MacOS is the worst Operating System (lemmy.ca)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by masterspace@lemmy.ca to c/unpopularopinion@lemmy.world

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It can't do the literal entire thing an operating system is supposed to do: manage applications and their resulting windows, in a sensible way.

I want to know what application is running.

Sure it's in the dock!

I want to find a specific application window.

Go fuck yourself right to hell.

Wait, the taskbar doesn't show the running windows, like it does on every other OS? It's at least discrete right?

It discretely takes up 1.5cm of the bottom of the screen at all times. It's so discrete it doesn't even need to use the corners.

Uh, alright, well that's all the system space you need right?

Yeah of course just that bottom inch or so .... And a top of screen system level menu bar to display what windows does in the bottom corners.

/sigh/ ok, fine, I just want to be able to full screen a window and still see what else is open.

Burn in hell and die.

I want to be able to easily switch left and right between open windows.

Go full screen or I will shoot you.

I want to move an open window into the other monitor.

You can't because you're full screen dumbass.

I want to let a window present a popup like they normally do.

You can't because youre full screen dumbass. Why would you be full screen?

I want an application like Slack to be able to popup and remove notifications when is appropriate.

Choose to have every single notification persists on screen until you manually remove it, or miss all your notifications.

Can't we trouble you for something in between, where we trust an application and let it manage them in a way that makes sense based on their context?

You can trouble me for something in between these cheeks, shit stain.

Like honestly, I fucking hate what an advertising and AI filled mess Windows is, but it can actually manage your windows and virtual desktops in a way that makes a modicum of sense.

It feels like a single Apple product manager decided that the way that they use their computer (a single application at a time, no windows to manage) is the only way anyone does, so who cares if we implement a nonsensical full screen paradigm, it makes one tiny niche edge case slightly simpler.

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[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I don’t even know how to limit my Mac to get most of those complaints. What did you do to it? In particular the only reason the taskbar doesn’t show all my running windows is because there are so many. There’s got to be the first 30 or so though.

Nor do I know how to avoid some of them on my Windows box.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 weeks ago

The MacOS dock literally just shows running applications, not windows.

[-] rabidhamster@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

If you right-click the application in the dock, it'll show you a list of windows open in that program.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Along with all the quick links, in a big text list that's impossible to quickly scan, and isn't filtered by monitor.

It's slower then mission control which is already slower then Windows' always-present, hoverable-with-preview taskbar.

[-] jacksilver@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, I agree with you on this one. I installed Ctrl+Tab or whatever and it's somewhat better, but windows management is horrible if you use a keyboard and mouse.

Not to mention keyboard shortcuts range from really useful to just god awful.

[-] blitzen@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago

Eh, I don’t know. Kinda feels like it’s more of a reflection on your ability to learn.

Does macOS need some windowing improvements? Undoubtedly. But my 12 year old kid and my senior citizen mom can use it just fine, I’m sure you can too.

macOS has the unique ability to be good for newbies and power users (thanks to its unix underpinnings,) but falls short for people who have just enough computer knowledge to be dangerous (such as yourself.)

[-] unmagical@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago

Unix underpinnings make it comfortable for developer work, but that does not necessarily make it good for power users.

MacOs is pretty locked down and basic which makes it a reasonable choice for someone that just needs a computer, but if you're the kinda person who wants to tinker with and change a bunch of stuff to make your computer work for you (i.e. a power user) you're gonna meet resistance.

[-] Limerance@piefed.social -1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

macOS has tons of power user features built in. Automator, Service Menu, Shortcuts, Folder Actions, intelligent folders, and much more! Adding commands to the contextmenu, that then work across apps is super cool and easy to do for example.

In any app, I can select text and then use the service menu or context menu to run my own text transformation scripts (title case, replace, etc.). Only using built-in tools!

Also you can add or change keyboard shortcuts for every app, even if it doesn’t have them for some menu items. Do you want to not accidentally quit Firefox with cmd + q ? Change it to cmd + alt + q in System Settings.

[-] jacksilver@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

The UX is only serviceable to power users if you own the computer. If it's corporate you're stuck with the defaults, which are years behind Linux and windows.

Not to mention Cmd is in a terrible spot compared to Ctrl on windows. Needing to use your thumb for Cmd + C vs using you're pinky to do Ctrl + C is also terrible in my opinion.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

macOS has the unique ability to be good for newbies and power users (thanks to its unix underpinnings,) but falls short for people who have just enough computer knowledge to be dangerous (such as yourself.

Bruh, I'm a professional software developer.

I'm not complaining because I can't figure out how to use it, I'm complaining because I use it as fast as anyone can and it irritates me that it slows me down compared to using Windows or most Linux distros.

