Crossed to the dark side...bought a mac

[berettafan]

Bought it for home. I can't use mac's at work, software isn't up to the task and that tiny mouse and keyboard aren't usable on a daily basis.

so why? well I got fed up with my 2yr old laptop taking forever to start and get a gopro video imported for editing and that was the last straw. I want a machine to manage media (pics, videos, music) in a way that i'll actually get to enjoy it from time to time. Thus far I've only spent about 3 hours on it but the big 27" screen makes it great for looking through photos and videos.

not terribly impressed with the price not including an SSD drive. not sure the mouse was designed for adult sized hands. certain the keyboards are designed using the 10yr old forced labor that probably builds these things.

but by golly it is cool looking! I also bought a 2TB backup drive as I've read there is an auto backup program in there somewhere (time machine I think) and I like the idea of it.

hoping to find some good math and science apps to keep kids sharp during summer vacation as well.

time will tell if it was a good purchase; at this point i'm intrigued and looking forward to finding some order and efficiency in our digital house.

[masraum]

A few years ago, we replaced the wife's cheap laptop with a macbook air. I spent 2 or 3 weeks learning it so I could show her around. She said that she wouldn't go to the free class, but eventually said she wished she had. Anyway, after my time with it, I was hooked. My current workstation works too well to replace, but when I do, it'll be with an iMac. If it was today, it would be a 27" iMac 5k. It's going to be expensive, which is why I haven't done it.

Use whatever keyboard and mouse you want. Have you tried the touchpad instead of the mouse? The touchpad on the wife's laptop is the best I've ever seen/used. When I do buy one, I'll be using my own keyboard. It may not be as slick looking, but it's much more ergonomic.

Congrats and good luck.

[stomachmonkey]

Obviously you can use any keyboard or mouse you want.

Personally I like the keyboards a lot.

End of day, you can always load Windows on it if you don't take to OSX.

[ficke]

I was disappointed when I opened this thread, When I read MAC I think Military Armament Corporation and was expecting a NFA spoon thread.

[Charles Freeborn]

I've used Mac for well over 20 years. Windows too at various jobs. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Do take a class or online instruction, as there are some fundamental differences in the way programs behave (closing all window doesn't quit the program).
Time machine is a breeze. Hook up your external, boot TM, select disc and you're done.
Photos (formerly iPhoto) has taken a few odd turns for the worst with the latest versions, but since you'r learning from scratch you won't have all the old habits I do.
If you're already familiar with MS Office, they do make a Mac version. The native Pages, Numbers, etc are workable, but not as good as Word, Excel, etc.
If you don't like the keyboard, ditch it. I use the Apple keyboard and a Logitech mouse that's 2x the size of the Apple mouse. Keyboard I've gotten used to, but do prefer the extended (with 10 key to the right). If you don't already touch type consider the Mavis Beacon DVD typing course, and if you really want to go off the reservation (like me) learn DVORAK layout. It's superior to Qwerty in so many ways...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

if you really want to go off the reservation (like me) learn DVORAK layout. It's superior to Qwerty in so many ways...

Holy Crap! Not to derail this thread, but I'm shocked. I thought I'd be the only one on the board using Dvorak. I've been using Dvorak keyboard layout since 2001, and yes, I love it as well.

[jyl]

My personal laptop is a MacBook Pro running Mac OS X and Windows 10/via Parallels. Works great.

You can put Parallels, Windows, other keyboards and mice, etc on your 27" iMac. Set up Concurrence, and your Windows apps will appear to run in your Mac OS environment, just as if they were native Mac OS apps.

Macs last a long time, in my experience anyway. We have a couple of 2010 Macs in service at home, and even a 2005 (?) G5 iMac. They all work fine. Throw in a RAM upgrade and an SSD, and these older machines speed up remarkably.

One thing I don't like about the newest Macs, especially the laptops, is that increasingly memory is non-upgradeable (RAM is soldered to motherboard) in pursuit of ever-slimmer form factors.

[john walker's workshop]

I went for the 27" Mac 6 months ago. Fed up with the PC seizing all the time. Should have done it years ago, this thing rocks. Bought the next size smaller for home. Can't see ever going back to to microsoft stuff. Still haven't figured out few things, but it was way easier than I thought. Youtube will solve any issues you have.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

Photos (formerly iPhoto) has taken a few odd turns for the worst with the latest versions, but since you'r learning from scratch you won't have all the old habits I do.

You can say that again. Instead of "Do you want to use iPhoto?" now it, "Oh, you plugged something in. Here's iPhoto conveniently placed on your screen in front of your work."

