Summary

The author is transitioning from macOS to Windows 11, particularly favoring the Dell XPS, due to its familiarity, feature-rich environment, and productivity enhancements that align with their workflow as a writer, reader, and number cruncher.

Abstract

The author has decided to switch their primary computing device from a MacBook Pro to a Windows 11-equipped Dell XPS after a period of six months. This decision is based on several factors: a long-standing familiarity with Windows, a preference for the built-in features of Windows 11 such as the Clipboard Manager and Snap Layouts, and the productivity benefits these features offer. The author, who primarily engages in writing, reading, and data analysis, finds the Windows 11 interface and tools more conducive to their daily tasks. Despite the MacBook Pro's superior responsiveness, battery life, and silent operation, the author believes that Windows 11's design and functionality better support their workflow.

Opinions

The author feels a cultural pressure to commit to either Mac or PC but finds value in both.
Windows 11's familiarity and muscle memory usage of Home and End buttons outweigh the complexity of Mac keyboard shortcuts.
The in-built features of Windows 11, such as the Clipboard Manager and App Switcher, are preferred over Mac's counterparts, which may require third-party apps or offer less functionality.
The author appreciates the Window Placement Manager and Snap Layouts in Windows 11 for managing multiple applications and windows efficiently.
The floating menus in Office for Windows are seen as more user-friendly compared to the Mac version.
The integration of OneDrive within Windows 11 is highlighted as a convenience, allowing for seamless access to multiple accounts.
The design of Windows 11 is considered to have reached aesthetic parity with MacOS, enhancing the user experience.
The author acknowledges the superior performance of the M1 Pro MacBook Pro but prioritizes the productivity benefits of Windows 11 for their specific needs.

I’m switching back to Windows. Here’s why.

Batman and the Joker, Potter and Voldermort, United and City, PC and Mac, all sworn enemies that demand absolute allegiance. Like good vs evil, the PC and Mac debate seems to require dedication to one or the other and fans of each will exchange blows (virtual at least) to demonstrate their loyalty.

Don’t know about you, but I feel an inerrant requirement to commit fully to Mac or PC but don’t seem to be able to do it. For the past six months or more I’ve used my MacBook Pro as my daily device, but as Windows 11 has moved past it’s bug-filled-youth, I’ve found myself using this more and believe it suits my workflow better.

So for now, I’ve made my Windows 11 equipped Dell XPS my daily driver, and I want to explain why I believe it makes me more productive.

Full disclosure, I’m a writer, reader and number cruncher. I rarely edit videos or pictures.

Familiarity

As a Windows user of 25 years, Windows 11 just feels more familiar. Using Home and End buttons, for example, seems natural compared to the multi-fingered Mac keyboard shortcuts which evoke memories of learning to play piano. Even though mastering these shortcut combinations can create efficiencies, it’s the muscle-memory instigated basic Windows gestures that get me around quicker.

Feature Rich

A huge part of the appeal of Windows for me is the in-built features. Specifically:

Clipboard Manager

I have Paste on the Mac which is great but a paid third party app.

But this little Windows feature is really useful and used daily. Use WIN + V instead of CTRL+V when pasting and you can access your clipboard history.

App Switcher

One feature we know and love is Alt+Tab to pivot between apps. While this is operational in MacOS, the Windows version comes with intelligence that treats app-windows of a single program as different windows. For example, if I’m working in Outlook and have a pop out window for drafting an email, with Windows, Alt+Tab will present both within its cycle, but Mac will treat both windows as one app.

Notice how both the Outlook app-windows are available to cycle through in Windows above.

App Switcher on Mac shows the single Outlook window available, despite two being opened.

What’s more, when using Edge Browser on Windows, tabs are also treated as separate and these will all show in your available apps.

Lastly, notice Windows gives you an app preview, whereas MacOS limits this to the icon. I’ve blurred the image for privacy, but, you get the idea.

A similar preview can be seen when hovering your mouse over a minimised app in the taskbar.

Window Placement Manager

A party trick within Windows 11 is the Snap Layouts feature, which provides you with multiple window configurations to help view and operate multiple programmes on your desktop. While Apple responded with Stage Manager, the Windows solution, to me at least, feels more suitable to the task.

Floating Menus in Office

The floating menu in Office for Windows is really useful for placing editing tools in proximity of your mouse pointer, but this is replaced with an aesthetically dull text menu on the Mac equivalent.

I mean my Apple-devotee friends are always telling me that design reigns supreme in MacOS.

OneDrive

Perhaps this is a little unfair, because it’s another Microsoft product, but I like that I can have multiple OneDrive accounts registered in my native File app giving me access to my own personal OneDrive account and, if I want it, my professional account. This removes the friction of having to log into the web version to access files.

Design

Windows 11 has a beautiful design and I believe this creates aesthetic parity with MacOS now.

Conclusion

These are just a few reasons why I am really enjoying Windows 11 and am using the XPS as my daily driver over the Mac. I haven’t handed back my Apple-fan-card just yet but for my workflow, which is very different to that of the content creator, I find Windows to be a productivity beast which natively packs everything I need.

I’m under no illusions, my M1 Pro MacBook Pro is more responsive, has better battery and has zero fan noise, but when I’m in the zone, those things disappear into obscurity and what matters is what’s in front of me and how I interact with it. That’s the strength of Windows 11.