The macOS/Windows war could not be explained in three days and nights, but the only thing I can say is that both systems have their own strengths and appeal in their respective areas of expertise. While moving from one familiar platform to another doesn’t usually happen that often, if you’ve decided to move from Windows to macOS, check out this Windows to macOS starter’s guide to getting you started on a Mac before stepping into the new world.
Interface differences
Unlike Windows, the macOS ‘first screen consists of a top-down menu bar, desktop and dock.
App Menu: The App in use will display next to , followed by menu options for the App, such as file, edit, view, etc. (If no App is open, the “Access menu” is displayed.)
Status menu: This menu mainly displays system status in the form of ICONS, including App icon, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, battery power, etc. It is similar to the system status menu on the right side of the Windows taskbar, but the Status menu on macOS is more customizable and functional.
The docking dock is located at the bottom of the screen (you can customize other locations), where you can keep your frequently accessed apps, documents or folders, with customizable apps on the left and the Downloads folder and wastebasket on the right.
There’s also room for “recently used apps” in between, where apps that aren’t anchored to the dock but have recently been opened appear. Open/close paths in System Preferences > Dock and Menu Bar > Show Recently used applications in Dock.
The macOS dock and menu bar share the same functionality as the Windows taskbar, allowing users to quickly launch apps and manage the functions of enabled apps. A small dot at the bottom of the App icon indicates that the App is running. You can also right-click on the splice line in the dock to set some custom functions.
For example, when the mouse moves over an application icon on the dock, the icon appears to be enlarged.
For example, change the placement of the dock, in addition to the bottom, can also be placed on the left and right side of the desktop.
As differences
In addition to the interface differences, some features of the two systems work the same way, but there are also differences in how they are called. Familiarizing yourself with these terms in advance will help you get used to macOS faster.
The first is the keyboard. The Mac and Windows keyboards have the same layout, but some keys are different. The biggest difference is that the Mac has a modifier key, which is identified as follows:
- (⇧) > Shift
- (⌃) > Control
- (⌥) > Option
- (⌘) > Command
Alt and Control /Win on Windows correspond to The Option and Command keys on macOS, respectively.
For example, the copy shortcut key Ctrl + C on Windows becomes Command + C on macOS, and the paste shortcut key Ctrl + V becomes Command + V on macOS. Here are some useful shortcuts on macOS:
- ⌘ + TAB toggle applications
- ⌘ + ⌫ to move the selected file to the wastebasket
- ⌘ + C copy
- ⌘ + v paste
- ⌘ + ⌥ + v to move files
- ⌘ + q exits the current application
- ⌘ + h Hides the current window
- ⌘ + m minimizes the current window
- ⌘ + w closes the current window
Mac Keyboard shortcuts
Also, on Windows, we’re used to opening and saving files from my Computer’s various folders, but on macOS, Explorer is Venda, the Mac’s home base, and the first blue-and-white smiley icon in the dock is the gateway to Venda.
Since macOS uses a Unix-like file system that is different from Windows, it is not in the habit of identifying disk partitions with different drive letters such as C and D. User files and programs on macOS are mostly concentrated in home folders, application folders, or docking stations that are easily accessible (the reachable sidebar), while system and configuration files are in hard-to-reach locations.
Open “Access”, you can see the left side bar, the top toolbar, the former is the entrance of various system files, such as documents, applications, downloads, the latter is the current folder Settings tool, you can change the display and arrangement of files in the folder, or initiate sharing, add labels, etc.
If you feel that the default enabled folders in the “Access” sidebar are not enough, you can also choose “Access > System Preferences > Sidebar” to add more folders.
The other Settings menu in Access > Preferences also offers more customizations for Access. For example, from the General menu, you can set the folder to be displayed when you open a new Finder window. In the advanced menu, set whether to display file extensions.
More tips on visiting:
- Access by default does not show the file path, you can access the menu bar under the “display” menu open “display path bar” to obtain the current path.
- Due to the nature of the Unix file system, macOS has only copy and paste. To do this, you can simply drag files from folder A to folder B.
- In addition to the traditional double click to “open” a file, macOS also comes with a quick view feature that lets you select a file or folder and press the space bar to use preview to quickly view photos, files or folders without opening them.
- MacOS also supports shortcuts to files, a feature called “stand-ins.” When creating a surrogate for an item, the original item does not move. When you open the avatar, the original item will open. If you move the original item or rename it, the link between the original item and the avatar remains.
On Windows, the easiest way to find something quickly is probably through the Start menu, while on macOS, it’s through the Launch Pad, which allows you to view and open apps centrally on the Mac. You can start the console with the four-finger close gesture on the trackpad, the F4 shortcut on the keyboard, or the launcher icon *** on the dock.
conclusion
Windows and macOS have their own strengths in interface design. Windows focuses on usability, while macOS focuses on design and ease of use. The interface differences mentioned above may only be the surface of the differences between the two systems. You’ll see that interface differences may not be the biggest problem, but rather the features and experience that determine which system is more comfortable for you to use.