dear TS, thank you very much for very good info in this topic.
i have switch to Mac about a year. i love mac ever since. i have to relearn on how to use mac, sometime forgot command to print screen .

but there is still 2 things that i missed alot from windows. downside of mac

1- of cos some apps not available in mac, much needed apps in my work is powerdirector which is not available in mac, yes there are other product, im using final cut pro, but few option available in powerdirector is not available in FCPX, yes i do have bootcamp, but its troublesome to boot mac n windows n mac again everytime.

2- mac cant print to multifunction printer : ricoh, its using i dont know postscript or what, so you need to add extra hardware in that particular multifunction printer to make it able to print from mac, that is a big problem to me

other than that, no big problem,

if you pair you mac with magic mouse, you gonna be a very happy man. very easy to use, gesture control

This post has been edited by blackmachine: Nov 27 2013, 02:54 PM

i use magic mouse only when i need precision, such as doing editing that need sliders etc, otherwise i prefer the trackpad
the magic mouse is great function wise, but ergonomics...

just testing out osx mavericks for a week already. Still not used to it yet cause a lot of applications in windows cannot find in mac or must pay.

1) winrar alternatives not good enough. Most like unarchiver will extract th file directly without asking. Sometimes I just want to view the files only.

2) If you think windows file explorer sucks. Wait till you try finder in mac. This is very unituitive for powerusers like me. Navigating folders is a total pain. Cut function is not even available by default. Need to install third party tools. Path address also missing. So those who want to type in path directly need to find third party tool again. Unhiding hidden files? Prepare to learn terminals.

3) irfanview32 or something like this is not found in mac. OSX's own preview is not that powerful especially in navigating pictures. Need to click on them one by one. Worst thing is, something similar to irfanview32, you need to pay for third party apps.

4) mounting of network drives sucks. Have to manually mount every time after boot. Putting a script during login doesn't work cause network drivers load too slow.

5) no NTFS write support. Have to get third party PAID tools. A method to hacking to get NTFS write work is buggy at best. Always corrupt the NTFS partition.

Of course there are also some good things about using OSX. However, I would say OSX is a bit overrated. Even some linux based GUI is more intuitiv than OSX's few basic features. In the end, I would agree that osx are catered for zero entry PC users that does not know much about PC. If you want to grow into power user then OSX will fail to cater for that...at least not as well as windows or linux.

oh..one more to add.

6) osx's default mouse control totally suck. Adjustment is also limited like for wheelscroll and acceleration. Have to install something like smoothmouse to make it slightly better.

This post has been edited by abubin: Dec 3 2013, 01:55 PM

I'm still getting used to it as well . Below are my comments:

1) It's supposed to be seamless - just double-click and the archive expands for you. Delete the expanded files if you don't want to use it . You can customise more of the archive utility through its preference. ( I know what you mean though - just like win zip or winrar).
2) Copy/Cut: Command+C ; Then Paste(Copy):Command + V or Paste(Cut/Move): Command + Option + V
3) Have you tried Coverflow view?
4) no comment
5) NTFS is proprietary to MS which could explain why but you can use xfat format which can be written by both OSX and Windows
6) OSX works best with the magic mouse . Though I like the trackpad more.

Mac OS X is built more towards multi touch gesture, which is more advance than mouse clicking on Windows... try to learn to use the trackpad and I think you will love it in no time

And regarding the comment on paid apps... i don't see winzip or winrar app in windows are free, unless you use a pirated version. Mac App generally is quite cheap, some only cost few dollar for an app. I'm more than willing to spend on those.

For picture viewing, you can just select all the picture and open in preview one shot. (select all, then double click) then all picture will show in one preview window and you can just swipe through the pictures... I'm not sure what you mean by need to click one by one.

Path location showing... i believe there should be a way to do this... but currently I just right click and get info to copy the path... there must be other way that is better than mine... hmm... but you no need to key in the path in finder in order to navigate to there. you can straight away type in the file name and the finder will find the files for you in no time. But I do agree that 3rd party apps does a better job in this regards.

I'm using 3rd party NTFS, so far doesn't face any issue at all. And yes, you can always use exFAT which is compatible on both Mac and Windows.

network drive... i'm not so sure. I'm using WD MyBook Live with my router, no issue to mount or unmount it from my mac. it will auto mount when log in.

A lot of us here are user from PC who now using Mac as well or switch to Mac totally and doesn't seems to have any major problem, so your statement on "cater for zero entry PC" is actually not so true in some way. anyway, i do agree that it really take some times in order to get a grasp on it if you are used to windows before this, more so when you are power user.

here is the some tips about path in osx :
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57578...e-path-in-os-x/
http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/31/go-to-folde...board-shortcut/
here is some tips on previewing the picture: http://macperformanceguide.com/Optimizing-ImagePreview.html
my 2cent.....do not use OSX and expecting the way u using window, vice versa when using window too.... they are different ..jz like the topics we talk to girls is different with the guys...

myself using 1 month already can handle mac os very well, now if ask me change back to windows I'm 100% disagree because a lot of quality software can't found on windows 8

Hi TS, thanks for all the information..i'm having dilemma on whether to switch from windows to mac...after read all the information..make m decision to buy macbook pro mid 2012 model~~

i am saying mac is overrated. Not that it sucks. There are sure some learning curves but yes it is overrated.

