Moving from Windows 7 to MacOS

Because Windows 7 is getting old and difficult to install for modern laptops, I started to look for other alternative than Windows 10. At first place I'm thinking for MacOS, I'm using Iphone and Ipad, so it would be a logical move and it even a great looking OS. However I concerned if I will be able to do all my tasks, that I did before?
I already know in MacOS different to handle my everyday tasks, since recently I purchased a Macbook Air with Broadwell CPU for practicing. Mouse working different, copy and paste different, so actually all the basic steps. And when I need to do something fast, I running back to my Windows laptop, thus I do not want spend time to figure things out.
How about games? I do not really play anymore, but sometimes I want...
What about big HDD? Will it see my NTFS drive if I buy an external HDD? Or should I use a NAS instead? Is NAS working like a big HDD inside my laptop? How about some of the old programs, a good picture editor like AcdSee 3.0, videoplayer VLC, a good adblocker for internet broswer, because so far what I installed for Safari does nothing...
So I have few concerns as you can see, anybody here moved already from Windows to MacOS and stayed there?

 

Going from Windows to Mac is a big change of commands and clicks and mouse function differently. Also there are more software readily available for Windows compared to Mac in Brand name software and freeware. Also mac ties you to their control of software and hardware so be ready for that. Windows allows more customization or disaster depending on whom is doing it. But if you learn and read on the O/S you should be ok but remember it's like CLI Unix to Windows it can be a change like that. A external HDD should work unless it wants to format it but for that you should check whom your buying from and ask does this work with mac and how. That the thing like your stating " I running back to my Windows laptop, thus I do not want spend time to figure things out." That's another thing user forget to ask themselves when going from Win to Mac there are times when you need to get it done and not relearning something to just get a simple task done. So if you want to go to mac get a book on mac and read up on it before just jumping to it thinking it like a Windows they couldn't be more different but that they are also so similar but not always doing the same. But that is my take since college I used mac but owned a PC instead for everyday usage-it had more user freedom and software that is why Windows is by far more used by people as result of that.

 

Depends on what specific games you want to play. Popular ones like Fortnite, CS:GO, and Rocket League along with many indie titles that you can buy on Steam have native MacOS ports. You can use Boot Camp to install Windows as a native OS on a Mac and have access to all your games, but it would require rebooting each time you needed to change.

MacOS can read from NTFS drives but not write to them. There are third-party drivers for MacOS that enable NTFS write access, but they're either costly, unreliable, or both. If you're going to use MacOS with regularity, then it would be advisable to format your external drives in the exFAT file system because it supports large capacity disks and individual files on all platforms. Plus it won't cost you anything extra, either in terms of software or obtaining a NAS.

VLC has a Mac port, and there are a ton of good quality free or inexpensive photo programs as well. A Google search will give you more than enough information. And use Chrome or Firefox as a web browser. Their Mac versions mirror the Windows ones for feature support.

 

Don't do it, it will look nice the first days as it's something new, then the more you use it, you'll simply get tired of having to find an alternative to this or that and the moment you lay your hands on a Windows laptop, you'll be like WTF am I doing!? and you'll wanna run right back to Windows.

I would understand if you do want to go through the learning curve but the thing is, their latest laptops over heat and throttle. If they actually performed as advertised I would also want to switch like you as I'm sick of Windows even though I know how to tame every nuisance and make it look good like Windows 7. But until then, my suggestion is to follow this guide:

NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide
Windows 10 Tweaks and Fixes (Index post #1)
O&O ShutUp10 - Do not use Windows 10 without it!


