When I originally changed from Windows to Mac, I think it took about a month for things to become second nature. Give it time, you might be surprised by how much you like it. Otherwise, you could always ask to install a Linux distro on it.

Do you want to tell your boss "I'm losing a lot of productivity because of this mac, and it'll take time to learn it, is that okay?" or "I don't want to learn to work this device, could I have a different environment instead?" They are two different conversations.

Does this answer your question? How to ask for better equipment?

@Erik, I'd ideally like to tell him the second thing - "I don't want to learn how to use this device, please buy me a Dell or a Lenovo", but based on the responses I've been getting to this question, I think I'm probably not gonna tell him that.

Don't make a fuss out of it. You'll learn and you'll be soon as productive as before. I just made the same transition and I feel your pain. Think about it as a new car to drive.

Can you name an issue you are having? Do you not find your away around the user interface? The shortcut keys?

"I'd also like to know if I should tell him" - no. Instead, you should learn to use the tools you are given.

A developer that approaches me their manager to say they ”can’t learn” a common technology gets put on my list of “not a good developer.”

@mxyzplk-SEstopbeingevil: When people say "can't learn" I hear "won't learn".

Exactly, and whether it’s “can’t” or “won’t” it’s still a disqualifying attribute.

@gnat the issue isn't that the provided equipment is sub-standard. In fact, it's probably more than up to the task The issue is that OP isn't inclined to (or capable of) learn how to use macOS.

@alroc one can argue that need for employee to spend extra time learning new stuff makes it indeed worse from manager perspective (at least short-mid term) and this doesn't depend on whether its specs are better or worse nor on whether employee wants to learn or not. This is why advice in answers to diplicate applies

I've coded on IBM mainframes (yea, punchcards!), Ohio Scientific PCs, C64, DOS, Windows, a variety of Linux versions. In my current job, I'm developing on a Mac. It's like developing on Linux, but with a better GUI. Learning new things is a core skill in software development. If this old boy can learn new things, you can, too. Constant change and the constant need to learn is not for everyone, though.

@DonBranson 'better GUI' is really subjective here (not saying entirely because some aspects are demonstrably better based on user interaction studies), especially since you can get a similarly NextSTEP wannabe GUI on Linux if you pick the right desktop environment. I agree with the rest of your comment though, being able to adapt is really important for being a good developer.

@AustinHemmelgarn - " 'better GUI' is really subjective" Indeed! Yeah, a better way of saying it would be that this is how I came to think of it, and how I came to use it. I'm at the bash prompt all the time, but using GUI IDE heavily, too.

Also, since it seems like Windows or Linux is a "must-have" for you, that's something to find out in the interview process. Then you can filter out jobs that aren't a good fit for you.

You talk of using Windows, Linux and Mac as if Mac is the odd one out when in fact Windows is the odd one out here. I used Windows since I was a child and switched to Linux about 5 years ago. Recently needed a new laptop and decided to go for a Mac because the cognitive friction in switching between both Linux and Mac is a lot less than switching between Linux and Windows.

Don't listen to the people who say that not wanting to use Mac makes you a bad developer. You can be completely capable of understanding how a Mac works without actually having any urge to use one and you can find more jobs that have a Windows, Linux, or mixed ecosystem so it's not career limiting. It's like the difference between an openness about trying new foods and specifically forcing yourself to eat that one food that you hate.

I'm surprised by this. I often had to learn new technologies, sometimes in a matter of weeks or even days. You just get your nose to the grindstone and learn by doing. Not only did I have to RTFM, sometimes I had to write the F manual as well. It shows adaptability - the more you learn new systems, the easier it gets. Set aside a week just to get to know the new interface and do nothing else. If asked why, just say that's precisely what you are doing and that you expect be fully up to speed in a month. By overestimating how long it will take you will get points by doing it sooner.

...we all know mac sucks..

@Adriano Repetti: Not necessarily true. Macs (and Windows) require a different way of thinking to use effectively. Some people can think that way, others - and I'm one of them - can't.

Can you update when you leave? I'd take a 10-20% pay cut to use a Mac for work instead of Windows.

Many companies require using a certain operating system for conformity of the IT department. It makes the enterprise management of all company assets easier. Some companies don't really care what you use as long as you get the work done. If you're working for the former, bite the bullet and learn the MAC (hint, use the command line as you would in Linux). If the latter, ask if you can install Windows on the MAC - either in a VM or using bootcamp or its equivalent.

@Andy It's more like you have a car..compared to a similar performance car of another brand, or a truck of the same brand/year using the same dashboard style. For one the handling will be the same but the controls might be different, for the other one the handling will be different but most of the controls will be the same. Some people have an easier time adjusting to different handling, some people have an easier time adjusting to different controls.

For me, the worst changes are the ones that are muscle memory. So things like the delay after dragging and dropping. Or remembering to click twice because there's no click through even if a window is fully visible. Both of which apparently can't be changed on a user basis. Granted there's tons of variability in Linux, but in my experience those aspects felt more like Windows.

@PascLeRasc If you'd take a 10 - 20% pay cut, why not just buy your own computer and use that at work?