4 ms·

I used mostly macOS for the last few years, with the occasional Linux. Recently I switched back to Linux (System76 laptop) completely, and only now do I realise

by fhd2 4y ago

I used mostly macOS for the last few years, with the occasional Linux. Recently I switched back to Linux (System76 laptop) completely, and only now do I realise how complacent I've been with macOS. There's stuff like iTunes opening every time I connected BT headphones, and regular attempts to nag me into using Safari. Then there's a boat load of issues I found workarounds for: The window manager with its fullscreen mode and lack of tiling (Spectacle makes that bearable), the unique modifier keys that don't work well out of the box with readline shortcuts in the terminal and such, the often still manual process of installing and updating apps (maybe I could have used Brew or MacPorts more heavily), the inability to debug and fix any OS problems, and a literal hundred small things I can't even remember from the top of my head. These things are all individually so small that I didn't event think about it, but when I realised the sheer quantity, I felt like I was in a codependent relationship with my main tool. Apple doesn't seem to care even remotely about users like me, and that's perfectly within their rights. The logical thing for me was to use something else.

ar_lan 4y ago
Appreciate the reply. > There's stuff like iTunes opening every time I connected BT headphones, and regular attempts to nag me into using Safari. I don't know if these are legacy concerns, but this has not happened to me ever in the past 3 years. > The window manager with its fullscreen mode and lack of tiling (Spectacle makes that bearable) Yabai solves this very well. > the often still manual process of installing and updating apps (maybe I could have used Brew or MacPorts more heavily) I recommend Nix and Homebrew. > the inability to debug and fix any OS problems, How often do you run into this? I just don't really. I remember in my earlier days I did a bit because of some pinned package versions prevalent in macOS but when I switched to using Nix this went away, so I haven't run into any OS issues since... I think Catalina. > Apple doesn't seem to care even remotely about users like me, and that's perfectly within their rights. The logical thing for me was to use something else. That's totally fair. I love my MacBook, but I also have not run into the same struggles. I think my experience has been the complete opposite - once I configured it properly, it not only "just works", but I've yet to find a laptop that connects other aspects so seamlessly (AirPods, FaceTime, iMessage, Notes are all killer features in my day-to-day). Additionally, since switching to the M1, I have yet to find a laptop comparable in battery life (speed is generally matched when considering prices).

by fhd2 4y ago

ar_lan 4y ago

Appreciate the reply. > There's stuff like iTunes opening every time I connected BT headphones, and regular attempts to nag me into using Safari. I don't know if these are legacy concerns, but this has not happened to me ever in the past 3 years. > The window manager with its fullscreen mode and lack of tiling (Spectacle makes that bearable) Yabai solves this very well. > the often still manual process of installing and updating apps (maybe I could have used Brew or MacPorts more heavily) I recommend Nix and Homebrew. > the inability to debug and fix any OS problems, How often do you run into this? I just don't really. I remember in my earlier days I did a bit because of some pinned package versions prevalent in macOS but when I switched to using Nix this went away, so I haven't run into any OS issues since... I think Catalina. > Apple doesn't seem to care even remotely about users like me, and that's perfectly within their rights. The logical thing for me was to use something else. That's totally fair. I love my MacBook, but I also have not run into the same struggles. I think my experience has been the complete opposite - once I configured it properly, it not only "just works", but I've yet to find a laptop that connects other aspects so seamlessly (AirPods, FaceTime, iMessage, Notes are all killer features in my day-to-day). Additionally, since switching to the M1, I have yet to find a laptop comparable in battery life (speed is generally matched when considering prices).