PC user converted to Mac

[Porsche]

A week ago I switched from using PCs to using Macs (specifically, a desktop Windows XP and a notebook, to 2 x Macbooks, one White 2 Ghz, the other one Black).

I've used Macs before, and loved the interface - decided when it was time to upgrade that my wife and I would switch, so we did. I wished I did this earlier - since I don't play games and only use computers for Word processing and presentations, the Mac is all I need really. I bought MS Office for Mac so I've got all the applications I need. Plus I am burning my home videos into DVDs with ease.

Anyone else did this? Any tips for a new Mac user?

[slakjaw]

Any tips for a new Mac user?

Yeah, use a PC

[Nathans_Dad]

I switched to an iMac about 3 months ago. It was a little difficult at first to get used to the different interface and different ways of working with files but....

I love it now. Would never go back. There are many folks on the board like Nostatic and Moses that can recommend specific apps for the Mac, I'm not really much of a power user.

Slakjaw you have no idea what you are missing.

[nostatic]

every time I go and use a PC I think, "geez, they almost copied Apple right, but still got it wrong..."

As for apps, depends what you want to do. The iApps are very good, with iMove and iDVD being easily best of breed. I love Omni Graffle Pro, another amazing program.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Porsche
Any tips for a new Mac user?

Yes, think like an 8 year old and things will go splendidly

[craigster59]

My Wife and I replaced our PC's with Macbooks this Christmas and couldn't be happier. One trick I do know of is to reset the computer, remove power cord and battery and hold the power button down for 6 seconds. This usually solves minor glitches and saves calling Applecare.

[JavaBrewer]

Word processing, presentations, email, listening to music, digital pictures, video, Pelican surfing...hummm, launch the app, use it. Explain why that is so much easier on OSX vs. XP again? Or... do you just prefer the OSX L&F and/or hardware? Nothing wrong with that either. I just don't buy the "life is so much easier with my Mac" line...

[lendaddy]

Countdown to the word "elegant" in....

3
2
1

[Porsche]

I've used PCs from the beginning - started with IBM XTs running MS-DOS and PC-DOS - did toy with an Apple IIe in the beginning too, but like most people, got caught up with the whole PC/Microsoft movement.

It's only last year that I've started using my friends iBook, to edit movies, and it's the whole interface - the speed, the elegance, the stability, the lack of viruses and spyware - it all adds up.

[nostatic]

outlook blows
no video editing app nearly as good/easy as iMovie
keynote handles text and rich media better than powerpoint
no hassles with antivirus/malware/etc

[JavaBrewer]

You must have the Enterprise edition of Outlook cause mine does not blow - nevermind swallow...

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Gotta love the PC-elitism...

Guess what, since 1987 I've built my own computers. I started with an 8088, moved on to a 386 (DX, none of that SX BS), and now have a P4 merrily burning a hole in my carpet at home. It's a file server, runs Ubuntu (ran Gentoo for a year and a half until I got tired of running emerge daily), and I play a game or two on it.

I actually work for a living now, so I don't have time to ***** around with a POS that doesn't work the first time you try to use it. My iMac fits my requirements (to date it hasn't crashed on me, and I've had it over a year). My wife uses our G4 PowerBook which is still plenty fast to do what she needs to do.

Could Apple computers be better? Sure, my PowerBook went through all sorts of growing pains the first year I owned it, but it's sorted out now. My iMac is a little loud--the fan is vaguely 747-like when I peg the CPU utilization. But the software is ridiculously easy to use, does everything I need it to, and doesn't crash.

I can't say the same about the machines I use that run Windows.

And yes, Outlook is an absolutely reprehensible piece of *****^H^H^Hoftware. I've never seen another application that freezes up as frequently or randomly as Outlook does. As the old saying goes,

'Outlook not good'...say, that magic 8-ball knows everything!

[Moses]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Countdown to the word "elegant" in....

3
2
1

Commonly used word because it fits. Look, You can fly coast to coast in an economy seat or you can fly first class. They'll both get you where you want to go, but the experience is a world apart.

Macs- If you don't get it, you ain't got it.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Moses
Commonly used word because it fits. Look, You can fly coast to coast in an economy seat or you can fly first class. They'll both get you where you want to go, but the experience is a world apart.

Macs- If you don't get it, you ain't got it.

[slakjaw]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
I switched to an iMac about 3 months ago. It was a little difficult at first to get used to the different interface and different ways of working with files but....

I love it now. Would never go back. There are many folks on the board like Nostatic and Moses that can recommend specific apps for the Mac, I'm not really much of a power user.

Slakjaw you have no idea what you are missing.

I may not have an idea of what I am missing but I am pissed off at Apple for other reasons.

[craigster59]

[slakjaw]

Isnt OSX based on Linux or something?

[Porsche]

Not Linux but it's a Unix-based OS AFAIK.

[Nathans_Dad]

Why use a Mac? Simple. It works. Every time. When I had PCs (I still have one actually, my kids use it) my usual cycle was: build PC (yes I did this myself), install XP, install anti-virus, install apps, move data onto new system, works great for about 6 months or a year, wierd things start happening, apps lock up, XP has trouble quitting and starting, wipe hard drive, resinstall XP, reinstall anti-virus, reinstall apps, move data back over again, works again for a year or so, repeat cycle.

With the iMac it has been: remove computer from box, plug in, plug in wireless router, iMac does the rest. Done.

[unimog406]

i've never had a pc that has lasted more than 3 months from the day i bought it to the day it would no longer start up. tips for the mac user: play around with itunes some, if you like music, you will love it [ipod?]