So I think our PC may be knocking on heaven's door. I am trying to decide if it makes sense to move to the dark side and go to a Mac. A few questions for anyone with an opinion/experience:
1) Are Macs really as seemless with itunes, iphone, iphoto, etc. as they market? I want to be able to make more movies of the kiddos and the PC software I have is just awful and cumbersome.
2) Transitioning from PC to Mac. Is it easy? Will most of my software work on both? Will my data files transfer?
i posted this and then found all of my answers on Mac's site at least in theory. So to clarify, I'm asking if this really is as easy as they make it sound.
yes
no, prolly not unless you have something they managed to put both versions on your cd/dvd
yes
and, yes. I think as long as you're someone who is willing to put in a bit of time to figure out the differences, be willing to explore and problem solve on your own, and in general aren't a total nincompoop it'll work just fine to switch mentally.
I really didn't have any problems myself, and found the mac far more intuitive than windows ever was. one of the really nice things is that pretty much everything works the same, hotkeys-wise, for instance. most (non-idiotic) software to install is literally a window that says "drag this to here" which is basically moving the program from a disk image to your applications folder.
There are softwares that misbehave some (like office) and do things somewhat obnoxiously, but by and large, there's a system and everyone follows it. It's nice that way.
As far as switching software, some places will let you trade in your windows version for a mac version, maybe for an upgrade price, or you can just sell the old and get new.
Having recently purchased a new Dell (despite Nick's repeated warnings to go with a Mac - I've been a lifetime PC user), I can say after 9 months...
Go with the Mac!
Here's what I like/dislike about the Mac:
Pros
Everything just runs better. They're better designed. They're more durable. Their software interfaces better with the other software and the hardware.
They pay a LOT more attention to the details (illuminating keys on their laptops, so you can type easily in the dark; a magnetic powercord so that if someone trips over it your entire laptop isn't ripped off the desk).
If you're coming over from the PC world, you can still right click if you get the special mouse.
Editing movies, photos, etc. is SUPER EASY!
Cons
Mega-effin'-expensive compared to what you can buy a PC for.
While it's really EASY to create videos and edit photos with the built in software, they strip you of a lot of the fine-tuning control that you get with a PC program. So it's easier to use, and you're less likely to screw it up, but you forfeit some control.
WMV video files won't work, but you can easily convert them with free software.
Did I mention they're really expensive?
All in all, I still say Mac, if you can afford it. I've been trying to give my new Dell to my fiance so I can buy one. She won't take it (I think she wants a Mac too!)
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I've always been a PC guy, about 3 months ago I built a new one for myself and installed Vista 64. I love it, typically I run stuff like Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, etc..runs everything great. I have no problem with iTunes and all that stuff. If you can build a PC yourself or have a friend that can build you one, you can get ALOT more bang for the buck.
I also have a Mac Powerbook that is a couple years old. I do like the Mac as well, I'm not gonna tell you that PCs rule and Macs are evil, the Mac has some nice features but I'm just more comfortable on my PC.
I'm in a mixed marriage...the DW converted to a Mac last year and loves it....I have stayed with my PC, a sunk cost decision based on what we use at work. DW loves the Mac & found the change easy. I will admit that everything non-work related is easier on her mac (music, photos, webcam, etc). I'm a finance and numbers guy, the PC just let's me do more right now. Once you identify your primary use and budget, the decision lines up quickly.
I have gone back and forth too, as someone who liked XP but hates Vista, and even increasing my RAM didn't help it run much better... On the other hand, I don't want to deal with a major learning curve. So instead of upgrading my PC or switching to Mac, I'm just hanging on til I see what the next generation is... bleh.
I wouldn't call it a major learning curve. My sister did it just fine. Hell, Otto's MOM could do it (and let me tell you, there's a frickin feat )
Eh, price isn't quite as different as a lot of people like to think, considering all that comes standard and pre-installed versus an average dell or whatnot. but it is what it is and people will either be ok with it or not.
