Do you need Windows anymore?

[pastrychef]

Do you guys still need Windows?

Ever since I got my Mac Studio, I haven't booted in to Windows for anything. Everything that I used to need Windows for, I can now do in macOS. About a week or two ago, I installed Windows in a virtual machine using UTM and I couldn't think of any use for it.

I used to boot in to Windows for games but I've gotten in to playing retro games with emulators and emulation is so good on Apple Silicon that I haven't even booted in to my purpose built PC for emulation. I get better performance at a fraction of the power consumption and setup was so easy. I'm even considering decommissioning my Batocera PC build.

 

[craighazan]

Do you guys still need Windows?

Ever since I got my Mac Studio, I haven't booted in to Windows for anything. Everything that I used to need Windows for, I can now do in macOS. About a week or two ago, I installed Windows in a virtual machine using UTM and I couldn't think of any use for it.

I used to boot in to Windows for games but I've gotten in to playing retro games with emulators and emulation is so good on Apple Silicon that I haven't even booted in to my purpose built PC for emulation. I get better performance at a fraction of the power consumption and setup was so easy. I'm even considering decommissioning my Batocera PC build.

Since getting an M1 Air I have slowly stopped using Windows 11, which I just used to play games, Destiny 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator and Overwatch. Like you I've gotten bored of the grind of the triple AAA titles, retro gaming is where the fun is, I even tried your suggestion of using Playstation 3 thing and was surprised how well it worked. I'm really looking forward to No Mans Sky on Apple Silicon, then I can finally dismantle my budget Windows 11 Skylake build.

 

[trs96]

The only Windows I use daily are the ones made by Andersen. Can't live without those.
If you need new windows, I highly recommend them.

Andersen Windows & Doors | LOVE THE LIFE YOU SEE.™

Andersen crafts and designs windows and doors that are a true reflection of the self-expressive people who put them in their homes.

www.andersenwindows.com

 

[guindillas]

A pinch for Windows, and a jar for macOS, but there are couple things I prefer on Windows:

-One is the file Explorer VS Finder, with his + and - options over the folders, so you can make a tree on the left part.
-Other one is the command create a file here, that I solved in Mac with a plugin called GM New file.
-And the other is the Windows management, that is solved in macOS w/ magnet app.

And there is a thing I hate on macOS that is his creation of hide files on user and document folders (through Finder).

For the rest until you need a specific app, they do pretty much the same. macOS is designed to trap his users into Apple ecosystem,. Windows is more open. macOS includes Unix development with Xcode tools; in Windows you need an external app, and so on.

 

[zipb]

IME, for most companies with over 3-5 employees Windows is unavoidable for stuff like inventory, serious bookkeeping, etc. Also pro CAD stuff works better on Windows for less money.

 

[pastrychef]

A pinch for Windows, and a jar for macOS, but there are couple things I prefer on Windows:

-One is the file Explorer VS Finder, with his + and - options over the folders, so you can make a tree on the left part.
-Other one is the command create a file here, that I solved in Mac with a plugin called GM New file.
-And the other is the Windows management, that is solved in macOS w/ magnet app.

And there is a thing I hate on macOS that is his creation of hide files on user and document folders (through Finder).

For the rest until you need a specific app, they do pretty much the same. macOS is designed to trap his users into Apple ecosystem,. Windows is more open. macOS includes Unix development with Xcode tools; in Windows you need an external app, and so on.

There are quite a lot of alternative file managers...

List of the Best File Managers for Mac to Replace Finder in 2023

If you are exhausted of Finder's low functionality, check out our list of the best file managers for Mac and get the best one according to your personal preferences.

www.macgasm.net

 

[tedyun]

The application that is essential for me in Windows is Quicken. Decades of my entire financial history since I started earning a paycheck is logged in here. The MacOS and Windows versions are not the same. The Windows version is clunkier and has a "Frankenstein" feel for all the features that have been bolted on over the years, but it is more powerful and flexible. Even if I wanted to do a conversion from the Windows to Mac, I'm not sure if it would be 100% successful. I've read about problems.

I would be open to a more modern financial program on the Mac, but I can't find anything that has the depth of Quicken for Windows. Most financial software are simple budgeting and check book. They don't allow for things like investments and special situations.

On the Mac side, I run Quicken in Parallels, so I'm not sure if that counts whether I need Windows or not. I responded that I do need Windows.

When I boot into Windows, it's mostly to game. I find gaming to be more flexible over on the Windows side. And although I run my video card with stock settings, tweaking the card can be done on the Windows side much more easily than on the Mac side.

 

[dfritchie]

The only Windows I use daily are the ones made by Andersen. Can't live without those.

Andersen Windows & Doors | LOVE THE LIFE YOU SEE.™

Andersen crafts and designs windows and doors that are a true reflection of the self-expressive people who put them in their homes.

www.andersenwindows.com

Scheduled for install here!

 

[UtterDisbelief]

Only reason I use Windows now is for specialist utilities that haven't been written for Mac - flashing utilities for example.

I recently had to repair my old Samsung MP3 player by re-installing the firmware. Once in a blue moon I need to flash old phones like my Sony's. And most recently I had to flash a graphics-card. Very rare to find a macOS utility that does these jobs - except the iPod ones!

Otherwise, if I need a Windows app I try Crossover first.

 

[Feartech]

I find that using multi monitors on Windows a lot better than macOS for full screen apps etc