Switching back to MacOS After 10 Years of Windows: What I learned

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It has been about 10 whole years since I last used a Macbook as my daily driving laptop. For my entire undergraduate career, I had been attached to my 2009 15.4” MacBook Pro that had been a graduation gift from my parents and siblings. After graduating, I began playing games more and for the next decade had somehow ended up using my way through a slew of PC laptops from Dell or HP to anything in between. My entire professional life for work has also been driven by the Microsoft ecosystem. Fast forward to 2021, and I finally built up the courage to go back to Apple with my 2021 MacBook Air purchase. Here are the five things I noticed most after switching to a Macbook again after 10 years.

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The command key on a separate keyboard still feels kind of strange

Given that I’m a decade older than the last time I used a Macbook, my desk setup has slightly changed. Gone are the days I found myself wanting to work in a coffee shop or hip cafe and instead, I’m ergonomically comfortable in my home office complete with a wrist rest and a full sized keyboard. I am currently using the Mionix Wei keyboard which has an OS button that functions as a command key but even then, it still feels awkward versus using a traditional control button you would usually use on a Windows layout. Of course you could purchase a keyboard that matches Apple’s layout. Some even come with a separate set of keycaps to use with MacOS. I will admit though that on those occasions in which I’m using the keyboard on the MacBook Air, it is probably my favorite typing experience on any native laptop keyboard.

The iPhone and Macbook sync is really effortless

I only recently started using an iPhone again and to be honest, switching to the iPhone for the first time in years was probably what ultimately drew me closer to buying my Macbook. Responding to iMessages while working on my laptop has saved me so much time from accidentally wandering off onto Instagram where I can respond on my MacBook and easily go back to what I was doing. Top that off with other features like AirDrop where you can almost instantly transfer what’s on your phone to your laptop (vice versa) and you have an immensely satisfying workflow that keeps you productive with minimal effort.

I do miss my ports

There’s quite a lot of pros I have when it comes to why I have been comfortable switching from Windows to MacOS again. Unfortunately one of the downfalls to portability and the lightweight feel of my MacBook Air means I have accepted my less port fate. Given that I mostly work from home nowadays and have a dock I plug into with additional ports, it has become less of an annoyance for me, but for anyone else who likes to be on the go or uses multiple devices to plug into, purchasing a dongle or USB hub is a must have. These are relatively inexpensive on Amazon but an annoyance nonetheless. Both my keyboard and mouse plug into a USB-A port and without a hub, I would have had to find new accessories. This occurs on slimmer Windows laptops as well, but for the most part, Windows makers seem to provide users with more accessibility than Apple has in recent years. If you’re willing to bump up to the reinvigorated 2021 MacBook Pros, some of that functionality has made a return, but the M1 MacBook Air is still probably the best laptop in Apple’s catalog for the common folk like me.

The Mac OS experience is simply better

I’m well aware Windows 11 will soon be available on many devices with a revamped new experience, but after stressing myself out over how I will adapt from Windows to Mac, I realize now that there really was nothing to worry about after all. In fact, I’d argue that MacOS may even be easier to navigate through than Windows. Features like the Launchpad make it easier for me to find my apps instead of going to the start screen and searching or typing. In general, it seems like my MacBook updates and loads up more quickly than any of my consumer Windows laptops. The only way I can really describe my experience is that it just works. No matter how many fast and powerfully specced out Windows powered laptops I have used in recent years, there’s just something effortless about Mac OS in the way that it meshes hardware with software.

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You can’t really go wrong with either ecosystem

Despite everything I mentioned here about what I’ve noticed most when switching over to my MacBook Air, I honestly do not think you can go wrong with either ecosystem. There are plenty of die hard Mac fans out there and just as many PC fans too. In the past, I stuck to a PC because I liked having the option to play more games or have other laptop options from different OEMs when spending on a big purchase. But now as a working professional in today’s climate who writes, edits and works with data and analytics, I found myself enjoying my Mac experience more in this phase of my life. I didn’t think I could make MacOS work with what I do on computers for many years. After my reconnection with Apple thanks to the MacBook Air, I actually chose a MacBook Pro as my work laptop from my new employer instead of a Windows option. Regardless of what we choose, I really think it comes down to a matter of fit and preference for each person as most laptops on the market now are quite viable in their own rights.

The Takeaway

I think the ultimate takeaway I have from this experience is not to be afraid to jump ship to the other side. Like many things in life, we humans latch onto opposite sides and are stubbornly loyal to that belief. Why? If you are on the fence and haven’t (or have never) used MacOS, your opinions about it aren’t from a place of anecdotal experience. Yes, it may take some time getting used to a few changes such as the command key and other shortcut layouts, but in the long run, it’s well worth it to explore a seamless user experience that really does feel like your productivity increases (at least for me). If you just started using MacOS or if you’re considering switching, let me know in the comments what your thoughts are.

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