These are the tweaks that I perform on my laptop and make it look like what you see in the image below:

1- Uninstallation of all the Windows Store Garbage Apps like 3D Paint, Print 3D, Alarms & Clock, Feedback Hub, Maps, Groove Music, News, Weather, etc.
2- Removing all Windows 10 Privacy Invasion stuff like Telemetry, sending your keystrokes to Microsoft, automatically installing suggested apps in the background, allowing Microsoft to conduct experiments on your laptop, disabling automatic driver updates through Windows updates, disabling Windows 10 ads, disabling Cortana, Cloud Search etc.
3- Disabling Microsoft Edge from starting up automatically in the background upon reboot.
4- Adjusting a lot of options in PC Settings like disabling Windows Tablet Mode (you have a laptop not a tablet), disabling suggestions appearing in the start menu, disabling automatically connecting to Paid WiFi Hotspots, disabling Game DVR which reduced performance in games, and a lot more.
5- Replacing Cortana with a much better search tool that finds results instantly called Everything which finds any file you want as soon as you start typing even a few letters of its name and it doesn't even rely on the Windows Indexing Service to do this!
6- Restoring the classic Windows Photo Viewer
7- Restoring the Classic Windows 7 Start Menu
8- Removal of the new and useless 3D Objects Folder that appears when you open "Computer"
9- Completely disabling Windows Defender from its roots (including all scheduled tasks and startup files) for those who want to install their own AV. ESET NOD32 Antivirus is highly recommended if you want the utmost security with the least system performance impact.
10- Updating all drivers to the latest versions in case they weren't up to date.
11- Disabling the performance hit that is caused by the Meltdown and Spectre patches recently released by Microsoft (optional, only if you don't mind having this security vulnerability and would rather have your CPU's full performance back)
12- Overprovisioning your SSD anywhere between 10-20% depending on how much space you can spare to ensure optimal and consistent performance at all times.
13- Blocking the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool (which causes a high system load when it is scanning files)
14- Preventing Microsoft Edge from running on startup in the background
15- Restoring the missing default power plans in Windows 10 (ie. High performance, Power saver, and adding the new Ultimate Performance Plan)
16- Creating a system restoration image using Macrium Reflect

 

Agreed, macOS is so bass akwards that it's infuriating. I tried to change three times only to loose my shirt selling the devices again. I will never move from windows. I tried Linux, thats just brutal. Windows is the only OS where the controls are simple, make sense, and are ergonomic.

Stay where you are when it comes to OS. There is a good reason that apple has next to no market share in the desktop space.

 

Thank you guys for the longer explanation. MacOS is more though as I thought. It is surprise because Ipad and Iphone are so easy to use.

Damn, that is kind of deal breaker... So for example I cannot save a video file onto a pendrive, if that is NTFS?

Those are lots of modifications you listed and maybe a big update would cause issues for them. Or?
Otherwise at first look really good your UI, almost like Windows 7! However for longer period of use, I would probably feel, I am using a China BMW:

Yeah, I feel I am not gonna sell my Windows 7 laptop yet, while I will keep trying to learn MacOS. Maybe I’ll buy a good guide book as some of you mentioned above.

 

I would move to windows 10. It's actually quite good, contrary to what has been said around here. I find it a joy to use, it's moving forward in visual esthetics and speed as well. I could never even go back to earlier versions of windows at this point. I switch all my computers to 10 and its much better than 7. I would go that route!

 

I think he just wants to use whether else than Windows 10. At workplace on few new computer we also have Win 10 ,but nobody says ohhh, it is so good.
But MacOS is beautiful, especially the newest Mojavee with dark background and I do think not need more learning than Windows 10. Especially awesome for Iphone users, like I can pick up phone and facetime calls on Mac, Photos, videos are coming, i can continue my work on Iphone or vice versa, airplay 2 fantastic. For me makes life easier, while Windows 10 only trouble, accessories not working and finally everything working coming an update to screw up everything. I call it ever the worst Windows, skip it if you can. Any news of Windows 11 with Win 7 interface?

