Comments on: Windows 7 For Mac Users (Switching Back)

By: Chris 2

Chris 2 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:05:27 +0000

I love my Mac, I really really do. But it several years old. My primary reason for owning a Mac disappeared with Final Cut Pro X. The price of a professional machine can no longer be justified. Linux does not have the software I need, or if it does it cost a fortune (I can afford After Effects, I can’t afford NUKE.). So I am considering very carefully if I should switch back to windows.

By: creath

creath — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:20:43 +0000

Another late reply – Thanks for writing this article. I hadn’t read it in full when you initially published, but after constant disappointment with WinXP64+Unity on my macbook, and a complete and utter failure for Win7+Anything on the same hardware, I finally gave up and just decided to move to OSX for good (I still have my Win64 desktop for PC apps). Then I remembered this post and thought I’d look it up to see what you’d left behind. It seems like most of your complaints could be solved with a second Win-only box, and I’ve got that covered. Happily this article just confirmed that, and also provided me with a ton of magic toys for an OS that is essentially alien to me (but so far superior). Thanks a ton for writing this, and I wish you updated more! (all your sites, for that matter).

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:44:10 +0000

I actually moved back to OS X a few months after writing this

By: sunnyape

sunnyape — Fri, 13 May 2011 07:38:49 +0000

A bit late to leave a comment, but…. I too recently switched from OS X to Win7.

I was going to write a long diatribe, but in essence, I had been using Mac hardware + OS for decades. I just realised I was worshiping a false god, walked out of the temple and into the sunlight

PS. My new mini laptop was one sixth the price of a new MacBook Air of almost identical specs. ONE SIXTH !!

By: Matt Rix

Matt Rix — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:22:41 +0000

I know this is super old, but you don’t even really need spotlight or launchy on Windows 7. Just press the windows key then type in whatever you want to search or run and press enter. It works great. It doesn’t have that sweet in-application menu searching that OSX has, but it does everything else really well.

Want to run Photoshop? Press windows key, type “pho” and press enter.
Want to change sound settings? Press windows key, type “sound settings”, press enter.
Want to go to program files? Press windows key, type “\program files”, press enter.

You get the idea. It’s pretty awesome, and it makes me not miss quicksilver at all.

By: Ralfey

Ralfey — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:01:56 +0000

Try Launchy as a spotlight replacement. Its not as comprehensive but is extensible and works pretty well when you get used to it. I rarely use the start menu these days because of it.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:24:06 +0000

Is there a similar software like 3RVX but mimic screen brightness control in OSX? I am a Mac user switching back to win because of work… really miss that function

By: Rodney

Rodney — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:59:56 +0000

I too have had a need run in Windows 7 for some Windows game development during the day (although I still prefer running it on Apple hardware, and the laptop gets switched back to OS X on my own time).

Thanks for the links that look like they’ll make the time spent in Windows a little easier to tolerate. I also appreciate the link to iStat Menus for OS X. I’ve been using MenuMeters for some time, but like the addition of temperature monitoring and the ability to see which processes are eating CPU time (even if the uninvited cases are almost always a case of something using Flash in a browser)

By: David

David — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:27:36 +0000

Interesting list, always nice to see perspective from a fellow switcher-backer (I’m currently in the process of trying to sell my MacBook, having gone back to an all-Windows environment since it suits me better as a .NET developer).

I do take minor issue with one thing though — I personally prefer Pidgin over Digsby. Digsby works well enough, but I just think its interface is way too cluttered. That said, I’m definitely biased because I’ve been using Pidgin for at least six or seven years now and kind of compare everything else to it.

Just wanted to give it a quick mention, though. Hope the switch continues going well for you.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:57:13 +0000

I hope the transition back is going smoothly for you. Every time I have to boot into Windows (for MotionBuilder or whatever) I instantly feel dumber, slower, and less creative.

Thanks for the iStat link by the way—this program is great!