Gary, this is one of your best vids on KZfaq and one I really like. I like how you explain to those who have never used a Mac or coming the Windows PC how they can accomplish the the same tasks but differently on the Mac. I enjoyed the part of explaining at the end why a Windows PC user switching to Mac should give themselves time to learn the Mac way, as opposed to wanting to make the Mac work like Windows. Too often that is the biggest thing I deal with when it comes to those who use Windows and are Now using a Mac for whatever reason. As you know this isn't to say how they do things on a Windows PC is wrong or to suggest that Mac is better at the task. But as you pointed out to truly get the use of their Mac is to actually learn the ins and outs. I typically can fly between both macOS and Windows (flavor) with no issues. I may grumble a bit when i go over to the Windows PC and forget that is not how you do something on it. But, that's only because for a split second I had a wrong OS thought LOL. This I am sure are how some Mac users feel when they are forced over or decide to switch to a Windows PC. They are very slight learning curves that anyone can master if they are willing to take a little time to learn. Great video!

I switched to Mac 2 years ago but still used my Windows computer for a while. Having learned computing on Windows in the early 90's, it has been quite the adjustment for me. I dabbled a little with Linux but quickly gave up on that because it is far too complex for my simple mind. I have been following you for over a year and picking up so much. I haven't used my Windows machine in nearly a year now and still find out new tricks and uses for the Mac thanks to your videos. Thanks so much.

I have worked in computer science and AI for 50+ years. I bought my first Mac in 1984. I have learned, occasionally painfully, that it is not a good idea to try to personalise your computer too much. Sometimes a new OS release requires you to re-customise massively. Sometimes changes can severely impact the function or effectiveness your customisation. So,… Now I just trust the manufacturer (Apple) to do a good job with the default settings. The “laid back” approach brings lower stress and much less effort.

Nice video. I like your advice to stick with the defaults on Mac and not try to turn it into a Windows machine. I have both a Windows machine and a Mac machine, and use both almost every day. It didn't take me more than a couple weeks to get used to the Mac, and now I have no problem switching between them, even with the natural scrolling. But, the biggest difference I notice even now is File Explorer on Windows vs. Finder on Mac. They are quite different, and would be worth a video all on its own.

I was a long time Windows user that went iOS in the late 2000s, then my first MacBook Pro in 2017. I haven't looked back. Yes, it was a bit of a challenge to acclimate with Mac OS ways, but smooth sailing now. And the seamless integration of AirDrop between my latest iPhone, MacBook, iPad and my latest addition, Mac mini is on point! Great video!

I hate the lack of a delete key on Mac. I know you can hold down a modifier key and press backspace to achieve the same result but a dedicated key for a commonly used function is vital. I primarily use Fedora Linux as that has the advantages of both macOS and windows combined. I'm impressed by the performance and battery life on my M1 mac however it is sitting collecting dust these days. You mention the advantage of the apple built keyboard but in my country the keyboard is US only so again a jarring difference.

Overall a good video. I'd say that the trackpads on Macbooks have always been great. They used to be far inferior on Windows laptops 10+ years ago but they are now quite good on mid to high end laptops. I still use the mouse for most things (it is faster than ANY track pad) but I use the trackpad for multigesture things like flipping though desktops.

Gary, your knowledge of “computers” is amazing! I am always learning from you. Great work!

Another gem Gary, especially for us recent Windows converts!

Hello Gary, I really want to thank you for the numerous interesting and extremely helpful Mac tutorials that you regularly make available to us users with so much dedication and commitment. Although I've been a Mac user from the very beginning, thanks to you there's always something new to discover in this huge Apple universe. With my very best wishes and warm regards from Vienna/Austria - Franz

Great information as always!

Thanks for this content! I switched from Windows to Mac about two years ago and am still learning, honestly.

I started with Amiga 1000 in 1985, moved to Windows 95 and am now on Windows 11 and love it. I've tried to move to an Apple 2C, two Mac Minis, and even a cheese grater Mac and have always gone back to Windows in spite of the fact that I admire the Mac hardware. My favorite of all computers today is an LG Gram 16 with an i7. I also go back to the iPhone 3GS to today's 14 Pro Max, air pods, iPad, and even air tags. I think the Mac and Windows will eventually meld together but it may take 100 years, just as I think Canada and Mexico will eventually join the US, just not in my lifetime, but who is counting.

