PC-to-Mac guru needed

[tony]

I ran Macintosh computers when they first appeared, even though
I had been a PC user before that.

Can anybody offer advice on switching now from PC to Mac? What
to consider?

Is the Mac operating system stable? Is shareware available?

:dontknow:

[Villages Kahuna]

I've been successful in getting four of my friends--all inveterate PC users--to switch to Macs. I spent endless hours telling them about the user-friendliness of the OS and the software, etc., etc. To the person, each and every one of them now ask how they ever put up with the PC platform for so long. They are uniformly ecstatic with their new Macs.

So that leaves me wondering where to start. Try these simple plusses and minuses. I'll begin with the minuses...

Mac Minuses


There is very little not to like about the Mac. They tend to be a bit more expensive than PC's at the outset. But be careful when evaluating prices. Macs come with a lot more software than the typical PC. So when you really compare Apples and oranges, the difference is not all that great.

The other argument you often hear is that there isn't as much software available for Macs, or that your existing PC software won't work, requiring expensive replacement. Wrong! All the new Intel-based Macs come equipped with the free Bootcamp application which enables you to run any PC program on your Mac. Many people like another program called Parallels which permits switching between the Mac and PC programs without even re-booting. But it does cost $75 or so.



Now, The Plusses For Macs


Extremely stable OS. I can't remember the last time mine crashed...if it ever crashed, that is.

Almost impervious to viruses. Satisfy yourself and do an internet search for the most recent incident of viruses infecting a Mac. You won't find any.

Super user-friendly and well-integrated software. The stuff you can do with a Mac is simply amazing. You want a website? Guaranteed you can have your own up-and-running using iWeb in about an hour. iPhoto is amazing, as is iMovie and iDVD. And you just drag stuff from one program to another in true drag-and-drop basis.

A beautiful user interface. Count on Microsoft to copy Mac features on about a 2-3 year delayed basis and call their stuff "new".



Ahh, that's enough for tonight. Go to an Apple Store (there's a couple in Orlando) and see for yourself.

[LG]

CHECK THIS ARTICLE OUT from MACWORLD

http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2005/01/miniapplesandoranges/

[dklassen]

I've been a PC user for over 20 years. About a month ago I bought a MAC Mini just to have something new to play with. Although I am impressed and will probably make the switch I do have holes in my application suite.

I am a little surprised that as "graphical" as MAC is touted to be, their aren't very many photo applications available. I've also been a long time Photoshop user but I can't get myself to cough up the $600 for the MAC version of Photoshop. If you are into heavy photo manipulation there aren't a lot of choices for the MAC. Photoshop is one (big bucks) and probably the second best choice in Gimpshop (free). Gimp isn't too bad but it's no Photoshop for sure. Paintshop Pro is a nice alternative but isn't available for the MAC.

My next application I use on a regular bases is Front Page. Nothing available for the MAC like it. I've been using Nvu and again it's not too bad but it's not even close to FP (not bad for free though).

The third application I use regularly is Compupic Pro which is a image viewer similar to Thumbs Plus. Nothing available like it for the MAC. I purchased a program called QPict and it sort of comes close but still falls short of Compupic.

When you are talking about graphics programs, images viewers, web authoring, etc, I think the MAC falls shot for application choices. There are far more available for the PC. I should say that there are high end programs available in all these categories for the most part but you pay a hefty price to get them. I am running Parallels which is pretty darn cool so I still have my PC applications available but would still like to make the complete switch.

OS X is far superior to Windows in every way which will keep me on the MAC side of the house from now on.

D.

[bogeygolfer]

I recently bought a new Macbook Pro with the Intel processor and I'm very pleased with the quality of the machine. I've been a computer user since you had to build your own on a 50 pin bus and my first real computer was an Apple II. My company went to all IBM PCs so I was converted to Windoze. I eventually became the company computer guru for SE U.S., retired, did corporate computer support, worked for CompUSA, and then opened my own computer retail store. All of the programs I really needed, primarily investment type, and were not available for the Mac, run very nicely on my new MacPro Notebook after installing Windoze and Parallels. Don't even hesitate to buy a Mac. There is a transition, but If you are familiar with Windoze the transition will be fairly easy for you. You will find more and more things you can do on the Mac easier than on a PC with it's wonderful hangups and blue screen. I have Vista on a couple of other notebook computers we have and I wouldn't recommend anyone run out and buy it. Wait for Version 2. :bigthumbsup:

[2Wheels]

And, no need to feed the Microsoft treasury for MS Office programs. Try OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org)). It's as good as MS Office in most ways, superior in some areas, reads and write MS file formats and it's FREE (this is an open source programming project). The current MAC version is for OSX and runs in X11 (a UNIX windowing system). There is a native version in the works, no ETA.

Anyway, give it a try, it won't cost you a cent...

[tony]

2Wheels,

I checked that OpenOffice, which i have been using on the PC, and I thought it said it is beta software.

Anyway, I plan to get it sooner or later. Are you using it now? If so, how is it working?

[dklassen]

Better than OpenOffice.

http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

[2Wheels]

I use it on the MACs and a Winders Laptop. No problems at all. The MAC version is built to run under X11, so it doesn't have the look & feel of a MAC app, but it works fine...

[tony]

Darrel,

I saw the NeoOffice and was going to try for it. What do you like about it?

[PierreLiz]

There is a Mac Users group here in TV. The best bet is to contact their President, Jack Kraft.

[JRietz]

I've been a PC user for over 20 years. About a month ago I bought a MAC Mini...

I am late coming into this discussion, but I just joined today. I just wanted to add a few things not covered by others.

PhotoShop Elements is a subset of the full application and offers enough tools for most users for touching up, stitching individual pictures into one panorama picture, create contact sheets, picture packages, etc. It lists for $89, but is frequently on sale somewhere for less.

There is program named ImageWell, which is free, which provides cropping, screen capturing, and marking up with arrows, cutouts, and sending the resulting file to a local disk or web site via ftp. It does have an extras packages for $15, but the basic is great for making tutorial type graphics.

Of course, your Mac Mini should have come with iPhoto which I use as a library. While I can do some quick and dirty fixes, it can also use PhotoShop Elements automatically to do heavier editing.

There are a host of shareware programs, including GraphicConverter. This program converts just about anything to anything and then some. It also does have some editing capabilities. Oh, there is Corel Draw also.

While I do a lot of web sites, I have never used Front Page. I know it is supported all over the place with templates and extensions. I started with a text editor (BBEdit) for my data base web sites, and at some point started using Adobe GoLive. My current version (6), while it works fine, should be upgraded to take advantage of more modern web features. I was thinking of upgrading, but I'm not sure if GoLive or DreamWeaver will be Adobe's mainstream program letting the other go away. So, for less than a quarter of the upgrade price, I got a program named RapidWeaver. It is a great program, reasonable, well supported with plugins and themes, and good community which shares their good expriences.

I don't have a suggestion for Thumbs Up. Although, if the picture files have a thumbnail included in the file, they should show up in the icon view of the finder (the size can be set in the View Options). Selecting a group and opening with Preview, will give you a menu (list) of pictures and can be displayed. I'm not sure what your needs are, but wanted to mention iPhoto again, it does a good job of organizing and viewing pictures.

I'm sure with Parallels you can do anything (I use VMware Fusion for a number of reasons - bigger company for one and I got in at half price during the beta). I use it pretty much for checking my sites with IE6...

Most mainstream applications exist on both platforms and are pretty much equal. It is the small applications which Windows may excel with, but I think the quality of Mac programs, for the most part, is a bit higher (through all the years...).

One other thing, it was mentioned there is a Mac club in The Villages. It meets twice a month - Q&A and basics, Sept 18, at 1:30 pm at the Saddlebrook Rec Center and the main meeting (iPhoto - Quick DVD for Fun) Sept 26, 7 pm also at Saddlebook.

Jim

[tony]

About Parallels, I finally got it going to some extent, but am having a fit Transporting two existing PCs to the two new Mac Minis. Darrel got his going fine, but mine have not gone well at all. I am quite sorry I bought two copies of Parallels. I didn't know that VMware, which I ran on my PC for a long time, was coming out with a Mac version.

As a former corporate systems guy, I have to say that Parallels has the absolute worst tech support of any company I have ever dealt with, bar none. I'm just sorry I have to keep the software. The company tech support still cannot solve the Transporting of my existing machines.

As for web design, I understand the Dream Weaver will be the survivor. Only hearsay form a former coworker who knows such things. He was grumbling about losing GoLive.

P.S. What kind of web sites do you do? Send along a URL so we can go peek.

[JRietz]

I've had tried the Parallels demo, but since I only needed to run Windows was for cosmetic reasons the VMware at half price was a deal. I had also read that Parallels tech support lacked a lot, yet another reason for VMware. And VMware is supposed to be faster, although that wasn't a main concern at the time. I feel a little better with a company that has more than one product.

