Switching From Mac to Windows 11: 5 Drawbacks, Privacy Settings and Ecosystem Tips

The piece isn't anti-Windows. It gives Windows credit for PCs at every price point, better game compatibility, and professional software such as SolidWorks that SlashGear says doesn't run natively on macOS. It also notes that Windows 11 gets frequent feature updates. Below, each of the five points is checked against Microsoft's own documentation, with practical steps where they exist.

1. Stability: the cost of supporting so much hardware​

SlashGear's argument goes like this. Windows has to work on everything from budget laptops to high-end gaming rigs, and the components come from many different companies, each needing the right drivers. As a result, Windows PCs can be more exposed to driver conflicts and buggy updates. The problems range from small performance hiccups to full crashes, including the familiar Blue Screen of Death. The article also says Microsoft fixes major bugs quickly, but smaller issues can hang around for months.

Some perspective. The piece doesn't cite crash rates or name specific problem updates, so read it as a general judgment, not a measurement. Apple controls a small set of hardware designs. Microsoft has to support a huge range of machines from many manufacturers. That difference is real, but it doesn't mean your particular Windows PC will be unstable. A well-supported laptop from a manufacturer that keeps its drivers current can be very dependable.

What to do:

• Before you buy, check that the manufacturer provides driver and firmware updates for the model.
• Expect to troubleshoot now and then after an update, even if you rarely have to.
• Keep backups, which is good advice on any operating system.

Bottom line: stability depends more on the specific PC and its drivers than on Windows as a whole.

2. The out-of-box experience: preinstalled apps and mismatched settings​

Mac owners tend to be surprised by what comes preinstalled on a new PC. SlashGear says that, depending on the manufacturer, you may find anywhere from a few to more than a dozen preinstalled apps. Antivirus trials are the classic example: they start asking you to pay once the trial ends. The article also says some Start menu entries are app and game suggestions that open the Microsoft Store.

Most of this can be removed. Microsoft documents three ways to uninstall apps on Windows 10 and Windows 11:

1. From Start: Go to Start > All apps, find the app, right-click it (or press and hold), and choose Uninstall.
2. From Settings: Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find the app, select More (the "..." button), then Uninstall.
3. From Control Panel: Search for Control Panel on the taskbar, go to Programs > Programs and Features, right-click the program, and choose Uninstall or Uninstall/Change.

Two limits apply. Microsoft says some apps are built into Windows and can't be uninstalled at all. It also says some apps can't currently be removed through Settings, so for those you'll need the Control Panel method. If you get an error while uninstalling, Microsoft points to its Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter.

SlashGear also criticizes Windows 11's visual consistency, and anyone who has changed audio settings will know what it means. Settings > System > Sound uses the modern interface, but clicking More sound settings opens a legacy control panel that the article says looks like it came from Windows 7. Most everyday tasks happen in the modern Settings app. Just expect the older interface to show up for some advanced options.

Bottom line: spend half an hour removing what you don't need, and don't be surprised when an older-style window appears.

3. Hardware: many choices, uneven quality​

On a Mac, the design and materials are fairly consistent across the lineup. In the Windows world, the operating system tells you almost nothing about the screen, keyboard, trackpad, or chassis. SlashGear says all current MacBooks use aluminum enclosures, large trackpads, and bright displays. It names the Microsoft Surface Laptop and Dell XPS 13 as Windows laptops that come close to MacBook build quality, and says many others, even some premium-priced ones, still use plastic.

The article also compares prices, citing a MacBook Neo starting at $700 and an M5-powered 15-inch MacBook Air at $1,300. Those are SlashGear's figures. Prices change often, so check them at purchase time before treating them as fact.

The other side: that variety is also Windows' biggest strength. You can pay budget prices, get a gaming laptop with a discrete GPU, or buy a workstation built for CAD work. The downside is that you have to shop more carefully.

Before you buy a Windows laptop, check:

• Chassis material and hinge quality
• Trackpad size and how precise it feels (try it in a store if you can)
• Display brightness and color coverage
• Independent battery life reviews for that exact configuration

Bottom line: compare laptops one model at a time, not "Windows vs. Mac" in general.

