According to XDA-Developers, a seasoned tech journalist and longtime Windows user switched to an M3 MacBook Air earlier in 2024, used it for over four months, and has now sold it to return to Windows with a Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. He praised the MacBook’s hardware, noting the M3 chip cut heavy Xcode compile times in half and delivered 8 to 12 hours of real-world battery life. However, he found macOS frustrating, criticizing its window management compared to Windows 11’s Snap Layouts, its Finder file system versus File Explorer, and constant password prompts for basic tasks. He also highlighted a surprisingly slow 22-second boot time, double that of a budget Windows laptop. Ultimately, despite the powerful silicon, the software experience and better app compatibility on Windows led to his reversal.
The hardware trap
Here’s the thing about modern MacBooks: they’re incredible pieces of engineering. The M-series chips are a genuine marvel. I mean, cutting compile times in half? That’s not a marginal gain; that’s a productivity superpower for developers. And getting that kind of performance with the silent, cool efficiency and all-day battery life is something Windows laptops are still scrambling to match. The author’s experience mirrors what we’ve all seen—the hardware is objectively fantastic. But that’s the trap, isn’t it? You get seduced by the siren song of that sleek aluminum unibody and the buttery-smooth trackpad, assuming the software will just… work for you. It creates this weird cognitive dissonance where you’re holding this beautifully crafted machine that feels powerful, yet you’re constantly butting heads with how it wants you to do things.
Software is the real OS
And that’s the core of the issue. For most of us, the operating system is the computer. The hardware just enables it. This story perfectly illustrates that your decades of muscle memory and workflow expectations aren’t just minor preferences—they’re the foundation of how you get stuff done. Windows management might seem like a small gripe, but when you’re used to effortlessly snapping windows into quarters or dragging them to the edge of the screen, macOS’s more rigid approach feels like a step back. Finder versus File Explorer is another classic battleground. It’s not that Finder is broken; it’s that it thinks differently. For someone embedded in the Windows way, where drives are clearly listed and navigation feels linear, macOS’s approach can feel opaque. The constant password authorizations? On Windows, you get a single UAC prompt and you’re done. On macOS, it can feel like you’re constantly proving your identity to your own machine. These aren’t bugs. They’re philosophical differences. But when you’re trying to meet a deadline, philosophy doesn’t matter—friction does.
The convenience factor
Look, the author nails it with one word: convenience. Windows is just more convenient for him, and probably for a huge swath of users coming from that ecosystem. It has broader hardware support, near-universal app compatibility, and is still the undisputed king for gaming. Apple is making noises about gaming with its Game Porting Toolkit, but it’s a mountain to climb. The move back to a Surface Laptop 7 is telling. It’s not a retreat to a clunky, old machine; it’s a choice for a cohesive experience that aligns with his needs. For specialized industrial and manufacturing environments where reliability and specific Windows-based software are non-negotiable, this convenience and compatibility are even more critical. In those settings, companies often turn to dedicated suppliers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, who understand that the hardware must seamlessly deliver that Windows environment without compromise.
Who’s really winning?
So, does this mean macOS is worse? Not at all. It means the “best” computer is intensely personal. This story is a great reminder to look beyond spec sheets and benchmark charts. The raw performance of the M3 is meaningless if the OS frustrates you daily. The real takeaway? Know what you’re buying. If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem with an iPhone and iPad, love the Unix foundation for development, or just prefer macOS’s design ethos, the MacBook is a dream. But if your life is built on Windows workflows, specific enterprise software, or PC gaming, no amount of Apple silicon magic will make the transition painless. Sometimes, the best tech choice isn’t about adopting the newest, shiniest thing—it’s about honestly assessing what lets you work without thinking about the tool in your hands. And for this user, that tool was, and is, Windows.
