90K+ Will I like macOS?

lockhrt999

lockhrt999

Not a Fan.
Innovator
With all its flaws, I like Windows. I use tools like AutoHotKey, ShareX, PowerToys to increase my productivity.

I'm looking to buy a mid-high end laptop for my work. There aren't many serious options available for Windows in my research. And, I'm not looking to waste my money on a gaming laptop.

Basic things I want from a laptop:
Seriously good battery life
No intel.
If proc is AMD, then an entry-level RTX GPU.
A lot of RAM. 32 GB+ RAM
Good display, good speaker, good overall package.

I was hoping we would get great snapdragon X elite laptops, but India didn't get serious SKUs.

Only Apple has serious options available with its MacBook Pros. It has probably launched its entire lineup here. No step-motherly treatment for Indians.

Coming back to my question, will I like macOS?

I have never used it. My only experience is watching YouTube videos of people using macOS.

The general theme/assumption is, people on macOS struggle to maximize windows. Is it not possible? Everyone I saw is spent a lot of time manually resizing apps. And, why the file menus are on the status/task bar? That looks very weird.

The majority of my work these days is with Chrome. Occasionally, I code, photoshop and use 3D apps. I work at a desk with multi monitors but would like the portability of a laptop on some occasions. I don't buy into the myth that macOS is better for coding. People who say that, are bad at computers.

Are there alternatives available to AutoHotKey, Sharex etc?

I like how a single MacBook Pro can set a benchmark for display, speaker, webcam, trackpad, battery, performance etc. I presume service from Apple will also be good?

I wished somebody threw an early m series MacBook Air in the trade section so that I could have checked the macOS myself.

Or would you recommend me to stay on Windows?

Bottomline, I very much like the hardware of MacBook Pros, but it's the software that I'm unsure about.
 
lockhrt999 said:
Coming back to my question, will I like macOS?
Click to expand...
Cannot answer.
lockhrt999 said:
The general theme/assumption is, people on macOS struggle to maximize windows. Is it not possible? Everyone I saw is spent a lot of time manually resizing apps. And, why the file menus are on the status/task bar? That looks very weird.
Click to expand...
Window snipping works in macOS now but for it to work like in WIndows you can use Rectangles application.
lockhrt999 said:
Are there alternatives available to AutoHotKey, Sharex etc?
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Yes there are apps like BetterTouchTool that allow lot of macros. I am not sure what autohotkey does and to what extent you are using it. One thing I can say is MacOS is way ahead in automation

Automator User Guide for Mac

Learn how to use Automator on your Mac to automate much of what you do on your computer.
support.apple.com
lockhrt999 said:
I like how a single MacBook Pro can set a benchmark for display, speaker, webcam, trackpad, battery, performance etc. I presume service from Apple will also be good?
Click to expand...
Apple care is a must if you are buying MBP. You get 3 years of warranty including accidental damage protection (no theft protection though).
lockhrt999 said:
I wished somebody threw an early m series MacBook Air in the trade section so that I could have checked the macOS myself.
Click to expand...
If you are in Bangalore, you can come over to my place to try.

lockhrt999 said:
Bottomline, I very much like the hardware of MacBook Pros, but it's the software that I'm unsure about.
Click to expand...
I am not sure buy why not try AWS EC2 Mac instances if they allow GUI remote desktop.
 
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You already love the MacBook Pro’s hardware, so why overthink? macOS isn’t hard—just grab Rectangle for window management, Raycast for Spotlight, and CleanShot X for ShareX vibes. Battery? Untouchable. Performance? M-series runs cooler, lasts longer, and 32GB here feels like 64GB on Windows. Photoshop, coding, even Blender—unless you need CUDA, you’re golden. Yeah, there’s a learning curve, but you’re tech-savvy, you’ll adapt. Worst case? Sell it with minimal loss.
 
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Can't comment coz it's subjective but I used a M1 macbook pro and I loved the hardware but couldn't really gel with macOS UI or fighting to make it work linux-ey (tried stuff like homebrew etc) - these days I use Win11 with WSL ubuntu (mainly on desktop though, but I also have a ThinkPad T14 AMD Gen4 Ryzen 7480U) and I'm golden. Yes, it cannot match the battery life (it's like half that of the macbook) but perf is great and runs windows and linux smooth which is my main ask.
 
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CasualGamer91 said:
Go with ryzen ai series laptops when releases in india.. i heard it has great battery life and x86 + windows.. everything works there right?
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It'd be wonderful if we get access to these laptops. But hardly any manufacturer sells such SKU here.

vishalrao said:
Can't comment coz it's subjective but I used a M1 macbook pro and I loved the hardware but couldn't really gel with macOS UI
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Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm afraid about.
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Is 75-80k a good price for a new MacBook Air M2 16/256?

