# Usage guide: macOS and Windows Experience Comparison {% hint style="warning" %} This page outlines various ways to use the pack, including use case examples. Administrators can refer to the [Configuration guide: macOS and Windows Experience Comparison](/platform/library-packs/operating-systems/macos-and-windows-experience-comparison/configuration-guide-macos-and-windows-experience-comparison.md) to set up and customize the installed content. {% endhint %} This library pack provides IT teams with side-by-side visibility into macOS and Windows performance, usage, and support experiences. Use it to: * Compare key experience metrics between platforms using real device data * Benchmark macOS and Windows against performance and application usage metrics * Align provisioning strategies to user roles, personas, and business needs * Validate macOS experience quality at scale using platform-aware insights In addition, this library pack offers preconfigured remote actions to take action and drive awareness. ## Library pack uses {% hint style="info" %} Jump to [Use cases](#uses-cases) on this page to see relevant scenario applications. {% endhint %} Use the library pack content for the following purposes. ### Benchmarking device experience across platforms The **Summary** dashboard enables you to view macOS and Windows metrics side by side. Use this dashboard to: * Monitor **hardware performance**, **connectivity performance**, **applications stability,** **DEX scores**, and **application usage** by platform. * Spot platform-specific issues, gaps, or advantages using aggregated insights. * Group devices by **persona** or **location** to inform strategic decisions. This is the core dashboard of the pack and a starting point for all persona-based comparisons. ### Supporting persona-based provisioning Use the library pack to identify which model or operating system provides the best experience for specific user groups. The **Mac vs. Windows comparison dashboard** helps you compare real-world metrics across: * Executive users * Developers * Finance or back-office staff * Field or sales personnel You can validate whether current provisioning strategies meet expectations or need adjusting based on insights from the dashboard. ### Identifying areas for improvement The experience comparison makes it easy to detect where either macOS or Windows devices fall short in: * Supportability metrics (e.g., open tickets, device stability) * Application availability or compatibility * Battery health Use these insights to target improvements—whether that’s better software deployment on macOS or improved hardware standards on Windows. {% hint style="info" %} Some of these data-gathering remote actions populate the live dashboard and should already be [scheduled.](/platform/user-guide/remote-actions/getting-started-with-remote-actions/managing-remote-actions/scheduling-remote-actions.md) You can query the results by[ investigating KPIs from the Live dashboard](/platform/user-guide/live-dashboards/widget-types/kpi.md) or [from your own investigations](/platform/user-guide/investigations.md). {% endhint %} ## Use cases In addition to the relevant use cases covered below, you may uncover other troubleshooting scenarios specific to your environment. ### Comparing user experience across personas Evaluate how different personas perform on macOS versus Windows to ensure optimal device compatibility. From the Mac vs. Windows **Summary** comparison **dashboard**: 1. Use the **Persona** filter to isolate a specific group, such as Developers. 2. Compare **device stability, hardware performance, connectivity metrics, application crash and freeze metrics and DEX scores** between platforms. 3. Look at **application usage** to check if preferred tools are performing equally well. 4. Use this data to recommend a more suitable default device for the persona or identify areaswhere improvement is needed.
### Validating macOS experience at scale macOS device experience can vary significantly across teams. Use the pack to ensure a high-quality experience. 1. In the **Mac vs. Windows comparison dashboard**, apply filters to display only specific device models or operating system versions. 2. Evaluate important metrics like **Stability**, **Hardware**, **Connectivity**, **Application Performance**, **DEX score.** 3. Compare these against **Windows baselines** to validate macOS is performing well. 4. Highlight consistent performance to support broader macOS adoption.
### Supporting platform standardization decisions When considering whether to shift toward a more unified platform, use this pack to make data-driven decisions. 1. In the **Mac vs. Windows comparison dashboard**, apply **location** or **department filters**. 2. Identify which platform provides more consistent performance, lower ticket volumes, or better compliance in a given area. 3. Use the insights to decide if standardizing on one platform (e.g., Windows-only in Finance) is viable.
**Hardware performance tab:** Compare performance metrics in context. This helps identify which device may be the best fit for different personas. When a new member joins the "Sales" department, they can choose between available Mac and Windows devices. Based on recent performance data, Windows devices have encountered more memory issues than macOS devices over the past month.
**Connectivity performance:** It allows you to compare connectivity performance across both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Imagine this is a critical aspect for a specific role — for example, someone who travels frequently, visits clients, and relies heavily on stable connectivity. The dashboard identifies significant differences between device types, helping you determine the most suitable model.
**Application health and usage:** It allows you to quickly identify application health in terms of crashes and freezes across macOS and Windows platforms, as well as across different device models or whichever filters you apply. \ The example shows that the chosen Windows models have higher occurrences of crashes and freezes compared to the macOS models selected.
**Battery performance:** It allows you to compare battery health across both macOS and Windows platforms. By applying the Product departments filter and comparing a Mac model to a Windows model, we observe that Mac devices generally exhibit superior battery health. This comparison also enables us to identify the number of devices with specific anomalies.
*** RELATED TOPICS * [Live dashboards](/platform/user-guide/live-dashboards.md) * [Managing Remote Actions](/platform/user-guide/remote-actions/getting-started-with-remote-actions/managing-remote-actions.md) * [Configuration guide: macOS and Windows Experience Comparison](/platform/library-packs/operating-systems/macos-and-windows-experience-comparison/configuration-guide-macos-and-windows-experience-comparison.md) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.nexthink.com/platform/library-packs/operating-systems/macos-and-windows-experience-comparison/usage-guide-macos-eand-windows-experience-comparison.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.