If you get a macbook, do be careful. 2 or so girls in my class so far have managed to ding them due to droppage. I mean, sure, don't drop your machine, but apparently even a small drop that doesn't hurt the guts can cause issue with the case. they could have made it a bit stronger in my view, and added a couple ounces of weight. but that assumes that a couple 20-year-olds are correct in their assumptions that nothing untoward happened other than a slight drop off a bed/couch to the floor. *shrug*
and not an issue with an imac, obviously.
I've never been a Mac fan, but I work with a lot of people who love them.
I actually started out as a Solaris user, and have switched to PC, and I'm now almost strictly a Linux user (mostly RedHat). It's what we use at work and what I'm most comfortable with. On the other hand, my DH is a Windows guy from way back.
If I could play on-line poker (at the site where I have been playing for 3 years now) on a Linux box without jumping through a lot of hoops I would, but alas I have Vista on the home machine -- JUST so I can play poker.
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Vista isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be, but overall I was more satisfied with XP than I am with Vista. Good luck!
Agreed, I was nervous about putting Vista on my new machine, my dad's laptop has Vista and I wasn't a big fan...but I like Vista on my new machine more than I even liked XP. I do have a Quad-Core processor and 8GB of RAM, so that may have something to do with it.
I am a mac user - have been for ages. I first started using one on a Japanese mac when I could not even read and Japanese. It was very intuitive. It still is and things work the ay they are supposed to.
However windows has come a long way, though vista is imo is a step backwards. I use XP. I think if you want a full featured computer the price difference is not that big. But if you want something for web surfing, email and word processing - go windows for pricing.
I still use one of my old laptops now and again (I just realiZed it is 8 years old!!!) - though I have a newever (I think I am am on lap top # 6-7 and NOT one of them broke - and only one was not in retrospect a good buy.) I am on destop # who knows? and still love them. The best thing about mac is NOW time machine, seamless back of of everything-
If you buy- take the time to learn the "mac" way and you will find it very smooth. (btw if you are not scared of UNIX you can really tweak - more in fact than you can do on XP)
BTW- the limited "programs for viddy editing that someone mentioned is FREE and if you want more control you can download imovie 6 (which is about 3 years old but offers more control- free on the apple site. or go to final cut light - about $200, or up to final cut pro which is pricy and steep learning curve.
Cheers
Peter
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
Last edited by diamondpete : 04-17-2009 at 12:36 AM.
Vista gets a bad rap, but I've never had any problems with it in the 2 years I've had it. I have the 32 bit Vista Premium on my laptop, and a 64 bit vista ultimate on my desktop. Neither one has had very many problems, and seems perfectly functional to me. I recently built the desktop with 64 bit vista and went with that o/s because i wanted to take advantage of more ram on the computer.
I'm fortunate to have a macbook pro that was issued to me by my office. It's a really really nice computer. I love the thing, and I was never a mac guy before. However, if I had to buy one for myself, I'd have a hard time justifying more than double what I could pay for a dell upgraded with lots of goodies for a base model macbook pro with no upgraded hardware.
I guess my opinion is, if money isn't an issue at all, the mac is great. If you're looking for performance vs cost, pc is probably still the way to go. You can get a nice dell laptop for $5-600, but a basica macbook with no upgrades will run you $1200 (unless you want the non-aluminum one for $999).
It depends on what you want to use it for. If you're a light user that doesn't want games or adding new and exciting software often then the mac is fine and dandy. I don't really understand what is so fantastic about macs, or so horrible about PC's. IMO it's a matter of personal preference...some people will like one more than the other but neither is legitimately "better" unless you have a distinct need for "something".
I "personally" prefer a PC because I "like" games and accessable software. I virus check my porn and haven't had any issues with it (running XP). My macbook is pretty cool for a laptop. I can do legitimate work (office) and dick around doing what ever I want to do for all given purposes. It does what I ask it to do...which isn't a lot.