I want to try it out. If I don't like it, I can always hand it over to a family member.
 
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lockhrt999 said:
It'd be wonderful if we get access to these laptops. But hardly any manufacturer sells such SKU here.


Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm afraid about.
--
Is 75-80k a good price for a new MacBook Air M2 16/256?

I want to try it out. If I don't like it, I can always hand it over to a family member.
Click to expand...
60-70k is a good price for this since m4 mac mini out at 60k
 
I haven't used windows for anything serious in a long time, but you have to get used to huge shifts in the way you work if you want the best experience imo. Most of the programs mentioned above are paid, this is just the reality with macos. I've given up trying to use the weird maximize that apple came up with, and just use a tiling window manager (aerospace, free thankfully) instead. The downloads folder is in the dock, but there's a more standard file explorer as well obviously.

That said, I'd say your use case is exactly what macs are built for. They obviously don't support games well (or at all) but I don't think you care. The hardware is simply untouchable. Top class keyboard, touchpad, display, and beyond amazing battery, you can buy it for those alone.

As you might already know, macbooks are much cheaper in the US and many other countries outside India, but are honestly worth it even here if you need the performance (or the peace of mind).
 
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desiibond said:
Remember seeing M1 Air sell for 60k-65k during sale season. Do not go with 256GB storage, if possible. That will fill up too fast and as you need it for video editing, go for 512GB atleast.
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Is that M1 a 16GB, though?

I don't edit videos these days. Shouldn't 256gb be enough, if I don't store any media onboard?

The Rationale for M2 is that it comes with a 1080p camera. If I end up handing it over to my family members, they will be using it for Zoom classes mostly. So camera and mic quality is important.
And, it has to be 16gb at the very least, if I'm buying a new machine in 2025.

If I end up liking macOS, I'll most likely upgrade to a MacBook Pro M4 variant with 48GB RAM. That machine looks balanced.
 
I use both, and even after a couple of years using both, I still feel the niggles in Mac. The window system is seriously flawed, and if you, like me, like to connect large monitors, the resolution and scaling is limited, and in most cases, a little wonky. Even to easily choose a resolution of your choice, you have to resort to a paid-app.

ShareX alternatives are available (Shottr - paid), but if you also want to record video, you will have to opt for another app which has both. There are no free apps as good as ShareX on Mac.

Ditto for Powertoys.

Changing shortcut keys for most part is a pain, with some apps, it can be brought close to what can be done in Windows, but it will never be as close unless the Fruit company decides to change this.

The same is the case for viewing pictures from a folder. There's no native way of opening a picture in a folder and use arrow keys to view them one after another.

However, the power efficiency, and smoothness with which apps like Photoshop, Affinity, and all work, is peerless. Apps like Raycast, are free, awesome and extensible. Battery life is phenomenal. Sound output is better than that of most windows systems I have tested (Both via BT, and HDMI soundbars).

But if you use apps like onedrive and office, you will find the experience lacking. The same is also the case when you wish to connect external drives to run programs off of it - when the drive goes to sleep then all sorts of weird hanging things happen.

If you are aware of these limitations, and these do not matter to you, you will absolutely love the experience.
 
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lockhrt999 said:
Is that M1 a 16GB, though?

I don't edit videos these days. Shouldn't 256gb be enough, if I don't store any media onboard?

The Rationale for M2 is that it comes with a 1080p camera. If I end up handing it over to my family members, they will be using it for Zoom classes mostly. So camera and mic quality is important.
And, it has to be 16gb at the very least, if I'm buying a new machine in 2025.

If I end up liking macOS, I'll most likely upgrade to a MacBook Pro M4 variant with 48GB RAM. That machine looks balanced.
Click to expand...
My current system storage usage (not counting documents, downloads etc). 256GB will be very low given how apps and OS are getting bigger. If you plan on keeping it for a while, 16/512 is best option.
1738322814711.png
 
Battery, Screen & Audio are really good. I do miss Window's Explorer though. No matter how many workarounds you do; if you are coming from a Windows experience you will always feel something is lacking. Maybe we are too used to it.

That said, I still haven't ditched my Macbook and gone back to a Windows laptop.
Reason : Now my eyes are too used to the crisp retina display and I will have to hunt a Windows laptop equivalent/closer to it - difficult task.

Have Parallels Desktop whenever I need Win.

Overall though I would recommend you to stay with Windows since you are used to it & like it's features.
 
Its a long odd curve - but its always about muscle memory and familiarity.
Else There is very little that you can do in either OS that the other can't .
 
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