4. Malware and privacy: which settings to change​

On security, SlashGear's argument has two parts. Windows is a bigger target because far more computers run it. But the article also says that switching doesn't automatically put your data at risk. It credits Windows' built-in protections, including Microsoft Defender, SmartScreen, and Secure Boot, and says a modern PC is hard to infect by accident with those turned on. Its advice is to be careful about what you download and install.

The piece gives no measurements behind its claim that you're "far more likely" to encounter malware on Windows. That's reasonable for an opinion piece, but it isn't a risk estimate, and it doesn't mean Macs are immune.

Advertising is where Windows really feels different to a Mac user. Microsoft's documentation gives you these controls:

Advertising ID. Windows gives each user on a device a unique advertising ID. App developers and ad networks can use it to personalize ads in apps. To change it:

1. Open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Recommendations & offers.
2. Turn off Let apps show my personalized ads by using my advertising ID.

Microsoft says turning this off won't reduce the number of ads you see, only how relevant they are. It also doesn't cover other kinds of interest-based advertising, such as website cookies.

Also on the Recommendations & offers page:

• Show me suggested content in the Settings app
• Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches
• Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list

Personalized offers. Under Privacy & security, Microsoft also documents a Personalized offers setting called Get personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on my Windows activity. When it's on, Microsoft can combine your Windows diagnostic data with other signals, such as Edge web activity (if you allowed it), Bing, Microsoft 365, and Xbox use, and your purchase history.

Lock screen. Go to Start > Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. Windows Spotlight shows rotating images along with tips and notifications. Switch to Picture or Slideshow if you don't want that, and turn off the fun facts and tips option.

Menu labels can vary slightly between Windows versions, so if something isn't exactly where these steps say, use search in Settings.

Bottom line: keep Windows' built-in protections turned on, and spend five minutes on the privacy settings when you first set up the PC.

5. Ecosystem: what you give up leaving Continuity​

This is the drawback that bothers switchers most. SlashGear names AirDrop, Handoff, AirPlay, and Sidecar, and uses the example of sending a large video from an iPhone to a Mac in seconds. Windows can do similar things, but the article says it means stitching together separate apps and services. Google's Quick Share is one: it comes preinstalled on Android phones but has to be installed on the Windows PC.

Microsoft's Phone Link is the closest built-in alternative, but check compatibility first. According to Microsoft, cross-device copy and paste works on Surface Duo and Android devices that are running One UI version 2.1 or above or select HONOR devices (1.22036.14.0 or later) or OPPO devices, not every Android phone. To turn it on, open the Phone Link on your PC, go to Settings > Features > Cross-device copy and paste, and enable the toggle that lets it transfer copied content between your phone and PC. Your phone also needs the Link to Windows app.

Know the limits before you rely on it. Earlier documentation says it is only possible to copy text and images between your devices currently. Images above 1MB in size will be resized. Also, every time you copy something on either device, what you copy will replace the clipboard content on both of your devices. Some advanced Phone Link file features are listed as applicable for Surface Duo and select Samsung and HONOR and OPPO and ASUS and vivo and Xiaomi devices.

Apple's version has limits too. A cross-device clipboard vendor, Octoclip, notes that Universal Clipboard ends at the Apple fence: once a Windows PC or Android phone joins your setup, it stops helping.

Bottom line: if you keep your iPhone, expect more friction. If you use a supported Android phone, Phone Link and Quick Share cover a lot of what Continuity does, though not as smoothly.

Should you switch?​

None of SlashGear's five points is a reason not to switch. They're reasons to plan. A practical checklist:

• Pick the specific model carefully. With Windows, the PC you buy matters more than the operating system.
• Clean up on day one. Uninstall trialware and review the Start menu.
• Spend five minutes on privacy. Recommendations & offers, Personalized offers, and the lock screen.
• Keep built-in security on. Defender, SmartScreen, and Secure Boot, plus common sense about downloads.
• Check phone compatibility before you count on cross-device features.

If you're moving for games, CAD software, or a wider range of prices, Windows 11 gives you all three. You'll just need to spend a bit of time on setup that a Mac never asked of you.