I've always used Windoze machines at work, and Macs at home since Atari went away. Having been retired now for 3 years, its nice to only remember Mac's way of doing things. Now my challenge is remembering the differences between Mac OS and iOS!

I also agree with your suggestion for former Windows users to learn the Mac way of doing things. However, it's worth mentioning that macOS still has inconsistencies and convoluted ways of doing simple things like maximizing a window. For example, you have to Option-click one of the corners of the window to maximize it.

A very useful and informative video tutorial today! Pardon my tardiness! Thank you, Gary! 👏🏻❤️

One feature that you didn't mention and something I really enjoy on PC is being able to rename files from the save dialogue screen. Sometimes I go to save a file and realize that I want to name it the same thing as a file that already exists, but I don't want to overwrite that file. With Mac I have to close down the save dialogue and find that file in Finder (or the other file I just created) and do more renaming.

Gary, your last sentence is gold! Get used to the Mac way of doing things.

Great job Gary, I can see you have the UTM app. I recently installed it but I’m having issues with installing apps within the virtual environment. If you could make a video on this, it’ll be really helpful. Thanks.

thanks for all your videos , I'm glad to find your channel on KZfaq big Like to you from middle east :)

I was a long windows user and switched to mac 3 years ago, and man I miss how windows handle "windows" no joke! If i weren't an iPhone and AirPods user I would back to windows every day! BTW the scrolling gesture on windows is default as smart phones too, swipe up and the page goes up too. However a great video for beginners.

Very helpful. I just started a new job at my church, which is all PC-based, unfortunately. But I'm adjusting pretty quickly, thanks to this and other videos. Maybe someday they'll see the light and switch to Mac.

Hi Gary, I enjoyed your video. One thing I have been struggling with when switching from Windows to Mac is figuring out which app is active. In Windows, a window or app becomes active automatically by hovering your mouse over it, but on Mac, you have to click on the app or window. A helpful trick for spotting the active app is to look for the red, yellow, and green traffic lights in the top left corner of the app's window. If the lights are on, the app is active; therefore, all keyboard and menu commands will apply to that window/app.

Gary, As you remember, when Microsoft wanted to copy the Macintosh interface, they used reverse engineering to avoid copyright lawsuits. So, for years the keyboard shortcuts used by Windows were backwards. Since most windows users are not aware of that, they don’t realize they are learning the right way to use the graphical user keyboard shortcuts, instead of the backward way they have known. Frank

OMG a big fat THANK YOU for this video! super helpful after being a windows user for 30+ years

Amazing comparison

I have minimal experience with Windows and years with Mac. In my experience Mac is the stronger computer (with features built into the OS) when generating documents IS the task. For jobs like public relations, legal, etc… the job requires searching through large amounts of documents. Features like smart windows and Boolean searching are essential to keeping organized.

Having switched to Macs years and years ago, I have always maintained that 'natural' scrolling is 'unnatural' for me and so switching that off has always been a must. Seeing your comments and comparing it to iPhone and iPad has me thinking that I should give the default setting a try... and so I just changed it 😲 Also, thank you for pointing out the difference between app and window. I'm embarrassed to say that I never quite got why sometimes closing the window would close the app and other times it did not 🤦‍♂We live and learn, thank you once again!

Most of the stuff you are pointing out I already know as a long-term Mac user. My primary gripe is that I have not been able to find a good gaming keyboard for the Mac. Currently, I use a Windows keyboard for my Mac because it has big fat keys, clickety-clack sounds, and is very, very easy to type on. Plus it has colored lights which are kind of cool. I wish that there was a Mac equivalent to that which would make it far easier to use. I don’t game, but I like the feel of it when I type and I find that my accuracy is far greater than a typical (especially OEM) Mac keyboard. FWIW, I used to teach Windows applications before I retired. But I’ve always had a Mac net work at home, because I just prefer to use it.

THANK YOU

I'm two weeks into Mac, having just bought a Macbook Air for our tour company. Mac, from my perspective, seems a lot less flexible. You must do things "the mac way" something I'm still trying to get used to. A simple convenience like going straight into your primacy storage drive and creating moving around folders to organize your onboard storage. Installing and managing applications... and a host of other windows features. Your videos are very helpful and easy to follow. I miss the ease and flexibility of windows but love the portability, excellent battery's life, and potential of the MacBook air.

