Window Search works well for me. I turned off the web results for Windows Search. It only shows me my local files and applications and loads instantly. (Use O&O Shutup tool) Searches inside text and docx files, as well. I agree it could be better, but it's not trash.
Audio devices are easy to switch than ever now. Click the wifi/sound button on taskbar, then click the icon on the right of the volume slider. It's not obvious but clicking it allows you to switch between all available audio devices.
AppData is where your preferences should be stored. ProgramData is for app store stuff. It's confusing and should hopefully clear up in a while. It's a step up from storing everything in <userhome>\Documents.
OneDrive only does it if you click Next without unchecking it - just turn it off. It's a bit of a dark pattern, I agree, but I don't have that "feature" enabled. There is only one "local" Documents folder (in <userhome>\Documents). But OneDrive wants to push the Cloud version of it (in <onedrive folder>\Documents). I think this where the confusion lies.
Settings is pretty well done, imo. Let's talk about recent macOS settings changes now.
No idea on network proxies...? I'll take your word for it, sucks.
> separate workspaces per monitor
I prefer how Windows does it. And GNOME only does it for the "primary" monitor, the other monitors do not get separate workspaces.
> the _only_ thing MacOS has going for it is a bash terminal that is well integrated into the OS.
It's zsh by default, and it's not "well-integrated". It's a leftover vestige from NeXT and they just didn't remove it - it literally has BSD underpinning its OS.
PowerShell with Windows Terminal is very powerful and I like it. It's completely integrated with Windows, and is a first-class citizen, just like on macOS and Linux. You get the added bonus of using WSL2 and having access to all of your Linux tools.
Learning PowerShell has been enlightening and does much more than bash/zsh.
Audio devices are easy to switch than ever now. Click the wifi/sound button on taskbar, then click the icon on the right of the volume slider. It's not obvious but clicking it allows you to switch between all available audio devices.
AppData is where your preferences should be stored. ProgramData is for app store stuff. It's confusing and should hopefully clear up in a while. It's a step up from storing everything in <userhome>\Documents.
OneDrive only does it if you click Next without unchecking it - just turn it off. It's a bit of a dark pattern, I agree, but I don't have that "feature" enabled. There is only one "local" Documents folder (in <userhome>\Documents). But OneDrive wants to push the Cloud version of it (in <onedrive folder>\Documents). I think this where the confusion lies.
Settings is pretty well done, imo. Let's talk about recent macOS settings changes now.
No idea on network proxies...? I'll take your word for it, sucks.
> separate workspaces per monitor
I prefer how Windows does it. And GNOME only does it for the "primary" monitor, the other monitors do not get separate workspaces.
> the _only_ thing MacOS has going for it is a bash terminal that is well integrated into the OS.
It's zsh by default, and it's not "well-integrated". It's a leftover vestige from NeXT and they just didn't remove it - it literally has BSD underpinning its OS.
PowerShell with Windows Terminal is very powerful and I like it. It's completely integrated with Windows, and is a first-class citizen, just like on macOS and Linux. You get the added bonus of using WSL2 and having access to all of your Linux tools.
Learning PowerShell has been enlightening and does much more than bash/zsh.