Back in 2011, I purchased a Macbook Air and shared my first impressions of it online. My focus at the time was solely on getting a sleek Windows laptop, with no thought given to using OS X. As a Dynamics GP consultant and developer, my clients and I operated entirely within the Windows ecosystem.
The Macbook Air sparked a desire for a Mac Mini. The Mini’s remarkably compact design was a huge draw, particularly after two decades of using bulky desktop PCs. The idea of exploring OS X also intrigued me. My development work had transitioned entirely to virtual servers, eliminating the need to install development tools, SQL Server, or Dynamics GP locally. My primary desktop activities—MS Office, Firefox, and Remote Desktop—made up roughly 95% of my computer usage. With cross-platform and cloud-based applications like SugarSync, Carbonite, RoboForm, GoToMeeting, SnagIt, Skype, Evernote, and Spotify readily available, I felt confident that almost all my essential tools would function seamlessly on OS X, just as they did on my iPhone and Android devices.
The release of the revamped 2012 Mac Mini, finally equipped with USB 3 ports, prompted me to take the plunge and place an order. The inclusion of USB 3 ports was non-negotiable for me, as I planned to use an external drive for my extensive photo and video library, as well as full system backups.
The initial transition to OS X brought about days of confusion and frustration. However, armed with the power of countless Google searches, I gradually gained a reasonable level of proficiency in navigating the unfamiliar operating system. Within two weeks of part-time use, I found myself able to accomplish nearly all my essential tasks on OS X with minimal compromises. I could still seamlessly interact with the Windows-centric world of Microsoft Dynamics GP consulting and development.
Presently, I feel relatively at ease with OS X. I am confident in my ability to adapt and utilize Macs exclusively if the situation demanded it. Nevertheless, after several weeks of working with OS X, I’ve concluded that Windows remains the more efficient option for my specific work needs.
Let’s start with what impressed me about OS X:
Speed: OS X on Apple hardware is incredibly fast. Startup and wake-from-sleep times left my Windows PC in the dust. Application responsiveness and performance were superb. Apple’s tight integration of hardware and software design gives it a distinct advantage over the fragmented PC landscape, resulting in a noticeably superior user experience.
Time Machine: Time Machine is a fantastic backup utility. Managing backups in Windows can be a headache. Finding a reliable solution is challenging, and even then, the process is often clunky. Testing restores is a chore, leaving you uncertain about their effectiveness in a real data loss scenario. In contrast, Time Machine offers elegant simplicity. Choose your backup destination, flip the switch to “On,” and it works flawlessly.
Application Architecture: The simplicity of the application architecture is refreshing. Installing a new utility usually involves dragging it to the Applications folder. Some apps utilize installers, but the process remains streamlined and user-friendly compared to the complexities of Windows MSI installers, DLLs, registry entries, and convoluted directory structures.
Spotlight Search: Spotlight is an exceptional desktop search tool. In the Windows world, desktop search tools have always been hit-or-miss. While some are decent, others are dreadful. I relied on X1 Desktop Search for Windows, which, while powerful, was still an add-on with its own set of quirks. Spotlight, on the other hand, is a near-perfect integrated solution. It’s incredibly fast, accurate, and eliminates the need for tedious file navigation in something like Windows Explorer.
Dual-Booting and Virtual Machines: Running Windows on a Mac is remarkably easy thanks to Boot Camp and virtual machine software. Boot Camp simplifies the process of installing Windows directly onto your Mac. Specify the desired partition size for Windows, click through a few prompts, and the machine reboots to initiate Windows installation from a USB drive. Although I haven’t personally tested it, Parallels for Mac, which allows you to run a Windows virtual machine within OS X, also seems to be a robust solution.