I am not new to PCs. I have tried windows, macs, linux and so on. So I would say for basic system functionality, mac is the worst. They cater it too much for dumb users. So dumb that they sacrifice a lot of functionality. I know a lot sure can be done if you want but most of the power functions are hidden.

For example, Like the cut and paste function. They hide the ability to use context menu for cut and paste. You need to use the command+option+v for cut and paste and that is "hidden". You won't know such function exist unless you have used windows/linux before.

windows have much more FREE compression apps than just winzip and winrar.

preview still sucks with all the functions described. I know some of you can "compromise" but you can't deny the fact that irfanview is so much better than mac's preview and it is FREE. Sure, macs have a few equivalent software like lyn and xee but those are paid.

Another apps, paint.net. FREE also for windows. Similar software for mac? Need to pay. Sure, GIMP is free. But if you have used paint.net, you will know it is so much better than GIMP.

Anyway, most of these are my personal preference. MAC is still not too bad once you get to know it. But sometimes too much compromise is not good. I am only less than 1 month into serious using osx. So might switch back to the windows side again in the future. Never know.

Last time macs are good because it is very stable when Windows are full of BSOD. Now, windows 7 onwards are so stable already. This argument doesn't work anymore.

Really, besides the cool feeling what is there in mac that is better than windows? I used to read an article in PCgamer where the author rave about windows being so much more better and intuitive than mac. I sort of smirk at that remark and thought the author is over-selling windows as a pc gaming platform. However, I came to realize it is somewhat true that some part of windows are done much better than osx.

Don get over reacted. Is ok that u feel windows is better for u. There no problem with that. Everyone have their own preference, and so be it, as this make us have choices of different software like windows, os x, linux etc.

I believe everyone else is just trying to help you out by giving alternatives and suggestion so u can start to adapt with os x. For u windows is better, but for me until today i still dislike windows as they are still not stable, at least on my machine for some reason... And i m running windows 7 that will blue scren as it like... Sigh... Which prompted me to switch to mac.

Mac is perhaps a little too "simplify" for power user, but this is actually it's advantage to the vast consumer out there where not all are tech savvy. But for your case, of cos it will bcom disadvantages. This is sure a good point and conversation for those who want to make a switch but still in doubt.

abubin comment kinda scared me off now huhu...actrually am thinking of switching pc to mac..

Well, depend on what you mean by non-tech savvy people. Cause Windows are already used by these non-tech savvy people. They are used to using windows. And when you ask them to switch to using OSX. I can tell you 100% they will be screaming. That's why I said "zero entry level". Which means people who have almost zero knowledge on using computer. These people should find it easier to use mac.

I haven't try out adobe products like premiere or photoshop. Probably they work better on Mac which is why a lot of creative people are using mac. So back to my argument that Mac is overrated. Not sucks nor great. Just overrated by fanboys. Speaking of which I need to be clear about something. I am never a fanboy of any products (or at least I try not to be). The product serve me well and is good then I praise. I am iphone user and has been since iphone 3gs launch in malaysia. I prefer iphone over android phones. I prefer ipad over android pads (eventhough I am selling android tablets). So that is one of the reason I am switching to osx...to see what it is like to be in apple's complete ecosystem.

I have a friend who hate apple because of the way they glorified their new technological features. He said those features already long time developed by others or by android. But apple is getting the headlines because of their marketing. I don't deny that and nothing wrong with it. Steve Jobs already mentioned that apple is not inventor but innovator.

No need to be afraid getting a Mac. It is still a good product. And if you are not happy with it..can always install Windows on it.

yes... this is perhaps the best part... u get a taste of both world...

Haha.. I'm using Windows for more than 10 years.
Just switch to mac 2 years ago. It's great for me. Tho, I still have 1 laptop and 1pc using Windows 7 in my room.
Mac for daily use.
Mac not that bad, if you really don't go for gaming.

yup...the key work.."not that bad"...exactly what I am trying to say.

Anyway, I found out another annoyance of mac. The dreaded .ds_store file. This is a freaking annoyance. Some of you may see this when you zip a whole folder and extract into windows. Then you know that person is using mac. Even though it is hidden and small size but I don't like it. The worst thing is when you are using network sharing. The mac will create this file all over your network storage. Luckily there is a commandline to turn this off for network sharing. But I totally turn it off for ALL. LOL....

For the .ds_store annoyance, for those wanted to know how to remove, use this Asepsis.
http://asepsis.binaryage.com/
Really a big annoyance, and very shame to mac users for .ds_store

same annoyance for windows folder which keep on show .thumbnail files in every picture folder...

.thumbnail can be easily turned off by disabling thumbnail view. But not with osx. Need to use third party hack.

Bought an apple mac and Office mac 2011.
Planning to use Microsoft's spreadsheet (.xlsx) in Mac.
After first try creating tables, charts in office mac everything look fine.
But when i try copy the .xlsx over to Windows and try to read those .xlsx worksheet files on Windows Office 2010.
It will not display the tables and charts (in Windows Office 2010).
later find out that i have to create a new worksheet (in Windows), rearrange the worksheets' windows ( in cascade ), only than the .xlsx worksheet from the office mac can be displayed in office windows.
So at the end, am still using the office windows.

This post has been edited by tanhks: Dec 19 2013, 11:48 AM