I may be a fan of Microsoft, but lately I’ve found myself spending a lot of time on macOS beyond just video editing. I honestly never used the Mac Mini very often because I had an old monitor that wasn’t HD or big enough to use properly for multitasking. That’s why I eventually ended up using Windows 11 as my daily operating system, with my laptop connected to this monitor instead.
But with a new 32-inch 4K monitor on my desk, and after spending so many years on Windows, I decided to switch back to my Mac, and I’m glad I did. There are plenty of features in macOS Ventura that even Windows purists like myself who might be on the fence about Apple’s operating system will enjoy.
1. Tabbed windows on macOS
One of the biggest features added to Windows 11 recently is the tabs in the File Explorer app. It’s one of my favorite additions because it helps increase my productivity, but I still think macOS does it better. Apple introduced this feature in macOS Mavericks back in 2013, and it still works great in macOS Ventura.
As you can see, macOS is smart enough to automatically open tabs for a specific app in areas Windows can’t. For example, in Finder, when the tabbed feature is enabled, clicking the trash can shows the trash in a new Finder tab instead of in its own window. Other than that, tabs on macOS are more universal across different apps.
Microsoft recently introduced tabs for system apps such as Notepad, but in macOS you can add tabs to any system app that supports them such as Maps and even a text editor. As they say, Apple did it first! And the Microsoft version still needs some fixing, according to my colleague at XDA.
2. Integration with iPhones
Microsoft recently made moves to improve iPhone integration with Windows with its Phone Link app. However, MacOS will always be the best place for people who own an iPhone. Apple has done a lot to make it easy to use all of their products together, and that was the case when I used my Mac Mini with my iPhone.
There are a lot of great integrations here. Being able to answer or transfer a call from my iPhone to my Mac Mini has become a time saver compared to having to hold my iPhone in my hand when typing and speaking. And since my screen doesn’t have a webcam, I loved being able to use my iPhone as a proper webcam with the Continuity Cam. It is native, simple and does not require additional applications like Windows. Phone Link can help you answer calls, check your messages, and view files like photos from your phone on your computer, but it misses out on the ease of use offered by Apple.
3. Backgrounds
There’s no doubt that the “Bloom” wallpaper in Windows 11 is special, and I absolutely love how you can set Windows Spotlight images as your wallpaper on Windows 11 now. However, macOS just does wallpapers better.
In particular, there is a set of nine original dynamic wallpapers that adapt to the time of day. It’s a relief to sit at my Mac all day and watch my wallpaper change color. Of course, Windows has these features too, but you have to go the extra mile and download an app to get them.
4. System Settings application
Well, anyone who has used Windows 11 knows how messy the Settings app can be. It recently had a facelift focused on navigation and discovery, but some settings are still tied to the classic Windows 7-style Control Panel.
This is why I appreciate the macOS Ventura Settings app extra. Everything is nicely grouped together and easy to find, just like it is on the iPhone. You don’t have to go to separate pages or use the search bar just to tweak a simple setting. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Apple about this.
5. App Store and App Updates
The macOS App Store just works. On the M1 Mac Mini, the store loads quickly and is smooth when navigating menus. I know Microsoft updates the Microsoft Store often for speed and better menus and navigation, but Apple seems to do it better on macOS.
Simple sidebar navigation and preset changelogs for updates are just a couple of the features I enjoy. Compare that to Windows where you need to scroll to see the change logs and updates take almost as long to load and download, it was day and night difference for me.
I still would like Apple to make some changes to macOS
While there’s a lot to like about macOS, it’s not perfect. It goes back to what I originally wrote about why I hate my Mac, but Apple really has to work on smaller things Windows does better, like display scaling, multitasking, and deeper levels of customization. Maybe then macOS might be my everyday operating system. But for now, I was glad to give it a try.
[ad_2]
