The Ninja Space Goat wrote:What I'd like to know is if there are any of you who made the switch from Windows to Mac who have advice for me. What were the difficulties you ran into when making the switch? Are there any potential problems with making the switch (perhaps problems related to being a developer). I'm also looking for advice on what you guys think I should get.
I made the switch a few months back for my job. I decided before I even started that I wanted a quality interface that got out of my way, and just let me shell and email. The rest was just icing on the cake.
I ran into a few annoyances when I switched.
First and foremost is the paradigm shift. In Windows, a "Window" is related to an application. When the application is done (closed), and the window closes, the process shuts down. In OS X, the OS is "document" focused. So, if you open a document, and then close it, the application stays open. Its a poor argument, because many non-document-based applications just stay open. For example, terminal, itunes, and so forth. OS X just likes leaving applications running. If - IF - you can ignore that, its actually fairly nice. On my 2gb macbook, its still very snappy at the end of the day, but I still have mental issues with applications staying open. Notably, there is an application that helps with this - stoplight. Unfortunately, it causes bigger problems, like having to logout/shutdown twice. Yes, really.
Second, there is no delete, and there is no insert. Oh, there is a key NAMED delete, but its actually backspace. You might actually get tempted to use the delete functionality that is available with a modifier key, but its inconsistent from application to application. Annoyingly inconsistent. But insert is absolutely not there. There isn't a key for it on the keyboard, and even if you plug in a usb keyboard that has one, it doesn't map to anything - because OS X doesn't "do" insert. Its obnoxious. For me, this one is the real killer because I lost shift-delete/shift-insert for cut/paste. Again, you'd be tempted to use the OS X version: CMD-C/CMD-V. Only, yup, its inconsistent in many applications too. Worse, thats *copy*, not cut. I haven't found a consistent cut/paste in OS X. Its incredibly limiting.
Further on that note, my favorite key-strokes (like control-e for end of line) is actually cmd-e, and alt-tabbing
does not do what you expect it to based on Windows or Linux behavior. Its extremely frustrating how it handles application switching, which is yet again based on their document-centered experience. Thats fine and all, if you are primarily document based. I'm not.
Third, it is very difficult to turn off the startup chime. There are third-party mods that let you, but I've had terrible luck with them. This might seem like no big deal, but when you go to start your computer at a lecture, conference, meeting, or while your daughter takes a nap on your lap - you will be cursing Apple for their rigidity.
Mail.app is pretty good, very nice fonts, incredibly solid performance. However, it doesn't handle imap very nicely, and the search is hit-or-miss. I'm not positive why, but I always feel like it is the best *looking* mail client I've ever used, but it feels lacking technically. Really can't be specific about it.
The lack of right-click "new document" choices is a bit annoying. I got spoiled having those, and I admit, its a nice feature. OS X doesn't have it by default. Select/Paste via mouse also is inconsistent in areas. Some applications (iTerm) allow you to use center mouse-button click to dump text. Others force it to right click, and a menu option. Some don't give the mouse that ability at all. Selecting is similar. Some applications let you select with the mouse, and its copied. Some require a context menu choice. Yet others force you to go to the main window, choose edit, and copy.
If you couldn't tell, I'm seriously considering a switch away from Macs. Its a shame, because for 90% of my workload, it is an amazingly comfortable machine with absolutely no problems.
There are some things I will miss, that you will LOVE on OS X. iTerm is absolutely amazing. Transparency, moving shells from one window to another, sending output to multiple windows at the same time, saving scripted logins, and so much more makes iTerm one of the absolutely best terminal programs I've ever used. Setup is a bit of a pain, but once setup, its beautiful. Putty doesn't even come close , and SecureCRT is just ugly (but nearly as functional, and likely to be my choice on Windows)
iTunes & my iPhone obviously work great in every part of OS X, from calendar to address book, and its only going to get better in Leopard, so I'm going to be sad to see that go.
Parallels & Coherence is absolutely great - if you can get your copy of Windows working in it. I had three *legit* versions of XP, including one brand-new, in the box. Only one of them worked all the way through the install process. No idea why, but the forums are full of similar complaints. Once I got it setup, it launches Windows applications as if I'm running Windows. I'm able to run my daughters favorite games, including lots of Dora. I can even run Balders Gate collection, and a few others.
Gaming on OS X is admittedly behind the PC a bit, but lately, most of the games I've wanted to play have been available for it shortly after the PC launch. I'm almost never a "release day" gamer, so it doesn't impact me much. Lots of studios (EA, etc) are coming around on the merits of OS X, so that isn't too bad.
All in all, it was mostly what I expected, although the paradigm changes and the key changes frustrate me enough to switch back. If you can live with those, its an amazing machine.
As to what to get, the macbook is nice on size and style, but I really hate the tiny screen. I'd buy a macbook pro for myself if money wasn't an issue, and I hadn't experienced the annoyances I have.