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 + backspace to 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 + c for 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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
Packaging LPDDR smartphone-style like Apple does makes the traces much shorter, which lets the RAM be faster and lower power. DDR5-5600 DIMMs in "regular" laptops are literally electrically maxed out, and power hogs because they run at crazy voltages for the speed. I would think that much voltage would degrade the CPU too.
There's also CUDIMM which one manufacturer is tauting that they'll be releasing a 10000 MT/s soon after having dropped a 9000 model a couple months ago
Honestly my M2 MacBook Pro feels like it’s built to last. I paid a lot, but I feel like I’ve gotten great value out of it and genuinely enjoy using it. And it’s still going strong.
But we have to talk about Apple’s hostility towards developers. It’s like they want to make devs miserable. That’s the part that’s unforgivable imo.
Honestly my M2 MacBook Pro feels like it’s built to last. I paid a lot, but I feel like I’ve gotten great value out of it and genuinely enjoy using it. And it’s still going strong.
yeah until you want to upgrade or repair something, then it's fuck you buy another one. I get the apple premium, what I don't get is the scorn they show for people who have purchased their overpriced hardware when they want to upgrade it. that's just insulting - you gotta buy it with everything maxed out on APPLE ram, ssds etc.,
It's not like Apple uses a different controller, or that they invented a different communication standard. They just put the same communication pins from the same controller on a different physical connector, and charge you 10x for the replacement part. It's why boards like this can work at all:
I thought Apple was cool back in the system 6/7 days. I don't know if it actually was. I was a kid back then and just got to use it a little in school. I didn't daily drive it. But I did like it based off the usage I got.
When they switched to a BSD* derivative, it became less the the thing I remembered liking and my interest waned. Then they switched to x86 and it became something I felt was completely disassociated with what I considered to be a Mac. And while I could see those were smart choices on their part, I no longer cared for what they were offering.
And now I hate the company for the sorts of things the meme touches on. Not that consumer hostile practices are anything new for them, just more opinionated about it now.
That was rantier than I'd anticipated when I started, but already made it this far.
no hate intended on BSD. I run OpenBSD and FreeBSD on some things. More that it failed to match my nostalgia, I guess.
I don't even know what system it was at the time, but the first time I figured out things weren't just on "computer" and were on a particular operating system and that Mac didn't do games at all, I hated them immediately. They were completely useless for my use case.
I remember when iPods got popular that I specifically didn't want one, I wanted a different mp3 player. I got one of the first Dell ones. I forget the name of it now. It was either a "jukebox" or maybe that was the software's name. It has the scroll barrel on it. Had I think 15 or 20GB on it. I was so much happier with it than I would've been with an iPod. For one I didn't need to cover my entire library to aac. And iTunes was just a nightmare on Windows in general from what I heard.
There was no software needed for the Dell one. You just moved your music on like a removable hard drive. Playlists were actual separate files that were somehow associated to the songs. I never did (and still don't) really care about playlists.
I'm too millennial for that. I just play the album I wanna hear. Or nowadays if I'm too lazy or in a hurry I have an automatic playlist that knows what kinda stuff I like to listen to and just plays from that set.
I used to be an apple certified repair technician. Fuck apple and everything they do.
Their hardware is purposely designed to be as unrepairable and difficult to get into as possible. They literally spent millions developing their own new screw types for the inside of their phones. Diabolical evil shit.
Their software is also ass, but I haven't ever daily used any apple products in my life so I am less annoyed by that. I only had to know how to fix em for years. Every time I have to trouble shoot a user issue on Mac it takes me like twice as long to fix because again they design it to be hard to fix things.
Stupid company. Shitty products. Microsoft and windows are right behind them though. Good lord has windows just continued to get worse and worse over the course of my life.
When my 2018 MBP touch bar glitched and a replacement was the whole-ass “upper case” including the battery, I knew we were cooked. Meanwhile, in my old 2012 MacBook pro I’m swapping parts like a madman to enjoy it, like you should.
You can replace just the touch bar, I’ve done it, but it’s a nightmare. Much cheaper and less waste though
That thing is seriously glued on. Like people complain about the battery adhesive but it’s not really that bad, some solvent takes it out pretty quick on most models (though it’s still not necessary and would be much better if it was just screwed into place). That touch bar though, that glue is crazy and any solvent or heat you use has to be super carefully managed because you’ll melt the keys very easily. Some tutorials have you basically just smash the shit out of it and scrape away the resulting shards but that seemed like a bad idea.
For the record I did heat from the rear and light application of acetone. Took a bit but I was able to pry it up although I did break the first couple. Doesn’t matter really but it can make it harder to prep the space for the new one.
Also fun times: on some models if the touch bar glitches out it shorts the motherboard and causes random reboots
Linux, not sure why that's relevant though. At least even Windows can be made elastic and it isn't expensive for the sake of being expensive because Apple. So yeah, I guess I'd prefer to run Windows servers than ever run Mac for anything.
I'll give them credit that building their OS on a Unix base has undoubtedly been good for us too since it kinda twists the big company's arms a bit over the issue.
I had one die in my home server. Hadn't gotten around to any backups or redundancy yet because it was "just" for configs and metadata for media apps. Took me like 5-10 hours to rebuild the config though which was annoying. Would take me much longer now if it happened again. I no longer have that SSD as a single point of failure in my system.
I don’t get it either but think it’s a meme that people grabbed on to. We’re one step away from this appearing on Stephen Colbert. Sort of like talking about Taco Bell affecting people poorly.
The only thing that makes Apple marginally better is that the company spying on you tries to pretend like they're not in it for your sweet data.
They might not be selling it right now, but only because they keep making money hand over fist from the non-repairable proprietary bullshit they produce. Once that faucet starts to slow down, you better believe they'll be the next Google.
They're both about the same in terms of privacy so that's quite an irrelevant thing to bring up. Windows sucks infinitely more from an usability perspective, though.
Edit: Oh, one more thing, you don't have to do some bs hacks to use macOS without an Apple account.
Upgrade ram and SSD with whatever from Microcenter because any of it works as long as you match DDR type. It won't necessarily be the fastest but it will work.
Install Linux because it's already supported by Linux.
This is possible because 1980's Microsoft thought an open hardware platform would sell more Microsoft software because customers wouldn't feel locked in.