[themagain]

Is the change really hard from Windows to Mac?

[michaelgoonan]

[quote name='themagain']Is the change really hard from Windows to Mac?It is not difficult at all. Mac has a very similar interface to Windows, minus the start menu. Instead there is a "Macintosh HD" icon on your desktop that does that job. I hope that you make the switch. I haven't regretted it :D!!

[Browningchris3]

no not at all its very similar and the more you use it the more you love it and want to tell everyone about it

[KellieCM]

I found the switch to be very easy. Most things are very intuitive (more intuitive than Windows), and there are some great tutorials on Apple's site (not to mention great forums on PC World and Macworld) if you get stuck on something.

[TheNameless]

Macs aren't really that much harder to use than Windows, in my opinion. The only thing that I've ever been turned off by was the price, but since they started with the Core Duo, their prices have been reasonable.

[Kersen]

It was a nightmare for me I wound up taking my macbook pro(or whatever the G4 series was called) back. lost a few hundred but beats keeping a laptop that the only software I Liked was garageband. basically would have paid over 2 grand for garageband not worth it to me). I have used windows based systems for around 15 years I have dug macs since they came out with the table lamp looking Imac. So I researched them for about 2 years or so. finally I desided to take the leap, I was disappointed big time. For one thing I had it for only 2 days and I had system crashes 4 times (perhaps I had a bad install ).( I have never seen the blue screen of death since windows 2000 came out). I have over 6 thousand Wma Files on my cpu and they were useless on a mac. I dont like mp3 there sound quality is horrid and file sizes is much bigger than wma. AAC is not a option cause all my players dont support AAC in fact at the time the only players that support AAC is apple. Also to me AAC has that dance club sound to it ( alot of treble and bass but no mids) I use my computer for music first ( play and record guitar and my music collection.) finances ( I would have had to go out and buy finanacial software for the mac cause it came with quikbooks,wich is for business.) and surfin the web thats about it. Oh and family pictures ( I am not a gamer so going to a mac was not big deal. But if you are starting out in pc and Dont need or desire alot of software or hardware options go for it ( it would be a good investment for ya)

[AuroraDizon]

Macs are an excellent system, and hey even if you do get kinda annoyed with osx you can always duel boot windows if you have one of the intel models. I think, isn't there even something that ads a windows bar to it? I think it was in this latest issue of PC World actually. Anyway, they arn't hard to use, there just different. So if you spent years and years ona pc be prepared to relearn short cuts, and names for things. Its all the same, just slightly different. I wish I had a mac.edit - I have a mac but its a blueberry g3 500mhz that well is stuck on 8.6 for now so its not hooked up. I mean I wish I had a new mac lol

[learning2baGURU]

Making the switch is very trivial. The only thing that took me about 2 minutest to get comfortable with was the mouse. For some reason my dumb *ss kept right clicking to view certain properties, which I found out fast, I was doing something incorrectly. But using OS X series, I do love the dock station especially regarding MAC having an XTERM is what won me more on some technical aspects. I do not dislike windows, but I HATE damn DOS. DOS is the devil. :twisted::evil:But the switch is not bad at all. I say just go to Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and just play around with one. Get a feel for one before you buy one.

[AuroraDizon]

Around here, the Best Buys and Circut City's (at least the last time I was there) didn't carry Mac's and hadn't for quite a long time. If you REALLY want to test out mac products head over to an Apple Store. http://www.apple.com/buy/ < under Shop Retail check out the drop down menu for an Apple Store near you.

[jimn]

