PC > Mac Horror Stories? What you wish you’d known in advance?

[Midpack]

I’ve watched a couple YouTube videos, but those guys are mostly paid tech folks. Just wondered if there was anything others here learned or wish they’d known before actually going PC > Mac?

DW and I are switching to an Apple laptop and iMac in the next few months after using nothing but Windows (and CPM, MS-DOS before) since Bill Gates was in Junior High! We have tons of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, pictures, MP3, MP4/MOV, past TurboTax files, and other files we’d like to keep.

It appears the Apple Migration Assistant will handle the file transfer via WiFi pretty easily. I’m not at all concerned about any of it aside from some XLS files that Numbers won’t be able to handle. Pages & Keynote are good enough for us, we might have to buy/subscribe to Excel. I’m not clear on what losing PC iTunes will mean, but I’m sure we won’t lose our music library (about 2600 songs). We’ve been using iPhones & iPads for years so our contacts, email, calendars and reminders are on iCloud or web based - so no worries there. [I realize no Applications will transfer, though Mac versions exist for many/most]

I’m also not clear what the Apple file/folder structure will look like. Will it mimic our PC folders, or change them?

I’ve begun to familiarize myself with the idiosyncrasies of Mac OS versus Windows.

In any event, we’re migrating come what may.

 

[Ready]

The switch will be very easy for you. I switched about nine years ago and never looked back. File structure should be the same as Windows. I keep everything on ICloud with a local backup on the drive but that’s my preference. TurboTax works fine on the Mac. Quicken has a Mac version that is not quite as feature rich as the Windows version but it does what I need.

Your songs will transfer into ITunes on the Mac without issue. I had Excel for Mac but eventually I found it easier to just use the built in Numbers app.

Once you switch to Mac you will not want to go back to Windows. It just works better.

 

[audreyh1]

Wish I could help you but I haven’t used Windows since the last century.

 

[rt-texas]

I transitioned about 10 years ago now. But I still have windows on two of my Macs for proprietary windows software. Win 10 Pro. Also still keep my Quicken on the windows side since I have it.

Mostly better in Mac IOS in my opinion. I would say took me about a year to feel comfortable. Google and Spotlight search will be your best friend. Lived in Outlook and Excel for years and didn't want to change so I pay for Office.

I use on add-on a friend got me started with called Clean My Mac. Thoroughly empties trash can, scans for malware, basically does the mac version of disc defrag. Not free, I think like $35. It also uninstalls and I find it sometimes a good place to look for files.

My biggest complaint with mac has been on hardware side. Not enough ports on the newest one, 2017, USB C only, so spend money on pricier peripherals.

On second or third power brick for my older two. But one is 10 years old the other six. Both were my road machines, so abused. But wiring jackets rotted to the point of no return so...Also miss the old mag-safe power connectors the old ones have. They saved my butt numerous times.

I spend a lot less time in file structure in Mac than on Windows it seems to me. But I kinda re-organized my self to a certain folder system that just evolved as I was transitioning. It all lives in Documents and I know how I work and think.

All in all though I'm glad I made the transition. Use the 2011 for movies and media server, but it also is my back-up if the 2015 craps out. Out of the country so want to make certain I have a plan B.

 

[WestUniversity]

PC > Mac Horror Stories? What you wish you’d known in advance?

I’ve watched a couple YouTube videos, but those guys are mostly paid tech folks. Just wondered if there was anything others here learned or wish they’d known before actually going PC > Mac?

DW and I are switching to an Apple laptop and iMac in the next few months after using nothing but Windows (and CPM, MS-DOS before) since Bill Gates was in Junior High! We have tons of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, pictures, MP3, MP4/MOV, past TurboTax files, and other files we’d like to keep.

It appears the Apple Migration Assistant will handle the file transfer via WiFi pretty easily. I’m not at all concerned about any of it aside from some XLS files that Numbers won’t be able to handle. Pages & Keynote are good enough for us, we might have to buy/subscribe to Excel. I’m not clear on what losing PC iTunes will mean, but I’m sure we won’t lose our music library (about 2600 songs). We’ve been using iPhones & iPads for years so our contacts, email, calendars and reminders are on iCloud or web based - so no worries there. [I realize no Applications will transfer, though Mac versions exist for many/most]

I’m also not clear what the Apple file/folder structure will look like. Will it mimic our PC folders, or change them?