[-] protogen420@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 weeks ago

macos doesnt care about unix, it is literally the most incompatible unix like os that there is

[-] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

It’s certified Unix by The Open Group: https://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/

It’s literally the most Unix-like (modern) OS there is.

[-] jet@hackertalks.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

It's BSD, it's not Linux.

It is very much Unix and POSIX

[-] cuboc@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Not only does it have terrible UX designed by the marketing department of Fischer Price, it treats you like a toddler as well.

[-] Matty_r@programming.dev 2 points 2 weeks ago

This is the thing that the Gnome devs are desperately trying to replicate.

[-] cuboc@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Agreed. I am not a big fan of Gnome either.

[-] chloroken@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

Everything you mentioned is the desktop environment and has nothing to do with the operating system. It's just, of course, that they're bundled together.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Fair point, but it's the OS that forces you to use a specific desktop environment.

[-] ChetManly@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I have to use one for work. I hate it and its been 3 years now. I'd rather use it than windows though.

[-] plz1@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Holy fuck, press F3 and delete your rant...

[-] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 2 points 1 week ago

I have to use Mac for work and hate the window management. So much of it feels counterintuitive, especially anything with two instances running and switching.

[-] spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

I fully agree. I feel like an old man yelling at clouds when I try to use an Apple anything. It might be a me problem, I'll admit, but I am so lost when trying to use someone else's iPhone. Not at all intuitive.

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

macOS is an okay-ish OS as long as you don't step out of line. Do not want freedoms. Be a good child and obey.

It sucks, but at least it works.

Microsoft Windows can't even say that.

Fuck both osses, they both suck donkey balls, long love Linux!

[-] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

I don't know if things have changed, since I haven't used windows since Windows 7 and I've only sporadically touched macs, but the other day I dragged my clock from one side of my desktop to the other on Manjaro and a staff member looking over my shoulder freaked out like I was a warlock.

[-] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

osses

OSes

[-] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Dude, everything in this you claim you can’t do on MacOS I already do on macOS just fine. You are saying it can’t be done because you don’t know how to do it.

Attack them for the enormous corner radius, Liquid Glass, spotlight changing the top result right before you click on it, etc. don’t bitch about problems that literally do not exist.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

How many windows do you have open during your typical work day? And how many of each application?

[-] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

Dude, learn the GUI. It borrows heavily from Linux virtual desktops. Swipe up on the touchpad with 4 fingers. There’s other customizable window sorting stuff too.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 week ago

Read the comments, I do. Windows' GUI is better.

How many windows do you need open day to day to do your job?

[-] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 week ago

First, windows 11 has objectively the worst desktop GUI. It’s a downgrade from its predecessor and so bad literally everyone beats it now. It’s not better, it’s familiar.

Second, asking how many windows I have open is dumb since you are asking for a static number for something that changes day to day. If I say 6, you say 7. If I say 11, you say a billion. You aren’t looking for a real answer to consider, you are looking from something to lie about. I will say I have 3 browsers with multiple windows and tabs open across 3 screens, vscode, terminal, 2 virtual machines in full screen a simple swipe reveals, pages and numbers, TextEdit as a scratchpad for notes, a few finder windows, messages, discord, mail, and probably a few other things.

That was just this afternoon. And when I unplug from the dock and move to the couch, they all are organized sensibly on virtual desktops I can swipe between easily. I haven’t rebooted in over a month and only did so this afternoon for an OS update.

Don’t like MacOS? Fine, there’s KDE that does windows better than actual windows does.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Second, asking how many windows I have open is dumb since you are asking for a static number for something that changes day to day. If I say 6, you say 7. If I say 11, you say a billion. You aren’t looking for a real answer to consider, you are looking from something to lie about.

It's not a dick measuring contest, I'm just genuinely curious how someone who actually uses a lot of windows manages, or whether I'm talking to a university student writing an essay.

I will say I have 3 browsers with multiple windows and tabs open across 3 screens, vscode, terminal, 2 virtual machines in full screen a simple swipe reveals, pages and numbers, TextEdit as a scratchpad for notes, a few finder windows, messages, discord, mail, and probably a few other things.

So how do you quickly switch to a different instance of the same browser, on the same monitor?

First, windows 11 has objectively the worst desktop GUI. It’s a downgrade from its predecessor and so bad literally everyone beats it now. It’s not better, it’s familiar.

Oh its just "bad"? I listed numerous basic failings of MacOS, including specific window management failings and their patronizingly useless notification system. How about you do better than "bad"?

[-] Engywuck@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

It is. Period.

[-] remon@ani.social 2 points 1 week ago

Upvote for an unpolular opinion.

But it's pretty clear that most of your PEBCAK

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 week ago

Lmfao. I use all the dumbass window management features apple provides. Again, they're just objectively worse then the ones that windows provides.

