The best part of getting a MacBook, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro is OS X, Apple’s fantastic operating system (OS). But that doesn’t mean you can’t try out some other great alternatives.

1. Justinsbigidea (aka Steam For Mac Mac

Starting today the Counter-Strike: Source Beta will be available to all PC Counter-Strike: Source players. As we continue to update CSS and address issues, we want to make sure to not destabilize the core game. By releasing updates to CSS Beta first, we will be able to solicit community feedback before those changes are applied to CSS. If you would like to be part of the group that helps us test future updates of Counter-Strike Source, please join the Beta - simply install and launch 'Counter-Strike: Source Beta' from your games list in Steam. To give feedback on the changes, report bugs, or offer suggestions, please use the CSS Beta forum. Don’t worry, you can join the Beta program and still play the standard Counter-Strike: Source at anytime.

The Counter-Strike: Source Beta is currently not available on Mac. Read the full news post for more details on the new beta. Updates for Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and the Source SDK 2013 Base have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when you restart the game.

The major changes include:. Fixed physics not operating at the correct tickrate when specifying non-standard -tickrate options on the command line. Fixed viewing demos recorded at a non-standard tickrate causing the next listen server hosted to be at that tickrate. Various security and stability improvements. Updated localization files. Updates for Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and the Source SDK 2013 Base have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when you restart the game.

The major changes include:. Improved Steam Voice support. Removed svusesteamvoice convar. An update for Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and the Source SDK 2013 Base has been made available. Important note for SDK mod authors: This update replaces the current main branch of the SDK 2013 Base with what was previously the 'betatest' branch. The previous SDK 2013 release branch as well as the outdated 'upcoming' branch are now available for a short time as 'previous' and 'previousupcoming' respectively. The major changes include:.

Fixed potential security issues (thanks to Justin G. (aka sigsegv), Nathaniel Theis, Simon Pinfold for these reports). Fixed a case where changelevel2 would print a map not found error and fail to function in SDK2013 mods. Fixed an exploit that could be used to crash dedicated servers. A mandatory update for Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, as well as the Source SDK Base 2013 beta branch has been made available. The patch notes are below. Have You Played?

Is an endless stream of game recommendations. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time.

Not Global Offensive. I’m talking the original Counter-Strike. The Half-Life mod; the game that was more popular than its online competitors combined; the game that in many ways pioneered both games as services and games as playable alphas; the game that spawned two follow-ups but which even right now, as I’m writing this, has 20,211 concurrent players through Steam. visit site to read more. Have You Played? Is an endless stream of game recommendations.

One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time. Not Global Offensive. I’m talking the original Counter-Strike.

The Half-Life mod; the game that was more popular than its online competitors combined; the game that in many ways pioneered both games as services and games as playable alphas; the game that spawned two follow-ups but which even right now, as I’m writing this, has 20,211 concurrent players through Steam. visit site to read more.

Advertisement The great debate between Mac and PC has been raging for decades and shows no signs of cooling any time soon. If you find yourself Thinking about switching over to a Mac? It's easy to find faults with Windows.

But are you aware of the things you'll miss?, there are some things you’ll need to know to ensure the changes don’t get the better of you. Both operating systems have their advocates and their detractors, but the truth is that there are Did you ever consider switching from Windows to Linux or Mac? The quick answer: if you're on Windows, stay on Windows—and don't worry about upgrading just yet. Use these tips, and you’ll see more of the former and less of the latter. Use Ninite to Get Up and Running It can be difficult to adjust to a completely different OS with a radically different set of software available for it. Figuring out alternatives for the tools you use on your Mac could take a lengthy period of research, but using can speed the process up significantly. Ninite compiles a host of basic software into one easy-to-use installer.

Everything it offers comes highly recommended, and you won’t be targeted by any toolbars or other hassle as you install it on your system. Best of all, the software and the service is free. If nothing else, it’s enough to get you started with the basics. You’ll likely have to search out specialist software on your own, but if you’re looking for standards like messaging tools, image editing utilities, and media players, you’ll find it all quickly with Ninite. Make Full Use of Shortcuts One of the biggest challenges for anyone making the transition from Mac to Windows or vice versa is getting accustomed with keyboard shortcuts. Swapping out the Apple Key for the Control Key will ease you into the basics, but some system-specific functionality will take a little longer to really get used to.

The all-encompassing Keyboard shortcuts can save you hours of time. Master the universal Windows keyboard shortcuts, keyboard tricks for specific programs, and a few other tips to speed up your work. Is a great way of getting to grips with everything you need to know. It may take time to learn these button combinations, but it will be well worth it in the long run. When you’re up to speed, you’ll be able to You might know lots of keyboard shortcuts, but did you know you could get around Windows without your mouse? Take Security More Seriously The myth of Macs somehow being immune to viruses and security exploits shouldn’t be given much credence, but Windows users have more risks to be aware of.

With more PCs out there than Macs, unscrupulous software has a broader reach if it targets Windows users. However, this doesn’t mean that anyone using a PC is going to be inundated with viruses the second they open their web browser. Sensible Internet usage can shield you from a great swathe of the threats, and a robust Windows is swimming in a sea of free applications. Which ones can you trust and which ones are the best? If you're unsure or need to solve a specific task, consult this list. Can be a lifesaver if the worst should happen. Avast is a Which security suite do you trust the most?

