I know this wasn’t the intention of the last episode of Windows Weekly, but I am having an epiphany when it comes to my future of using Microsoft consumer products.
This week’s Windows Weekly was transformative for me. No, not dropping all I have (now) and going Apple but it has opened my mind to see what they are doing over there and appreciating it. It is tempting to go iPhone now that widgets and an app drawer (of sorts) is coming. The iPhone camera in someways has surpassed the Pixel and camera is the most important feature to me. And I actually like some of the changes in MacOS.
I have a Mix of Microsoft and Google which includes Surface Book 3 (read more below), Surface Pro X, XBOX, Microsoft 365, Nest Home Max and Subsequent Speakers, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, YouTube TV. I use a Pixel 4XL and a WearOS Watch (Gen5). I’ve made this work but it seems like I am always met with frustrations or bending over backwards to make things flow. I sometimes think of going ALL Samsung with my phone, tablet and watch needs but I often get a little frustrated with their duplicate apps, extra services, their own app store and Bixby getting in the way. Due to performance issues with my Pixel, all to frequent Windows Update issues and having to keep this setup “well oiled”, I’m growing weary.
My work allowed me to upgrade to the Surface Book 3 (i7, 15″, 512GB, 32GB RAM) recently and I’ve used both the SB1 and SB2. I’ve been quite disappointed in the SB3. Not only does it feel more top heavy than the previous ones (the wobble is worse on this one), but Windows will lock up to where mouse, keyboard and touch will not respond, even if the system seems to be active (videos will keep playing). Often it will go away but 1-2 minutes later. I’ve reported this via the FEEDBACK app but not knowing when this will be fixed, I can’t keep fighting this.
I like XBOX but I am not much of a gamer these days. I could easily move to Apple TV or Nvidia Shield for my streaming needs. The XBOX is still a little clunky when it comes to navigating streaming services. I was one of the few who actually liked that the XBOX ONE was intended to be more media focused and actually used GUIDE to feed in my DirecTV and use the Kinect to change channels. But they scaled back their media vision and Kinect is nothing more for me than a Microphone to search YouTube videos with. And I dumped DirecTV for YouTube TV.
And let me just say this quickly – Why can’t there be a Smartwatch for Android users that feel as complete as Apple Watch? I’ve used Galaxy Watch and WearOS and both have some strengths but neither one is complete.
This is not a reactionary post…As a tech enthusiast, I’ve got to pause right now. Paul’s analogy of how Windows feels like Muhammad Ali in the ring one last time beyond his prime has given me pause on what works for me with my home network. I want a little more cohesion between my devices and I’m not getting that with my Microsoft / Google hybrid. Microsoft’s partnership with Samsung hasn’t yielded the panacea of better connecting Android / Microsoft devices (though YourPhone is making strides.)
It just feels like the right time to see if I need to change up my “What I Use” devices. I want a coherent whole and the recent Apple Announcements has piqued my interest in seeing if my life/workflow might run better with Apple.
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#549819">In reply to wolters:</a></em></blockquote><p>If you have the money to go all-Apple and feel it would improve your life then you don't need validation from anyone here, just do it if it suits you.</p><p><br></p><p>As for me, I'm happy with my Android phone, Windows 10 (and Windows 7) PCs, and TV, soundbar and other-devices all made by different companies as I'm not bothered about them all being seamlessly integrated, I use them for individual things and they are treated as standalone setups.</p><p><br></p><p>As for Apple stuff — I love my old iPod Mini, though even has been using Rockbox for a good-many years now.</p><p><br></p><p>Some people prefer devices to be separate, and do their own thing; others want all their devices linked-up seamlessly. If you prefer the latter, go Apple.</p>
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#549810">In reply to BigM72:</a></em></blockquote><p>I wouldn't say "Windows is fading", it's just that now it's just "Windows 10" forevermore it doesn't have the same level-of-excitement that it used to when a major new version would come-along with a list of new features. Now it's just two big updates a year: a major one in the first-half of a year (e.g. 2004) which adds new features; then a smaller one in the second-half (e.g. 20H2), akin to what would be a Service Pack in "old-Windows" speak.</p><p><br></p><p>Same for Microsoft Office: when it's done as-a-service, it's hard to get excited by new releases as features just drop-in.</p><p><br></p><p>But I'd still wonder: have there been any massive new features in recent versions of macOS anyone has got excited over? I mean, macOS is essentially a service, like Windows 10: it became free with version 10.9 (Mavericks) in 2013, and is downloaded via the App Store like any-other app. So I'd say even for macOS the old-age excitement from popping in a disc with the latest version isn't there either now.</p>
