There is a lot to love about almost every computer and its operating system. Having used Microsoft’s Windows, several versions of Linux, and Apple’s macOS, I can confidently say that the most essential features I never knew I needed were included in macOS.
Having your convenience on a desktop or laptop has been a game changer. Between small quality-of-life features and bigger essential time savers, macOS has a lot of features and tricks hidden beneath the surface.
Having used Microsoft’s Windows, several versions of Linux, and Apple’s macOS, I can confidently say that the most essential features I never knew I needed were included in macOS.
From text replacement to Apple Maps, there’s a lot to love about Apple’s iPhone.
Of all of them, some stand out as essential.
There are some Mac features that I simply can’t see myself without in the future, no matter how much I want to reinstall Manjaro or build a new Windows machine.
When it comes to my Mac, there are some features that I simply can’t live without.
1 All the time saved using Quick View
Looking at files without opening them saves a lot of time
Quick Look is one of those features that, at first glance, sounds really trivial. It is simply viewing a document or a photograph. But, having used other platforms for quite some time, Mac’s Quick Look makes everything else look downright archaic. If I need to quickly look at the second page of a PDF, I can simply tap the space bar and take a look, without needing to involve Adobe Reader.
Having used other platforms for quite me, Mac’s Quick Look makes everything else look downright archaic.
What makes Quick Look so impressive is that it lives up to its name: it’s very fast. Sometimes it seems like Adobe Reader or Windows Photos take forever to open. And all for what could just be a quick look at a file. Quick Look makes the entire process as quick as a couple of seconds, all without any extra hassle.
Quick Look’s uses aren’t limited to static files either; Videos and GIFs can also be previewed quickly with Quick Look. Anything other than apps can be viewed and saved quickly and easily with Quick Look, and it’s the kind of feature you can’t live without once you get used to using it.
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2 Lack of PDF has problems with the Preview app
It’s a hidden feature, kind of like
Beyond just taking a quick look at a PDF, macOS also comes with one of the best and most robust apps for viewing and lightly modifying PDF files. That is, the Preview application. Although the app is primarily used to view photos on macOS, it is also used to view PDF files. However, it can be used for much more than just visualization.
Modifying PDF files is one of the biggest nightmares in all of computing. Between locked PDF files, PDF files that are just scanned images, and dealing with unintuitive software, there is somehow no shortage of potential points of failure when trying to electronically sign a document. On macOS, all of these problems disappear within the confines of the humble Preview app.
Preview makes every time I have to open a PDF much less painful, so it’s a Mac feature I’m never willing to give up.
Whatever number of things you want to do with a PDF, the Preview app can almost definitely handle them. Do you need to delete a page from a PDF? Simply select it in Preview and press the backspace key. Do you need to sign a document? Simply use your created signature in the Preview app’s markup tools. You can even copy text from a locked PDF. Preview makes every time I have to open a PDF much less painful, so it’s a Mac feature I’m never willing to give up.
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3 The large number of gestures and shortcuts
Navigate between apps with ease
The iPhone’s impressive feature set includes many gestures and shortcuts for easy access to any number of features. However, this is not limited to Apple mobile phones. On macOS, there are a ton of great gestures and shortcuts available to use right out of the box.
For users using something as humble as a Mac Mini without additional Apple peripherals like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, there’s already a lot available to do when it comes to gestures. One of the simplest gestures available is Hot Corners.
Either way, the number of gestures and shortcuts available in macOS is absolutely dizzying and they are absolutely necessary.
Hot Corners is a simple feature that allows you to assign each corner of your screen to a preset shortcut that can include creating a sticky note, viewing your desktop, or putting your Mac to sleep. Hot Corners are activated by simply dragging the cursor to any corner, or you can configure your Mac so that ts only activates when it is held down when the cursor is in the corner.
Once you add a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad to the mix, the possibilities are almost endless. With a Magic Trackpad in particular, you’ll enjoy a host of optional multi-touch gestures that can be performed on the trackpad. And despite its poor reputation, the Magic Mouse still has a lot to offer in terms of simple efficiency and workflow on macOS. Both peripherals are made even more useful by using third-party apps, such as BetterTouchTool. Either way, the number of gestures and shortcuts available in macOS is absolutely dizzying and they are absolutely necessary.
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4 The clean and elegant interface of macOS
It is easy to understand and use.
Out of the box, macOS has by far the terfaces of any operation there. While any Linux distribution can be tweaked and tailored to your exact needs, sometimes it’s nice to have a polished experience right out of the box. Of course, Mac’s clean interface is much preferable to the messier user interface of Windows 10 and now Windows 11.
However, the macOS interface is not only excellent for aesthetic reasons. The combination of the menu bar and dock is an absolute powerhouse of efficiency. Quick access to almost all the information you could want to find within an application is available in the menu bar. On Windows, there’s a good reason why apps like Photoshop have their own menu bar by default, and it’s because it’s so handy to have on hand at all times.
Another great part of the menu bar is the Control Center. Although Windows has a similar taskbar part, macOS does much better between how customizable it is and its content. While the Windows taskbar may be clogged with background apps, all of them are relegated to a spot below the icon in the Dock. Instead, Control Center on macOS is packed with Wi-Fi settings, AirDrop settings, Screen Mirroring, the volume bar, and the now-playing widget, among other customizable options.
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5 The convenience of the Apple ecosystem
Everything works together without seeming
Of course, it’s hard to really explain the usefulness of a Mac without also addressing the Apple ecosyFeaturestween the efficiency of the M series of chips and the excellent features of macOS, there are already many reasons to own a Mac. In addition to having an iPhone, an iPad or an Apple Watch, a Mac seems essential.
With a Mac and any other Apple product, there are no shglitchesof glitches at your disposal. With an iPad, you can set up your tablet as another display for your Mac. Or you can sync your Mac’s keyboard and mouse with your iPad for a perfect combination. One of those “seems magical” moments in technology comes when you seamlessly drag the cursor from your Mac directly to your iPad.
There’s also all the use that comes with having an iPhone and being able to take phone calls and respond to text messages, all from your Mac. With AirPods, you can easily switch audio from your phone to your Mac and vice versa. With an Apple Watch, you can automatically unlock your Mac based solely on proximity. While there are many Mac features that feel essential, Apple’s own ecosystem makes the Mac feel essential.
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