I have fewer and fewer reasons to leave Windows for good.

Currently, my time is split between a Windows PC and a MacBook Pro. Both devices meet my needs, but despite my desire to unify everything in one device, I haven't been able to find one that fully fits my requirements. With the arrival of the Mac mini M4, I am reconsidering my entire setup. The most surprising thing is that, instead of thinking about replacing my MacBook Pro, I find myself increasingly motivated to abandon my PC and leave Windows behind once and for all.

Switching from Windows to macOS would significantly simplify my life. Right now, I have to work across different operating systems, remember various keyboard shortcuts, share files between devices in different ways, among other inconveniences that are very annoying when they happen daily. Additionally, there are constant small frustrations associated with Windows. I have been using Microsoft's operating system since I started getting interested in computers over 20 years ago, and I have had complaints all that time. All Windows users can recount some recurring issue, from crashing applications to strange system behaviors. This is a common experience with Windows.

As a user of both systems, I can say that those irritations are far less frequent on macOS. Besides being a different operating system, it offers a more enjoyable way to work. Apple's famous phrase "it just works" rings true when comparing the annoyance of Windows with the smoothness of its operating system. By eliminating Windows from my life, I would not only put an end to those problems, but it would also make everything easier. Instead of relying on a mix of Dropbox and AirDrop to share files, I could use only AirDrop. The best Windows applications I use daily work perfectly on macOS, and there is a vibrant ecosystem of Mac applications that are unavailable on Windows computers. The prospect of making this change is enticing.

An additional aspect of leaving Windows behind is gaming. In recent years, the primary reason that has kept me using Windows has been the compatibility and superior performance it offers in this area. Playing many titles has been the deciding factor, as PCs have powerful discrete GPUs and unmatched gaming compatibility that Macs have not been able to match for years. However, with the new M4 series Macs, things are changing. In the review of the Mac mini M4 Pro, we found that its gaming performance is comparable to that of the Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card. My current PC has an RTX 3070, which can offer a bit more performance than the M4 Pro. However, the issue is not so simple. The games I enjoy the most, like Stardew Valley and Football Manager, do not require high graphical capabilities, and more demanding titles are now available for Mac. With the M4 Pro, they run with the smoothness I need.

Migrating from Windows to macOS is not just advantages. On one hand, I enjoy the process of planning and building my own PCs, and the ability to pack a lot of power into a small space has always appealed to me. Although the Mac mini will outperform my PC in terms of size, Apple is known for being restrictive regarding Mac customizations. This would mean the end of my computer builds if I completely decided on macOS. Additionally, the placement of the power button on the Mac mini is an inconvenience. While it may seem trivial, I am one of the few who turns off their computer at the end of the day, and dealing with an awkward button every time could become tedious.

Despite this, these aspects are not deal-breakers for me, especially since I only build a new PC every few years, and I could simply put the Mac mini to sleep if I wish. The appeal of operating within a unified ecosystem, along with Apple’s new focus on gaming, makes the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The only remaining downside is the one that has affected Apple fans for years: the price. You really pay for Apple quality, and in my case, a new Mac mini could cost around $3,000. I need 4TB of storage and the M4 Pro chip, and I have doubts about whether the 24GB of memory on the Mac mini will be sufficient compared to the 32GB in my PC, despite its superior unified architecture. Upgrading those could be quite costly. However, if investing in an optimized Mac mini allows me to unify my workspace, eliminate the frustrations of Windows, and continue enjoying my favorite games, it could be a price worth paying. I just need to start saving.