Alt tabbing applications is nonsense when a single application like your browser will likely have multiple windows open, each of which is serving a completely different task.

Making the only way to quickly switch between windows, being switching between full screen windows is literal nonsense.

It fucking sucks at managing applications and their windows. It's designed for writing your novel in café where you have one Google doc open and that's it.

[-] remon@ani.social 1 points 1 week ago

Alt tabbing applications is nonsense when a single application like your browser will likely have multiple windows open, each of which is serving a completely different task.

yeah, there is a different hotkey for switching between windows of the same application ...

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 week ago

Yeah, that's not what I want because again, the application is not the context the user thinks about.

I want to switch between to the last used window, on that monitor, or pick between the different open windows, on that monitor.

On Windows, you literally just three finger swipe left and right. On MacOS you can use mission control to see impossible tiny thumbnails of full screen apps, and if you happen to be on a desktop you might be able to make out which open window is which, but if you're not or have too many open you just can't.

[-] remon@ani.social 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I want to switch between to the last used window, on that monitor, or pick between the different open windows, on that monitor.

And you can do just that. You just have to use a different hotkey depending on whether the last used windows are of the same application or not.

I guess having to use two different hotkeys can seem really overwhelming at first, but it actually makes it much faster to switch tab through many windows, because they are group by application instead of just being in one big flat list.

Again, you're just describing a skill issue.

[-] LuigiMaoFrance@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Concerning your window management troubles, have you tried Exposé/Mission Control at all? "Ctrl + Arrow Key Up/Down" will show all open windows, and all open windows from the currently used application respectively. On trackpads this is bound to a four finger swipe up/down.

To cycle between the active application's windows use "cmd + >" (add shift to cycle backwards), or alternatively you could right click an application's dock icon to view a list of all its open windows.

If you combine these with "cmd + tab" to cycle between active applications you can bring any window you are looking for to the front quick and efficiently, using only the keyboard or trackpad.

[-] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yes, I use this all the time out of necessity but it's still hogwash.

Mission Control is ok for selecting windows on a a single desktop as long as you have less then 6 open, it starts falling apart after that, and for some reason, no matter what, it makes the icons for full screen apps so small it's impossible to tell which particular mostly white web page is which.
Ctrl + Arrow Key - switches between only true Full Screen applications, forcing you to use Full Screen, instead of just maximizing. Want to know which windows are coming up next in the list? Too bad, use mission control.
CMD + tab - switches between your last used applications, it does not switch between windows.

On Windows:

you have a taskbar at the bottom where all running windows are neatly tucked away under each application, each with a preview.
With Alt + Tab you go through a list of last used windows, not applications. With a three finger swipe left or right, you can switch between them with a single gesture. You can configure this list to be all windows, or just the ones on that monitor. Their previews are always a predictable and visible size.
you have virtual desktops where you can put your entire window arrangement across multiple monitors away, and start a completely fresh workspace for a different task.

[-] Perspectivist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 weeks ago

I have an almost 10-year-old MacBook Pro, and I gotta say - of all the tech I've ever owned, it's hands down the most hassle-free experience I've ever had. It might not be for power users, but for shitposting and watching YouTube videos it's been absolutely fantastic. It just works, and there's virtually never any issues with anything.

The only negative things I have to say about it have more to do with its age than it being a Mac.

I'm very intrigued by the Framework laptop, but I dunno - I might just get another Mac instead. Especially now that they've brought back the card reader, HDMI, and a proper keyboard.

[-] DupaCycki@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

No offense to anyone, but to me MacOS feels like an operating system designed specifically for mentally deficient, disabled toddlers. So much 'time saving' in the background it's actively wasting my time.

[-] unmagical@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

Exit button minimizes application.
Minimize button right next to exit button also minimizes application.
Clear all button for notifications doesn't actually clear all notifications.
Keyboard shortcuts for window snapping don't snap windows.
Necessary to install supplementary tools to accommodate basic functionality that other OSes have out of the box.
X code
No software support for DP MST so fuck you if want to run your own computer off a single wire dock.

At least the virtual desktops work pretty good.

[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

Exit button minimizes application.

X closes the window, it doesn't minimize it. The application stays open until you explicitly quit it.

[-] unmagical@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

Staying open but hidden is what we call "minimize." "Explicitly quitting" is what should happen when you click the exit button.

[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

Minimize hides that specific window. The window still exists, it's still taking up memory, anything it's doing is still running.

Close closes the window, kills any tasks that window is running, but leaves the basic program still running so if you click on it again it's already ready to go, you don't have to fully reopen the program.

You have to decouple the concept of program from window.

[-] cholesterol@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Staying open but hidden is what we call "minimize."

That isn't what happens. Minimizing means you can restore the current window as is. Closing a window and then clicking the application icon means a new window will be generated using whatever default settings you have.

this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2026

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