Despite the positive aspects, certain key issues in OS X hindered my workflow:
SMB File Sharing: SMB file sharing is unreliable. I frequently use shared folders to transfer files between my virtual servers and workstation. Setting up file sharing on the Mini seemed straightforward, with easy access from my Windows machines—at least initially. Days later, attempting to use these shares proved futile. Windows reported incorrect credentials, despite using the correct password. Hours of troubleshooting revealed a known issue with SMB in OS X 10.7. While functional after a fresh setup, it would inexplicably stop working. The workaround involved disabling and re-enabling sharing to restart the SMB service, a temporary fix at best. While server administrators could automate this restart with scripts, no such solution seemed to exist for the desktop version of OS X. Third-party options like Thursby Software’s DAVE showed initial promise but presented their own set of bugs. Reliable Windows networking remained elusive, even with additional software.
Keyboard-Centric Workflow: In OS X, the keyboard takes a backseat. As a primarily keyboard-centric user in Windows, I strive to minimize mouse reliance. For instance, executing keyboard shortcuts like ALT+E, S, V in Excel is significantly faster than navigating menus with a mouse. I heavily utilize shortcuts like CTRL+C, X, V, Z, Y, A, S, F, along with function keys (F2-F5) and navigation keys (Home, End, arrows, page keys). While OS X offers comparable shortcuts, the placement of the Command key makes them less intuitive, particularly the more complex combinations involving Shift+Command+(key), which feel cumbersome compared to their Windows counterparts. Many shortcuts felt like afterthoughts, requiring awkward finger positioning and defeating the purpose of streamlined input. The overall impression was that OS X heavily favors mouse-driven interactions. Though OS X provides utilities for remapping and creating custom shortcuts, this led to inconsistencies and potential conflicts with existing application-specific shortcuts.
Unexpected Bugs and Quirks: Contrary to my initial belief, Macs are not immune to bugs, quirks, and issues. Apple forums are filled with user-reported problems, shattering my illusion of flawless Mac experiences. My own encounters with OS X issues solidified this realization. One notable problem was OS X’s seemingly incomplete support for Wake-on-LAN (WOL). While a WOL packet would partially awaken a sleeping Mac Mini, it failed to fully wake the system, leaving the display unresponsive. This made remote connections unreliable compared to my Windows workstation. While potential solutions might exist, I abandoned my search. A more critical issue was the inability to log in after the Mini had been asleep for an extended period. I would be greeted by a black screen or the screensaver, with both keyboard and mouse inputs unresponsive. The only recourse was to either repeatedly power cycle the machine or perform a hard reset, holding down the power button. This issue, documented by other users in Apple forums, remained unresolved. While the cause was unclear (potentially related to HDMI connections, monitor input settings, hardware, or an OS X bug), it forced me to hard reset the Mini every morning, a stark contrast to the reliability of my Windows 7 workstation. This issue might be unique to the Mac Mini, as Macbooks and iMacs are unlikely to suffer from the same problem.
Font Size Discrepancies: The deal-breaker for me was the disparity in font rendering between Mac and Windows. For technical reasons, a 14pt font on a Mac appears roughly equivalent in size to a 10pt font on Windows. This discrepancy persists across font sizes, making text on a Mac appear about 25-30% smaller. For instance, opening a client-provided Word document in 10pt Arial resulted in nearly illegible text on the Mac. To compensate, I had to zoom in to 130-140%, significantly disrupting my workflow. Conversely, saving and sending a document back to a client resulted in comically large text on their Windows machine, forcing them to zoom out. This incompatibility proved to be a major inconvenience. Due to fundamental differences in how OS X and Windows handle font rendering, no workaround seemed feasible. Surprisingly, font rendering, rather than user interface differences or application compatibility, turned out to be the deciding factor in abandoning OS X.
Countless other pros, cons, and considerations factor into the Mac versus PC debate. OS X can undoubtedly be a suitable solution for specific workflows, purposes, and environments, especially for those unconcerned with Apple’s higher price point.
Having gained some firsthand experience with OS X, my plan is to repurpose the Mac Mini. I’ll install a spacious SSD and run Windows 7, leveraging the Mini’s compact form factor with the familiarity and efficiency of my preferred operating system.
Steve Endow, Dynamics GP Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified IT Professional in Los Angeles, is the owner of Precipio Services, providing Dynamics GP integrations, customizations, and automation solutions.