I’ve begun to familiarize myself with the idiosyncrasies of Mac OS versus Windows.

In any event, we’re migrating come what may.

Microsoft makes an Apple version of Office, which is what I use. As much as I am over Microsoft I love Excel. I also found Numbers to not be as robust as Excel. All of your excel files created in Microsoft excel will work in Microsoft’s Apple version of Office with zero issues. At least I have yet to have any problems and I have some massive and complex spreadsheets.

Most of the issues I had with the transition 9 years ago was with the keyboard and with the various shortcut commands. Those are easy enough to Google, like for instance Ctrl Alt Del.

If you have other Apple products i.e. iPhone iPad etc. you should love how seamless it is having all your devices in the same ecosphere. Additionally Keychain is a super password manager.

For me the phrase “once you go Mac you don’t go back” has been true…

YMMV

 

[Ronstar]

I’ve been using a Mac for a long time - maybe 15 years. Most of my work software didn’t work well or at all on Mac OS. So I did my work at home on my work laptop.

Once I retired, I only used the Mac. In the old days, it could be difficult to find drivers etc to run peripherals, but I haven’t had any issues lately. That would be the only thing to look into - check to see if your software and peripherals are Mac compatible.

 

[steelyman]

PC > Mac Horror Stories? What you wish you’d known in advance?

Keep your old PC around, just in case. You probably won’t miss it. Don’t retain that mentality that you really need a bunch of software that you downloaded or wrote over the years.

Chin up and make the move to Mac.

 

[Ready]

Apple is expected to be announcing a completely redesigned MacBook Pro this summer so I would hold off on buying a laptop at this point, unless you just go for a low end MacBook Air.

We just ordered the latest IMac to replace a MacBook Pro that we never travel with. One thing to keep in mind is that the IMac by default comes with a mouse while the laptops come with a trackpad. If you are going to buy both, you may want to consider buying the Trackpad for the IMac. If you order the IMac directly from Apple you can upgrade from mouse to Trackpad for $50. Otherwise you have to buy the mouse and then pay an extra $150 for the Trackpad.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I switched about five years ago and found the switch to be very easy. I’ve gotten used to Numbers and Pages although there are a couple of commercial spreadsheets with macros that don’t work. Each app took some getting used to, but I learned to love ‘em.

At first my only regret was not making the Bootcamp partition larger but eventually I realized I wasn’t using any Windows programs any more and it was too much of a PITA keeping Windows updated so I just deleted it.

 

[Midpack]

Thanks everyone, encouraging so far. I am definitely looking forward to having our desktop sync up and work seamlessly like the iPhone and iPads do, the sync with Windows is way too clunky.

TurboTax works fine on the Mac. Quicken has a Mac version that is not quite as feature rich as the Windows version but it does what I need.

I wasn’t worried about TT working, I was hoping my past return files would transfer and be found/recognized so I don’t have to re-enter all the past personal data, cost basis, fund names/CUSIPs, IRA deductible balances, carryovers, etc. That’s very handy every year.

Apple is expected to be announcing a completely redesigned MacBook Pro this summer so I would hold off on buying a laptop at this point, unless you just go for a low end MacBook Air.

Thanks. I’m following the phase out-in and the M1 is plenty capable for us. So the iMac 24” is all the desktop we (mostly me) need. And the only reason we might not go ahead with the M1 MacBook Pro 13” screen is too small, DW might wait for a 15-16” screen model.

 

[ProspectiveBum]

My DW has a 2010 MacBook Pro that still works great (after swapping the old HDD for an SSD). We’ve had many Windows laptops over the years, and very few lasted half that long. Enjoy!

 

[Ready]

TurboTax for Mac has no problem reading and importing Windows data files. It can import either the data file itself or a PDF of the tax return.

 

[spncity]

We use Crossover by https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover to run windows programs on a Mac. Check it out.

 

[teetee]

Mac does not have "cut" feature. You can't do cut and paste with files in Finder or with text.



Mac by default protects system files (similar to being a normal user in linux) so there is little concern of you screwing up the system (no access to remove critical files). There is a high chance that you are an administrator by default on a windows machine if it is not managed by a domain with group policy, and so you can easy render the system if you are adventurous.


The default behavior on Mac, when a window is closed, the app is still running until you quit it. On windows usually the app will exit or minimize to the system tray when all of its windows are closed.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Mac does not have "cut" feature. You can't do cut and paste with files in Finder or with text.

