Anyone have experience with using both a windows laptop and a macbook pro?

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I currently have a windows 10 laptop, Been using windows since I first went on the internet in 2005 so I am used to it and how it works etc. I was also using samsung phones until I decided I wanted a change so I recently got my first iphone. I have decided to get a macbook pro after christmas as I suppose it makes sense if I'm using an iphone now. I have been watching youtube videos on macbooks as I have never used one before, But I have a few questions before I buy it that I couldn't find an answer to..

1: Using my windows laptop and a wireless mouse if I want to do some things I right click the mouse and am able to save an image, print, etc and if I left click I can copy text, then right click to paste etc. Is it the same if I use a mouse with a macbook? does the left and right click do pretty much the same thing? If not, What do they do?

2: Can I use any wireless mouse or does it have to be an apple one?

3: I currently use google drive to store all my stuff, I have about 2tb of stuff I want to keep, Anyone with experience of using drive and icloud is there any point me changing to icloud? Is it better in any way or are they much the same?

4: The way I use my laptop I currently get 10 hours battery life, All I really use it for is sending the odd email, watching a bit of youtube, Social media, watching videos stored in my google drive, Obviously this varies depending on what I'm doing, Sometimes I get 7-8 hours battery life, Is the macbook about the same/Would I get the same battery life as I have now with that usage?

5: I know nobody can predict this or answer the question for me but anyone who used windows for a long time and swapped to a mac, Did you regret it at all? Also, How long did it take you to get used to using the mac? What is the thing/s I am likey to miss once I change?

6: I currently use a screen recorder, I bought it last year but just found out it's not compatible with ios, Is there any good HD screen recorders out there as I use it all the time. I don't mind paying for it as a one off payment, I paid around £30 for mine.

Sorry for the essay, But, for me, a macbook is very expensive, and I don't want to buy it then regret it as I won't have that kind of money again.

Thank You to anyone who answers any of my questions.

If all you want to use it for is sending the odd email and watching Videos, I would question spending about £2000 on a laptop. Why not Stick with your pc, since you are familiar with it?

I switched to Mac about ten years back after years of Windows Pcs. No regrets- once you get used to a Mac, it is much more intuitive and easy to use, lighter, more compact.

To answer some of your questions - I use the Magic Mouse with my Mac - I don't think they are compatible with others. You can configure it how you like - to mirror a standard mouse function or slightly differently if you use your computer in a different way - it's all adjustable. Likewise with the trackpad on the Pro itself.

Battery life is good - around similar, I think. I use Google drive and sharepoint on my Mac, both work fine, don't really bother with iCloud. Only complaint is that Google Chrome seems to make my Pro quite hot if it have multiple tabs open for a long time. Not really a complaint, but since you asked! I don't know about screen recorders, sorry.

You honestly don’t need a Mac.

I did what you’re thinking of doing and if it didn’t mean having to get used to Windows again after about 12 years on Macs I’d have gone back to laptops.

Macs are expensive and whilst I can cover the cost of
replacements or new screens when I manage to damage them I didn’t need one for the way I use them.

I now just use my phone and an iPad for everything I do and I’ll never buy anything else again.

Hi there!

I switched from windows to MacBook Air and love the change. Like you, I was skeptical at first because have always been so used to using windows but I had an iPhone for a while now and lots of things/apps are similar.

1. your wireless mouse will do the same things like any windows mouse. Right click to see options, left click to select, etc so it's the same mechanism if you use the wireless mouse. If you use MacBooks touchpad, mechanism differs left click is simple click and right click is control+ left click but using wireless mouse is the same

2. you can use any wireless mouse just connect it through Bluetooth. I currently use Lenovos and it works great

3. I also personally use Google drive and don't really bother with iCloud

4. battery life is pretty good. I charge it after 2-3 days sometimes and my usage is light. When I use it heavily to edit videos etc it lasts about a day when fully charged.

5. it took me a week to fully learn and get used to using it but I don't regret the swap and infact enjoy using the MacBook it's very user friendly and lightweight. I missed the right click command as I used to use the touchpad before but recently switched to wireless mouse and now it makes no difference to me as it's the same mechanism.

6. sorry don't know about screen recorders. Hopefully someone else can help with that

I've a MacBook Air and a big windows laptop.
Got the air for ease of travel and for writing in coffee shops. Use the windows laptop for working from home.
The battery life is great compared to my windows laptop. And I don't have the issue of overheating which has killed multiple laptops of mine in the past.

No need to change storage provider.

You can use any wireless mouse but you'll need one with a usc type adapter, or get a usc to usb hub to use existing items with the MacBook.

Getting used to the different shortcut keys took me a while. And the different menu bar setup. But overall kit much adjusting. However I used macs back in college in the 90s and other non-windows machines at uni so have adapted many times before.

I’ve never even learnt how to do any of the shortcuts. I just didn’t need them.

In your situation I'd get a MacBook Air, not a Pro. It'll do everything you need. The new M1 chip is pretty amazing.

I have a Bluetooth mouse so no need for any USB dongles. It works just like a PC mouse.

My trackpad is set up so a single-finger tap is a left-click, and a double-finger tap is a right-click. There are lots of different ways to set it up.

I do pay for iCloud storage because it's useful for synchronising my videos and photos with my phone, and I also use it fairly seamlessly with the Adobe suite of products. I share the space with my family so it comes to about $2 a month each. I doubt you'd need it though.