We look at five of the best free security suites for Windows, all of which offer anti-virus, anti-malware, and real-time protection features. That will take care of the majority of issues you might run into. Keep it updated, and it will be ready and waiting in the undesirable situation that your system is targeted. Conserve the Data From Your Old System Moving from a Mac to a PC is enough of an upheaval, so don’t think everything on your old computer is being thrown out. Think of it like moving house—the building might change, but you still get to keep your stuff. However, unlike moving house, that stuff may or may not be compatible with your new PC. Certain file types are commonplace across different operating systems, but others won’t be.

The MakeUseOf guide to Whether you're trying to avoid Windows 8 or just considering something new, you might be thinking about switching to a Mac. One thing bothers you, though: can you keep your data? Offers a wealth of information on what can and cannot come with you, although it focuses on crossovers going in the opposite direction.

The important thing is to educate yourself before you make the jump. If there is an Computers know thousands of different file formats. Sometimes, both you and Windows are clueless as to how to open a strange file.

Here is how you can figure out how to open those files. That’s critical to some aspect of your computer usage, find out whether it can be used on a PC ahead of time. Furthermore, if your Mac is being sold or disposed of, it’s worth making sure that any data on it is The new MacBook lineup is upon us, and the hardware is delicious, albeit with a hefty price tag.

Perhaps you'll use this chance to get a new computer. Since Mac computers have great resell value.

Say Goodbye to iTunes If you’re knee-deep in the Apple ecosystem, you likely use iTunes to transfer files between your Mac and an iOS device. The software package is a fine media player for Apple systems, but transferring to the Windows version might leave you a little disappointed.

Historically, Mac software hasn’t made the transition to PCs very well, and iTunes is a prime example of that problem. Windows users often find that iTunes is nowhere near as responsive as it is on a Mac, and additional software like Bonjour and Quicktime comes bundled with the installer. All in all, it’s not a particularly attractive package for the PC owner. Thankfully, you can Don't wrestle with iTunes to get music onto your iPhone, use one of these alternative methods and workarounds instead.

Without using iTunes. If you’re just looking for a Windows-friendly media player, you have plenty of choices that will fill that gap, but VLC remains something of an essential install thanks to its VLC is a media player more powerful than you might realize. Are you using it to its full potential? Here are some pointers. Enjoy PC Gaming to the Full In the war between PC and console gaming, the former is just assumed to always be Windows. But what about Mac? Sure, there isn't a huge number of games available for Apple's desktop operating system.

Has come a long way in recent years, but it still doesn’t offer anywhere near as broad a library as that of the PC. Are you sure that you're getting the most out of your Steam client? If you aren't careful, there are some really useful features and tools that you could be looking over., you can catch up with whatever titles you missed over the course of your time with Apple, likely at hugely reduced rates compared to their original release. You don’t necessarily need a high-spec computer to enjoy the There may be times, however, where you want something different from the indie norm. A game that follows indie values, yet is made with the quality that top-shelf AAA games are known for. Titles like., but if you have the horsepower, ports of popular console titles have never been more readily available than they are today.

Plus, many genres are simply better suited to a PC interface than they are to dedicated gaming consoles, like FPSes, RTSes and MMOs. Make Fonts Look More Familiar As much as the Metro interface has refurbished Windows for modern audiences, the aesthetics of Mac OS X are far beyond what stock PCs can offer. Customizing your system’s look will make it more palatable and some smaller tweaks might end up making the biggest difference. Macs and PCs render fonts differently, and if you’re moving from OS X to Windows then you might miss the smoothness that comes with text on an Apple computer.

Justinsbigidea (aka Steam For Mac Mac

The difference is that Windows uses DirectWrite technology, whereas Macs and other devices use FreeType. If the difference doesn’t both you, then you’re in the clear—but for many users, once you’ve seen the difference then you’ll never escape the eyesore.

Thankfully, MakeUseOf published a guide on Eye candy is not a Windows forte. Modern UI (aka Metro) brought improvements, but still lacks in one important area: fonts. We show you how you can get beautiful font smoothing on Windows.

And making your text render as you remember it doing on OS X. Bonus: Build Your Own System One major advantage that a Desktop PC has over Mac systems is that, generally speaking, components can be swapped out freely. That means you can customize your computer to your exact specifications, and perhaps in the process. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line PC that has the horsepower to run video editing software without breaking a sweat, you can choose the components to make that a reality. Alternatively, you can build a budget system that has just enough under the hood to run a web browser and Office software.

Rather than having a few options to pick from, there’s really no end to the customization that a PC affords you. Even if you’re a complete novice with the hardware, you might find that after Building your own computer and want to get the best deals? You need a strategy that can score red-hot sales before they sell out. My preferred method uses a multi-spectrum approach., you never buy a stock system again. Are you considering moving from Mac to PC?

Have you made the switch recently? Let us know about your experience in the comments section below. Image credits:, Explore more about:,.