 

Mac is like a supermodel, pretty to look at but nothing upstairs. I can do everything with my iPhone / dell computer that you state there besides facetime. but I have skype if I want to do that. You will never see windows 7 interface again, thats old school, in the past, just as MacOS is. My computer runs fine on Oct update. As are many millions more. The internet likes to blow **** way out of proportion. I have 5 computers from various makers, and years all running windows 10, 3 are on OCT update and no issues what so ever. The internet hiccup I had has been fixed. Don't think apple OS's go off without a hitch either. IOS and MacOS are FAMOUS for having issues when loaded on early....but since they are apple they get a pass. Usually because they only have 6 computers and a handful of mobile devices to test for, unlike windows where there are literally thousands of different combinations that could have issue. Again, don't kid yourself over the stability of MacOS.

 

I have doubts with just icloud installed on Windows 10 things would work the same as on Mac with Iphone.
I cannot say at all Windows 10 looks modern, Windows 95 had more modern Icons. So that is oldschool Windows 7 just give much more premium feeling for laptop, just as MacOS for MAC. I might would be OK with Windows 10 on budget laptops, but for example an Dell XPS 15 9570 ruined with it.
If you were Iphone user, may you remember from IOS6 upgrade to IOS7. IOS7 “modern” interface ruined iphones. It looked similar to Windows 10, all the elegance is gone. Than those who stayed on IOS6, their iphones were worth more than the upgraded ones. Fortunately Apple realised the problem fast and from IOS 8 they fixed the elegance problem (partly).
If Microsoft do not realise the same problem, they will go down slowly. Although they think they are ok, because they have more Windows 10 user now than Win 7, but it is only because of forced updates, no alternate option, not even downgrade option from 8th gen Intels and lack of some new feature eg. DirectX 12.

 

I don't use Icloud. I use home 365. I have my iPhone Microsoft'ed. I use edge, outlook, one note, etc. I do not pay for any extra apple service besides music, (because I have to). My phone and computer interconnect perfectly. I use dell mobile connect, get my imessages come through on that, all my notifications, and can send and receive messages, phone calls etc via my computer. I have all my photos stored on onedrive etc. Again, The ONLY thing that MAC/iPhone combo does which I would like would be true facetime and imessage. But my setup right now gives my 95% of that combo without none of the headaches of the terrible UI of MacOS.

 

Also your workplace will go Window 10 for obvious reason that you forgot.

This is a joke...I got Windows 10 and use two software tweak freewware and it looks just like Windows 7 again and there is tweaks user can do to remove the stupid Tiles and looks just like the W7 StartMenu. So it sounds like you more or less have a bias to start with rather then giving real help so this text is more or less worthless from your posting. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But if people can't use it then the beauty become the beast.

They realized that but never address the security flaws but still try to deny they have security flaws in their O/S. That doesn't inspire confidence.

This is alot of koolaid drinking here. And you don't think iOS forces updates on your system either? Reality check here. If one recalls in the past iTunes refused to work unless you updated your iOS so your lack of memory here is bad as well. W10 will grow as older O/S are removed that is fact of life trying to revision history isn't on your side here.

 

Hey man, are you kind of people from Microsoft? Surprised to see some stands so strong with 10.

Ohh, I want to answer for this state very much .
As the old Windows XP and 7 computers dies, we have to replace them with new ones. We buy new Dell servers from a company, preinstalled with Windows and all the necessary programs. Unfortunately they cannot ship anymore with Windows 7. They ship with Windows 10 even when their programs designed to run on XP and 7. I talk about grocery stores and about a central office. Mainly middle age - old women store managers, same thing on the office and I have to deal with them, help and troubleshooting and when I cannot help we need to call the company. The best when the company struggling to fix the problem too, like the data not coming in from the gun or the new prices not going out to the scale, the turned off firewall turns back on automatically by time to time, causing problems to the cash registers and the customers waiting in extra long rows! We loose money and customers because of 10, so yeah we have obvious reasons move to Windows 10!!! Half the problems existed with XP or 7...

