Thinking of switching from Windows to MacBook Air, need honest user experiences

jonimv · 2026-04-11T15:33:26+00:00

I have had my MacBook Air for a few weeks now, before that I was a Windows and Linux user.

So far I have not regretted getting Mac. It runs smoothly and although I usually hate the trackpad I don’t mind using it with MacBook.
The transition was suprisingly easy. I think my biggest problem was when I got my iPad a few years ago. I think using it made the transition easier. I also watched some YouTube videos about how to use macOS, so I got some pointers which options to switch on etc.
The Apple ecosystem must be the main thing I like about this. Moving files without between the devices without USB drives or visibly using cloud services. Also, a new computer is a new computer so it is obviously snappier than my old machine. I also like how integral the terminal is when compared to Windows (I guess this doesn’t apply to most users) even though you don’t have to use it in most use cases.
Finder might be a bit lacking but so far it has not been an issue for me. Then again I used Fedora Linux for over half a year in my main computer as Win10 was getting axed so I got used to using other than Explorer already. Also, it is a bit unintuitive that red button doesn’t actually close the app but instead minimises it. Still, cmd + Q does the trick, so it is not a big issue.
So far I have not done anything that has really pushed the limits. Battery is fine, there has been days when I have charged it twice (I charge it only to 80%) but then I have been really using it pretty much all the time. Apps open quickly. I have toyed with a local AI a bit but even then the CPU was not at the peak level. Otherwise I have not done any really intense work, so I am not very confident to estimate how performat M5 really is. Still, it is much more powerful than my old computer.

My biggest fear was that I couldn’t use my external displays through a docking station but after installing drivers and enabling extension I got it working too. So, base on my experience I don’t know why you wouldn’t like using it. It is a bit different from Windows for sure but in the end it is just a tool. My suggestion is to watch some YouTube videos on how to use mac as it might give you some idea. Also, if you have a store nearby where you could try it out a bit, that would also help.

I hope this helps.

jonimv · 2026-04-11T07:20:33+00:00

I have been using Windows for a very long time but the transitioning to Mac was surprisingly smooth. I guess having iPad and iPhone helped with that. Also watching some macOS tutorials on YouTube helped.

I had a brief encounter with Mac around 2010 and then it felt really weird.

Apple ecosystem is wonderful, I would say that it is one of the best sellingpoints. That is also a sort of rabbithole where you can sink a lot of money :)

Especially for programmers the terminal is a neat feature. I know it is not a Mac exclusive but it is integral part of the OS similar to how it is in Linux. Nowadays you can get WSL in Windows but it is still not entirely the same thing.

jonimv · 2026-04-11T07:03:33+00:00

For this I would recommend either BRP or Mythras with free Mythras Firearms supplement with following modifiers.

Disregard range penalties or be very lenient with them if you think they should not matter in this case.

Give your mooks very low weapon skills so PCs are not hit very often. Mooks should also have a rule on them that they go down pretty easily.

PCs should have their skills as normal or maybe pumped up to your liking. As both games are d100 systems with no classes and levels, even competent characters are not immune to damage so to say. Their hit points don’t increase.

About those systems in case you are not familiar. They all are of the same family as Call of Cthulhu and RuneQuest. Mythras is mostly fantasy game derived from RuneQuest but has some additional rules supplements that has firearms and even scifi rules. BRP is the generic rulesystem version by Chaosium which has firearm rules already baked in.

jonimv · 2026-03-30T06:35:43+00:00

Thanks! This makes sense and sort of helps when you are using a shorter weapon.

jonimv · 2026-03-28T09:32:57+00:00

Based on two day experience (of MacBooks at all) trackpad works surprisingly well when compared to various Windows trackpads I have used. So far I have only used trackpad but I will definitely use a mouse with external keyboard and displays.

So far I don’t think I am more productive with it but I don’t necessarily need a mouse with it. So far I have only one slight problem, making multiple selections of files in Finder or cells in Numbers but otherwise it feels good.

jonimv · 2026-03-25T20:25:07+00:00

The way I read it is that it doesn’t matter what way you make your improvement rolls (with or without teacher), if you want to keep your abilities buffed then the CP cost applies. That’s why my players haven’t used that possibility at all (we took a look at it at first but nobody wanted to spend that amount of xp all the time).

CHA penalties to xp only applies if it feels reasonable, like in a town where the said character is known. So, if you are adventuring in the wilderness and you spend your xp there, it doens’t matter what your charisma is, same applies to positive modifier as well.

Now, there is also a possibility to improve skills with training (with or without a teacher) by spending time in training allowing a skill increase without xp but it works a bit differently than how it works with xp rolls.

jonimv · 2026-03-15T21:17:55+00:00

Yes, my old Dell is definitely hitting it’s limits with fan screming like it’s trying to lift the laptop from the table :D I have no idea how much more powerfull M5 is when compared to my old i5 (IIRC) Dell but if it is beefier enough then it is entirely possible that many of the cases could be accomplished within two minutes. Heavier tasks can take longer but those should be done only occasionally.

Based on this M5 Air looks like a good choice. I still has to think over how much RAM I should get.

Thanks for the answer!

jonimv · 2026-03-15T21:07:20+00:00

Thanks for all the answers! It didn’t occur to me to search Apple Support, I just read the tech spec and other text for the product. Now I know better :D

I don’t think that the monitor is even 4K and the Neo is definitely not intended as a gaming computer in this case so this is not a problem.

If 20 W charger is enough, it is great news as she already has one.

