Christina Liao
- I’ve been completely loyal to Apple products since 2007, when the first iPhone launched.
- But I recently tried going a week without using any Apple products to see how I would fare.
- I learned that products from Google, Microsoft, and other companies have plenty of advantages — but I won’t be ditching Apple for good any time soon.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
I’ve been loyal to Apple products since the first iPhone was launched.
Prior to the iPhone, I owned cellular devices from a variety of manufacturers. Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry, Motorola — you name it, and I’ve probably used it.
But when Apple revolutionized the smartphone in 2007, I became hooked.
My HP laptop was quickly replaced with a MacBook Pro, which was swapped out for a MacBook Air some time ago. As for phones, I’ve only used an iPhone since that momentous year, upgrading nearly every time a new model came out. And with the exception of a few months where I had to switch to a PC for a contract gig, and found myself constantly pressing the Alt key thinking it was Command, my iMac was my best friend at work.
So when I took on the challenge to ditch my beloved Apple products for a week, to say I was a little apprehensive is an understatement.
I was so concerned about whether non-Apple products would actually work that I kept my iPhone and MacBook Air with me at all times, even while traveling.
My backpack, which also held my DJI Mavic Air drone, weighed over 15 pounds with all of the devices and their respective chargers and accessories. While I’m a light traveler, I needed the peace of mind that I still had my trusty gadgets in case anything went awry with the Google Pixel 3 XL or Microsoft Surface Book 2.
In fact, on what was supposed to be my first day of using the new laptop, the software updates took up so much power and time that it rendered the device unusable. Thankfully, it ran smoothly once everything had been downloaded, but it was a rough start to say the least.
By the end of my week of the week, I could safely say I hadn’t been converted away from Apple products. But there were elements that I’ll miss from each of the devices, and there’s even one Apple accessory that I’m now ready to give up.
Here are my nine biggest takeaways from my Apple-less week.
Switching from one brand to another is cumbersome
Ng Han Guan/AP
The Google Pixel thankfully comes with a cord to help you transfer data from your previous device, but it’s not foolproof when it comes to iPhones.
Given that they function on two completely different operating systems, it’s understandable why, but that doesn’t make it any less inconvenient.
Music files require a separate program, not all apps are available on both iOS and Android, and as a writer, what hurt the most was that my notes didn’t move over.
Then there were all of the files on my laptop, which I could either manually switch over with memory sticks or switch using OneDrive, but both take a lot of time. There’s also the matter of reformatting my external hard drives to pair up with a PC, at which point I just let it be for the week.
The Pixel has an incredible camera
Darren Weaver
The photo quality on the Pixel is unbelievable. Sunsets are arguably one of the toughest moments to capture on a phone, yet somehow the Pixel manages to do it well.
Plus, when it’s dark, images don’t turn out grainy thanks to the Night Sight mode, and the built-in image stabilization renders really smooth videos.
The overall widgets experience is better on a Pixel
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
While iPhones also offer widgets, they are limited to one space and have a uniform appearance.
The Pixel allows you to drop a widget on any page, adjust the size, and even select different versions for certain apps. I loved being able to easily access my notes, record an interview, view a currency exchange rate, and get a snapshot of my calendar without having to find and click into the app first.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- How to create and customize folders on an iPhone to organize your apps
- How to share an iCloud calendar on your iPhone and coordinate plans or events
- How to block specific companies or individuals from sending emails to your iPhone
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Christina Liao)