You can copy and paste files or folders then delete the originals. Easier to drag and drop from one finder window to another. Or copy with command+C but paste with command+option+V.

I cut and paste text within documents all the time using the standard edit commands.

(Edit to add) It’s really handy to copy something to the clipboard on my iPhone or iPad and be able to simply paste it on the iMac.

 

[sdtech]

It was SO good to migrate. It makes so many things easy.


I did switch to Numbers, and there is a learning curve, but there are some benefits when you are done - like files can be worked on any of your apple devices if you put the file in the apple cloud and it updates across all of them. Does not transfer macros.



We also went with Mac Quicken - current version is much better today, and it works the apple way, just missing a couple of esoteric things we used in the windows quicken (stock options and retirement planner).

 

[dolittle]

I switched to Macs for personal use many years ago but continued to use PCs on work issued computers until retirement. There apparently are PC-only programs still in use. I never used any so no issues. If you do, keep a PC around or maybe run something like “Parallels”, a PC emulator for Mac.

One thing I will warn you about. Although Excel, Word and Powerpoint can be converted back and forth with the Mac equivalents, it is not direct use. The Mac programs can open the MS programs but must be exported and converted back to use on PCs. The formatting is not always directly compatible but will not be lost - colors and fonts may not be exactly the same for instance. You may have to clean-up between the two. It was just not worth the hassle of “cleaning-up” formatting in file transfers back to MS so I continued to use the Mac versions for MS Office on my Mac until retirement when my need to share/collaborate with others pretty much ended. I now use the Mac Office apps - they meet my needs. You may want to subscribe to MS Office for awhile until you are comfortable with the Mac applications and the transfer of your files. If you regularly exchange files with those in the MS environment, you may want to continue using MS Office on the Mac.

Also, some just use Google apps (or others). As I said, the Mac applications meet my need and I am a big Mac fan but I do think the MS Office applications are still the best for a work/sharing environment.

Another area that will throw you is the file structure for Photos. You will not see photos filed in a normal file structure on the drive if you use the Mac Photos application. The file structure exists within the Photos application itself. You can get to the file, it is just different from your probable experience with the file system on a PC. Hard to explain until you use it.

I would never go back to PCs unless needed for work or extensive sharing/collaboration with PC users. I find Macs much more enjoyable to work with for personal use. Their applications/programs are well thought-out. Macs are great if you use Macs and other Apple products.

 

[ncbill]

Why switch to something like Pages or Numbers (always used a Mac, never used those) when there are "office suites" out there like Libre Office for free?

 

[ncbill]

My DW has a 2010 MacBook Pro that still works great (after swapping the old HDD for an SSD). We’ve had many Windows laptops over the years, and very few lasted half that long. Enjoy!

Still using my 2011 MacBook Pro (upgraded to a SSD, of course) for all my computing needs.

Even have Parallels on it to run Windows.

 

[spncity]

From the Internets:

How to Move Files or folders in Mac using keyboard shortcuts?

Now we know that we can press and hold Command + C keys to copy and then Command + V keys to paste. But there is also another shortcut that you can do to move the file or folder altogether. For that select the file or folder and use the copy shortcut, which is Command + C keys. After that while pasting the copied file in your desired location, press and hold Command + Options + V key. This will automatically move the file or folder entirely from the source location to your desired location.

To see it for yourself, you can try using the manual copy and paste option on Mac.

...First, select the file or folder you want to move and then go to the Menubar in Finder.

...Here go to Edit and click on the Copy option.

...Now go the location where you want to move that file or folder and then again go to the menubar in Finder.

...Now when you select Edit press on the Options key on your keyboard. You will see the Paste Item option change to Move Item here in the settings.

...Click on that option, and your file or folder will be moved.

(You sent me searching and I just learned the above myself, but I usually open two Finder windows on the screen and drag and drop.)

 

[spncity]

We use Crossover by https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover to run windows programs on a Mac. Check it out.

You can likely move your MS Office software from you PC to your Mac and run it on Crossover.

 

[teetee]

You can copy and paste files or folders then delete the originals. Easier to drag and drop from one finder window to another. Or copy with command+C but paste with command+option+V.

I cut and paste text within documents all the time using the standard edit commands.

(Edit to add) It’s really handy to copy something to the clipboard on my iPhone or iPad and be able to simply paste it on the iMac.

