionally appears to have heard my complaints and added two USB-C ports to the entrance of the Mac mini. Along with three extra USB-C ports on the rear, HDMI and Ethernet, the Mac mini serves up a complete array of ports and it’s onerous to think about a extra succesful $600 PC.
Whereas the iMac isn’t the primary all-in-one desktop pc, it’s popularized the shape issue to the purpose the place most PC makers have their very own copycat merchandise. Now with an M4 chip, the iMac is extra {powerful} than ever, whereas additionally sporting a skinny profile meaning it matches proper at house on a kitchen desk. Its 24-inch display is good for getting a bit of labor finished with out dominating a desk, and its audio system additionally sound surprisingly nice. The iMac is the perfect household pc, one that may be arrange nearly anyplace and be helpful for teenagers and fogeys alike.
For those who want extra energy than the Mac mini, the Mac Studio is a powerhouse of a desktop. Whereas it is nonetheless far smaller than a typical Home windows desktop, its M4 Max and M4 Extremely chips can simply tackle the most effective {hardware} from Intel and AMD. At this level, the Mac Studio is extra of a Mac for professionals than the precise Mac Professional, which is much dearer and extra meant for high-level company work.
Have a tech query you’d like Engadget to reply?
As tech reporters, the Engadget workers is at all times answering questions from readers, family and friends about electronics, software program, gaming, large tech insurance policies and extra. So we determined to write down down our solutions. This query got here from a listener of The Engadget Podcast, and has been calmly edited for readability and brevity. For those who’ve bought a tech-related query you’d like us to reply for you, please electronic mail ask@engadget.com.
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