Poss switch from Windows to Mac

[ecoleman]

It's a bit of an odd comment to say you don't need to worry about cross compatibility on a Mac because you can't change the parts, you don't need to worry about cross-compatibility on a PC either if you don't want to change parts. It's an option you have on a Windows PC if you want it whereas it's not an option at all on Apple devices. 20 years ago when there were a lot changes in the CPU and graphics card markets, upgrade cycles were shorter but you only needed to upgrade if you were wanting the top performance and you'd need to do the same with Apple hardware. Nowadays the CPU and GPU refresh cycles are much slower so even my five year old system still offers top of the line performance and isn't in need of any upgrades, when it does I'd much rather the option to upgrade the parts required than have to chuck it away and buy an entire new unnecessary system.

As for lasting far, far longer it's disappointing to see an 'IT Pro' repeating one of the most common Apple myths which isn't even remotely true. Apple support cycles are much shorter than Windows and Apple hardware is now almost impossible to upgrade and difficult and expensive to repair. Almost any component failure means the end of the system and they most certainly do fail, a system where you can replace and upgrade the individual parts is going to have a vastly better chance of lasting longer. The OP is already having to ask about storage issues before they've even bought the machine so it's not even lasted long enough to reach the starting point, similar Windows devices let you have pretty much any amount of storage and ram you want now and you can change and upgrade them as needed in the future if needed to give them a much longer lifespan. Admittedly the point is lost on me of buying svelte little machine and then having to buy all manner of docks and external storage when I can have a three year old machine the size of a Mac Mini that has performance far beyond what Apple currently offer but what do I know.

The issue with windows and parts is that there are many many different vendors who are responsible for the hardware being compatible and the drivers working with the OS, this can cause issues even if you don't change the parts in a PC. You install a new OS and suddenly your sound card or graphics card doesn't work properly because the vendor hasn't updated their drivers.

Because the OS and hardware is all controlled by Apple you don't have these issues.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

Be aware too that sometimes Apple do get it wrong too.

Indeed they do.

As I mentioned above, the Exeter Apple Store told us they couldn't repair my wife's 2019 MacBook Pro. Their offer was to send it to the engineers but it would cost us a non-refundable £635 with no guarantee that it could be repaired. So my wife got the latest MacBook Pro and I got to take the old one home.

After a great deal of effort, it turned out to be a software / firmware problem, caused by some unholy interaction between Sequoia and the MacBook's firmware. Once I'd booted it from an external copy of Catalina, zapped and reformatted the disk, reset the firmware and prayed to the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I managed to get it working properly and now it's in my "office bag", in place of the MacBook Air that used to live there.

The moral? Even Apple can get things badly wrong, and fixing their mistakes can be expensive. Windows may be a great deal less expensive in such situations because there are a lot more people around who can help you.

 

[nc_killie]

I posted separately about a new software system and lots of helpful comments from members, including on this thread which are relevant to me as I was considering moving from Windows to Mac. With all the discussion I think I may go back to film

 

[Raymond Lin]

With Apple, it's like buying a car. You buy the best car you can afford and use it until you replace it. Computer parts is like upgrading the suspension or engine.

If you a car guy and want to do those things, you like tuning cars, you like to make it yours and customise it, don't buy a Ferrari, it will cost you a fortune just to replace a wing or headlight. If you want to chop and change, go get a Ford Focus RS, get it turned, get a Militeck exhaust, get a larger turbo.

(Disregarding the reliability of a Ferrari vs Ford, just the aspect of replacing parts)

I set a budget of getting a new computer, spend that, and then divide how long that cost me to run that computer. That's it's cost of ownership.

My iMac cost me (2200/12) £180 a year, and going down daily. If I get the Mac Mini for £499 (with EDU), then I only need to use it for 2 and a half years before I get my money's worth.

I think 16G of Ram will last 2.5 years, it doesn't need to last THAT long into the future if I am thinking from a value POV.


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A little my own POV on upgrading bit by bit

I am FIRMLY in the camp of I DO NOT WANT TO UPGRADE my computer parts camp. In fact, take that option away from me, I DO NOT WANT IT. It honestly saves me more money, I make do what I have and make it last. When I had a windows machine, every time a new graphic card gets released I get an itch to replace it, £400 every year or 18 months...for what? play games with 10 more fps? Then in between I would upgrade Mobo...which then I need to upgrade the PSU, and then CPU, now new RAM because it is now faster speed. Oh, I also need a new case too.

It ended up being something something every year, all in the name of being "up to date". Rather than with Apple, since the option or the GAS of getting the latest and greatest is now gone, I am more content. I look at. "does this do what I want?" "Yes". Then ignore new Mac releases. If you are like me, someone who just love to get the latest thing JUST BECAUSE, Apple is really good at keeping that in the lid since upgrading a new Mac every year is crazy and far too expensive and pointless. Whereas it is so much easier to spend £200 here to upgrade RAM, £500 there to upgrade graphic card 9 months apart....before you know it, I have spent nearly £1k on my computer.

Besides all the time spent trouble shooting and setting it up. Since building computers and doing my own IT support isn't a hobby of mine....i consider it a waste of time to do all that stuff.

 

[Plain Nev]

Flipping it on its head for a moment what are the downsides of W11? I hear it's got AI incorporated into it. And it's ever more voracious for your personal data. Sounds to me like it might just be a bloated, nosey version of W10.

 

[ChrisR]

Flipping it on its head for a moment what are the downsides of W11? I hear it's got AI incorporated into it. And it's ever more voracious for your personal data. Sounds to me like it might just be a bloated, nosey version of W10.

This here is why I'm wondering about replacing the family Winbox with a Mac Mini. I'm a Mac user so it wouldn't bother me, and Mrs R now mostly uses her iPad... so the other option is, don't replace the family Winbox with anything!

 

[Stephen L]

This here is why I'm wondering about replacing the family Winbox with a Mac Mini. I'm a Mac user so it wouldn't bother me, and Mrs R now mostly uses her iPad... so the other option is, don't replace the family Winbox with anything!

Very true, but now it’s in your head …

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

.i consider it a waste of time to do all that stuff.

We all have different ways of doing things and all are the correct things for us.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I tend to view upgrading computers like upgrading cameras - what is it that you need that the present kit can't do? New/shiny isn't enough reason on it's own.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

New/shiny isn't enough reason on it's own.

Oh yes it is!

 

[Stephen L]

I tend to view upgrading computers like upgrading cameras - what is it that you need that the present kit can't do? New/shiny isn't enough reason on it's own.

As has been said, each to their own

 

[ancient_mariner]

There's a couple of good value monitors just popped up for me, if you were looking for a mini computer + screen:

Dell 2724D £184.99 https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/del...24d/apd/210-bhtk/monitors-monitor-accessories
Gigabyte M27Q £155 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08L6XR935?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I've had the Gigabyte since 2021, and it's a great monitor for photo and general work. I'm seriously tempted to get a second to run side-by-side. 2560 X 1440 is just about perfect for me on a 27" screen.

 

[LeftyXXIII]

I've been a Mac user for a number of years now and can highly recommend them, even for a beginner. The hardest part would be getting used to the shortcut key changes (if you're a big shortcut user) but otherwise, you'll adjust in no time.

Yes, you'll need an adaptor (or new cable) to get a Mac Mini working with your existing Eizo, but the new M4 Mini is by far the best value for an introduction into macOS. I'd definitely bump up the RAM from the standard 16GB to whatever your budget allows, and you'll find that the M4 silicon chip will be supported until at least 2030.