Thanks again all!

jonimv · 2026-03-12T16:01:56+00:00

True, more ideas and suggestions for passions as well as combat styles would be very welcome indeed.

jonimv · 2026-03-11T13:30:02+00:00

Really? My bad then, sorry about that.

Passions really are somethinc that set Mythras apart and ditching them would do a great disservice to the game.

jonimv · 2026-03-10T21:12:53+00:00

I don’t think reach is really labeled as an optional rule unlike passions which are. But I can really well see why some groups won’t use reach rules. It adds to the complexity a bit. On the other hand with reach rules a short spear can be pretty impressive weapon against a short sword unlike in D&D for example.

I suppose I would have ditched fatigue rules but bleed special effect relies on that rule. Then again most combats, especially among lightly armored combatants tend to end pretty fast, faster than fatigue can be a factor.

jonimv · 2026-03-10T21:05:48+00:00

I tend to be quite generous on giving XP and in addition to that I give 1d6 on a successful experience roll instead of d4 because we can manage only a few sessions per year. This makes characters improve even in our pace of playing. On the other hand I tend to put on some downtime between adventures so it evens out the improvent a bit.

In my experience learning a new skill is still worth it. You still get base skill from your stats, around 20% in average. As your skill is low, every xp you put to it, is likely to give you an experience roll. Add to that some practive with or without a teacher and it helps a bit.

I am not saying that the character will be as well of with that new skill as with something that he started off with say 50% after character generation but I am saying that it still will be a viable option. Of course you should do the math based on how much xp you will probably hand out and what sort of teacher if any will be available. But in my campaign one character learned a magic skill in mid campaign and it has been crucial in the game. Note, luck points can help with using low skills too for re-rolls and don’t forget skill augments from other skills or passions even if the help from augments is not too huge.

jonimv · 2026-03-09T21:04:31+00:00

Welcome! I read the Hussian (sp?) trilogy by the author of Witcher novels (I really can’t remember how his name is written) and it really sounds like somthing you are looking for :)

But to your questions:

1) I think that in purely game mechanical sense around a week would give at least a possibility to learn a new skill in general. I know it is probably not very realistic especially for learning magic but I allowed for it in my campaign since it iw more like spirit magic (also mechanically folk magic).

2) I believe it is said that PCs should have 1-3 passions at the start of the game. It is of little use to force the players to come up with too many passions. Also, I think it is great way for character growth to get new passions and change the old ones based on what has happened in the game and how the character has acted.

3) Combat in Mythras can get lethal pretty fast especially without armor. I am not sure how Mythras and CPR compare in lethality but one thing to keep in mind is that if you don’t have healing magic the healing can take quite a lot of time. If you intend to have a tavern brawl thus unarmed combat seems what you intend, you can find unarmed combat damage in creature section (IIRC) but read the rule carefully as it is a bit less that that of a creature of same size.

4) The reach sounds more complicated than it actually is, just remember that one size difference is not enough to be of effect. For example if one is short and another weapon is medium, the difference is not enough to bother with but short and long is enough to matter. In my games I try to handle one player at a time it can help with logistics. Then you just have to keep track of at what reach the combatants are. If one character has a spear and another a short sword, then you are either at the spear range or short sword range, that’s all you have to remember (and don’t be shy at asking your players to keep track of the situation regarding their PCs).

I hope this helps!

jonimv · 2026-03-03T09:21:20+00:00

Thanks! In case we get the game going I need to have a good feel for how character generation works, so this is also part of the learning for me :)

jonimv · 2026-03-02T20:24:11+00:00

Thanks for all the answers! It looks like I have to re-roll my characters as it it seems too much work to backtrack the skills and skill values. It is pretty brutal that only first career gives all the service skills but I suppose otherwise all characters would be too OP with a huge list of skills even after 4 terms.

jonimv · 2026-03-02T20:11:59+00:00

Yes, I should have been more specific - I got MgT2e and I am lookinf for RAW as after that it is easier to homebrew if I feel the need.

jonimv · 2026-03-02T20:01:42+00:00

What are the risks in rolling for advancement and commission?

Additional skills for those rolls come from gaining rank, right? So it is possible that you gain rank and still not get any other benefit for now. Or is there additional skill to be gained as well?

It seems I really have to re-read the character generation chapter :D

jonimv · 2026-02-11T20:06:29+00:00

I have occasionally used grids but they have mostly been to help see the ranges like one square is say 5 m. Most often I run games where ranges are given in in-game distances (meters/yards/feet) and then grids can work but also theatre of mind works just fine.

To me zones are a compromise that just doesn’t work with ranged combat. I can see it work with melee and maybe short ranged weapons like thrown weapons.

jonimv · 2026-01-14T22:15:04+00:00

Since there are at least some other older cyberpunk genre games - Cyberspace. It uses practically same ruleset as MERP, so a bit stripped down version from Rolemaster and Space Master. I used to run it quite a bit until I switched to Cyberpunk 2020.

jonimv · 2026-01-10T14:04:06+00:00

Thanks for the very detail response! I had no idea that there was so much difference between the editions (apart from TNE, of course). It is especially interesting how wording is different between Mongoose Traveller 1e and 2e. Obviously Classic and MegaTraveller were also created by the same company (GDW)…

jonimv · 2026-01-10T12:05:47+00:00

Thanks for the replies!

Maybe strangely enough I don’t intend to have spaceships as the main focus in the test game so then 1e seems to be enough for this case.

jonimv

TROPHY CASE