Switching from PC to Mac....

[bcody]

For anyone that has made the switch, how much different is the Mac and how hard was it to get use to? I am thinking if switching to a Mac, have been a PC user for many, many years. I know I will have tro buy my photo editing software for the MAC, (I use Adobe cs3, maybe I will upgrade to 4 at the same time.)

What is different? Do you manage your files the same way?

Thanks for any input!

 

[CrescentMinis]

You will love the Mac world! So much smoother, I have very few problems with my Mac, and have been using both since the early 90's.

For work (I have a print marketing company), I have 2 laptops side by side. The Windows one is there because it's the only choice for my bookkeeping and embroidery design software, but it has SO MANY issues almost every day. The Mac is for everything else...the Adobe CS4 suite runs perfectly, and I can have a bunch of programs open and jumping in and out of them at one time. If you have to upgrade a bunch of your software and anyone close to you is a college student, you can get some excellent discounts through JourneyEd.com

I just loaded a program called Parallels, which splits part of my Mac hard drive and makes it a Windows simulator. Still testing, but I do have a couple of Windows based programs running in it and so far, so good. Thinking of trying the other critical PC software because it would be so much easier to only use one machine! File management is simpler too, depends how you set it up.

 

[minifancier]

I am also going to be going from PC to Mac~! My IMAC should be in sometime this week!

And I am very lucky I have a Mac store just 15 miles from me so if I have a problem I can get very quick responses.

I have not been on a Mac for 154 years now and I am just sick of the virus stuff going around for PC's and such. And now no need to even have virus protection, ad-ware, spyware none of these things infect a MAC. COOL.

 

[Littleum]

It's all basically the same. Windows really ripped off the Mac GUI back in the day.

You will have to buy the Mac version of your software, and get used to developers not fully supporting Mac. Mac versions may be buggier or "dressed down", or "not fully supported". In some cases, there are just no Mac ports and you have to do without. You can get Window emulators that work very well, though, if you prefer a Windows enviroment with the Mac hardware.

I keep thinking I'll get a Mac one day (I did Mac tech support all through college in the "system 7 years"

) but you can't buy Mac components and build yourself a Mac for cheaper then you can get one off the shelf. Just an example, but last year I got a shopping list from some techno-dork friends, went to Microcenter, bought everything and paid them $85 to put it all together. For $1.1K I got what my husband bought the same week for $3K. The Mac equivlant would have been over $5K.

With the urgings of the same friends I'm going to try to swap the processor myself later this month. I used to be pretty techno dorky and weld RAM onto the original IMacs and what not, so hey, why not? Worst thing that will happen is I'll fry the board and have to get a new board too.

It's just hard to argue with such big savings.

Now if I could do that with a Mac....

 

[minifancier]

"system 7 years"

Yes that was the last time for me also~!

But in those days we had a blank data base, that we could program ourselves. and after awhile I was able also to program the MAC with that data base that we had in the Mac Power PC.~!

 

[bcody]

Thanks, I am sure I will have a ton of questions, but I am going to get a mac lap top. I will have to wait a little while to buy photoshop for it, but that will be OK. I can not wait to try it. Thanks for the help.

 

[Maxi'sMinis]

I have used Mac for 20 yrs. I also have a PC. Currently I have a Power Mac and a 24" display that I love. The Mac comes with iPhoto that will get you by until you can buy Photoshop. I would recommend buying the Apple Care Plan. Comes with a trouble shooting CD and 24 hour assistance I think. I just upgraded to the newest OS I think. It Leopard can't remember.

 

[bcody]

I got my macbook today. I set it up and started to play with it and thought oh no, what did I get myself into? BUT, once I got over the it looks different, it has been just fine! I like that the iphoto reads RAW, YEAH!! I will eventually get photoshop for it, but I will be keeping me PC anyways, need to watch marestare! I really think I am going to like it. I have not been able to find embroider digitizing software, does anyone know if they make it for MAC?

