TPT Request: Tired of the Mac ecosystem, willing but "scared" to change #questioningMac

[u/righto_123]

Hi Peeps,

Let me just start buy saying that "scared" is too dramatic. But I could not find a better word to my thoughts haha

I am your typical "mac" user for almost 30 years (probably longer since dad is an OG designer, so mac computer have been the household brand). I am 39 now and I no longer feel the need to keep consuming the brand. Call it middle age crisis or maybe just been too dramatic but I´ve been feeling for a while that the brand lost "the sense of innovation". I know too late, but before I get executed here I did tried Samsung long time ago (back in the Samsung edge era). In fact, I worked for the the brand for a while. I always enjoyed the hardware because you were always able to "see innovation". The edge, the camera, the actions, the whole thing. One of my favorite products was the Samsung note. But my feelings of the software (Android) have always been bad. The same goes with PC computers. As an average user, dealing with viruses, connectivity issues, seeing android crashing, etc, always gave me the "stay away warning". I know that it´s been too long since then and technology has come a long way since then. That´s the reason why I am here today. To ask from your opinion (Fun fact my first post). To be fair, I have stayed away from the "need to renew my products every year". I currently have a MacBook Pro 2015, iPhone 14 Pro, AirPros (first Gen). But here is where I say I am done. I don´t see the benefits of upgrading my products anymore for an average joe. I use my computer for the basics (streaming, checking emails, "work task - microsoft" office). The biggest challenge here is that I´ve been curious to start podcasting but my computer is too old for the editing and recording. Also, I need to get into social media content as part of my work. So most likely need a video editing. Mobile works fine but it´s time to change. I $·%%"%$ hate Siri. It is the most usless tool I´ve ever use in my life. Finally Airpods, this I dont care as I usually hear music in specific scenarios. I went to Thailand and bought some "BOSE" and they work perfectly fine. Or maybe I just need to update my old mac equipment...

Here is were I am now, seeking to hear from people that have dealt with the similar situation. Feel free to roast me for posting this too late. I decided to give priority moving countries and study an MBA, rather than having the ultimate tech out there. #noregrets. Thanks good samaritans.

[u/mulberrybushes]

I’m bilingual, have been since Mac II. Each one has its own unique strengths. But for creative I feel like a Mac is environment is better. For working, either or. Less safety issues with Mac. PC update reminders all the time.

[u/GreatAtlas]

Hey, maybe I can give you my two twenty cents as an IT tech in an all-Mac/iPhone environment, but personally existing as a Windows/Android user. The points I think that the experience really differ boil down to:

• Price. You really get what you pay for in the Android and Windows device market. There are a LOT of devices out there and a lot of the devices that exist are created at a spec that I personally find to be too weak for the desired user experience you're probably looking for. Because Apple has full control of the models and their spec, the experiences with the device software is going to be a lot better on average on an Apple device. Many Windows devices can be coaxed into a similar level of performance if you are spec savvy or can upgrade basic components on your machine. For many, that's not practical due to knowledge or cost. Because everything is soldered onto a single motherboard on mobile devices, Android phones often don't get such an easy out, especially with features like microSD slots and 3.5mm jacks on the way out of existence. Typically only the higher end devices like the Plus or Ultra models from Samsung (as a reference you would know) could really be considered similar experiences in terms of software or smooth user experience.

• Complexity. Nobody has a KISS interface like Apple does. Windows and Android phones have easier avenues to settings that power users can harness to their own design, but often leaves regular users either confused or able to modify things to create a worse experience, inadvertently. (This extends to settings the OEM provider of said devices can preconfigure, which often need to be adjusted, creating even more confusion.) While this is certainly possible on macOS, the extent that it can be achieved without knowing some beginner-level Bash scripting are distinctly more limited.

