New Mac Mini (after switch from Windows), Couple of Questions

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Kopkiwi

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#299181 18-Aug-2022 10:36

So, so far so good. Set up went fairly well, got everything transferred over easy enough. One issue I have though, the font is....awful. Text size is way too small and blurry, especially in Excel and Word across the headers. The Word page itself seems too far zoomed out compared to Windows OS. Are there settings I am missing, or is this just how it is on Mac?

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#2955933 18-Aug-2022 10:40

What's your screen resolution? Modern Mac OS isn't made for the low-res displays that are still common in the Windows world.

Shindig

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#2955934 18-Aug-2022 10:40

System Pref - Displays - Display Settings - More Space or switch to Default

The little things make the biggest difference.

Kopkiwi

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#2955941 18-Aug-2022 10:59

Behodar:

What's your screen resolution? Modern Mac OS isn't made for the low-res displays that are still common in the Windows world.

3440x1440

jarledb

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#2955946 18-Aug-2022 11:08

Look at scaling in the monitor setup. This is from Apple's support document:

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Displays .

Select Scaled, then select one of the options.

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Kopkiwi

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#2955949 18-Aug-2022 11:20

jarledb:

Look at scaling in the monitor setup. This is from Apple's support document:

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Displays .

Select Scaled, then select one of the options.

Yeah have done that, and selected the native 3440x1440, doesn't change anything. I feel like there are some settings missing? Apparently Mac likes a DPI above 110.

jarledb

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#2955951 18-Aug-2022 11:24

Kopkiwi:

Yeah have done that, and selected the native 3440x1440, doesn't change anything. I feel like there are some settings missing? Apparently Mac likes a DPI above 110.

If you think things are too small in native, then choose scaled and you will actually benefit by getting smoother text/graphics (pixel doubling if you do half the resolution of your native).

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Mehrts

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#2956289 18-Aug-2022 17:33

Unfortunately it's an issue with Office in general, it's been like this for years. There are various "fixes", mainly dropping the resolution down, but these make everything else look like crap.

This is what happens when one major vendor (rival) develops software which was never really intended to be used on the other vendor's system.

If it's really a major issue for you, my suggestion would be to become familiar with the Apple equivalent of the Microsoft applications, such as Pages (Word), Numbers (Excel), and Keynote (Powerpoint).

Kopkiwi

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#2956350 18-Aug-2022 20:30

Mehrts:

Unfortunately it's an issue with Office in general, it's been like this for years. There are various "fixes", mainly dropping the resolution down, but these make everything else look like crap.

This is what happens when one major vendor (rival) develops software which was never really intended to be used on the other vendor's system.

If it's really a major issue for you, my suggestion would be to become familiar with the Apple equivalent of the Microsoft applications, such as Pages (Word), Numbers (Excel), and Keynote (Powerpoint).

I figured that might have been the case, I will look into the alternatives. Thanks for the suggestion.

antoniosk

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#2956411 18-Aug-2022 20:59

what interface are you using?

DVI

HDMI

USB-C

mix at each end?

________

Antoniosk

Kopkiwi

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#2956436 18-Aug-2022 22:46

antoniosk:

what interface are you using?

DVI

HDMI

USB-C

mix at each end?

Tried both HDMI to HDMI and USBC to Display Port

TheMightyKiwipeso

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#2956446 19-Aug-2022 02:08

Hi there, the better options for Mac office work includes either (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) & (LibreOffice / Collabora Office).

Pages, Numbers & Keynote are included on the Mac App Store for free with your Mac and online on icloud.com

LibreOffice / Collabora Office are available either on the Mac App Store for Collabora (includes commercial support options & stability focus) or online for LibreOffice.

Pages is especially good with page layout options in a way that MS Wordle is not.

Any further issues you have can be adjusted with the display preference in the system preferences app.

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#2956513 19-Aug-2022 11:11

Good move on the Mac Mini. I've used them for both work and home for years as they're amazing value for money and just keep trucking.

Mehrts:

Unfortunately it's an issue with Office in general, it's been like this for years. There are various "fixes", mainly dropping the resolution down, but these make everything else look like crap.

Another long time Mac user was forced into using Office apps when he had a short term contract a couple of years ago. He noted text in Word looked quite soft compared to any native Mac apps. I know over lockdowns some friends insisted virtual beer o'clock was run over Teams which took longer to load the app as it did to cold boot my Mini - or launch any other app!

My guess is Microsoft apps use their own APIs rather than the native MacOS APIs so aren't as optimised for the hardware?

Kopkiwi

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#2956519 19-Aug-2022 11:18

Groucho:

Good move on the Mac Mini. I've used them for both work and home for years as they're amazing value for money and just keep trucking.

Mehrts:

Unfortunately it's an issue with Office in general, it's been like this for years. There are various "fixes", mainly dropping the resolution down, but these make everything else look like crap.

Another long time Mac user was forced into using Office apps when he had a short term contract a couple of years ago. He noted text in Word looked quite soft compared to any native Mac apps. I know over lockdowns some friends insisted virtual beer o'clock was run over Teams which took longer to load the app as it did to cold boot my Mini - or launch any other app!

My guess is Microsoft apps use their own APIs rather than the native MacOS APIs so aren't as optimised for the hardware?

I'd be interested to know how the M1 versions run compared to the Intel versions for the Office apps. Considering grabbing a 4k monitor, apparently the improved DPI can help with scaling better. All the scaling options suggested haven't changed anything.

Handsomedan

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#2956523 19-Aug-2022 11:28

Kopkiwi:

I'd be interested to know how the M1 versions run compared to the Intel versions for the Office apps. Considering grabbing a 4k monitor, apparently the improved DPI can help with scaling better. All the scaling options suggested haven't changed anything.

Sounds like a great excuse for a new 5K 32" widescreen monitor.

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Kopkiwi

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#2956527 19-Aug-2022 11:32

Handsomedan:

Kopkiwi:

I'd be interested to know how the M1 versions run compared to the Intel versions for the Office apps. Considering grabbing a 4k monitor, apparently the improved DPI can help with scaling better. All the scaling options suggested haven't changed anything.

Sounds like a great excuse for a new 5K 32" widescreen monitor.

Suggestions?

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