The Top 6 Reasons Windows Users Don’t Switch to a Mac
Reading Time: 4 minutesWindows users often try to justify why they wouldn’t ever switch to macOS, but are their points valid? Let’s find out.
As the Windows vs. macOS debate continues, many users remain steadfast in their decision not to switch operating systems. Whether it’s for productivity, gaming, or personal preference, Windows users have numerous reasons for not wanting to make the switch.
However, some of these reasons are based on outdated myths that don’t hold up in today’s world. This article will look at common myths Windows users believe about macOS and why they should reconsider making the switch.
1. App Availability
If you’ve been using Windows for a while, you’re probably used to downloading programs and applications from your browser. On the flip side, you’d need to rely on the App Store to download most of the applications you need in macOS. This leads many people to believe that app availability is worse for Macs.
That’s not exactly the case. It’s just that Mac users tend to prioritize different app alternatives. You might be more familiar with MS Office, while Mac users tend to be familiar with Apple’s iWork suite, which includes Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. If you’re wondering, MS Office is available for Mac, and some people prefer it over Apple’s first-party office suite.
There was a time when app availability was an issue. For example, Visual Studio did not exist for Macs prior to 2016. Fortunately, you can easily download and install it now. So, app availability is not an issue these days, as you can find almost any application you need on macOS.
2. Unfamiliar Interface
As a Windows user, if you were to tell a Mac user that macOS has a bad interface, they would strongly disagree with you. However, macOS does have a severely different interface compared to Windows 10. For example, Windows has a taskbar at the bottom with all your pinned apps. Macs have a menu bar at the top, with a dock at the bottom of the screen that shows your pinned apps.
To Windows users, it makes sense to have everything in one place, and that’s a compelling argument. Still, all of that is subjective as it comes down to personal preference. When you have been using Windows for a while, macOS might look a bit more complicated and unfamiliar to you.
However, that could not be further from the truth. In reality, people use macOS because it’s easier to use. A good example is that the trackpad gestures work better on Mac than on Windows. So, it’s not so much that macOS is complicated, but it’s just that you’re used to a different OS.
3. Copy of Windows
This is one of those invalid arguments that people like to throw at each other, and we’ve seen this behavior from both camps. Some say Windows ripped off macOS, and others say the inverse. Neither is true since both operating systems have different interfaces and handle programs differently.
People think Macs do the same stuff as Windows laptops but with fancier animations and an unnecessarily complicated UI. That’s not quite true, as there are some things you can only do on a Mac.
For example, Macs feature a Universal Clipboard that allows devices connected to the same iCloud account and Wi-Fi to share this clipboard. Using this feature, you can easily copy text or images on a Mac and paste them to your iPhone, or vice versa. This is just one example out of a dozen more.
Saying either operating system ripped off the other shows personal bias, as both operating systems handle features and user experiences differently.
4. Connectivity Issues
Some people tend to believe that Macs don’t connect to other devices. In reality, Apple features excellent support for third-party accessories. Most external drives, mice, headphones, and other accessories work on Mac just as they would on any other OS. Furthermore, Bluetooth also works better in macOS, while it can be a bit finicky in Windows.
Even if you have an Android phone, you can still easily transfer files between Android and macOS using software like Android File Transfer.
5. Price
This is one of the more obvious reasons behind the reluctance that people have when switching to macOS. Buying or building a desktop PC with Windows has always been cheaper than buying a Mac. The same remains true for laptops. You can usually find Windows laptops with similar specs that cost less than a MacBook.
But that additional cost is worth it for some people. You’re getting support for apps like Final Cut Pro, excellent features such as iCloud Keychain, and better integration with iOS devices.
Many people tend to evaluate prices based on hardware alone. While you could get a cheaper Windows machine, it won’t have the features we just mentioned above. Features that people use every day and are hard to let go of once you start taking advantage of them.
On top of that, newer Macs now use Apple silicon (M1, M2, etc.) processors that are quite powerful and efficient. As such, you might find that MacBooks equipped with Apple silicon chips could be better value for money, as they can typically outperform similar Windows laptops in their price range.
6. Gaming
This is one of the most popular reasons Windows users don’t switch to macOS. Although gaming on the Mac has come a long way, with a handful of popular Mac games to choose from, there are still numerous games that don’t support macOS.
This is because gaming has always been more popular on Windows, and Apple has never paid much attention to the PC gaming industry. Even if a game is available on Mac, it will almost always run better on a Windows machine with similar specs.
That’s not all. Modding is a big part of PC gaming, and Windows offers better support for mods in almost every game. Installing mods and using them with your games is something you can’t do in a closed platform like macOS.
Mac vs. PC Is a Debate That Never Ends
Arguments between Mac and PC users have been around for quite a long time now. People will always have different perspectives, and it’s hard to convince someone to move from one OS to another because of that.
Windows users love the flexibility and customization available to them, compared to Apple’s walled garden. On the flip side, Apple’s approach works well for Mac users. Thanks to its closed ecosystem, Macs have better integration with other Apple devices, technical support is usually better, and you often get long-term software updates.