Fair enough, as I said: “each to his own”. However, I can’t agree that Apple have any more ‘control’ over your experience than its opposition, let alone, “too much control”.

There are several reasons why I consider that statement to be unreasonable.

• All manufacturers, operating systems and software applications will, in some ways, limit the user’s options. They will allow flexibility in some areas and less so in others, whilst perhaps providing none at all in some.
• What you, (and others), express as “constantly telling me … how I should do something” is simply no more true of the MacOS than any other, nor of the MacOS since it moved to the better Unix derived interface. This aspect of user experience is simply a result of user personality, preferences, appropriate choice of device for the task and the nature and aims of those who designed that particular product.
• When working with Windows one is as locked in to a particular set of features, non-features and absent features as when working with Mac OS.
• The major cause of the sort of dissatisfaction that you air is not that Apple “constantly tell you what to do” but that the disordered world of Windows is so much more vague, replete with inconsistent approaches and implementations and an enormously diverse number of hardware producers of infinitely varying quality in design, componentry, assembly and efficiency.

Yes, Apple does take care to ensure that software and hardware, both its own and third party, work together effectively. They also go to some lengths to protect privacy and mitigate virus, malware and other ill-effects, either deliberate or accidental.

If one has the interest, the technical skills & the inclination or need, then I consider that it is likely one would move to Linux or, at the very least, something other than either Windows or Mac OS. However, the majority of PC users do not have those skills or those needs. Indeed, I suggest that the majority of ‘device’ users are gradually moving to using mobile phones or tablets for virtually all of their computing use, if they haven’t already.

It is notable that it was Apple who actually gave Microsoft its major boost in that company’s early days through the development and subsequent popularity and ubiquitous take-up of MS Word and Ms Works, both first developed for the Mac.

The reality is that both Microsoft and Apple are largely consumer orientated, though that isn’t to disregard their contributions in other areas. They have both, in my view, had an aim of offering ease of use and convenience to users and have both largely succeeded. At the same time, I acknowledge that, sadly, as these companies have grown they have shown less direct concern for the end user and more concern, (at least apparently), for their ‘bottom lines’. I dislike that for I dislike capitalism whether individual or State and its inevitable movement of wealth from the majority, (who produce it), to a minority who simply exploit it. Still, that is another story, for another time or another article.

I’ve said enough, if not far too much. If you are, as it seems from what you’ve written, uncomfortable with the Mac OS or Apple hardware, then I suggest you switch back to Windows. However, to do so on the grounds that you argue is not valid for, at pain of repeating myself, Apple no more controls what you do than does any other company.

Take care. Stay safe. Enjoy the new ‘freedom’ you will presumably feel if and when you ditch your Mac and return to its main competitor.

Peace.