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>See macOS criticism
>Look inside
>Absolutely no mention of macOS because it's actually Apple hardware criticism
Well since we're here:
You can't easily remap keys
You can scroll right but not left with the track pad
The delete key doesn't do anything in the finder
There was no window snapping until literally a few months ago
The terminal uses cmd+c instead of cmd+shift+c (really should be ctrl but okay)
The dock sucks when using multiple windows per app
Every app relies on an antiquated menu bar at the top which is straight out of 90s UI
The Fn key is where the ctrl key should be and the alt key is where the command key should be (hardware, can't rebind without addon tho)
You can't control audio levels on external displays (because Apple)
Software does not support multiple displays per port and instead can only have one display per port, meaning in order to have two displays you need one cable for hdmi and one cable for USB-C, can't have two of each.
The mouse acceleration curve is a troll for anyone not using the trackpad, and cannot be adjusted aside from being turned off.
There's a ton more but these were just off the top of my head.
EDIT:
Because multiple people mentioned this, I have a big issue with the command/meta key shortcuts because of Apple's braindead placement of their keys on the keyboard, so its a combined hardware software issue.
I otherwise wouldn't mind having to use command except my pinky has to wrap around to hit alt or I have to shift my entire hand to hit command because using a standard keyboard layout like literally every single other keyboard in existence is too much to implement.
spoiler
I'm saying this coming from gaming on ye olde ass cheapo office keyboards for years with no problems, clunky Chinese knockoff keyboards with no problems, and even tiny compressed button keyboards with no problems.
And as others have also shared, I am forced to put up with this crap because of my work. Thankfully, most of my actual work happens inside a nice customized Linux VM, but switching between the host is still required and has been a painful experience. I genuinely gave it a solid shot for several months hoping maybe this was just me never using Mac UI before, but even with all the addons this UI is annoying to use.
I can't run a key rebinder though because the software is essentially a keylogger addon, so coaxing it to run even with IT is a pain, so now I'm probably going to buy another Corsair keyboard I can setup a hardware profile to make this a bit easier when I'm at least docked.
Not defending Crapple, but in the name of fairness, some of these aren't really accurate unless you're ignoring the spirit of the complaint and being pedantic.
You can scroll right but not left with the track pad
You can scroll up, down, left, and right if you use two fingers to scroll.
The delete key doesn't do anything in the finder
You can use
command + backspaceto delete selected files.The terminal uses cmd+c instead of cmd+shift+c (really should be ctrl but okay)
The rest of the OS uses
command + cfor copying. This is consistent.Every app relies on an antiquated menu bar at the top which is straight out of 90s UI
This is a personal opinion. It's a valid complaint, but it's not a universal problem.
Ultimately you may be right about these, but the issue at the heart of them all is that Apple makes their stuff harder to use by people used to other systems, on purpose. They could very easily institute a toggleable setting that'd change the hotkeys to be more like...ya know...every other OS. They could make non-Apple hardware work better (wouldn't be trivial but I'm fairly certain they put effort into making things worse as is), they could make messages and files transfer better between iPhone and Android, etc.
Lots of things they could do to improve the experience of non-mega-fans, but they choose to run their business in a way that punishes anyone who isn't using them for everything. And fuck em for that.
Edit: eh, you did say you weren't actually defending them, so I'm probably just preaching to the choir here. Just grumpy that I have to use one now and they punish me daily for my lack of utter worship lol.
Quick quibble:
at the heart of them all is that Apple makes their stuff harder to use by people used to other systems, on purpose.
As a UXD/usability and also software dev in both Windows and Mac OS software, I’d say Apple doesn’t make transition experiences harder on purpose. They try to make it as smooth as possible, whilst working within their own established design & dev standards, which is often the opposite of other companies’ philosophy.
Lesser-sought functions are nearly always changeable in settings or via terminal, and everything is easy to configure from the settings. That’s based on OS standards of not vomiting all options all over the UI (which is the polar opposite of Microsoft, so there’s some adjustment time yes. Seems the OS installer walkthrough/tutorials aren’t that effective.
Edit: hmm, my bad, my comment only somewhat relates to yours, it's early and I went off on a tangent. Sounds like you have a way stronger basis for your assertion that they make transition easier than I do, so I want to acknowledge that. I'm skeptical, I think maybe it feels smoother to you because you've spent time doing it or something, and I'm fairly certain a deliberate part of their marketing strategy is to make experiences with other products artificially worse. But otherwise, I do have to take your comment seriously.