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

If you're already familiar with MS Office, they do make a Mac version. The native Pages, Numbers, etc are workable, but not as good as Word, Excel, etc.

+ 1 Microsoft office is the best.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by masraum

Holy Crap! Not to derail this thread, but I'm shocked. I thought I'd be the only one on the board using Dvorak. I've been using Dvorak keyboard layout since 2001, and yes, I love it as well.

Yep, another "modern typist" here since about '99. I've got big hands and qwerty was too error prone. Plus it appealed to my counter culture tendencies.... If only It was available on iPhone, pad etc.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

You can say that again. Instead of "Do you want to use iPhoto?" now it, "Oh, you plugged something in. Here's iPhoto conveniently placed on your screen in front of your work."



+ 1 Microsoft office is the best.

You can set what opens when you plug in a camera. Personally I prefer image capture, which I have set as default, but as I recall you can also set "none"

It's been a while, but I think MS office is only subscription based. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not crazy about being forced to sign up for something.

[flipper35]

Office 2013 you could still purchase outright but they do have Office 365 for those that like leasing.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The Mac 5k with 27" screen is an utter joy to work on - I almost like doing work now!

[Crowbob]

I have been totally pleased with all my Apple products. I certainly am no techie in any sense of the word-and so far, I don't have to be.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

You can set what opens when you plug in a camera. Personally I prefer image capture, which I have set as default, but as I recall you can also set "none"

Yes, I just did that, this thread reminded me that I needed to take a valium and deal with this.
Photos opened as soon as I plugged the phone in, but it couldn't immediately download my nude pictures of Jennifer Aniston onto my work computer because my photo library was out of date. Photos locked up and wouldn't do anything until I created a new, up to date photo library (which I called AppleBulls**t). Photo immediately started copying my porn and secret rocket fuel recipes off my phone onto my business iMac. How convenient.
BUT! The magic "don't copy stuff off of this device" button finally did appear. I clicked it, deleted the AppleBulls**t folder, and now I can charge my phone at my desk without embarrassment or visits from the FBI. It's so fun and easy I don't know why everyone doesn't go through 10 minutes of bulls**t just to set up a phone charger. Now all I have to do is go through the same routine for every new memory card or other device I try to use with my computer.
The good news is Apple is on the cutting edge of consumer technology. One day every device will be like this. When you stick the key in your ignition gas station ads will start blaring out of the radio and you won't be able to make them stop until you download a software upgrade and find the secret switch that gives you back control of your car.
I used to like Apple...

When I download images from my camera memory card I create a folder on the computer and move the images I want in that folder from the card into the folder. It's simple, and I get exactly what I want. I don't have any use for a download app. I don't like Nikon's and I sure don't like Apple's.

[rusnak]

Macbook Pro has been good so far. The updates not so much. And iTunes still sucks donkey balls.

But you can look at it this way: Windows sucks even more. So Mac is the least worst option.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Macbook Pro has been good so far. The updates not so much. And iTunes still sucks donkey balls.

But you can look at it this way: Windows sucks even more. So Mac is the least worst option.

Outlook is right up there with iTunes in app suckage, so Microsoft must be trying to maintain its lead as the crappier software company. Apple Mail is the best mail client I've found so far. I tried Mozilla's product and of course Outlook.

[jyl]

I don't like the Mac version of Office. It is different enough from the Windows version to be frustrating for a power user. I use the Windows version of Office on my Mac, via Windows 10/Parallels.

[stealthn]

I have 5 laptops and 3 desktops. My go to machine is still a MacBook Air, I love it, MacOS, Linux and if I need to Windows (rarely). Got everything I need to be a nerd, and light as a feather.

[Cajundaddy]

I went Mac in 2009 and am still using that Macbook pro with upgraded ram and SSD. It just works, is far more intuitive to me, and requires far less maintenance and houskeeping chores than my windows desktop at work. It does integrate well with my iphone, and I recently added an ipad air for travel. Not likely I will ever go back to Win unless I become a hard core gamer.

itunes sucks rocks these days but there are workarounds, or other music software apps.

Time Machine is tits.

Drivers for peripherals have become a non issue. They download automatically when plugged in and update as needed.

Integration with Apple TV is good if you are so inclined.

For office suite software I use Open Office which is freeware but pretty good and compatible with nearly everything else. I am not a power user and don't get into much depth here.
https://www.openoffice.org/why/

There are no perfect laptop OS, but OSX is pretty good for my needs as a non-IT user.