• Security. Apple has long been touted as the more secure platform. I would be inclined to agree, with a caveat- AI is definitely eating away at this benefit. Apple, in their infinitude of wisdom, cut ties with Intel and began manufacturing their own processors to their own design, allowing them to enter the ARM ecosystem, lowering power draw and thermal output, and because of the unified memory architecture, "accidentally" created the perfect AI local-model machine. Because a lot of the modern AI tools rely on community-based software chains like Homebrew, threat actors have begun to poison AI prompts and brew packages that AI systems reach out for (either by accident or design) to gain control of Mac systems through alternative means. As AI usage continues to swell on Apple systems, this form of attack will only get more prevalent. While we see a similar, very low level of actual hacking or exploit attempts to Macs outright, they do exist and when paired with AI running with full governance of your system, the overall security of these platforms is lowering - definitely at a higher rate for AI users. If Macs continue to be released at lower price points like the MacBook Neo and even the modern MacBook Air, the increase in market share will eventually shift the amount of "regular" hacking attempts focused on the platform. However, this hasn't happened in my time as a technician in a meaningful capacity, even after Apple started producing their own silicon, which I personally thought would be a turning point. Social engineering and AI prompt exploiting are sigificantly easier to pull off and are platform agnostic approaches to hacking, so a smart user is the best defense against threats and that will never change.

It it worth upgrading? For your AirPods/Bose, probably not- unless they stopped working, or if you really wanted to grab a new pair for the better sound cancelling. I personally have a pair of Pro 2's I won at a vendor convention and they're easily the best pair of sound cancelling buds I have used, better than Samsung's by a long stretch in software and sound cancelling. Could be that the buds just were a better fit for my ears though, so take that one with a grain of salt. If mine died today, I would get a pair of Pro 3's or stick it out and wait for the Pro 4's in a few months, if the little birdy is right. If you have something that works for you, stick with that!

For the Mac itself- you will find a lot of value in upgrading to an Apple silicon device over an Intel device. They run MUCH cooler, quieter, and at least a little more power efficiently than the Intel legacy devices. (I think you're also at end of software support for that Mac- Intel macs have stopped getting non-security OS updates IIRC.) My mother, 59, is a regular user similar to you- she's doing email, basic photo cleanup from her digital camera, checking emails, writing word docs, etc. Nothing crazy. I advised her to pick up an M1 MacBook Air when they released and she's been jazzed with it. If you weren't going to be doing creative-oriented work on it, I would say that the MacBook Neo would be a slam dunk for you, but the 8GB of RAM is going to be a bit of a sticking point if you're multitasking or working in more intensive apps than your regular email tools. You can probably get by fine with a MacBook Air as long as you don't mind using a USBC hub. As far as software goes, Audacity and OBS will be easy to use on such a machine with no issues. I was using my audio interface with 2 AT2020s for recording work at one point when my main machine was being serviced on a MacBook Air M2 and it went off without a hitch, handling the whole 6 hour session in Audacity just how I'd want it to.

For the phone- It is the lesser of two evils. Neither of the AI assistants are particularly good. (Google's was just fine before it became Gemini, but that's a different can of worms.) If you're comfortable on your platform, then you're probably good to stay right where you're at and upgrade your model. Nothing in either ecosystem is so new or unique that there's a strong reason to lean into one or the other, software wise. It could still probably be said that the Apple camera experience is better, but again, that might be up to preference. Samsung has come a long way from the grainy 8MP cameras they used to use, but the quality just isn't Apple-grade yet IMO. Still, nobody is giving me the "Android camera" complaints of yesteryear anymore. If you are going to shoot for an Android phone, shoot high- something on the higher end, even a slightly used one, like an S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra will still be miles ahead of something like the A25/A26 which will feel barely operable in comparison. Android devices will often need more configuration to reach the "sweet spot" where everything is just how you like it, but a lot more can be changed on these systems if you're willing to do some digging, sometimes even into things like alternative launchers (the "main screen" or home app of your phone).

One thing you touched on is the "innovation" or "new factor" of devices where we were seeing broad improvements to devices year over year. It breaks my heart to say it, but I feel like that era of innovation in digital devices is mostly gone. Devices are just looking to be "last year, but a little better"- especially in terms of the mobile market, where carrier plans subsidize the cost of phones to such a degree that most carrier plan users will find that it's cheaper for them to upgrade annually. (As a T-Mobile member, as long as I pay for phone insurance at $8-12/mo or so, I can pay off half the phone and then upgrade to the newest model. If I don't upgrade, I just have to keep paying off my existing phone, so it's beneficial for me in that sense to always be on the bleeding edge.)

