- I am a MacBook Pro user, but I have both Windows 11 and macOS on my laptop.
- There are many differences between Windows 11 and macOS, I believe. Both operating systems are reliable and mature, but they have their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Over the years, they have also borrowed many features from each other.
- I have been testing Windows 11 beta on my MacBook Pro. I would love to see many new features in Microsoft’s upcoming operating system in macOS.
Note: This is not to say that Windows 11 is superior to macOS or vice versa. These comparisons are of little value, and it is too early to make a definitive judgment on Windows 11. Here are areas where I believe Windows 11 has an advantage over macOS.
1. Window management
Window management is the biggest weakness of macOS. It involves managing all of the windows that are open and minimized at once.
Windows 11 is now more advanced than the Mac with Snap Layouts and Snap Groups. You can now choose from a range of screen layouts by hovering your cursor over Windows 11’s maximize window icon. It’s much easier to arrange windows if you have multiple windows open at once.
Snap Groups are the perfect complement to all of this. You can flick to any full-screen app, then return to the group of windows you just neatly arranged in the same order you left them. If you want to check your email, return to the browser/Word combo. You can easily do this by selecting the Snap Group in the Taskbar.
You can also find Magnet in the Mac App Store if you look for something like Snap Layouts in macOS.
2. A screen-free app launcher
The macOS Launchpad is one of my favorite parts of the operating system. Launchpad takes over the whole screen to display a list of all installed apps. Although it might be possible if Macs had touchscreens, we are not going there.
Windows 11’s new Start Menu looks like a Launchpad Lite. The Start Menu has a similar scrollable grid of icons that you can choose from but doesn’t take up too much screen space. It accomplishes the same thing, but without making a sudden switch to an iPad-like existence. This idea is mine, and Apple could steal it.
3. Multi-monitor handling
Hot-desking will likely become more popular in the post-pandemic office of tomorrow, and a new Windows 11 feature makes it easier.
In Windows 10 and macOS, if you have multiple windows open and pull the cable to the second display, all of the windows from your big-screen monitors will jump onto the laptop screen. This can create a bit more mess. These windows are also the same size as the ones on the external display. This means that they can run off the screen and make it difficult to move them or close them.
Windows 11 addresses this problem by closing any open windows on an outside display that has been disabled. This will save you from a jumbled mess if you need to leave quickly or go to a meeting. It also remembers the location of any open windows on an external display so that if you return to your desk after half an hour, you can continue from where you left off.
4. Freeing up the app store
Over the years, the Windows Store (now the Microsoft Store) has been subject to criticism. The selection of apps it offers is limited, the prices are higher than direct purchases from publishers, and search results are poor.
The Mac App Store is a little better. It only improves on the Windows Store complaints above by the fact that the search engine works.
Microsoft is making a significant change with Windows 11. This could – and I emphasize could – make all the difference. Microsoft will waive its cut for publishers who use their payment method. This means that apps are no longer cheaper if you purchase directly from the publisher. Microsoft is not taking a portion of the profits.
Numerous big-name apps have been added to the Microsoft Store. This could make the Microsoft Store a one-stop shop for app installation, saving you the hassle of searching for apps in different online stores with all the malware traps, which could be a massive win for Windows.
This will also put pressure on Apple to follow suit, even though Apple isn’t easily embarrassed when taking a cut for its apps. For more evidence, see the Epic Games vs. Apple case.
5. Gaming
In addition to having easy access to the awesome Xbox Game Pass, Windows 11 offers a few key gaming upgrades to take your favorite titles to the next level. DirectX 12 supports higher frame rates, and Auto HDR delivers better visuals across a broad range of games.
Direct Storage is also supported by some PCs so that you will experience faster game loading times. Think Xbox Series X on a PC. macOS is still miles behind on gaming, with so many fewer titles than Windows.
6. Windows 11 allows you to dock smarter
Whether you’re working from home and you move from room to room, or you’re in an office setting, many of us are constantly docking and undocking. But it can take a bit to spring back into action. Windows 11 has a new docking experience that I wish macOS had.
If you unplug a laptop from a dock to move rooms, the windows on your monitor will minimize in Windows 11. When you return and re-connect to a dock, all of your Windows will re-appear the way they were before.
7. Chat with Microsoft Teams vs. FaceTime
FaceTime on mac OS Monterey is a lot cooler than the Chat from Microsoft Teams built into Windows 11. FaceTime new Share Play feature allows you to watch and share movies with friends or listen to music. But if you’re on Android or Windows, you can only be seen and heard through a web link, as there’s no dedicated FaceTime app for those platforms — which means they won’t get SharePlay. Chat with Microsoft Teams will be available on Windows, Android, and iOS.