Original unnecessary spiel below:
I understand there is a somewhat academic point to be made here and that this design logic is heralded as the guiding principles behind their usability decisions, etc.
I used to buy that, and I'm sure it's involved and the primary concern for plenty of people who work / have worked on the interface. But after watching Apple's behavior as I've grown up with them, learning more about Jobs and his legacy, etc. - anything that feels "walled garden" to me, I'm calling a walled garden. I don't believe their decisions are purely or even primarily for aesthetic and design-minded reasons. Worse, I believe the portion that is, is largely marketing to those who use Apple for the sense of smug superiority it grants (not accusing you of that! it's a thing in the userbase though). And yet worse, I believe that anything that punishes someone who uses less of their products is usually intentional, and if not it's at least known and accepted (with the caveat that they are threading a needle with the last one, and some degree of usability for outsiders is fully necessary for brand growth).
That's a pretty uncharitable take when I type it all out, but I have to acknowledge that it's how I feel. It doesn't mean the UX design principles aren't there. I just don't buy that it's for the users, it's for the shareholders, like any other corp.
I appreciate your edit. I do promise that UXDers are doing their best to make your experience better, and that shareholders don’t have the level of input into design that it may seem when you’re angry at an interface for not behaving in the way you want.
At least at large companies, UXD teams don’t even know who the shareholders are, much less ever hear from them. If the interface isn’t serving you, it’s always because it’s serving a different (likely larger) use case that’s at odds with your use case. That sucks, but it’s not a corporate conspiracy. I’ve been in this industry for decades, and I’ve never seen that happen except at small companies where the owner barges into design meetings (that never happens at large companies because the owners are too busy to even know the names of the designers).
Yes, Steve Jobs was an asshole who was known to call low-level designers at 3am to demand a small change to an icon that somehow bent him, but he was a psychopath. That’s not how anyone else does things, and it had nothing to do with shareholders, just his own delusions about the colour blue. He also killed himself trying to fruit-ninja his cancer. He’s not a good barometer for the industry, or even Apple’s design, tbh. Designers often ignored him until he forgot and dog-squirrelled himself into the next thing.
What I’m saying is that if you hate a UI, it’s not likely because the company is trying to hurt you, but because the design is aimed at someone else or is just inferior.
You can (and I do) rebind the modifier keys in System Preferences. Makes it a lot comfier to use a Mac and another machine with the same keyboard via KVM switch.
I didn't address that one because the commenter qualified it by saying you can't easily change them, which is kind of true. You can change the modifiers, but anything beyond that or changing keyboard layouts is a crapshoot in my experience.
It's considerably better than trying to remap anything on Windows, at least. But, it's also not completely free from hard-coded hotkeys and dumb restrictions. For example,
Command + Tabcan't be changed or disabled, and you need to use third-party programs like BetterTouchTool to hijack the sequence in order to replace it with some other action.More recently, I read that the latest OS version disallows registering hotkeys with only
OptionorOption+Shiftas the modifier, which is a very big step backward. Being able to insert unicode characters is cool, but it's peanuts compared to having 80 more options for hotkey sequences that aren't already used by the OS or application.Yes, but it breaks so many other tools that it is basically not worth. For example, all shell shortcuts (Ctrl+A, Ctrl+E, Ctrl+W etc.).
Neither me nor anybody in my company found a viable solution which is to ultimately learn to use cmd for certain things on Mac (like copy/paste).
There's no way of globally enabling hidden files and folders, there's a terminal command that does it for vanilla finder windows, but none for the finder file picker windows that apps use.
Unclear if it's hardware or MacOS, but despite having the graphical horsepower to push enough pixels, Macs are limited to two external monitors unless you buy the multi thousand dollar Max processor.
It doesn't support high quality Bluetooth audio codecs like AptX.
It doesn't natively support Google cast or Miracast.
It doesn't support sub pixel text rendering so text looks like trash on 1080p LCD monitors.
Not defending Crapple, but adding context:
There's no way of globally enabling hidden files and folders, there's a terminal command that does it for vanilla finder windows, but none for the finder file picker windows that apps use.
You can use
command + shift + full stopto toggle hidden files and folders, if I recall correctly.Unclear if it's hardware or MacOS, but despite having the graphical horsepower to push enough pixels, Macs are limited to two external monitors unless you buy the multi thousand dollar Max processor.
It's the hardware. Each display needs to have a dedicated controller chip and video signal encoder, and Apple decided to be assholes and only add two of them.
You can use command + shift + full stop to toggle hidden files and folders, if I recall correctly.
Yeah, but thats a fundamental problem from a UX standpoint. If you're a software developer who needs to work with those files and folders, you can easily run into issues where you don't even realize that there are files there that are causing problems (or that you changing or deleting might cause problems with).
I've had the fun experience recently of moving my work related dev to the company-provided laptop, and boy oh boy have I come to hate Apple quickly.
Most surprising one for me was how trash it is at scaling UI on large displays. I have a pair of 27" and the system text is tiny. Turns out if I had Apple displays things would work better and that scaling option would be available. Instead I'm stuck just switching to a lower non-native resolution, which looks like shit and feels really outdated, but at least I can read the text and use the UI properly.
Oh yeah, I have same issue. Certain things are impossible to enlarge. It's infuriating.
Same with moving window controls on the right. You would think a "premium" OS would let you choose trivial things like this, but no.
Apple "superior" workflow means bending to use tools and workflows they designed, the way they intended. Anything else and you are generally going to be blocked one way or another.
MAJOR EDIT: Forgive me, I am tired. I also don't regularly use different keyboard layouts on different OSes. I need to clarify terminal shortcuts.
Control-C is how you terminate a process on terminal in macOS. I need to denote this as ^C, as such a key does not exist on traditional layouts. Cmd-C is copy. It is always copy, even on terminal (on Linux, you also have to hold shift).
If you use a Windows keyboard on macOS, your shortcut is now copy. After all, you are pressing Ctrl-C, so why wouldn't it be copy? Termination is now probably done with Alt-C.
If you're using Mac layout, none of this seems weird. I use a Mac layout on a Mac--all makes sense. If you don't, then stuff gets wack. Not a macOS issue. More of a "we've been using this layout for fifty years and changing it would be stupid at this point" sort of thing.
- You can with extra software. See first paragraph of my original reply. Valid.
- ..What?
- The delete key does do something in Finder. When pressed with the Command key, it deletes the file with no prompt. I'd rather that not be a single key press. This is a preference, not an issue.
- Mentioned already.
- I'm sorry, this is literally user error. That's like saying Windows is stupid because it can't anticipate my "quit app" shortcut being Command + Q instead of Alt + F4. Or, for a closer comparison, like setting Ctrl + C to Meta + C instead. They're different operating systems, adapted for different keyboard layouts, and I shouldn't have to elaborate on why this is stupid.
- Apps with multiple windows just kinda suck in general. I fullscreen everything, navigating between apps with gestures. Not quite multi-monitor, but fullscreen always behaves as expected and all gestures work, and the dock remains accessible--which I can't say for any other desktop UI in existence.
- Preference that I personally like. Rude.
- Hardware.
- Absolutely true. They've insisted on a "one size fits all" volume bar for everything. It sucks. I laugh every time someone on an iPhone has volume trouble for this exact reason. Instead, you have to adjust media while it's actively playing in the foreground. How very intuitive.
- Hardware. Granted, stupid, but still hardware. I'm pretty sure this is Apple Silicon only.
- Just turn it off. I've never seen a benefit to having accelleration.
Not perfect, but none of this reads as annoying as a full screen advertisment telling me to upgrade to an OS that I know has incredibly invasive spyware.
EDIT: The "delete" key on macOS keyboards is backspace. The key should be treated as such. The delete key on other keyboards is in a separate location with a separate purpose, and should not be seen the same on Macs just because it shares a name. I've never used a full size keyboard on macOS, so I don't know how the forward-delete key works. If that doesn't delete files in one go, that might be annoying.. but not the other way around.
The dock sucks when using multiple windows per app
This made me rage quit using a mac at work
https://lawand.io/taskbar/ you're welcome
Lol, nice. I'll never use MacOS again, but thank you.
CMD ` (backtick) will switch between application windows, if that's what was frustrating you.
No, it was that there was no quick way to see what Firefox windows i had open from the dock.
Don't even get me started on how god awful finder is, windows 3.1 was nicer to use, macOS is garbage painted silver
The control+shift+c bullshit is really fucking annoying to me. Control has other uses? Great, THATS WHAT THE META KEY IS FOR.
Apple got this right and linux should allow everyone to use apple key shortcut method where every system wide shortcut is meta+key because nobody, not even clicky clacky terminal emulator uses meta+key for anything else.
You know what ctrl+shift+c does in teams? It calls the entire chat. Really simple to do when you’re switching between editing a message and copying from terminal.
I didn't like the cmd key at first when I got an M1 but I've really come around and now the inconsistent Ctrl and Ctrl shift on Linux does feel a little outdated.
When my m1 craps out I'll probably switch to a Linux daily driver and try to figure out how to modify the keys to mimic a mac. I prefer it now that I'm used to it.
Being in a similar situation as you (have to use for work), I would also add the fact that docking station support when it comes to displays is awful, almost nobody got 2 displays working with the dock and I have to plug one HDMI directly into the Mac. Then there is the fact that it's impossible to turn on the computer via the docking station button, so I had to just use sleep instead, and 40% of the times the USB peripherals get disconnected, so I can't wake it up except by unplugging and replugging the docking cable.
Besides that, I have 2 2k display and using Mac they are substantially more blurred than they are with Linux or windows.it's like if everything is bold on Mac. Apparently it has to do with some feature which got removed for non-4k monitors or something.
Thankfully we managed to get Aerospace now installed (I.e. approved), because being used to efficient i3-like window managing, using macos native window management felt like being back in bronze age. There are so many things that apple built expecting you to use the trackpad for efficient workflows... Why would I use a trackpad in a (home) office setting, when it's terrible for ergonomics, requires the laptop to be open etc...
Actively turning the PC into a walled garden
First point, could have worded it better, but that's definitely all software
Plus, Apple controls the entire stack so criticism of MacOS is criticism of their hardware and vice versa
That’s iOS criticism. On MacOS, I compile software from GitHub and run it no problem.
Unless Apple decides the software is too old and isn't allowed to work anymore.
Yeah but have you ever tried to install it directly?
There is stuff like notarization that's literally designed in a way that only Apple approved software can be run on your machine.
It's not a criticism of macOS because it broadly describes all Apple hardware. Swap in "iPhone", and nothing changes. A valid point to criticise macOS is in its constant deprecation of software (such as OpenGL), or how additional software is required to match some Windows features (less true now).
This ignores that macOS is, otherwise, the best non-libre OS. Changing the default browser changes the default browser. Spotlight search is fast and versatile, making Windows' modern start menu look like a joke. Trackpad support is unmatched. Logic Pro and Final Cut remain industry leaders. Most importantly, it's usually pretty damn fast, and free of ads.
Outside of gaming, there is not a single reason to use Windows over macOS--maybe if you enjoy suffering. With Linux distros officially being a better gaming medium than Windows, at least macOS still has a use case. It's the perfect OS for people adapted to Apple's style of workflow, which I've found to be a good one. Else, you can use NixOS, or Arch, or Gentoo.. but never Windows.
Outside of gaming, there is not a single reason to use Windows over macOS--maybe if you enjoy suffering
Let me name a couple of shitty ones:
- Your work's IT only supports Windows.
- You work with industrial control systems or lab equipment that only supports Windows.
- Hardware vendors are assholes that use proprietary protocols instead of USB device classes and don't release drivers for anything other than Windows.
- You need to use CUDA.
- You need to use a dedicated graphics card for some reason or another.
- You're hosting a server, but not competent enough to use Linux.
None of those are reasons to voluntarily choose Windows, but sadly, they're still real reasons.
Swap in "iPhone", and nothing changes.
The iPhone was an improvement to what was before, trying to make MacOS into a walled garden is going backwards
Nobody is calling support for Windows, fuck windows to, but nothing you said negates the sheer cost of being in a app walled garden on a PC, the obliteration of upgradeability and near 0 repairability
If your SSD dies or you start needing more RAM for your workflow Apples position is, essentially, "Get a new laptop, fuck the environment!"
So criticise Apple for being anti-repair and anti-competitive. Ah, but Apple being anti-repair is parroted just as much as Windows being garbage.
Welp, gotta be angry at something, today. Fuck [POPULAR COMPANY PRODUCT], and let's go on with our day.
negates the sheer cost of being in a app walled garden on a PC
You don't seem to want to address the walled garden problem, which flies directly in the face of user choice and freedom as much as the problems with the hardware does.
I don't recognise the walled garden problem, because I'm on macOS, where software walled gardens do not exist. In other words, scarecrow. I've installed whatever the hell I wanted on there. It's also confusing to single out macOS (which has better third-party repos than Windows by absolute leagues), when iOS is right there.
don't recognise the walled garden problem, because I'm on macOS, where software walled gardens do not exist
Really, so you haven't noticed that root hasn't really been root lately? Or that it's been getting harder to install software from outside the MacOS app store with each update? They're not stupid, they're not going to do it all at once, they're doing it bit by bit.
Mark my words, there will be a day in the short term when you go to install something outside the MacOS app store and you'll get a "Can't do that without a paid Apple dev account" error, at best
It's also confusing to single out macOS (which has better third-party repos than Windows by absolute leagues), when iOS is right there.
Once again, iOS being a walled garden is an improvement to what was before and I'm not advocating for Windows in any sense of the word
I'm not looking to argue, but this is my take:
They're going to keep making it more and more difficult for the average consumer to step outside of the Apple-intended vision (as they have with Gatekeeper, SIP, and removing kernel extension support), but I really don't think they would be stupid enough to fully close the ecosystem.
A lot of their MacBook Pro and Mac Pro sales comes from corporate hardware refreshes. If a company can't get their proprietary software working because of arbitrary restrictions, they're going to buy a Windows device next time.
If a company can't get their proprietary software working because of arbitrary restrictions, they're going to buy a Windows device next time.
They already have something in place for that, it's called the Apple Developer Enterprise Program
They've got a plan to build the wall around MacOS and they're executing it, it's not going to be an overnight thing, but it's coming
Well, shit. It's a good thing that I don't use a Mac unless it's forced upon me.
It’s bullshit because I’ve never once installed anything other than Xcode from the App Store. Nothing else. It’s not a walled garden in any way, shape, or form.
It’s a full, true UNIX desktop OS.
. It’s not a walled garden in any way, shape, or form.
MacOS gatekeeper is the first step they're taking towards it, it's not yet a walled garden, but they want it to be and have a plan to get there.
It’s a full, true UNIX desktop OS.
If that were true, then root should be absolute, but it isn't on MacOS. Between SIP and other new "For your security and protection" features, root has taken a back seat and has been completely neutered.
there is not a single reason to use Windows over macOS--maybe if you enjoy suffering.
Or I prefer stability. Believe it or not, I found macOS to be very crash prone. Opening many tabs in a web browser? Crashed macOS. Transmission not uploading, so hit use random port to upload, Airport no longer works, even after reset. Run and tab between multiple apps at the same time, crash crash crash. macOS might be good for you, but it really isn't that great for everyone and really has issues.
Also, my time is worth more than minimum wage. When something isn't working, I need to get it fixed and now. Not make an appointment with the nearest Apple store so I can wait until the appointment and then waste my time going to the store (and the nearest Apple store is 2 hours away). My machine is a work device, not a reason to have to come in to their store for yet another sales pitch of why I should buy a new laptop instead of fixing it.
Oh, and for those prices, you'd think they would support the hardware for more than 5-7 years. People are complaining about Win10 "only" being supported for 10 years, that's nothing on Apple.
Or I'm a developer and shouldn't have to deal with Apple's BS. Or their constant breaking of software so they can "release a new version of macOS".
And that trackpad... Holy F, I've never come so close to punching a computer than that trackpad. When I two finger tap to bring up a menu, I expect it to bring up a menu where I tap, not drop a cm down and then bring up a menu that doesn't match what I needed.
Logic Pro isn't the industry standard, it's Pro Tools, and Final Cut Pro isn't either, it's Adobe Premiere Pro.
Window management on macos is a joke
MacOS Software is decent because it resembles Linux and other Unix like systems haha
The cli, kind of. But everything is 10 years outdated by default, the filesystem is not case sensitive, there are no containers, and, to rub salt into the wound, if you are on ARM MacOS only let's you run two mac VMs per physical machine, even though the hardware supports way more.
It's basically the IT equivalent to buying a professional tool from Wish or Temu.