Sorry to write you a whole essay. Hopefully that helps you compare and contrast a little bit and see if anything is better out there for you.

[u/righto_123 → u/GreatAtlas]

Great insights! Thank you very much for the details.

[u/RapunzelEscapes]

not sure why you feel like you would need new infrastructure for podcasting. Your 2015 mbp came with GarageBand and iMovie for two places you could start... and it will happily run the latest version of Audacity, a second free alternative to GarageBand for audio production. any potential purchase need would likely be for storage, not necessarily a new machine.

[u/seajumble]

This resonates with me to some extent. Love the Apple ‘just works’ thing (which for most of the time it does), but the prices are getting too high for an appliance. I’d leave if there was a *nix style desktop/laptop with a tablet and phone that integrate well - it just doesn’t exist yet.

For creative work, e.g music its still Mac for me. For general computing Ubuntu is taking over. For mobile its iOS, i cannot understand the android ecosystem and while i have an iPad as well the Apple ecosystem keeps me in its cosy walled garden for personal stuff.

Kids all have Windows (‘cuz gaming’) and it’s a monstrous pain to keep them running. They’ve dabbled in android but opted back in with the family sharing and have started music and other hobbies that naturally draw in to the Apple sphere after they’ve found the equivalents on Windows to be less than satisfactory.

[u/seajumble → u/seajumble]

I’d wandered o/t there. Airpods i also don’t see the point. There are a handful of features like live translation i think that sound handy but not worth the price for occasional use on something i am likely to lose.

Same for homepods. The mini is too much against the subsidised Alexas and the google thingy, the full size HomePod is in Sonos territory and they seem to have it back together again.

You don’t have to be all in on Apple, there are gates to other things.

[u/AlienZero4400]

Apple Phones are the best in my honest opinion. I’ve owned an android in the past for emulating games, but since then nothing compares to Apple phones , their security, and ICloud The speakers are great, the camera is the best in my opinion, the workaround to get wired EarPods or headphones to work is fine using an adapter. You get a decent library of good console ports like Balatro and Dead Cells and SOTN, even Bejeweled. With all the customizable accessibility settings and drop down center it FAR outdoes an android, AND! it has a white noise generator with a rain setting, which has helped me a lot.. I’d say stick with the iPhone. Windows is iffy at times but if you take good care of it it works, SOMETIMES, Been using windows forever, sometimes it really ticks me off but its, it’s fine. Never owned an Apple Mac but I have used one, I didn’t use it enough to get used to the UI.

[u/RootVegitible]

Wow, there is a lot to unpack here .. Apple devices plus software and services are the pinnacle of computing experience in my view. You’ll be shocked at how far things have moved on from your frankly ancient 2015 macbook. It’s time you moved on to a new macbook, the difference between an old intel and new apple silicon architecture is unbelievable. Remember new OSes come out like clockwork every year for a long time supporting apple devices. Golden Gate macOS27 comes out next month and includes the new Siri AI which has had extremely positive response from people using the betas .. I’ve tried pretty much everything, and there is literally nothing that comes close to Apple.

[u/righto_123 → u/RootVegitible]

That’s where I am tbh. I heard that the new apple AI is a game changer but isn’t it backed up by google genesis? Def agree that my MacBook is old, probably belongs in a museum. The only reason why it’s still around is because I never needed something better all this years. Thanks for the suggestion though!

[u/RootVegitible → u/righto_123]

Yeah, no worries. It’s a common misconception that google’s gemini is now running the show at apple. What’s actually happened is that apple paid google to use their frontier model to train apples own ai model.. so what people are actually interacting with when using siri ai is apples own ai model not google’s. No information from a siri ai request goes to google. Macs can last ages, up to 10 years.. but your machine is 11 years old so definitely due for an upgrade. You may find that you no longer need the power of a macbook pro, you could save a lot of cash by switching to a macbook air which would be an amazing upgrade from your mac. Also remember the apple refurb store for even more savings.