Q: I am a Gen X Home windows consumer, I have been constructing my very own programs for many years, and I work primarily in 3D design for the constructing and development trade. I wish to know should you really feel switching to Mac is sensible 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 leap from Home windows to Macs. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are among the many highest-rated laptops we have reviewed over the previous few 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, nevertheless it’s largely only a drawback should 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 massive benefits from switching from Home windows to Mac.
Velocity
In the intervening time, the most important benefit is the sheer pace of Macs. That is completely 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 primary M4 chip blows away a lot 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 pace does not simply present up in benchmarks. It is simple 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 internet searching and workplace productiveness apps, in addition to extra complicated duties like rendering video. Apple’s chips additionally embody some {powerful} graphics cores, supplying you with the power to simply run many video games from the App Retailer. Whilst you definitely 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 fancy new recreation like Lies of P in 1080p at 60 fps.
Battery life
Since Apple Silicon relies on Arm’s cellular 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 effectively over 18 hours in our video benchmark, whereas the MacBook Execs went past 30 hours. In real-world utilization, you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to 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 also can confidently say that Mac {hardware} lasts longer than PCs. Apple’s aluminum instances face up to bumps and drops much better than a budget plastic you may discover on some PCs. Now that is to not say they’re proof against put on and tear, however from what I’ve seen Macs simply have a tendency to carry up effectively. In case you do have to get one thing fastened, it is also comparatively straightforward to get that achieved 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 price making the leap to Macs general, there are just a few downsides:
Home windows to Mac studying curve
Given how a lot of our computing lives revolve round cloud apps like Gmail and Google Docs today, transferring to Macs primarily includes studying the fundamentals of Apple’s platforms. Putting in software program exterior 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 via an installer. Apple’s trackpads additionally do not assist 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 function (System Preferences > Trackpad). There you’ll be able to 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 probably’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 function 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, also can make it easier to wrangle apps, however I sometimes solely use that once I need to give attention to one or two packages.
Lackluster gaming library, restricted improve choices
Apple has traditionally been horrible in terms of supporting video games on macOS, nevertheless 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 assist, and cloud streaming opens up entry to companies like Microsoft’s Xbox Sport Go library.
However there’s no approach Apple will have the ability to meet up with Home windows in terms of general gaming assist anytime quickly. So should you truly care about at all times getting the newest titles, you would possibly need to stick to PCs. That is doubly true should you even have any curiosity in ever eager to improve video playing cards, RAM or inner storage choices, all of which are not actually accessible on Macs — together with desktop fashions.
No touchscreen assist
Whereas Apple pioneered using touchscreens with the iPhone and iPad, it’s stubbornly refused to convey that function over to Macs. So should 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 may even see a touchscreen MacBook Professional this 12 months, nevertheless it’s unclear if that can 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 sort of as previous because the idea of non-public computing itself, and it’ll doubtless by no means finish. In 1983, Apple’s Lisa broke new floor as the primary client laptop with a graphical consumer 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 consumer experiences for its customized {hardware}, whereas Microsoft constructed up Home windows as a platform that would run on all kinds of computer systems. Consequently, the consumer tradition round each platforms turned pretty distinct: Macs turned the go-to selection 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 price way over your primary Home windows PC.
Over time, 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 not too long ago, Apple fully modified issues up once more by moving entirely to its own Apple Silicon chips, that are constructed across the similar cellular 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 spite of everything.
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 notice on pricing: Whereas Apple’s entry-level costs are extra cheap 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 programs down the road, so you may must suppose laborious about what you want once you purchase a brand new Mac. I would advocate prioritizing extra RAM when attainable, as you possibly can at all times use cloud companies or exterior drives for storage past your SSD. I would additionally recommend snagging a brand new Mac quickly should you’re , as there’s an opportunity Apple might begin growing costs to maintain up with tariffs. (Only in the near past, each Microsoft and DJI have elevated costs for getting older gadgets.)
However should you’re lastly prepared to drag the set off on a brand new Mac, these are your finest choices proper now. It’s also possible to discover some glorious offers should you search for refurbished M3 and M2 variations of the programs under.
The MacBook Air is one of the best ultraportable laptop computer out there at present. It’s quick, extremely mild, has nice battery life and can also be fully silent, because it has no cooling fan. Now that it begins at $999 with 16GB of RAM, it’s additionally a surprisingly whole lot. Except you want the extra ports and improved display on the MacBook Professional, the Air can 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, quicker 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 mild 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 best 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 job you throw at it, however should 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 laborious to consider a extra succesful $600 PC.
Whereas the iMac isn’t the primary all-in-one desktop laptop, 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 suits proper at residence on a kitchen desk. Its 24-inch display is good for getting a bit of labor achieved with out dominating a desk, and its audio system additionally sound surprisingly nice. The iMac is the best household laptop, one that may be arrange nearly wherever and be helpful for teenagers and fogeys alike.
In case you 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 one of the best {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 way dearer and extra meant for high-level company work.
Have a tech query you’d like Engadget to reply?
As tech reporters, the Engadget employees is at all times answering questions from readers, family and friends about electronics, software program, gaming, massive tech insurance policies and extra. So we determined to jot down down our solutions. This query got here from a listener of The Engadget Podcast, and has been calmly edited for readability and brevity. In case you’ve obtained a tech-related query you’d like us to reply for you, please electronic mail ask@engadget.com.
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