Moving from Windows laptop to MacBook Air
Discussion
I've just replaced my own personal Windows laptop (Surface Pro) with a MacBook Air. I was lucky enough to win a load of Apple vouchers so it was a bit of a no-brainer.
I'm really enjoying the MacBook, the hardware engineering is lovely and a lot makes sense on the OS, but as a lifelong Windows user I'll suddenly struggle with a basic task.
Is there a really good resource for a perfectly Windows competent user to get up to speed on? I know the standard answer is "plenty on YouTube" but I'm looking for specific recommendations for something that just gets straight into it. Or a book, or cheat cards or similar.
Secondly, I want to buy a mouse and keyboard. Keyboard's easy, just but a generic one with the Apple Control/Option/Command buttons. But what about the mouse? I hear totally conflicting things about the Apple Magic Mouse, is it worth the hefty price tag compared to a standard one?
Thanks!
I'm really enjoying the MacBook, the hardware engineering is lovely and a lot makes sense on the OS, but as a lifelong Windows user I'll suddenly struggle with a basic task.
Is there a really good resource for a perfectly Windows competent user to get up to speed on? I know the standard answer is "plenty on YouTube" but I'm looking for specific recommendations for something that just gets straight into it. Or a book, or cheat cards or similar.
Secondly, I want to buy a mouse and keyboard. Keyboard's easy, just but a generic one with the Apple Control/Option/Command buttons. But what about the mouse? I hear totally conflicting things about the Apple Magic Mouse, is it worth the hefty price tag compared to a standard one?
Thanks!
Apple Keyboard and Trackpad - then it's just like using the laptop itself, easy to switch between.
You'll pick it up as you go along, it becomes very intuitive.
There are quick lessons you can take in an Apple Store as part of your purchase, usually full of old people learning how to use iPhones but could be useful.
Googling or YouTube will be helpful, there's loads if info out there. But my experience is that it works how you would logically expect it to work, but I have been on MacOS since the first Macbook came out and I struggle with Windows massively on the odd occasion I end up using it.
You'll pick it up as you go along, it becomes very intuitive.
There are quick lessons you can take in an Apple Store as part of your purchase, usually full of old people learning how to use iPhones but could be useful.
Googling or YouTube will be helpful, there's loads if info out there. But my experience is that it works how you would logically expect it to work, but I have been on MacOS since the first Macbook came out and I struggle with Windows massively on the odd occasion I end up using it.
Unless you specifically need a mouse, resist the urge to get one until you mastered all the trackpad gestures. They are literally one of the foundations of interacting with MacOS.
I use a mouse on Windows and trackpad on MacOS. The trackpad gesture integration is such, even if I got a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, I d buy the separate Apple trackpad in preference to a mouse.
These days, the only resource you need is one of the GPT’s. Most are very well versed in basic Mac use.
I use a mouse on Windows and trackpad on MacOS. The trackpad gesture integration is such, even if I got a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, I d buy the separate Apple trackpad in preference to a mouse.
These days, the only resource you need is one of the GPT’s. Most are very well versed in basic Mac use.
Just don't get an MX Master until you've tried one. I used one for years and kept convincing myself it must be “the professional option” because everyone raved about it. Hated the pointer feel the entire time, but assumed there just wasn’t a better ergonomic/productivity alternative.
Then I discovered other mice, and realised the MX Master wasn’t “smooth” at all - it was just sluggish. Once you use something with proper responsiveness and higher polling, going back feels awful. Lovely scroll wheel, sure. But the actual cursor movement feels like wading through treacle.
Much preferred the Magic Mouse, although moved on since then to more exotic devices.
Then I discovered other mice, and realised the MX Master wasn’t “smooth” at all - it was just sluggish. Once you use something with proper responsiveness and higher polling, going back feels awful. Lovely scroll wheel, sure. But the actual cursor movement feels like wading through treacle.
Much preferred the Magic Mouse, although moved on since then to more exotic devices.
tog said:
Just as a contrary opinion, I've used a Magic Mouse for years with no problems at all. I like the touch sensitive scrolling. No, you can't use its while it charges, but it lasts for ages so it really is not an issue.
Agree with this, the Magic Mouse is great. Learning the multi-touch gestures on trackpad and magic mouse is a game changer. wyson said:
Unless you specifically need a mouse, resist the urge to get one until you mastered all the trackpad gestures. They are literally one of the foundations of interacting with MacOS.
I use a mouse on Windows and trackpad on MacOS. The trackpad gesture integration is such, even if I got a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, I d buy the separate Apple trackpad in preference to a mouse.
These days, the only resource you need is one of the GPT s. Most are very well versed in basic Mac use.
This 100%I use a mouse on Windows and trackpad on MacOS. The trackpad gesture integration is such, even if I got a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, I d buy the separate Apple trackpad in preference to a mouse.
These days, the only resource you need is one of the GPT s. Most are very well versed in basic Mac use.
all of the different keyboard shortcuts will be of value to you, screenshotting with command-shift-4, mission control and more. Get used to Desktops, much more natural than on Windows.
