Questions: Switching to MAC?
After suffering for years with PCs, I am hoping to switch to MACs. I have three questions and I hope that somebody can guide me to answers.
I have a lot of Excel spreadsheets, Database tables and Word documents that were created with Microsoft Office. How will I be able to translate them to my new MAC so I can continue working with them?
I plan to get a desktop and a laptop (I am looking at the iMAC for the desktop) and I want to use them both with a single wideband internet connection. Can I get a wireless "hub" that will communicate with both of them or can I connect the desktop directly and then use computer-to-computer wireless to allow the laptop to communicate through the desktop to reach the internet?
Will this same computer-to-computer communications allow the laptop to access the printers that will be connected to the desktop?
I would appreciate any guidance from you reading this forum and also I welcome any suggestions as to which models I should consider.
Malcolm in Tamarac
I have a lot of Excel spreadsheets, Database tables and Word documents that were created with Microsoft Office. How will I be able to translate them to my new MAC so I can continue working with them?
I plan to get a desktop and a laptop (I am looking at the iMAC for the desktop) and I want to use them both with a single wideband internet connection. Can I get a wireless "hub" that will communicate with both of them or can I connect the desktop directly and then use computer-to-computer wireless to allow the laptop to communicate through the desktop to reach the internet?
Will this same computer-to-computer communications allow the laptop to access the printers that will be connected to the desktop?
I would appreciate any guidance from you reading this forum and also I welcome any suggestions as to which models I should consider.
Malcolm in Tamarac
Comments
After suffering for years with PCs, I am hoping to switch to MACs. I have three questions and I hope that somebody can guide me to answers.
I have a lot of Excel spreadsheets, Database tables and Word documents that were created with Microsoft Office. How will I be able to translate them to my new MAC so I can continue working with them?
Your choice:
1) drag 'm to iWork's Numbers and Pages to open
2) open them in Office for Mac's Excel and Word
3) open them in your own Office for PC's Excel and Word, that run natively in Windows on your Mac, side-by-side with the MacOS and its applications, if you like.
I plan to get a desktop and a laptop (I am looking at the iMAC for the desktop) and I want to use them both with a single wideband internet connection. Can I get a wireless "hub" that will communicate with both of them or can I connect the desktop directly and then use computer-to-computer wireless to allow the laptop to communicate through the desktop to reach the internet?
Will this same computer-to-computer communications allow the laptop to access the printers that will be connected to the desktop?
You had best ask your local Apple store or reseller that. He/she'll probably need more input from you before they can start to answer your questions, though. But they have a headstart with their local knowledge.
I would appreciate any guidance from you reading this forum and also I welcome any suggestions as to which models I should consider.
Malcolm in Tamarac
Depends on what you want to do with 'm, Malcolm. On what you would like to use 'm for.
I plan to get a desktop and a laptop (I am looking at the iMAC for the desktop) and I want to use them both with a single wideband internet connection. Can I get a wireless "hub" that will communicate with both of them or can I connect the desktop directly and then use computer-to-computer wireless to allow the laptop to communicate through the desktop to reach the internet?
Yes. I do that with a mini and a MBP using a Time Capsule. You can use any 802.1n wireless router to do this, I just have a Time Capsule for backups too. Just plug the wireless router into your broadband device.
Will this same computer-to-computer communications allow the laptop to access the printers that will be connected to the desktop?
Yes if your desktop is on at the time. I use a printer/fax/scanner with built in wireless.
I would appreciate any guidance from you reading this forum and also I welcome any suggestions as to which models I should consider.
As Rokcet said, it depends on what you do with your computers.
It's "Mac". Short for "Macintosh". Plural, "Macs".
It's not "MAC". It's not an acronym. MAC usually refers to Machine Access Code which is the standard identifier of devices on a network.