dftf
<p><em>"I am having an epiphany when it comes to my future of using Microsoft consumer products."</em></p><p><br></p><p>The only real consumer product-line (well, "brand") Microsoft has is Xbox. Windows 10 most average home-users get as it comes preinstalled on their PC, and Office — well, not sure if Office 2019 still gets pre-installed on some more-expensive PCs, or how many people just use the free "Office Online" versions of the apps. (Maybe Paul could run the numbers there… is Microsoft 365 subscriptions actually a big-thing for home-users, or does most money come from corporate subsciptions?)</p><p><br></p><p><em>"The iPhone camera in someways has surpassed the Pixel and camera is the most important feature to me."</em></p><p><br></p><p>The Google Pixel line doesn't have the absolute-best Android cameras, just great ones for the prices, especially on the 3a: Samsung and Nokia, as but two examples, both have higher-end models with better cameras, so getting an iPhone just on the basis of comparing its camera only to the Pixel line is a bit odd. Android isn't only Google Pixels!</p><p><br></p><p><em>"I’ve made this work but it seems like I am always met with frustrations or bending over backwards to make things flow".</em></p><p><br></p><p>If you have the money to afford it, and want as much simplicty as-possible, then absolutely Apple is the way-to-go. Hence why their products come at a premium. (And compatability between Apple products and non-Apple products can then be an issue: I know many people who used Apple's AirPort routers who said they never had any issues with their macs, iPads or iPhones connecting to them, but non-Apple devices would regularly disconnect or run at slow-speeds. Similarly, "Your Phone" on Windows 10 is virtually pointless for an iOS device, but only as Apple won't let Microsoft make it work).</p><p><br></p><p><em>"I sometimes think of going ALL Samsung with my phone, tablet and watch needs but I often get a little frustrated with their duplicate apps, extra services, their own app store and Bixby getting in the way."</em></p><p><br></p><p>While I agree most of the duplicate Samsung apps are pointless, you are able to uninstall or disable the vast-majority of them on recent handsets. You're also not forced to use their app-store, and Bixby can also be turned off. (You can even install a different launcher app entirely if you like, including ones that mimic iOS!)</p><p><br></p><p><em>"Due to performance issues with my Pixel, all to frequent Windows Update issues and having to keep this setup /well oiled/, I’m growing weary."</em></p><p><br></p><p>No performance-issues on my Pixel 3a here, and no major issues with Windows 10 updates on my personal PC, nor any for my immediate family on their laptops (bar some rare occassions where drivers needed reinstalling or updating) though I agree the current outsourcing of testing to those in the Insider Program really isn't working-out well, and we have seen some issues arise at work — even where, as a business, we hold-back from the latest version (most machines are on 1903, with 1909 going-out later this year).</p><p><br></p><p><em>"…but Windows will lock up to where mouse, keyboard and touch will not respond, even if the system seems to be active"</em></p><p><br></p><p>Maybe a thermal issue, especially if it happens after (1) being on for a while or (2) when doing intensive-things, like opening a large image or CAD drawing, video file-format conversion or gaming. Not unique to the Surface line: even some Apple computers can have thermal issues, such-as recent MacBook Air models as they use "passive-cooling" (no fan). The obsolete G4 Cube and Apple III also notably had bad thermal issues too. Jobs was apparently not keen on "noisy fans".</p><p><br></p><p><em>"I could easily move to Apple TV or Nvidia Shield for my streaming needs."</em></p><p><br></p><p>Future PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles will all eventually be stream-only, once most Western Internet is capable-enough. More-money to be made closing the second-hand sale market, and reducing piracy.</p><p><br></p><p><em>"… Kinect is nothing more for me than a microphone to search YouTube videos with"</em></p><p><br></p><p>Outside of the original Nintendo Wii, I'm not sure things like Kinect on Xbox or EyeToy for PS2 were ever widely-used, no. (SIXAXIS in the PS3 controllers was also mostly just a gimmic too, that most games rarely used.)</p><p><br></p><p><em>"I want a little more cohesion between my devices and I’m not getting that with my Microsoft / Google hybrid. […] I want a coherent whole and the recent Apple announcements has piqued my interest in seeing if my life/workflow might run better with Apple."</em></p><p><br></p><p>If the main thing you want is everything to "just work", yes, go fully Apple: that's pretty-much their selling-point! You'll pay a premium for it, though. But with the new ARM based mac computers due, might be worth holding-off for now to see how that pans-out. If you don't need the most-powerful mac in the world, the ARM processor ones might be better as battery-life could see a big improvement.</p>