We especially not going to install any 3rd party craps to Win10 to cause further problems. Plus I think the topic opener said that just gives a China BMW feeling to the OS. Very right, who wants to use a copy by China? I say use Windows 10 as it is or stay on Windows 7 or move to Mac.
I love my personal MacBook by the way and it is not more difficult to use than Windows, just different. Once learned, less trouble I guarantee!

 

Sorry, no guarantee. I tried three times and it’s mind numbing’ly (nice word hey!) stupid. Windows 10 is fluid in its operations. Want to close a program, hit the x, want to close a program in macOS, hit the yellow minimize button or the red minimize button since both buttons do the same, then do the finger gymnastics click (you know the one where you have to touch the touch pad, or command button, I think, instead of right click, that’s a whole other ****up on macOS.) now get the drop down menu from the antique dock, and click close. That’s just one example of the wacky way to even begin to control macOS.

There are too many to list here. It’s the “such as” OS. You know the girl at the pageant giving the “I personally believe such as” answer to a question, Attractive on the exterior but dumb as a box of rocks under the skin.

 

Guys, that is enough please!

I've now Control+C and Control+V working, right mouse click is working. The red and yellow buttons are doing what they supposed to do, red is closing and yellow is minimizing. I do not see the problem there. I can uninstall programs easier than in Windows, because working like in IOS. Well, the installation was more difficult to figure out .
Safari ad blocking problem fixed too!
I don't know yet how to switch between opened programs, but probably also quite simple task. I will read that later on the internet.

 

Then you obviously don't know me that here tells me anything after this you made judgements you don't know already and anything after this fails.

Let's put this into perspective-if the software vendor whom you use don't Invest into their software development to upgrade then the fault lies with them NOT with Microsoft. I've run and installed Windows 7 software into Windows 10 without issue unless they are XP specific software. Windows 10 changed their permission and privileges to protect the O/S from loopholes in 3 party software that are outdated and that isn't Microsoft fault here. So trying to lay 3rd party software problem at the feet of Windows is flawed already from the start. Here's another thing Companies talk about retooling and re-education of their employees to use NEW tech and obvious your reply here tells a very different story. I work at a institution where our very own staff claims to know the computer but nevers takes it upon themselves to learn the tools provide by the institution as online learning software to learn about the new system. This is more or less a management debacle not wanting to re-train their employees to get the best from them. It doesn't take alot to retool but if you don't then don't blame someone else for your problems. This is how I see this paragraph.

You may love your Mac the way it works but the world doesn't spin around the mac unfortunately and the mac places 2nd or maybe 3rd fiddle to Linux as they did this to themselves when the O/S battle days in the 80's and Apple resigned that to Windows and Windows never looked back. History note, if one forgot. And also China is notorious for Windows hacked O/S that should tell you which one people want even if it is illegal.

 

On MacOS try Command (Apple key) + Tab

 

I borrowed a MacBook Pro for about two weeks last year. I had no prior experience with MacOS. It was a humbling experience for the first few days, but I got the hang of the keyboard shortcuts pretty quick. After a week I felt I was almost as productive as I was on Windows. I had no software trouble as the apps I use have native versions on both platforms.

After I sent the MacBook away, I knew I wasn't going to buy one. I had no complaints about the device or the software; rather, a Windows laptop of comparable features and performance is less expensive. For my utilitarian usage, it's hard to make the argument to spend more money to do the same thing.

Charles

 

One can always hackintosh if chooses hardware carefully - and it will blow native Macbooks out of the water in all regards. I mean, even disregarding performance concerns, no touchscreen option in 2018?!!

 

Exactly. Apple fans claim they will feel and look like gorillas using touchscreen desktop and notebook computers. Also, they complain about having fingerprints over their screens, YET they use iphones and ipads everyday with their fingers. I love calling them out on that one. It's fun watching them trying to spin that!

 

Touchscreen for laptops? Nope, that is nonsense as much as Windows 10. Mouse and keyboards are more comfortable and faster. Touch is for phones and tablets.
Performance wise, the new Ipad Pro is already faster than most Intel mobile processors. Once Apple kicks out of these and re-place them with own made 45W processors, people will scream after...

