You're just starting with MacOS and noticing some slowdowns or issues.
You're just starting with MacOS and noticing some slowdowns or issues.
Hey, six months ago I considered upgrading from my Windows PC—used mainly for YouTube and similar—to a new Mac Mini with an M2 chip and 16GB RAM. I thought it would future-proof my setup since 8GB wasn’t enough. My experience has been decent, but I have several worries. Everyone claims Apple Silicon is incredibly fast, but to me it feels slower than Windows. Basic tasks are a real challenge; things don’t appear where I expect, and software—especially Microsoft apps—works poorly. Some programs keep asking for verification, which is frustrating. Am I really overreacting? Everything seems to run much slower than my old Windows machine.
I notice occasional oddities when using my own M1 Mac Mini. For example, changing volume while watching a YouTube video would lead to big jumps in CPU activity, causing sudden stutters. Overall, MacOS paired with a trackpad feels much smoother than Windows, though this depends on your familiarity with the system. I’ve been using both MacOS and Windows for a long time, mainly relying on the dock and searchlight to launch apps with the command+space shortcut. Trackpad shortcuts are really handy, and I’ve mapped certain keyboard commands to my Logitech MX Master buttons so I can maintain the same workflow. Windows 11 added many similar features, but they’re not as refined as the Apple version. I’m aware of the challenges with Microsoft tools, especially older versions of Word or PowerPoint. They just don’t match the modern feel on MacOS. Another issue I faced was that the M-series chips are ARM-based, making it tough or impossible to run x86 virtual machines or legacy apps, even with Apple’s translation layer. Eventually, I switched from the M1 Mini and MacBook to an X1 carbon laptop running a Linux distro because my workflow couldn’t be supported by the ARM architecture. M chips are very efficient, delivering strong performance for their size, which is why they’re praised so much. The laptops also offer impressive battery life—lasting long periods of web browsing or video watching on a single charge. I miss that after switching back to an Intel laptop. I think you should experiment and adjust settings to suit your needs. For some, adding third-party apps might be necessary to replicate features they enjoyed on Windows in MacOS. Personally, I prefer the stock version, but it’s been my go-to for ten years, so I’m naturally a bit biased.
It seems you're suggesting significant changes to make MacOS functional, while also expressing skepticism about Mac's appeal. You imply either diving into advanced technical work or relying on quick fixes from others. You also mention the idea of Asahi Linux developing rapidly as a potential alternative. Ultimately, you're warning that MacOS modifications are limited and you might have to accept the situation or move on.