 

[CrescentMinis]

There's embroidery software called Punto that was designed to be used on the Mac. I don't use it anymore, not sure if you can still find it or not....there's something to Google!

 

[mydaddysjag]

I was an applecare technical support agent for quite some time, up until October 08' actually.

It wont take long to catch on, and you will learn to LOVE a mac.

Here are two links to reference :

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

They'll be helpful in the switch. The people at applecare are there to help if you really cant understand a "how to" type thing, but generally they are supposed to refer you to those articles first for self help, so they have more time to help people who's computers aren't working correctly versus a "how to".

PLEASE get the applecare protection plan. If you got an iMac it's like $169 and WELL worth it. It's going to give you three years of warranty versus 1 year, and honestly it's RARE for anything to go wrong in that first year. It doesn't cover accidental damage (ie. you drop your computer and crack the screen) I dont know if you know this or not, but about the only downfall to a mac is the price of a hardware repair. Plus, if you need a hardware component replaced they will send someone to your home at your convenience to fix it for free, you just have to ask for on site repair. They only offer mail in repair for the laptops though. You have 1 year from the date that you purchased your computer to purchase the applecare.

 

[anoki]

I switched a few years ago, and I LOVE my Mac!!!!

There are some things that are different, but overall, it really isn't all that different.

I use the discussion forum and support pages when I do get in a bind...they are really good at helping out!!

I'm using a 'PC' laptop while I'm away and it is driving me bonkers

I can't wait to get back to my Mac!!!!!

~kathryn

 

[bcody]

Thanks, I will get the applecare. I also found out there is an Apple retail store in Fort Worth, about 45 minutes from here, I will have to go visit!

 

[minifancier]

Thanks, I will get the applecare. I also found out there is an Apple retail store in Fort Worth, about 45 minutes from here, I will have to go visit!

Neat as mine is about as close to me also just a 30 minute drive. and yes I did get Applecare~! and I am still waiting for the store to call to tell me my IMAC is in, maybe tomorrow. So I will have this weekend to get used to it lol

 

[MiniMaid]

I really wanna switch as soon as our main computer dies. We would have one now but they are so much more expensive. But I totally think switching in the long run will be alot better.

1. Great customer sevice
2. No viruses
3. over all mac = win

 

[FoRebel]

I went from a PC to a Mac 4 years ago. I will never go back. IMO, Macs are so much easier to comprehend, work with and just easier in general. Like a PP said, no viruses + wonderful customer service = WIN!!!!! I have a huge advantage personally though... My hubby is a Mac certified tech.

 

[bonloubri]

I switched to Mac about three years ago. I love it. I just wish their spreadsheet program was more compatible with Microsoft Excel. I still use the M/S for Mac excel program.

 

[user 488]

I just bought an iMac. Love the 24" screen.

The support staff is incredible. You get to talk to a LIVE person every time that speaks English and that you actually understand and living in US time zones!

I am also in the process of going wireless. Hope it all goes smoothly but I couldn't be happier with the Mac. I do have my PC in another room in case I get "stuck" on anything but no issues so far. I have heard people say you can't do this or that on a Mac..........guess they just don't know how because you can you the stuff I have heard you can't do.

(I do know mare stare is a problem but that is the only thing I have run into at this point)

 

[tagalong]

I just bought an iMac. Love the 24" screen.

AHA!!! Another one who went for the big screen like me!! Isn't it wonderful??!!

 

[user 488]

I just bought an iMac. Love the 24" screen.

AHA!!! Another one who went for the big screen like me!! Isn't it wonderful??!!

It's AMAZING!

I now have to wonder what took me so long.

Thought you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks.

 

[bcody]

Well, I have to admit I LOVE the lap top! I will be a mac pro soon. I can not justify buying a new desk top right now, as the old PC till works fine, but my next desk top WILL be an apple. It has been a lot easier then I thought! Why didn't I do this sooner?