To mac or not to mac?

[Guest J273]

hey guys

Since getting my iphone and loving it ive beenthinking of getting a mac.

This will be my first ever mac,never tried mac in my life.

As anyone switched from windows and which do you prefer?

I currently considering the latest macbook 2.2ghz model with superdrive or the basic spec imac.

Which would you guys go for out of the two?

Thanks

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

When I was in the US I bought myself a bottom of the range MacBook (the one with the Combo drive). I was gonna buy an iPhone, but I didn't like it and so the great exchange rate (for us, not those in the US!) tempted me into the Mac.

I wasn't sure if i'd like it - hence going for minimum spec - but I don't like it, I LOVE it! The combo drive doesn't bother me, so i've just bought a 3GB RAM upgrade and 160GB hard disk, and i've even sold my Thinkpad workhorse now - i'm a mac convert! In fact, I can't ever imagine going back to a PC, Vista feels so clunky by comparison now ;)

Missing Sync makes ActiveSync / WMDC looks like a real embarassment... here's hoping they update it for Leopard soon!

P

[Guest whatmeworry]

I got a mid-range MacBook about 6 months ago and I haven't looked back. Not only is it a beautifully made machine but OSX is so much nicer than Windows (XP at least, I've only had a little play with Vista).

[Guest J273]

Thats good to know ...thanks guys

I orderd the 2.2 superdrive model on monday so hopefully ill get it soon.

I was going to go with the imac but decided the macbook would be best as ive got a spare 24'' monitor i cold hook it up to.

Its seems everyones going with mac now ...which is another one of the reasons i decided to go for it.

@Paul

So is there no WM sync at the minute with leopard?

Thanks

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

There is now a Missing Sync beta that works (ish) with Leopard.

I'm sure they'll have a full release out soon!

P

[Guest J273]

Well got the macbook last wednesday .....Booted the thing up today

And guess what.........

Its got a stuck pixel right in the middle of the screen :D

First the eeeepc and now this.

It cant get any worse. ;) :(

Gotta give them a call tomoz ..hopefully they'll accept it.

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

You're jinxed!

P

[Guest Zim]

Mac's rock, been using it for the past few years, right now got the blackbook and i love it, esp with leopard!

gutted about the dead pixel i am sure they will sort it out... i so want an EEE PC but i cant justify when i will be using it, coz got my blackbook...

Zim

[Guest J273]

Yeah in the short time i had it i liked it very much.

Its now going back though as i hate dead pixels.

I originally planned on using my 30'' montior with the macbook but found out it dont support dual link dvi which is a shame.

So unsure on what to do now.....go for another macbook and not use an external monitor.Pay the extra and go for the pro or wait for the new macbook pro which is suposed to be the same sort of size as the current macbook.

[Guest chucky.egg]

I was looking at Mac notebooks when I bought a new lappy late last year - I just couldn't work out what spec to go for so ended up with another Dell.

It's probably a bit late now, but for future reference can anyone advise on a spec for this

Running multiple (small to medium) spreadsheets and databases at the same time

Running email client (presumably it's not Outlook, but syncing with Exchange) and web browser

Watching DVD movies

I need WiFi and would like 3G modem built-in

15" screen approx

I don't even know where to start with processors and RAM for a Mac - any pointers welcome

Multiple (small to medium) databases

[Guest Zim]

For what u looking at, the mid range macbook will do, infact the lowerend one also just put more (aftermarket) RAM on it and you good to go.. about the modem apple dont provide 3G modems built in usb i am afraid.. Screen size u looking at the pro models, which are mighty fine too... but bit pricy for what u get but still mighty fine

[Guest Alsicole]

I got my first Mac (a 12" Powerbook G4) 18 months ago, just before the new Intel Macs started to appear. Since then I've added a Mac Mini as a media centre and an iMac as our main home desktop machine. I've not looked back. I only had Windows experience prior to getting my Mac and found out what I needed to know by trial and error, but if you're seriously considering it, book an appointment at your nearest Apple store - they have simple Genius Bar sessions where you can ask questions, group or one-to-one training sessions, and particularly sessions for people who are new to Macs. Each Apple store website has a list of times and sessions too.

If you book a one-to-one they can tailor it to your level of computer knowledge. If you're in any doubt as to whether to get one, then the support you can get at an Apple store is a great safety net.

Alison

[Guest mikeeey]

ah i hate macs so much!

they arent compatible with anything (that's the main reason).

people say their easier to use but thats cuz there's less features (but even then, with less features i find it harder to use, most people can navitage throught a windows computer but clueless when it comes to mac)

theres like 6 games total for mac lol, it is NOT a gaming operating system.

you cant upgrade (for the most part). usually you need to buy a whole new computer.

funny video why macs suck, here:

and dont forget the mac gaming video

Edited November 28, 2007 by mikeeey

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Mikeeey, that's so misinformed on virtually all points (bar gaming).

P

[Guest The Doctor]

Mikeeey, that's so misinformed on virtually all points (bar gaming).

P

Indeed. And you can run your games either using Bootcamp to boot windows natively or you can run it in mac OS X under crossover or VMware. So its not that much of an issue...

Phil

[Guest mikeeey]

Indeed. And you can run your games either using Bootcamp to boot windows natively or you can run it in mac OS X under crossover or VMware. So its not that much of an issue...

Phil

and what about compatibility?

it sounds like if you wanna use a mac as a computer you have to use windows, and you cant use Mac OS for much?

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Eh?

I use my mac for EVERYTHING except Visual Studio (which I use via VMware).

P

[Guest The Doctor]

and what about compatibility?

it sounds like if you wanna use a mac as a computer you have to use windows, and you cant use Mac OS for much?

Compatibility? How does the fact I can run Windows applications in Mac OS X under either darwine or Crossover stand for compatibility? I'd like to see Windows run Mac applications :D

And I do use my Mac as a computer perfectly well in Mac OS X, iWork for word processing, spreadsheets etc. Mail for, well, email :D Safari for surfing. iTunes for music. Adium for my IM needs. iLife for all my photo and video editing needs (which before you ask, I do use, I have no need for photoshop at the moment). And Palringo running under Darwine in OS X :(

Infact the only thing I really use Windows for is ROM flashing and editing etc...

Phil

[Guest Alsicole]

Compatibility? How does the fact I can run Windows applications in Mac OS X under either darwine or Crossover stand for compatibility? I'd like to see Windows run Mac applications :D

And I do use my Mac as a computer perfectly well in Mac OS X, iWork for word processing, spreadsheets etc. Mail for, well, email :D Safari for surfing. iTunes for music. Adium for my IM needs. iLife for all my photo and video editing needs (which before you ask, I do use, I have no need for photoshop at the moment). And Palringo running under Darwine in OS X :(

Infact the only thing I really use Windows for is ROM flashing and editing etc...

Phil

I second everything Phil has said. As I said before, I'd been strictly Windows until last year. Never touched a Mac before then. I absolutely love it. I also find that some of the things I want to do with a home computer, for instance editing a video I've shot and uploading to You Tube, is MUCH easier on a Mac. You connect your video camera import the video and then just click and drag to move and edit stuff around, insert menus and transitions etc. I only did this for the first time a couple of weeks back, and have no professional video editing experience, and yet the vids I made have been complimented by loads of people. One even asked if I do it professionally. That's simply all down to the ability of iMovie, which ships free with the Mac!

[Guest wakei456]

why not? mac is the one I want to get