The only setting I absolutely cannot handle on Mac is the default handling for the home/end buttons. I work with a lot of code and I am hardwired to use home/end to go to the start or end of the current line. I know the Mac equivalent is Cmd+Left and Cmd+Right but I feel like an old dog trying to learn new tricks cause my muscle memory takes over. Thankfully I found the custom key bind file you can create and redefine those keys.

Just switched from windows o a MacBook hoping my video editing experience will be better than it has been in windows. Bing watching your videos.

Thanks bunches

I switched to mac in the early 2000's and have never went back. Recently however, I had to use a company Windows laptop and I just never go used to it. I am glad that's over!

8:09 This made me think of some things: 1. How you uninstall apps on some android devices 2. It's unironically funny how the apps wiggle 3. If I used Mac I would almost feel guilty of uninstalling an app, because from a certain point of view it seems like the app is scared of what might happen to him 4. The number 3 is pure cringe in my opinion 5. I shouldn't have wrote the number 3 6. Every point beyond number 4 is completely pointless just to make this comment funny and make you forget the nomber 3. 7. Since I mentioned it in number 6 I need another point now 8. I put another just in case 9. This one is just pointless 10. Have a nice day :)

You can create a blank file of any format on mac... It's just that it can't be done on GUI and requires terminal. On terminal, type "touch filename.filetype" to create the file at current directory. Not as handy as windows GUI but its there if needed

3:22 Time to switch to celsius Gary. I for a moment thought you were in Australia lol

I found myself laughing then waxing nostalgic. Remember DOS prompts? MSFT computers used a disk operating system controlled by specific typed commands. I learned how to Make a Directory, List Contents, and Change Directories at the C: prompt. We were always required to have MSFT computers at work. At first I was the only one who had one. Then one day I worked at a place where there was a funny little square desktop computer with a multicolored Apple on it. “That is a Mackintosh,” someone said. That very early computer was revolutionary for me. It taught me file management using LITTLE PICTURES of file folders. It was magnificent. Rather than changing directories, I could double click on a picture (I don’t think we had mice back then - or did we?) Thanks for this episode. I am a keyboard user whenever possible. Alt-tab (Cmd-tab) between apps is just second nature; Cmd-C, Cmd-V, Cmd-X and Cmd-Z are not even thought about anymore. Cmd-Z continues to save my life everyday.

As an X Windows user, I found this video particularly helpful. My only wish is that I had found it sooner. Regardless, this video helped confirm a lot of the differences and I agree with your last statement in that new Mac users should take the time to understand how Mac's operate and follow the Apple protocols. The more I learn about the Mac OS the more impressed I am with its functionality, and I thank you for all your videos helping me along my journey into MacOS.

I've noticed on some of the channels that only cover Apple stuff that they refer to windows on the Mac as "instances" of applications. Must be former Windows users. 🙂 A lot of people have forgotten, but one of the big reasons Windows doesn't have a menu bar at the top of the screen and instead puts one in every application window was to get around Apple's UI patents. That's also why the mouse pointer is white instead of black, why drive icons are on the left instead of on the right, and so many other seemingly arbitrary UI differences.

Thanks very much, Gary, for this extremely interesting video. Long time since I used a Microsoft computer!

I'm forced to use a Win PC at work, but have been a Mac user since 1988. One thing I do _all the time_ is use the arrow keys to navigate Finder items: Click 1x on the folder (in list view), then Right arrow to expand the contents of the folder; Down arrow to move down, Lest arrow to UN-expand the contents of the folder. This makes navigation super fast. I though this was NOT possible in Win, but it is after all. I forget the setting right now, but it's possible, for anyone who does like me w/ Finder items.

you good thanks

This channel has the best apple tutorials every.

Mac os is more stable

what keyboard are you using here? I've been looking for a small black one to replace my larger, full sized numeric keyboard. thanks for the great video. love your content. I always learn a ton!

Very useful summary of variances Gary. One question i have unrelated to this video, is how well does the magic keyboard work on the 2022 ipad pro model?

Thanks. Your videos are very helpful to me as a new Mac user. I don't know if you take questions but I have 2 related to windows 1) How do you show menu bar items that disappear behind the notch on my MacBook air? On windows taskbar, theres an up arrow icon that shows hidden icons on the bottom right of the screen. is there something like that for Mac? 2) Can you use the delete key to delete a file? I see there is a shortcut of command and some indecipherable symbol to move to trash. Since I cant figure out what that is, delete would be much simpler like on Windows...

I love Mac OS. As a corporate IT guy I wish Apple would develop a competitive alternative to Windows Server Active Directory Domain Services in the enterprise environment. Make it so guys!

Hi Gary. As a recent Windows convert, I find you videos very helpful. One thing I would like to do is to have the apps and websites open to full screen rather than take the extra step to manually expand. I have unchecked the Close window when existing in System Settings but that doesn't work. Any suggestions?

The new Apple File System(APFS) is really great and superior but I still like the way windows handles files and how it open specially images and arranges the icons. I think Mac OS was designed with mostly non technical people in mind while widows give the user more option to do whatever way he/she wants to use windows. Mac OS is less crash prone and more reliable I would say. Overall I like to use Mac more because it runs things better.

I grew up with windows, loved it for pleasure and for work, but the Metro Tile debacle, Windows 8?, was awful and got worse with the next iterations. The constant updates that stopped you using the computer were ridiculous. Two Windows laptops were left to gather dust. We now operate iMacs and iPads, very happy with the ease of the OS and the integration of the different hardware. Microsoft has nothing to offer on this level.

I switched in '09 to MacOS at home and haven't looked back. However, for decades at my job, I was relegated to using Windblows and got rather good at creating PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets and Word docs. Many would come to me and ask how do I make my spreadsheet do this or that? It's good to be OS-dextrous, I suppose.

You doing Very good job man Which course i will take your for learn all about numbers ?

Is it possible to set the mouse scrolling direction different than the trackpad scrolling on the same Mac?

MacOS to a Windows user feels like a UI-enhanced version of Windows 3.11. Little things begin to irritate you very quickly. You try to make it as Windows-like as possible, even changing the black cursor to a white one. Eventually, you feel its charm and elegance and it begins to feel familiar, but some essential features are either missing or vastly inferior. You realise that you can't do your day-to-day business with this OS and switch back Windows. All is good in the world again.

The point of natural scrolling is the modern way of moving things around without a scroll bar. Windows classic way is concentrating on relating the scroll movement to the movement of the scroll bar, not the content of the page. Going natural will set your mind to relate the scrolling movement with the page movement, NOT the scroll bar which in these days is tending to not be used anymore, even on windows. The mind set on a page instead of a scrolling bar also comes from the new touch screen interface that is relatively new on computers and tables and phones etc. To sumarize, is all about the page mindset versus the scroll bar.

Haven't used a Windows machine in a decade.

Mac is the best👍

I’ve been looking everywhere for a way to find out how to iterate in numbers to a specific value or a converging value. Anyway you could make a video showing how to do this?

Love my M1 mac mini.

AppCleaner is a nice App to get rid of Apps. It shows you where all the other stuff related to an app is an deletes them for you

Thanks so much for showing me how to remove an apple app, I just couldn’t find out how to do it… now dragged into the bin 👍🏻

The Command/Windows key is probably the most annoying thing from being used to Mac and using trying to use Windows. I always have the habit of using that and in Windows it just always brings up the Start menu.

I know a lot of people will probably scoff at that last point (my past-self included) but I really wish I'd followed that back when I first switched to macOS from windows. as a die-hard windows user, I spent most of my initial days trying to make the Mac work like windows. it only ended up in me cursing and hating macOS, then finally accepting to do it the apple way and finding out it was actually much better optimised. well most of it anyway (still not forgiving apple for not having per-app volume controls)

When I first got my MacBook, all I did was turn dark mode on, turn on VVoiceover, and turned on the option to have my Mac speak what's under the pointer. And enlarged the pointer, since I can't find an option for it to help me find it like I can on Windows.

Still have not quite completed my transfer Mac from Win, window management took me longest to get used to, top left instead of top right is hard apparently 😂 I truly ‘hate’ natural scrolling and flatly refuse to use it, there’s nothing ‘natural’ about it. You either move the doc up-down (Mac) or move the viewpoint up-down (Windows) both are legit and fully personal preference. Calling one ‘natural’ is just pretentious.

“Natural scrolling“ may be fine for trackpad users but makes little sense for mouse users, or at least this mouse user.

Hey Gary: If someone uninstalls the Photos app, (not that they would on purpose) their libraries are NOT auto-deleted, correct?

Hi Gary ,How to delete files on mac using keyboard shortcut??

I hated "natural" scrolling and changed that setting as soon as it came to the Mac. When it was first introduced, it was not on by default, but Apple obviously changed that. But in order to make the trackpad really good, you need to go into the Accessibility prefs and dig in there. Not sure why Apple continues to hide these settings here???

Except for app window management, mac is good. Windows has excellent app window management and snap option, which is super useful to power users.

What about right clicking on a mouse? I'm pretty sure I saw a video where they said to get the right click on the mouse where you select all, copy and paste like on a windows pc, you have to go in the settings and set it up. Is this true?

The only thing I disagree with is the "natural scrolling" I tried it a few times and I just cannot get used to it. Not because of windows just because to me it does not feel "natural" at all. Makes sense on a touch device when you are directly interacting with the screen. But not a trackpad.

As a previous windows personal user I found mac single menu for different windows, the lack of dragging window to the side snap and the lack of wildcard searching frustrating 😐

This might not be very comfortable, but I forgot how to navigate on win10 fr. It's been a year since Win11 and I am just shocked. Man, I feel like I had to reinstall it haha.

Hi Gary can you throw any light on the reason Mac OS won’t let us share direct to email anymore

Once you tried Mac, you’ll never come back

Wow I am not a fan of Windows but in this I need to give props to Windows how simple it is .

lot of two handed operations for most things needing one single unaccompanied click throughout the interface. These days my mac clients are just clicking around aimlessly until something correct happens. Gives them something to do

All these reasons are why my Dad sadly has never been remotely open to using a Mac. He sees it as just being needlessly different. 😅

Pleas Help Me To Inistal Photoshop Cs6 In My imac Pleas Thank You

Does windows offer multiple desktops?

Disagree on the trackpad. I had to purchase an app to allow 3 finger tap for middle click on Mac. Built in on windows. Windows trackpad is essentially the same otherwise, though smaller.

I was leave windows, 7 years ago. I still using imac 5k computer, no crash, no format, no meanless errors 👍👍👍 ps: I am the game developer.

The Mac Finder window is a bit crap: - You can't copy the directory path of the Finder window, as there's no path displayed at the top of the window. - Changing how you sort the contents is a faff as you have to toggle the Sort By box at the top. You also get Sort By columns but then you're not really sure what it's doing as there are two Sort By options.

If I use a Mac, Steve Jobs will eat my brain. I'll stick with Windows where Bill Gates only wants to sniff my brain.

Mac OS just works.

You should have used Windows 11, the graphical interface of this new Operating System is much more similar to that of Mac OS. But great video nonetheless

Why and how does your text look sharp on the screen while mine looks mushy on my m1 mac air?

I hoped you've used Windows 11 though. Windows 11 is more of an updated operating system by Windows. Still, interesting video!

You left out one of the most confusing differences. Where images are stored on import. I am used to file management, and having my photos stored in folders. On mac however they are dumped in some library file, and you have to use a spesific mac program to find the photo you want. And the photo you find are just the photoes, not the .raw files. My biggest gripe with mac is how the photo management is done.

Never owned a Mac yet but I really don’t like the backspace delete thing

As a lifelong Mac user, natural scrolling is the worst!

I absolutely love my iPhone, iPad and apple watch. But I dislike a Mac. I had 2 and sold them and went back to Windows.

Is too much... I'll give it to Mac anyday... but truth be told Windows give me all the experience to come this far.

The first thing I do with a new Mac is disable the natural scrolling, it is truly awful!

 ✌🏻 ❤

Transitioned to MacOS exactly a year ago. While from a MacBook Pro performance perspective as a creative professional, it blows away any PC I’ve ever owned. File management/navigation in Finder is still very cumbersome. Windows always made sense and was second nature. Finder is never consistent. Settings always change or revert back. Some applications file management works one way, in another application, it’s slightly different. The inconsistency drives me crazy. And then there’s Safari….. the native browser that’s supposed to be great on a Mac….yet, things never load, it blocks things from loading, and some sites (one is a freakin .gov site, I have to use chrome just to navigate)…. It boggles my mind that MacBook wants us to use Safari, yet the most basic (safe) sites, I can’t…and am forced to download Chrome.