Going From Windows to Mac

A majority of professional developers use Windows PC’s with a few installing Linux on their PC. Apple computers while at one point the highlight of the business world have for many years been relegated to artists, creatives, and hobbyists. Macs didn’t play well with other operating systems and were hard to use if you weren’t used to them. However, with OS X Apple opened up to working with other operating systems allowing them be used in more than a creative atmosphere. A common myth about Macs that is still prevalent is that they are difficult to learn and even more so to move from working on Windows. While they may be cost prohibitive for some, many people do not want to switch to a Mac because of the suspected down time that the switch would cause. This may have been true a few years ago, there are several ways to easily move from a PC to a Mac with little interruption to your work flow. BJ recently set up his Mac Mini and moved all of his creative and podcasting files and software from his Windows PC to his new Mac. Will has been waiting on BJ to get around to this so BJ can work out the kinks before getting a Mac Mini. This is not a how to guide for switching over from a Windows PC to a Mac. It is designed to give you helpful information for further research and share some of the things learned in the process of making the transition. Your situation may be different as you will have to install the software and transfer the files you are using which may be quite different. Use this as a guide to help you make the decision to switch to a Mac or for when you do make the transition. Episode Breakdown Benefits of Switching to Mac You almost never have to shut down or restart them. Windows machines need to be restarted regularly to clear the cache and just allow them to work properly. This isn’t needed for Macs, they can be left on for months or even years at a time. If you can’t find the mouse pointer just rapidly move the mouse and it gets big. So easy to find, even with multiple screens. If you have an iPhone or iPad you can connect it to your Mac and access your messages through your Mac. This is convenient since you can get your messages, email, etc all in one place without having to use multiple devices. Macs are more intuitive when it comes to needed drivers meaning that you don’t have to worry about having the wrong one or the wrong version of the driver. It’s rare that you will need to install a driver because Apple has software built into it’s hardware. While they are more expensive to purchase, they are build to last from better parts. They also retain their value and people are always willing to buy used Macs. Hardware Considerations First off, you’re not going to be transfering internal components between machines. This isn’t like building a new PC where you can reuse some parts. While it is possible to put the macOS on the right PC build, hackintoshing is not suggested. When deciding on which Mac to purchase, you want to take into consideration Apple’s M1 chip. While at first not many apps worked with it that is changing. While you can still get some new Macs with Intel, that will likely be going away. There are rumors that Apple is purposefully slowing the Intel machines with more recent updates, but that is not substantiated. Peripheral connections are where you’ll need to do some research to determine what you will be reusing and what you will need to to purchase or update. Most things are compatible with both Mac and PC, but if you have any specialized equipment such as for recording a podcast or any other type of specialty work you may do you’ll want to make sure you get the drivers for your Mac. Macs in general have fewer ports so you’ll not be able to connect as many things directly to the Mac.