I figured GoLive was on its way out from the upgrades available - Dreamweaver seems to have more incentive to get upgrades from other programs... except from GoLive. I just looked and GoLive is not listed under "Products" at Adobe.com. I think it is still part of a package or you have to dig deeper on their site.

My main site is http://www.think-different.com, but I'm focusing my video business in on Life Stories and Video Biographies getting ready to launch my http://www.LifeIncluded.com site. I also do web access to 4th Dimension data bases for a few clients in Chicago. Most of them are for the company sales reps and their clients to access the inventory or production. They can get realtime access to many areas of the data base, including creating their own shipments of finished products.

Jim

PS. I moved to The Villages last year and am still trying to find things. This site was a good find, for sure!

[dklassen]

Isn't VMware $190?

[JRietz]

Isn't VMware $190?


No, No, No.... same price as Parallels - $80 list. On the front page of http://www.macintouch.com/ you can get VMware for $40.49 with a rebate through Amazon (clicking on that link supports MacInTouch).

Jim

[dklassen]

Ah. I have Parallels running on my Mac Mini. So far it's been flawless including the transporter. I was thinking about trying something else just for the fun of it.

D.

[JRietz]

...I was thinking about trying something else just for the fun of it.

You can try VMware Fusion for 30 days!

Jim

[tonycirocco]

;D
I',ve been running my Mac PoweBbook G4 laptop over a year now.

Before that, it was PCs since Commadore, Trash 80, and Singer?

That was then....Adaware, Norton, defrag, yadda yadda.

NOW, none of that. I just get on, and do my "stuff".


What more can I say?

Tony

[Skip]

Most Mac users don't even run virus protection.

Skip

[tonycirocco]

I don't.

[Villages Kahuna]

...at the Villages Mac User Group (VMUG) meeting. Jack Kraft, who is the President of both the VMUG as well as the PC-oriented Villages Computer Club, made an observation regarding the question-and-answer parts of the meetings.

Jack observed that at the Mac User Group meeting all the member's questions and problems can be resolved in about five minutes. He observed that was a stark contrast to the meeting of the PC users at the Villages Computer Club. He explained that it's not uncommon to consume an hour or so in answering questions or resolving problems members are having with their PC's and Microsoft operating systems.

That about says it all, doesn't it?

[handieman]

RE: MAC VS PC

I hear what your saying, however take into consideration that most Mac users have been introduced to Mac's on a different level. Most folks met the Mac system via their work environment or school etc. This environment gave them the opportunity to receive training in the early stages of computers. Also remember the PC'rs bought their computers at Big Box stores and went into it blind and with very little help. Although I agree the Mac system is great, it suffers from many fewer attacks from hackers due to the fact that its not the most populated system. The poor masses of PC users have to suffer because their the majority (the hackers want the most bang for their buck).
Mr Kahuna, don't give me that snob (kidding) thing about Mac users VS PC users, if it weren't for Mr Gates and Microsoft, where would the average individual be in the computer world today. Long live them both, competion is a wonderfull thing because you and I are the winners.
Handie :joke:

[KathieI]

Wow! How opportune is this post!!!

I'm heading right now to my Apple store to look at a MAC as my next new computer and as usual, all you guys on TOTV have given me so much information that I'll feel like an expert. About 15 years ago, I took both PC and MAC classes to see which one I would want and actually preferred the MAC (can't remember now all the details, but I did like MAC much better). Anyway, in business it was impossible to use MAC and I was forced into PC's because of our IM departments who would not support the MAC users and all the programs the company instituted were all PC based. Also, because of Mr. Gates, I was forced to move from WordPerfect to Word, which made me extremely angry and I still to this day don't understand how he won that little battle with corporate America.

Although now with the Intel based MAC's, I think its very well worth the try to go back to what I want. And, since I'm out of corporate America, I'm moving to MAC.

Sorry, Handie, but I hate being controlled by Mr. Gates and his un-friendly user programs.

Will let you know if I've changed my mind after meeting with the Apple people.

Thanks for the info everyone. Kathie

[JRietz]

...take into consideration that most Mac users have been introduced to Mac's on a different level. Most folks met the Mac system via their work environment or school etc.

Work? Unlikely. Microsoft has had a stronghold at work for most of the time personal computers have been in existence.

Also remember the PC'rs bought their computers at Big Box stores and went into it blind and with very little help.

Wrong. The reason "PC'rs" got PCs was to be compatible with their Work systems, where they had received professional training (frequently...). That lame excuse has been drilled in the the minds of people for years, but they are starting to see the light.