 

Too much koolaid here. There is more then just a cpu that make a computer but without a cpu it's paperweight. AMD is already making RZ mobile processor so Apple is already late to the game.

 

Ryzen CPUs just much as as Intel CPUs and they won’t even see laptops. Manufacturers rather use Intel, whatever happens...

 

Is that so? The thing is, if you personally, or even your whole monkeysphere, don't see a particular feature as useful - that doesn't make the feature useless for everybody, and neither it justifies the mentality of praising lack of feature and defending the lazy-ass manufacturer who fails to introduce it...

More is better than less, not the opposite. Don't want a touchscreen to save a bit of battery life? Just order a laptop without it, which is an option for most laptops - what's the problem? But saying oh well, hurray for no touchscreen option - those who rely on it every day for whatever reason should learn to use the fabulous mouse and keyboards for everything like I do, instead of acknowledging obvious manufacturer shortcomings when it comes to offered configurations, is really beyond me.

 

Then you obviously are living in a koolaid world there. iNtel for all their money failed to innovate and when AMD RZ came along all they did was tweak and say it was better but it was no better other then high price charging. Manufacture aren't beholden to your mindset here they use which one is economical to their bottom line and since iNtel got knocked out but RZ they have freedom of choice. They have real competition and now notice their CPU line has yet to improve much all they did was price cut but they still make it more then RZ line so tell me whom do you think will sell more in coming years if you can't make it affordable. RZ laptops aren't here yet but they are coming and iNtel has no choice in this.

 

Guys, guys..., believe me we will see only a couple Ryzen laptops from HP and from Dell. And only in the cheaper category. Dreamers ... Don't you remember Llano and Trinity in how many laptops were they implemented?

Starlight 5:
The problem is, the touch means glossy screen. Lifting, keeping the arms up there and making it dirty with fingerprints is a really good extra, yeah . Even better when the lights are also reflecting on it. I understand some people don't mind that, however Apple knows it is not the way to impress...

 

So awesome, works in safari for tabs, thanks! How can I switch between opened apps?

 

It can also be semi-matte (which behaves like matte in most situations). Sadly, both semi-matte touch & matte non-touch displays have lately become much rarer options.

As for Apple - all their current laptops come with glossy screens, no?

 

Perhaps my Mac mini is different, but Control (Ctrl) + Tab changes tabs in Safari. Command (or Apple key) + Tab switches app focus.

 

Command + Tab works like Alt + Tab in Windows. Control + Tab in MacOS switches between tabs in Safari and Chrome.

For most intents and purposes, Command in MacOS functions identically to Control in Windows. You can use the keyboard preference pane to re-map the modifier keys (Command, Alt/Option, and Control) to something that's more comfortable if you can't get used to Command being right next to the space bar. Just keep in mind that a MacBook's built-in keyboard only has one Control key.

 

Thanks! I have been using it for about two weeks and I can do my everyday things. I can even continue my iMovie video edits from iPhone, adding some extra effects on Mac. The one bugging thing is MacBook Air is slower than iPhone X. My iMovie slideshow is butterfly smooth on Iphone and struggling on Mac?

 

Understandable, the macbook air is not a powerful notebook, the iPhone is a powerful phone, which has optimised software, everything will be like butter on the phone, and choppy on the laptop.

 

That does not count, since.....APPLE. That argument only stands up when it's a windows based pc with a glossy screen. further more to our kool aid drinker up there, touch is much faster doing a multitude of things, and more accurate when you include stylus as well. But you would not know anything about that since your deceased leader said stylus is silly.

 

This is how you loose in the end. Trying to grasp for straws is very telling of what to come for iNtel lack of growth.

 

Okey, I was wrong. Even less laptops will receive the AMD treatment;
“ the upcoming Ryzen 3000 mobility ULV CPUs are almost on par with Intel's mobile CPUs from 2-3 years ago.”