Yup all good workarounds. I still think windows wins in the cut feature arena in terms of efficiency and it is one of the most noticeable change during my switch from work in 2013.

 

[Whisper66]

My experience .... In 2008 I was so fed up with my years of poor windows / pc experience, I took my personal laptop out to my driveway and ran over it with my car. I then bought a Macbook the next day hoping for a better (or at least a different) experience. I was shocked at the difference. I no longer had to be a technician maintaining and fixing a darn computer. The experience changed to just using a tool that always seemed to work fine.
At the start, I noticed a few things were different (like no backward delete key) so I had to watch short Apple online videos to learn how to do them. But other than that, I quit PC/Windows cold turkey for all my personal work on computers. I also told my wife that I resigned as the family PC technician/repairman. If she wanted any help from me, she would need to dump her high powered PCs (home photography business) and move to Macs. After a couple more typical PC failures that required taking her computers to a "real" technician (since her personal one resigned), she moved to Mac, loves it and wil never go back. I was still stuck using a PC at my job until I retired 7 yrs later. But I literally haven't touched a PC since I retired and never want to again.
My first Mac was bought in 2008. I just replaced it earlier this year after 12 years. The old one still worked fine but the sound card was going bad (crackling noise like bad speakers) and it seemed to be slowing a bit. I passed it on to someone who needed it and bought my second low end MacBook that I am using to type this.
BTW - I used Excel a lot and never learned the Mac Numbers program just because it looked quite different....didn't really want to learn something new for calculations. When I switched to Mac, I wanted a free tool that would look like Excel (so I wouldn't have to learn much) and run my existing spreadsheets. I picked up OpenOffice free from the internet and have used it ever since. Works fine for me. I hear LibreOffice is just as good or better.

Over 12 yrs with my old Mac, I've never had a virus, never had a slow down due to malware, never had to take it to the shop for repairs, never had to regularly go in and clean off malware or check for viruses. I did install (myself) more RAM, a faster hard drive, and two new batteries over the years. Basically the computer became just a tool for me, not a regular maintenance job.
Anyway, that's my experience.

 

[Whisper66]

Just remembered one hassle when going PC -->Mac.
In 2008, I was still using Quicken for finanical home software. Quicken did not have a good Mac version back then so I had to switch to something else. Found Moneydance worked fine for me (still use it) but wasn't as powerful as Quicken for Windows. Also I couldn't easily bring in my old Quicken data to Moneydance. That experience was many years ago. I understand Quicken has been purchased by a new company and they now have a much updated Mac version. I haven't used it so have no idea if it's as good as the Windows version.

 

[Midpack]

I’ve gotten used to Numbers and Pages although there are a couple of commercial spreadsheets with macros that don’t work. Each app took some getting used to, but I learned to love ‘em.

I did switch to Numbers, and there is a learning curve, but there are some benefits when you are done - like files can be worked on any of your apple devices if you put the file in the apple cloud and it updates across all of them. Does not transfer macros.

One thing I will warn you about. Although Excel, Word and Powerpoint can be converted back and forth with the Mac equivalents, it is not direct use. The Mac programs can open the MS programs but must be exported and converted back to use on PCs. The formatting is not always directly compatible but will not be lost - colors and fonts may not be exactly the same for instance. You may have to clean-up between the two. It was just not worth the hassle of “cleaning-up” formatting in file transfers back to MS so I continued to use the Mac versions for MS Office on my Mac until retirement when my need to share/collaborate with others pretty much ended. I now use the Mac Office apps - they meet my needs. You may want to subscribe to MS Office for awhile until you are comfortable with the Mac applications and the transfer of your files. If you regularly exchange files with those in the MS environment, you may want to continue using MS Office on the Mac.

I use Numbers on my iPhone & iPad for simple stuff I want portable, but as far as I can tell my investing, financial planning & a few other spreadsheets won't run on Numbers. Several functions I use are missing, PivotTables just to name a big one - unless I've missed something.

Why switch to something like Pages or Numbers (always used a Mac, never used those) when there are "office suites" out there like Libre Office for free?

I'm fine with Pages and Keynotes, so might as well stay in the "walled garden." Libre Spreadsheet might work, but my accountant (DW) has Excel down and learning ANYTHING new when she can just buy Excel - is a non-starter. Pick your battles IME...