[quote name='Kersen']It was a nightmare for me I wound up taking my macbook pro(or whatever the G4 series was called) back. lost a few hundred but beats keeping a laptop that the only software I Liked was garageband. basically would have paid over 2 grand for garageband not worth it to me). I have used windows based systems for around 15 years I have dug macs since they came out with the table lamp looking Imac. So I researched them for about 2 years or so. finally I desided to take the leap, I was disappointed big time. For one thing I had it for only 2 days and I had system crashes 4 times (perhaps I had a bad install ).( I have never seen the blue screen of death since windows 2000 came out). > > AAC is not a option cause all my players dont support AAC in fact at the time the only players that support AAC is apple. Also to me AAC has that dance club sound to it ( alot of treble and bass but no mids) I use my computer for music first ( play and record guitar and my music collection.) finances ( I would have had to go out and buy finanacial software for the mac cause it came with quikbooks,wich is for business.) and surfin the web thats about it. Oh and family pictures ( I am not a gamer so going to a mac was not big deal. > > There was documented issue with some Macbooks and heat issues causing reboots. Weren't using that on top of a soft surface? Count yoer you r blessings on the BSOD. On my windows 2K machine, it occurs maybe once a month. On my Toshiba and now my HP Work laptop, Win XP Pro goes BSOD at least once a week and usually more often. I dont' remember the last time my iBook or Mac G4 Dual hung! Lots of cool photo software, including the included iPhoto. Finances... what software are using Quicken? Thats available in a Mac Version. Mac supports every music format except for recent versions of WMA (older versions play just fine in either Microsoft Media Player for Mac), or or other adapters for Quicktime. As far as ACC goes I like it a whole lot better than mp3, but ultimately I don't like any compressed format music. Apple Lossless works for me for my music which is piped through the home stereo. and I don't own a set of head phones for my iPod that are going to let me hear the difference between ACC and mp3 anyway. Apple can't help it if Microsoft doesn't realease the specs for current WMAand Microsoft also made sure that their DRM doesn't work on anything but Microsoft. The only reason not to buy a Mac is if your favorite game is not on a Mac. ][/color]

[Kersen]

I have a P4 Laptop and You would think I would have Heat issues. I have had zero reboots due to heat issues. And besides I have never heard of the G4 series rebooting due to too much heat. I just think since they switch to intel there product quality has dropped. But they are more mainstream now though, since they can dual boot and they have the overly publicized Intel Brand slapped on it.. And I have Zero issues with system hangs.Oh yeah the funny thing was when I bought my macbook pro It came with Quikbooks financial which is for business so it was useless for my personal accounts. That made me laugh alot I was gonna have to go out and buy Quiken after I just paid over 2 grand for a notebook.. and I tried windows media player for mac (what a joke you can only play 1 file at a time) Pretty much pointless.. Both windows and apple does support the others format worth a damn...

[JAPPO]

I say this with all honesty, switching is the best decision I ever made technology wise.If you cant afford the Mac, get Linux. It's very similar.

[rmarvel]

[quote name='themagain']Is the change really hard from Windows to Mac?after I switched my mac always crashed on me i heard someone say once you can not have a windows system and mac system next to each other and i did and my mac crashed three or more times i got rid of it and i am now running linux

[KellieCM]

What do you mean by "next to each other" You should have no problem dual booting Windows XP with SP2 on an Intel Mac when using either Boot Camp, or running in tandem with Parallels. And if you meant physically next to each other... then that's just silly.

[rmarvel]

it was a joke

[KellieCM]

whoops! sorry. :oops:

[camelous]

Switching to macintosh isn't that hard!!!!I think it's really cool and better than microsoft!!!Now Mac OS X Tiger is awesome and later, when the Mac OS X Leopard will be released, it'll be much more better!!! I advise everyone to switch to macintosh;)The dock is really cool by the way :wink:

[Techele]

I've been considering hopping over the fence to a new mac for years. I'm not sure of my hang-up over it, since reading these posts. I have been in the need to explore more in the graphics areas that a Mac can handle. I could possible hear from some of you that have used the iWeb and other new software programs. New to the world of mac, please inform me of wonderous capabilties. :wink:

[KellieCM]

Well, I haven't used iWeb... I use Dreamweaver to build my sites in. I have heard that iWeb is easy to use for the beginning and intermediate user. I generally find the iLife suite (iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, Garageband, iWeb, etc) easy to use and nicely integrated with each other.

[Narasu]

I think the hardest part about switching between the Mac and PC--which I do quite frequently--is remembering the slightly different shortcut commands on each platform. Control-dragging a file to copy vs. Option-dragging a file for example. Plus, Microsoft Office works every so slightly differently on each platform.The one thing I like hands-down on the Mac is window management. Expose and the Dock are great features for quickly stashing and finding apps and files you need quickly.