Although I agree the Mac system is great, it suffers from many fewer attacks from hackers due to the fact that its not the most populated system. The poor masses of PC users have to suffer because their the majority (the hackers want the most bang for their buck).

Actually, it was/is the easier to hack.

... if it weren't for Mr Gates and Microsoft, where would the average individual be in the computer world today.

If it wasn't for Apple leasing their operating system to Microsoft for 1 year, you would still be using DOS. If IBM hadn't made the wrong deal of the year, MS would be... well, it probably just wouldn't be.

.Long live them both, competion is a wonderfull thing because you and I are the winners.


I've been a winner for 20 years now... You could start today!

Jim

[KathieI]

:agree: Although I certainly don't pretend to understand the more technical comments, I do know, and I'm sure you all have figured it out, that I dislike anyone like Mr. Gates having such a monopoly on what we can or can't use , especially to run out businesses.

Now, get me started on SAP, and you'll really hear me scream :cus:

Kathie

[KathieI]

Update from this morning's post. I went to the Apple store near my house and met 2 friends who are very experienced Mac users. We looked over the MacBook laptop for me and I fell in LOVE !!! The price is now right, the ergonomics perfect and size of screen and weight of computer is perfect. and it looks cute!!! (typical girly statement)

The store is so accommodating. They will transfer all my PC stuff onto my new Mac free of charge. They will also give one on one service for a small fee for one year, with any help you need on your Mac. I registered for my first free class for this Saturday, where I will learn the basics, only because I feel I need it. You also get a new printer included in the total price. I guess Sunday morning, I'll be back there to buy my first Mac, and I know I won't be disappointed.

Watch out Mr. Gates, if this service level keeps up, you could be in a sorry state (not really, I just feel good saying that.)

[tonycirocco]

The closest Mac store I can find is in Orlando.
Am I missing something?
Is there one closer?


Tony... ???

[JRietz]

The closest Mac store I can find is in Orlando.
Am I missing something?
Is there one nearer?

Not that I'm aware of. But the good thing is there are 2 Apple stores within a few miles.

Jim

[Sidney Lanier]

We have had Macs since the first personal computer made its appearance in our home in 1984. Granted things have changed considerably over the years, but a friend and fellow Mac enthusiast was once interviewed about his preference, and he pointed out that a particular instruction (might have been installation, but can't remember...) for the PC took three columns of print, while that for the Mac was a single paragraph.

Remember when Microsoft was creating demand with tons of hype about its (then) forthcoming 'Wondows 95'? (Yes, this is quite a few years ago.) When it finally came out, we Macheads looked at it and said, 'Ho hum, it looks like Mac 89.' And it did! At that time all Windows was was an interface between DOS inside the machine and the user outside that made it LOOK like a Mac but certainly not PERFORM like a Mac!

Apple did not market well, and Windows took over the business world, and to this day there is software that is not available for the limited (but again growing) Mac market. But there is no doubt that Macs then and Macs now are INFINITELY MORE STABLE AND NOT SUBJECT TO CRASHES the way Windows was then and still is now, so I've been told....

Here is an interesting link for free, open-source Mac software; it's well worth checking:

http://www.opensourcemac.org/

[Villages Kahuna]

I've convinced four of my die-hard PC-user friends to switch to Macs. It was a long struggle and all of them initially bought Macs to "try it out", keeping their PC's for "real work".

I forewarned them that Macs don't come with a lot of instructions. In fact, in three of the four cases there was simply a sheet in the box with the new Mac with a series of pictures on it.


Take the Mac out of the box
Plug it in
Press the Power On button
Then follow the on-screen instructions


All four friends reported that they have never purchased a computer that was up and running within 10 minutes of cutting the tape on the box. And now all three have stashed their PC's in the closet and are using their Macs exclusively. Two have even bought Mac laptops to use when they travel. And they all report that they don't understand how they ever did without their Macs and ask themselves why they didn't make the switch sooner.

By the way, Sidney, I took a look at the open source applications listed on the link you provided. I've already tried a couple and they're very good. But I intend to try a few more. Thanks for the link reference.

[tony]

I'm looking for open source software for home accounting, like Quicken or My Money for the PC. I see some in this site. Has anybody tried either?

Also, seeking drafting a design software.

[JRietz]

Also, seeking drafting a design software.

Have you looked at Google SketchUp? There are a ton of features (2D & 3D) with a lot of libraries (including Google's 3D Warehouse). Here's the link to the free version:

http://www.sketchup.com/index.php?title=2

Jim

[tony]

Yep. I have Sketchup. Quite a learning curve. And dimensioning is no fun.

I still use it, though, until something better shows up for Mac.