Sorry - no idea about HD screen recorders but I'd be amazed if there isn't one for a Mac. I use the built-in Screenshot app all the time, which can also record video.

I occasionally take on contracts where I have to use PCs and I really loathe them compared to Macs, but it does seem to be a very personal decision.

I have used mac since I was 18 at home but use Windows at work. I would say mac is more intuitive once you get used to it and I prefer it.

I keep all my stuff on Google drive and have no issues, but I have a Google phone so it is ideal for me for photo storage etc.

You can use any wireless mouse, I use a cheap one occasionally. A two finger click on the track pad is the same as a right click on a mouse. A lot of keyboard shortcuts are the same but some do vary.

I get about 4 hours of battery out of mine, but that is constant work using various software and it is 6 years old!

Not sure what an HD screen recorder is, but as pp said you can record your screen/part of your screen using a video screenshot.

I love mac, I have had 2 in the space of 12 years and they have got me through 2 degrees and lots of projects and work. However I agree with pp that is is £££ and you won't make the most of the features with the kind of use you seem to need. But if you can afford it I guess why not.

1: yes using a mouse works exactly the same way. The left and right click do the same things.

2: you can use any wireless mouse.

3: you can still use google drive on a mac, I prefer iCloud just for fluidity across all my devices but it’s personal preference.

4: I have a MacBook Pro, I use it every day from 9-4 while working, I often watch things on it on an evening or a weekend.
According to my activity monitor I get 15 hours and 23 minutes on average out of a full charge.

5: didn’t regret it at all, it takes a while to get used to but I much prefer macs.
They definitely last significantly better than any other laptop I’ve ever owned.

6: do you mean software or hardware?

For what it sounds like you use a laptop for there's far better for a lot cheaper to be honest, macbooks are good, but if you aren't going to use a lot of the functionality then seems a little bit like something you might regret. I'd definitely look at the air, or even an ipad.

A Macbook Air would do everything you need for half the price of the Pro. Mine was just under 1k three years ago and it still runs like new.

The battery lasts 8-9 hours from full charge, it's quick, starts up in seconds and has never had a problem. I'd never, ever go back to Windows now.

My dad always used to tell me how Macbooks were a waste of money, until my mum got the Air and he tried it out. He then spent a fortune on the top of the range Macbook Pro for himself

My Macbook is 9 years old or so, still working great and other than a new battery hasn't needed anything done to it despite me dropping it on the kitchen floor several times. When I replaced it I will get another one just because of how long they last.

I have an 11-year old Pro because I used to work in graphic design and Macs were better for rendering/video work. I think for your purposes a Pro would be like using an extremely expensive sledgehammer to crack a nut; as a PP said, the new Airs are really high spec, probably much better than my existing Pro! I use both Windows and Mac and each have their pros and cons. The only reason I'm thinking of replacing mine is because Apple no longer support it and so I can't upgrade the OS, meaning a lot of software won't work. It's a shame because there's nothing wrong with it other than it's old. I detest this relentless upgrading when something works perfectly well, but I suppose that's progress for you

Oh and you can run Windows on a Mac if you need it.

@dubyalass

Oh and you can run Windows on a Mac if you need it.

Yes. I did that as well.

I've got a MacBook Air, honestly as PP said you don't need a Pro. I also have Google drive, one drive and iCloud synced to it, I tend to use iCloud for photos and then Google drive for admin type stuff (and also have Teams and work one drive synced to it too no bother)

The right click and mouse is all fine, the only thing I give annoying it's that it's not ctrl+c for copy but CMD+c, catches me out every time. You can right click and select copy from mouse though.

I switched from Windows 10 to MacBook Pro. I feel like I wasted so many years with Windows, being afraid to make the switch. I used to change my laptop every 3 years because the battery eventually died, or they overheated so much and sounded like they're going to take off. I use large image files and Photoshop so I chose pro and not air but that depends on your job.
The battery is 10 times better, I charge it twice a week or so. You get used to all different shortcuts, don't let that put you off. I also used 2 fingers on the touchpad to right click, like someone else said. There's a built in screen recorder, you can record your screen the same way you get a static screenshot.
My only regret is not doing it sooner.
I've had 4 windows laptops and they all eventually got so slow and unresponsive they filled me with homicidal rage.

I use a Bluetooth mouse with no issues and cut and paste the same way.

I use both - Mac at home and windows for work.

Much prefer the Mac.

I have an air. I don’t think you’d need a pro.

I have MacBook and iPhone for home and windows at work

I’m using my Mac so rarely these days I forget how to use it, and an more proficient with Windows, but it’s about 8 years old and I used it for my degree.

I might get an iPad when it dies.

I have a windows PC, iMac, windows laptop and MacBook Air.

MacBook Air wins for laptop. Hands down.

It's 11 years old now and I still reach for it the most. So quick to turn on and so light. Easy to charge, responsive.

For desktop i really love the iMac. It looks great and is fast and no separate tower and screen.

But I wouldn't get another. We just built a new gaming PC for the family room and the flexibility that it's future proof and can change the screen etc means it's the better investment.

I don't mind switching between both as always have. But going forward I'll be a windows PC + MacBook Air girl.

I’ve had a Mac for nearly 10 years now for work, and also ended up getting one for home - love them, and wouldn’t go back to windows! However, for the situation you describe I’m not sure I’d bother. If you have the money spare, and want to treat yourself though, go for it!