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Due to the massive success of Apple silicon, Macs have become increasingly attractive. Many people are going back to Mac for the first time in years, and in doing so, they’re making a dramatic switch from Windows 11 to macOS.
However, when it comes to these operating systems, they are not the same across the board. And finally, here are five things that keep me coming back to Windows 11.
device support
Apple has expanded the Mac lineup significantly over the years, but compared to the wide variety of different devices that run Windows, it’s still a shallow pool. And as a techie, I’m always on the lookout for the latest and greatest technology, especially devices that explore new form factors and use cases. And this has always been one of the greatest features of the Windows platform.
Take 2-in-1 laptops, for example. While Apple has continued to keep the Mac and iPad separate, Windows devices have taken up the middle for several years. You have tablets with detachable keyboards, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 9, as well as laptops with 360-degree hinges, like the HP Specter x360 13.5. Meanwhile, you still can’t get a MacBook with a touchscreen.
However, the best part for me is how companies take these concepts and explore them even further. There are several dual-screen Windows laptops, like the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo and Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4, that also have an e-ink screen built into the lid. For example, there’s the recent HP Specter foldable PC, which has a 17-inch screen that folds straight in half.
What’s more, Windows has you covered with devices that are also tailored for specific use cases, be it gaming, business, or content creation. This is true in both the desktop and laptop worlds.
Apple, on the other hand, takes a more direct approach. As a designer of software and hardware, the Mac lineup is divided into just a few simple categories, ranging from the $599 entry-level Mac Mini to the fully configured Mac Pro that comes in at $11,799. There are variations between these models, but they all run on the same Apple silicon and are built with the same design philosophy.
Windows machines offer a world of options, powered by a variety of CPU and GPU manufacturers, and supporting many different display technologies and sizes. It can be hard to decide exactly which one to buy, but there’s no doubt that the vast range of options is the Windows platform’s strongest advantage – and the thing that keeps me coming back to it. There’s no doubt that’s why Windows has more than three times the market share of macOS.
windows management
Next up is a software feature I can’t live without. When it comes down to it, Windows 11 has the most comprehensive and accessible set of Windows management tools to make multitasking easy and efficient. Split Screen and Windows Snap are two primary features that users can use to manage multiple windows on a single display or on any number of displays.
Snap Layout makes it easy to configure your display for different window orientations, and Windows Snap uses simple keyboard shortcuts and hot spots to send windows to different orientations. With just a keystroke or drag function, you can easily split your screen between two windows, and through Snap Layout you can create up to four windows depending on your display resolution.
If you have a high-resolution monitor, Windows 11 will allow you to make the most of the available real estate. The same is true if you run multiple monitors and even multiple desktop layouts. Microsoft has done a solid job of creating an easier-to-use and better Windows management system.
MacOS provides some Windows management functionality, but it is quite rudimentary. Split View makes it quite easy to keep two windows side by side, and it even has keyboard shortcuts. Note that Split View puts windows in full-screen mode, which some users may not like. However, if you want the ability to match the functionality of Windows 11, you’ll have to install a third-party app.
Overall, managing windows is easier and more efficient in Windows 11, and we’ve just scratched the surface of why that’s the case.
file management
Managing files is one of the most basic and most important operating system functions. How a platform enables files to be found, organized, and accessed can make the difference between user delight and frustration.
Both Windows 11 and macOS have powerful file management tools. In Windows 11, it’s the File Manager, and in macOS, it’s the Finder. Whether File Manager is better than Finder may depend on user preference, but we find File Manager more functional overall.
To start, the default File Explorer view shows more information than the Finder. If you use Microsoft’s cloud storage solution, you’ll see your OneDrive store highlighted at the top. You then see the automatically generated folders, which include pictures, musicAnd Video, which does not make macOS. Recent and pinned folders are next, followed by This PC, which lists every physical and mapped location, both physical and virtual. Clicking on the latter shows you each folder.
Finder’s default view is simple. You can instantly access a select group of folders on the primary drive, along with some automatically generated and pinned folders. iCloud storage is next, followed by any connected locations. Ultimately, tagged files can be easily accessed. Finder also offers different ways to view folder contents, including a nested view that some people may like and others may dislike.
Both file managers have different views, such as icons and a detailed list, and both offer preview windows. Each has multiple ways to interact with files and access information about them. There are obvious differences in philosophies, but both are powerful tools.
In fact, you won’t find yourself unable to perform file management tasks in any operating system. But still, Windows 11’s File Manager feels like a more accessible tool overall.
Application Compatibility
It should come as no surprise that an operating system with nearly 70% market share would receive more support from application developers. Windows has always dominated when it comes to the sheer number of apps available, and while macOS has made some progress, this is still true today.
The situation has been further complicated by Apple’s switch from Intel CPUs to its own Apple Silicon chips. Mac users not only need to consider if an app is available, but they also need to consider if it is optimized for M1 and M2 processors. There have been many, but not all, and the difference in performance between emulated and native apps is significant.
The disparity between Windows and macOS is most likely to be in categories such as business and engineering applications, as well as system utilities. macOS does much better in creativity applications, an area where Apple has long been a strong player. Overall, there aren’t many categories where no macOS equivalent exists, but you’ll want to check to make sure your most important apps are available. This isn’t something you’ll need to do nearly as often with Windows 11.
Moreover, the application is easy to install in Windows. Some people don’t like how Windows applications often put a lot of hooks into the system that aren’t always obvious. But most Windows apps are installed this way and can be uninstalled using the Windows Control Panel. In macOS, some apps are installed by simply dragging them to the Applications folder, some have their own installation routine, and some are installed from the App Store. It’s not always obvious how to uninstall an app in macOS, especially complex apps like Adobe’s Creative Suite. Windows 11 also has the Windows Store where apps are often available, so Windows has its own complexities.
However, for the most part, Windows 11 offers more apps and an easier install and uninstall process than macOS.
Gambling
We could have easily put gaming higher on this list because this is one area where Windows completely dominates macOS. Virtually every big and small gaming title is available for Windows 11, which is definitely not the case for macOS. For example, look at a typical Steam library on macOS, and you’ll only find a handful of available titles. For example, in the Steam Library view shown below, only one app is available for macOS. This is probably true for the majority of well-stocked Steam libraries.
There are several reasons why Windows dominates here. Again, Windows benefits from its huge market share. But Microsoft has always been focused on maximizing gaming performance, while Apple has only recently paid serious attention to gaming. Windows also benefits from supporting the most powerful GPUs, and this has only increased with Apple’s switch to its own chips with integrated graphics. While the M2 processor has faster graphics performance than the M1, it’s still nowhere near what you can get with midrange and high-end graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD.
We could spend several paragraphs explaining why Windows 11 is a better gaming platform than macOS Sonoma, but we won’t bother. If you’re looking to buy a gaming PC, you’ll want to choose from several Windows 11 options – including both desktops and laptops.
