Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
When Itransitioned to all - Apple computer science , I knew there would be challenge . I assumed there would be many days and weeks of clumsiness before I really feel at home on my Mac ( and iPad , iPhone , and Apple Watch ) .
That ’s why it surprise me when I come upon how smooth much of the passage actually was . Here ’s everything I learned along the way , along with some crest on how I made it as unlined as potential .
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Retraining my muscle memory
Both Windows and macOS have various features and functionality that are n’t exactly hidden , but are n’t totally intuitive , either . Things likekeyboard shortcuts , options , windows management , and more work up up over time . They get burned into our muscle memory , both physically and mentally . interchange to a new political program requires unlearn the one-time and learn the new .
When moving between my MacBook Pro 14 and Windows desktop , I never forced myself to retrain my muscle memory . I used Windows most often and addle through on macOS . That worked well enough that I did n’t feel any pressure to make an movement to switch .
But when I migrated to my MacBook Pro 16 , which is now serving as my “ desktop ” and primary workhorse machine , thing changed . I started using an Apple Magic Keyboard with all my devices , and none of my common keyboard shortcut made sense . The same was true for oversee various organization background and using hotkeys to handle window for optimum productiveness .
I ’ve therefore been spend some clock time to force myself to find out a fresh way of doing things . As a author , I constantly move back and off through text , selecting and unselecting words , sentences , and paragraph , as well as applying various data format and using exceptional keys . MacOS has its own shortcuts for all these things , and they ’re neither good nor worse than in Windows . But they ’re very different , and it ’s not as bare as single-valued function from the Alt , Ctrl , and Windows name to Control , Option , and Command .
The same is true for a multifariousness of system hotkeys . For example , I used the Windows Florida key and pointer extensively to move windows around and make split - CRT screen configurations . That works differently in macOS . In fact , the entire system of windows direction is dissimilar , requiring me to learn a unexampled way of managing my three external displays .
It was lastly meter for me to stop being work-shy ( or maybe stubborn ) and begin cut into into the intricacies of macOS . And since I ’m using an iPad , an iPhone , and an Apple Watch , I need to clasp down and determine those scheme as well .
In with the old
When making such a substantial change in computing platforms , applications and data are improbably of import . I did n’t want to endow in all new apps as part of the transposition , and I did n’t want to lose the many GB of information I ’ve amass . I also did n’t need to drop the meter to transfer all that data to fresh service .
luckily , I ’ve been a longtime substance abuser of Microsoft ’s suite of intersection , which have versions that function on Macs , iPads , and iPhones . The main suite of productiveness apps ( Word , Excel , PowerPoint , OneNote , OneDrive , and Outlook ) are all usable , and they mostly make the same way . Outlook has a different look and feel , as does OneNote , but I ’ve adjusted easy enough . Surprisingly , I ’ve find out OneDrive more static and authentic on macOS than on Windows .
I have a smattering of other apps and utilities that also transition . I useSnagitfor projection screen capture , Scrivenerfor farseeing - format writing , andDiariumfor journaling , each of which I used before the conversion . They get together Skype and Microsoft Teams as apps I ’ve used on all my platforms , along with Steam for games and the Adobe Creative Suite . I ’ve stuck with Edge as my internet browser as well , allowing me to leverage the significant browsing history and password database that I ’ve built up .
The only Apple - sole computer software I ’m using includes the operating system themselves and their built - in apps for messaging , calendars , and the similar . Even then , some are driven by the same accounts I ’ve always used , like the Calendar and Contacts apps enter the data point I manage in my Microsoft and Google accounts .
All of that ’s made it across somewhat smooth . Time will tell if I transmigrate off from the cross - platform software package I ’ve always relied on , but I suspect I wo n’t . Apple ’s productivity apps do n’t offer any specific welfare that I ’ve seen so far , and iCloud does n’t seem any better than OneDrive . Maybe that will alter as I try out more , but I would n’t be surprised if my conformation looks exactly the same a class from now . I also call for to stay in sync with my family line , who remain on Windows and Android .
Leaning into the new
As bring up above , I had n’t fully embraced macOS when using my MacBook Pro 14 alongside my Windows background and Android smartphone . Now that I ’ve step into Apple ’s walled garden and closed the gate , I ’ve stopped rebelling against Apple ’s way . The results have been illuminating .
For example , I ’m using the macOS Finder without trying to force it to work like the Windows File Manager . Both have advantages and disadvantages , and the more I use the Finder , the more I appreciate its strength . The same is on-key for how macOS manages windows . Windows 11 is stronger in this regard , but I ’ve found macOS to be well enough once I stop contend .
Perhaps the most interesting modification has been embracing Apple ’s Continuity features . I ’m certain there are style to enable other smartphones and tablets to desegregate so well into a computing workflow , but my MacBook Pro 16 , iPad 11 Pro , iPhone 15 Pro Max , and Apple Watch Ultra 2 feel like integrate member of a single computer science program .
I can resolve a phone call on whichever twist is most ready to hand . Notifications show up on every equipment , and I can manage them equally well no matter which gimmick I ’m currently using . I can replicate on one equipment and library paste on another . The list depart on , and the best part was that I did n’t call for to instal or configure additional software package . This consolidation is build in and quick to go .
I ’ll write more about my experiences as time goes on . Again , Apple ’s chopine is n’t unadulterated . There are matter to complain about . But the key to making the transition has been my willingness to sweep up newfangled ways of doing thing . So far , so effective .
