this post was submitted on 02 Jun 2025
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44
I'm annoyed with the idea of getting a Mac (self.apple_enthusiast)
submitted 2 weeks ago by neon_nova to c/[email protected]
53 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I know this is going to be unpopular with some, but I am seriously considering a Mac and I am annoyed by the idea of it.

I NEED MacOS or Windows for my work. There is one application that does not work in Linux yet and there are no alternatives. It is a critical work application.

With that being said, you can probably guess that Linux is my preferred OS of choice.

I am currently using a Windows desktop for my work, but I do run into situations where I need a laptop. The laptop I am using now is a Thinkpad from 2021 with Fedora. I actually really love this computer. My only real complain is that the webcam is pretty garbage.

So, I think I need a new computer. My choices are Windows laptops which have decent pricing with good specs, or Apple which is extremely expensive for what you get.

I'm really annoyed with Windows' ads, bloat, and general lack of privacy; specifically Recall. On the other hand, it is hard to justify spending an extra $400 on a Macbook air just to get a 1tb hard drive. My work files alone take up a little more than 200gb.

I guess this is just a rant. I'm not looking for any solutions as what I am really looking is the ability to use Linux for my work which is not an option at the moment.

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[–] [email protected] 69 points 2 weeks ago (23 children)

I went from Linux to a Mac for work years ago. Install home brew on day one and the experience overall will be much better.

The terminal on the Mac is surprisingly good. I felt right at home with it very quickly. Xcode comes with cli tooling to build software without a lot of messing with it and finding library dlls (looking at you, windows)

The window placement philosophy takes some getting used to (see yabai for a viable tiling window solution though) and the key modifiers will frustrate you (though I eventually ended up liking cmd a lot).

Overall though I feel like Mac gets a lot of hate where it’s not deserved. I still hate their business model, and my personal laptop is Linux for that reason, but the product itself is fine.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

I agree. Pricing is eyewatering. Business practices shady. But the laptop itself is fine.

I've been a long time Linux user. But in the end gave up. Bought a Mac precisely because it was a pain in the butt, or practically impossible to run certain proprietary software on Linux. In the end, I did not have nor the time nor willpower to fight against it.

Now, coming to Mac, there are some changes you can expect:

The good

  1. Battery life is impressive. Of all the laptops, macs would hold charge for me the longest. Even Pros with lots of RAM and high performance CPUs.
  2. Laptop is sturdy. Even after a couple of years of use, the lid still opens and closes as a new one. No squeaks. No loose ends.
  3. CLI is great, iTerm2 is one of the best terminal emulators out there. And it's free.
  4. Homebrew helps a lot, you can install practically any (CLI) application you find on Linux.

The bad

  1. UI takes some time getting used to. Some decisions feel weird. In a typical Apple fashion, it's 'my way or no way'. Luckily not as closed as iOS (yet). There are some tools which can help, such as BetterTouchTool, Rectangle, and similar.
  2. It's more difficult to find free software for macOS. Most is commercial and can range from a couple of $10s for a perpetual license to a couple of hundred for a yearly license.
  3. Good luck running Linux on new macs. Ashanti works on M1, but some hardware is still not accessible.
  4. Virtual machines run fine, but you'll most likely need to shell out for Parallels.

The ugly

  1. No USB-A. No Ethernet. Dongles are your life now.
  2. Crazily expensive.
  3. Not upgradeable. Need more RAM after a couple of years? Straight to the store for a new laptop. Bigger disk? Believe it or not, straight to the store.
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

you'll most likely need to shell out for Parallels.

Depending on your needs, UTM might be sufficient, and it’s free. I use it on my M1 mini to run Win11 so I can check Office doc compatibility for the Windows users at work, and it’s remarkably good. I wouldn’t use it to run games or anything hefty, mind.

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