| » Forum Index » Straight photography and off-topic » Topic: PC to Mac switch |
|
Posted on 15/04/10 03:57:31 AM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
PC to Mac switch
I am getting more and more serious about switching to a MAC, but somebody please tell me the downside. Like what programs That I now have will have to be bought new for MAC, virus, word, spreadsheets, email etc? Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm thinking of doing it about the time I upgrade my Photoshop, so I can keep my old version on my old computer, and upgrade to CS% for Mac. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 15/04/10 11:41:39 AM |
|
Mark Goodwin
**** Posts: 261 Reply  |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Vibeke After 20 years on PC's I changed 5 years ago and have never looked back. I ran a G5 for 5 years which was fantastic and have now just changed to a dual Quad (8 core) had 3 months of problems, but now Apple have just changed the machine no quibble and thus far it's brilliant. I would highly recommend Mac, also bear in mind that they were initially designed for people in the Graphics business (or at least they were adopted by those people) so its all about getting the right tool for the job. I use Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac and that takes care of all my office requirements and my presentation needs, and is totally compatible with my colleagues that I have to work with, all who use PC's. That's my penneth, but Steve is your man, he is the AppleMac expert and I'm sure he will be able to explain the benefits greater than I. Good luck _________________ Mark Goodwin If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always got! |
Posted on 15/04/10 1:47:42 PM |
|
GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply  |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Hi Vibeke, I have used MACs for the last 10 years and have had nowhere near (none, actually) the problems that I have had with PCs. I recently had to replace our one and only PC and seriously considered getting a low spec iMAC as it was only used for writing e mails and letters with a bit of spreadsheet work. In the end I got a new PC with Vista installed. I regretted it immediately as it gave me problems right from the start which I had to work at to correct. I never have these problems with MACs. And I got my first virus within a couple of weeks which my anti-virus software told me it couldn't deal with.....so tough luck! You won't need any anti-virus software on a MAC. I have converted many of my friends to MACs and, so far, not a single one of them has regretted it. MACs just work! Yes, you will pay more but you will get quality and a very smooth ride. Yes, there are more high end graphics cards for PCs and more software but everything you need is available for MAC. Gordon _________________ Why isn't 'phonetic' spelled the way it sounds? |
Posted on 15/04/10 7:15:28 PM |
|
Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
I have recently converted to Mac from Windows. I like the interface better than Windows, but do your self a favour and buy a non Apple mouse. Mac OSX does feel a bit alien at first, and using an odd mouse doesn't help at all. Get a Logitech or Microsoft mouse or use your current one. You'll feel much more at home that way. I have found Mac equivalents to most programs I use. A couple of specialised ones I can't get for Mac so I have Windows 7 also installed as a virtual machine using Parallels. You can run Windows and Mac programs side by side (A handy lifeline to anyone making the switch). Windows 7 runs better on my mac as a virtual machine than it used to on my PC. |
Posted on 15/04/10 7:21:26 PM |
|
Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Hello Vibeke, I have been using a mac for quite some time now. I use Bento as a database which is the small version of Filemaker, and iWork, Pages etc for typed documents. Takes a bit of getting used to but I find it a lot more logical. |
Posted on 15/04/10 8:29:03 PM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Mark, "I use Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac" Is that a special version, of Office or the windows version? I have Office 2007. Main use is Word, Excell and of course Outlook. Paul, "I have Windows 7 also installed as a virtual machine using Parallels" Using Windows as a virtual machine, how easy is it to switch between the two? Really appreciate everybodys input. I keep hoping my husbands computer will die, so he will want mine. Have thought of slowing it down even futher.  _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 15/04/10 8:39:07 PM |
|
Mark Goodwin
**** Posts: 261 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Vibeke The Office 2008 for Mac is designed especially for the Mac. But I have been able to use it since I changed. It works exactly the same as the PC version (as far as I can tell). I started with 2004 v when I first swapped over and have just now upgraded to 2008v because it was designed with the Intel chip in mind which is what the latest Macs are using (as I'm sure you know). You will never regret the change...Promise! _________________ Mark Goodwin If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always got! |
Posted on 16/04/10 00:33:07 AM |
|
jwhite
Collage Critter Posts: 274 Reply  |
Re: PC to Mac switch
I started with the IBM PC when it first came out in the early 1980's. Made the switch to the Mac late last year. To date I prefer the Mac over the PC. When I did an Adobe cross-platform upgrade, I was told that once you switch from one platform (PC) to another (Mac), you are ineligible for another cross-platform switch. In other words, once you switch to Mac you cannot switch back to the PC without purchasing the full programs again. Some of the Mac issues that I encountered included the way attachments are sent via email. If your sending an attachment to someone with a PC you have to change the default way the Mac attaches messages. Also, some file management tasks such as the bulk renaming of files are not as straight forward as one would think. There were a few other minor issues encountered during my learning curve that were easily resolved using google and/or youtube. In my opinion the following graphic is a perfect comparison between the Mac and the PC.  |
Posted on 16/04/10 01:03:16 AM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
I was very much thinking of chaning over about the same time I upgrade to Photoshop CS5, that way I will still have the old PS on my old PC. Everybody does seem verymuch in favour of the switch. I have got a couple of very good screens, do I have to change to a Mac Screen? _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 16/04/10 08:44:51 AM |
|
Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7040 Reply  |
Re: PC to Mac switch
No, your existing screens will work fine. You may have to buy a different connector, depending on the Mac you buy, but in most cases it will just be plug and play. Hope the switch goes well! Do ask here if you get stuck with anything. |
Posted on 16/04/10 09:41:17 AM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Thanks, bound to get stuck. Have overcome the first hurdle. Husband has agreed. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 16/04/10 12:52:41 PM |
|
Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
It couldn't be easier. You can have Windows, as a whole, running in a window along side your mac programs or you can have it so your windows programs sort of live on your mac desktop. You can be working on two programs never really knowing one was in windows. You can share your drives so you have full access to any files within Windows. You need to buy Parallels- There is a free way included with the Mac called Bootcamp. I don't like this idea because you have to make a decision at boot time if you want Mac or Windows. Then, sharing files is not easy. Unless you are playing the latest PC games that require every last ounce power from your computer, then you are much better off using Parallels. |
Posted on 16/04/10 7:33:04 PM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
That does sound ideal, as I would be able to run some of my old programs until I eventually switch over to Mac equivelant. I have several external drives, manily full of photos, will they work with the Mac (in Mac mode)? _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 16/04/10 11:32:50 PM |
|
Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
Most external drives use FAT32 system and that is fully compatible with Macs. You will be able to read and write to those disks with no problem. If you had those drives format as NTFS then you can only read from them. There is a free utility/driver called NTFS-3G that will let you write to them too. Hopefully you wouldn't need that, but if you do, you know what to look for 
|
Posted on 16/04/10 11:56:44 PM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
All mine are of course formated for NTFS, still once I get my new Mac, I guess I can copy everyting across to the Mac, reformat the external and then copy it all back. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 24/04/10 7:42:51 PM |
|
vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply |
Re: PC to Mac switch
I have ordered my IMac, 27" I7, 8GB ram 2TB hard drive. Will have to wait 2 weeks for it, I was all set to order an I5 with a 1TB drive from the local apple store, but decided to just have a look in an other store, they were having a special on apple, and came up with this machnine for almost the same price. The chap I dealt with also seemed to be more knowlagable than the Apple guy. For these speck I can wait an extra week for delivery. I'm going to try to go totaly Mac, after all if I run windows on the same machine I will have all the usual problems with viruses. Still It's going to be interesting and quite a learning curve. You are sure to hear from me. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |