First impressions: Changing from PC to Mac

I’ve recently switched to Mac after nearly two decades using Windows. My first impressions:

- Yes, the Mac user interface is incredibly elegant and clever.

- Yes, it makes MS look stupid and life easier. Simple example: plugging a Mac to a projector and watching it adjust the resolution perfectly and automatically – versus embarrassing long minutes trying to set a PC up for a client presentation.

- It’s gorgeous, it’s clever, but it is not intuitive. Sorry, the Mac UI is NOT as intuitive as fans claim.  In my humble opinion the learning curve is steep, or steeper than I imagined.  To find my way around I  need to get used to a number of tricks, shortcuts and combinations of the two things.  I confess that I haven’t taken enough time to “study” these tricks – but should I need to just to do the basics?

- Whilst the Windows UI is clunky, you can find your (long) way around it without much help – my mum and mother-in-law can handle it although it amazes me HOW absurdly they handle it. But things  go well only until things go wrong. And boy, things do go wrong on a PC. Don’t even get me started.

- Software made for Mac is nearly perfect. But I’m not impressed with the “versions for Mac” of generic software. Who on earth thought that floating panels were a good idea?

Provisional verdict:
Despite a slightly bumpy start I have to say that the Macbook is such a nice piece of kit. The user interface is beautiful but not intuitive – requiring a considerable effort to get used to. But I can see myself already working more efficiently and perhaps in a month or two,  joining the hordes of annoying Mac fans.

P.S. (22/10/09) – Reporting back 5 months later: Happily using my Mac on basic mode. Surviving without ever learning non-essential tricks and shortcuts.

Check out the evolution of operating system user interface design from 1981 to 2009 by the Web Designer Depot.

Mac user interface as I remember it from 1991