Hey Koolaid man . I named you, because you wrote so many times that word in your comments. Yepp, that does not count, because Apple use a quality anti-reflective surface, which makes the screen enjoyable.

 

So iI was trying to help a coworker who had a headphone jack broken off in his laptop, MacOS won't let him use internal speakers now since it overrides everything, in Windows you can at least block certain audio sources and enable others without this kind of issues. Seems like a major oversight. We even opened up the laptop and its stuck way in, might try superglue/cue tip method.

 

Or take to a computer shop that works with mac to find a way to take it out-don't go to a Apple store they might not do this since that is opening the Mac up. They probably want to sell them a new mac.

 

Other brands do use quality AR coating too - doesn't make neither theirs nor Apple's screens anything close to matte or even semi-matte. When looking at laptops with matte and glossy screens side by side, image looks more vibrant on glossy, so it is understandable why so many people fall for them.

Regardless, my point was - touch doesn't mean glossy screen. Apple could have implemented it long ago; they will probably do it with enormous pomp some time later, like when they introducied Apple Pencil - a very nice, extremely useful but also very long awaited addition to iPad line, which allowed it to become a professional tool for some, instead of mere media consumption device.

 

Yes, noticed too. I’ve been always choosed laptops with matte screen and near the macbook screen is so vibrant, white is so white. Actually don’t know anymore which I like better glossy with good quality anti reflective surface or matte. But definiately I do not want tuch laptop screens at anyway, that have to be clear like television... I doubt Apple will ever implement touch for laptops, there is really no need. Pen is ok for Ipad, because the precision drawing.

 

Yes, interesting, or? The 1000 usd 2018 macbook air is slower than a 3years old Iphone 6S. That is why I have been waiting for Macbooks with Apple own made CPU / GPU combo. Intel could not double their CPU performance in ten years, while Apple do that in every two years!

 

Keep gulping down the apple flavored koolaid buddy! You are the guy who thinks apple are the ONLY computer to use a "high quality screen". Figures!

 

This is a whole lot of koolaid and using false equivalence doesn't make it support the comment anymore then falsehoods. What I see them doing more is doubling their price they charge. What one misses you can shrink chipset so far and start to reach the technology abyss.

 

Yep, the kool aid runs thick in fantasy Apple land.

 

But it is so obvious Apple chip is so much speedier. This 15W Broadwell Intel chip closing a window lags a little and struggling other areas. How many W an Apple Iphone X chip?

 

But-but-but, you don't even have windows on iOS! Drawing conclusions on hardware performance from comparing snappiness of mobile OS which was developed with much slower hardware in mind and optimized to run on single particular architecture with mainstream desktop OS is not what I'd call reasonable.

 

It's like comparing apples to automobiles. There is no similarities between the two.

 

Oh, another thing kool aid kid, I see my reflection in my son's macbook, just as I do in my dell. Good luck, try again.

 

Or, you could try Linux... I use Linux Mint 19.1 for everything except games.

 

Please don't compare the speed of an Intel CPU and an Apple CPU based on UI responsiveness. Here is a better comparison: https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/9vtl1u/i_tested_ffmpeg_on_iphone_x_ipad_air_2_note_8_and/

Bear in mind that Apple's CPUs use a crazy amount of power when under load: https://www.anandtech.com/show/13392/the-iphone-xs-xs-max-review-unveiling-the-silicon-secrets/4

A single Vortex core (SPEC2006 is a single threaded workload) can consume anywhere between 3 - 4.5W depending on which SPEC task that it is performing. This means that the two Vortex cores running full tilt @ 2.4 GHz would need 9 W! This is not including the power demands of the GPU, the small power efficient cores, the NPU etc.

 

I compare them because I use them near each other and the bigger machine which should be stronger is bugging my eyes. MacOS why not be optimized for Intel chips?