I donno, I have some pretty new and exciting software, but it's cool if you want to keep up some antiquated notion that there isn't any software for the mac.
I think many PC users unfairly say that there isn't alot of cool stuff you can put on a Mac, and many Mac users bash PCs for all their supposed problems. For me, I love my PC and probably wouldnt switch to a Mac for the bulk of my stuff, I just like PCs better. Just gotta make sure your porn is virus free...those viruses love to attack Windows.
I think many PC users unfairly say that there isn't alot of cool stuff you can put on a Mac, and many Mac users bash PCs for all their supposed problems.
+1
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I donno, I have some pretty new and exciting software, but it's cool if you want to keep up some antiquated notion that there isn't any software for the mac.
I bet you weren't walking through walmart and say "Hey that looks cool, I'll go ahead and pick that up", which was my point...says the guy that has both a PC and a mac.
You may very well have been browsing any number of sites and have gotten freeware that may or may not have worked wonderfully but the notion that software is less accessible on a mac than a PC isn't an antiquated notion unless your walmart is a lot cooler than mine.
It's sad that in the PC world software is still distributed by putting plastic shiny things into cardboard boxes and shipping them around.
It's unfortunate that "freeware" & "shareware" on the PC has turned into an industry of crapware and malware and spammy garbage. Not so on the Mac. Is there garbage? Sure. But most of the most amazing software is made by 1-2 guys working out of their houses or the local Starbucks and selling it with a 30 day trial.
Just gotta make sure your porn is virus free...those viruses love to attack Windows.
It doesn't hurt that Safari (default web browser on a Mac) comes with *ahem* "Private" browsing mode that doesn't save cookies or history or anything. That on top of no viruses and you're golden.
I bet you weren't walking through walmart and say "Hey that looks cool, I'll go ahead and pick that up", which was my point...says the guy that has both a PC and a mac.
Oh and the last time I bought a bit of Mac software in the store was 2 weeks ago at Costco. Turbotax. Time before that, some games at Target.
For home and even small business use I think Macs are a great fit. If you're wanting to do higher end networking/server asks or other collaboration you'll need to go with a PC or some flavor of Linux.
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For home and even small business use I think Macs are a great fit. If you're wanting to do higher end networking/server asks or other collaboration you'll need to go with a PC or some flavor of Linux.
Um, like developing multi-million-user websites?
Yeah not so much with the no-macs there.
Give it 5 years, Macs will be as much of an assumption for developers as it is for graphic designers is now. "Oh those guys, yeah they just like their Macs for some reason."
Give it 5 years, Macs will be as much of an assumption for developers as it is for graphic designers is now. "Oh those guys, yeah they just like their Macs for some reason."
A lot of developers I know (me included) use macs exclusively now for web development (iPhone developers have to use macs). We then push out code to linux web servers. Having a full unix environment on the mac is nice. When I did run windows the first thing I always installed was cygwin. Sometimes I'm still forced to do .net development and I fallback to a VMware XP image I have.
I have been using macs since the G4 powerbook (one that I sold to a friend and he still uses!) days so not all that long. It used to be challenging to find some types of programs, but not anymore. Games can be somewhat troublesome, although many of the most popular ones have mac versions.
Price is an issue if you're looking for the cheapest way to get computing. Although, when you start comparing spec vs. spec macs can be price competitive, especially right after an update. Most people don't need or want high end computers anymore, so they do fall down there.
BTW, if all someone wants is internet and email the new netbooks might be the way to go. Super cheap and good at what they do.
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BTW, if all someone wants is internet and email the new netbooks might be the way to go. Super cheap and good at what they do.
Without hijacking this thread too much, any recommendations on those? I think with the now-upcoming treadmill purchase that may be on hold for a while, but we WERE starting to look at netbooks...
Mac/PC - new purchase
)
(btw if you are not scared of UNIX you can really tweak - more in fact than you can do on XP)
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