Much of the app layer will remain the same, just with use of Command not CTRL. CTRL/Command-W is going to be a shortcut you use a lot as Command-Q.
And enjoy the very different battery life, I swing between Surface Pro and MBA and the mac is my mobile machine. I do not think about charging it.
Much of the app layer will remain the same, just with use of Command not CTRL. CTRL/Command-W is going to be a shortcut you use a lot as Command-Q.
And enjoy the very different battery life, I swing between Surface Pro and MBA and the mac is my mobile machine. I do not think about charging it.
I’d say keep using it with just the keyboard and trackpad on the device.
The trackpad is so good that I find I end up using it over my full-size desk setup 90% of the time.
If you are looking at mice, I’d say skip the Magic Mouse - I got one and It was the most bizarre and infuriating peripheral I’ve ever used.
Logitech is a good place to go; the MX Master gets all the popular praise, but I’d say look at the Logitech G502 Gaming mouse instead - It’s not too flashy, has good ergonomics and a few useful functions; Switchable clicky / smooth scroll wheel is the best thing, followed by switchable DPI / ‘Aim mode’ etc.
The trackpad is so good that I find I end up using it over my full-size desk setup 90% of the time.
If you are looking at mice, I’d say skip the Magic Mouse - I got one and It was the most bizarre and infuriating peripheral I’ve ever used.
Logitech is a good place to go; the MX Master gets all the popular praise, but I’d say look at the Logitech G502 Gaming mouse instead - It’s not too flashy, has good ergonomics and a few useful functions; Switchable clicky / smooth scroll wheel is the best thing, followed by switchable DPI / ‘Aim mode’ etc.
Haltamer said:
I d say keep using it with just the keyboard and trackpad on the device.
The trackpad is so good that I find I end up using it over my full-size desk setup 90% of the time.
If you are looking at mice, I d say skip the Magic Mouse - I got one and It was the most bizarre and infuriating peripheral I ve ever used.
Logitech is a good place to go; the MX Master gets all the popular praise, but I d say look at the Logitech G502 Gaming mouse instead - It s not too flashy, has good ergonomics and a few useful functions; Switchable clicky / smooth scroll wheel is the best thing, followed by switchable DPI / Aim mode etc.
I used Apple mice until you started to need proper right and centre click options for quick access to some functions in certain apps, and until they became too awkward to hold and use at the same time (must have some designers with child-sized hands) The trackpad is so good that I find I end up using it over my full-size desk setup 90% of the time.
If you are looking at mice, I d say skip the Magic Mouse - I got one and It was the most bizarre and infuriating peripheral I ve ever used.
Logitech is a good place to go; the MX Master gets all the popular praise, but I d say look at the Logitech G502 Gaming mouse instead - It s not too flashy, has good ergonomics and a few useful functions; Switchable clicky / smooth scroll wheel is the best thing, followed by switchable DPI / Aim mode etc.
Then I switched to the Logitech MX/VX Revolution (full-size desktop and reduced-size laptop versions), then MX Master and finally to the MX Master 2S (after going through a phase of using a trackball), and have been buying up spares whenever Amazon has them on offer. Usually get the Amazon-exclusive version of the MX Master for around £30, and tend to pick up 2 at a time for the 3 computers I use them on at home.
I like the heavier weight of them over some of the fast gaming mice too.
Will have to see what's on offer this Black Friday / Cyber Monday / Amazon Day as I'm down to my last 3 - and there's no way I'm paying £70 for a MX Master 3 or £100 for a MX Master 4 - although my first MX Revolution was £75 back in 2006
Edited by mmm-five on Thursday 28th May 11:15
In terms of a mouse, it's all a bit wierd.
Apple pioneered the use of Mice in the early days, along with Atari (ST) and Commodore (Amiga). Up to that point they weren't that widely used. Microsoft also tried to make Word (on DOS) mouse-compatible, but from what I recall it didn't go well.
But at some point, Apple optimised their hardware to be much more trackpad friendly. Probably due to the ability to use two and three fingered gesture control that isn't possible with mice, coupled with the fact that laptops became the most popular computing device and have a trackpad built in.
In short, if you want the full Apple UI, a Mouse will give you some of it, but the Apple trackpad is far better, despite Apple's early involvement in popularising use of Mice.
Apple pioneered the use of Mice in the early days, along with Atari (ST) and Commodore (Amiga). Up to that point they weren't that widely used. Microsoft also tried to make Word (on DOS) mouse-compatible, but from what I recall it didn't go well.
But at some point, Apple optimised their hardware to be much more trackpad friendly. Probably due to the ability to use two and three fingered gesture control that isn't possible with mice, coupled with the fact that laptops became the most popular computing device and have a trackpad built in.
In short, if you want the full Apple UI, a Mouse will give you some of it, but the Apple trackpad is far better, despite Apple's early involvement in popularising use of Mice.
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