imac

firehc

I am a PC user, and would like to switch to the new imac ( the look is perfect and i like to do some movie editing with my DV) but have all sorts of questions, compatibility with my existing files, software, support......



can anyone assure or convince me?



<img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

mac write

Your files will be campatible on the Mac (ie: office, Adobe products, Micromedia etc).



What software do you use on the PC?



you will need buy the Mac version of the software since the software you have for WIndows now, won't work on the Mac.



Alot of software is cross platform and there is a version for both Mac and PC.

firehc

thanks Macwrite,



one more thing, how do I transfer my files in PC to imac? I've got lots of photos and other files



about compatibility, is the Mac version of Word and Excel fully compatible witht he PC version?



thanks again

thegelding

yes...i have office 2001 and office X on my new iMac....it will open my word and excel and powerpoint files that i use at work (pc computer)...it will save as mac or pc files....i usually transfer my small files by email...larger files i transfer with zip disks between my pc at work and iMac at home....firewire to firewire transfer of files from old iMac to new iMac was amazing....fast as hell and transfered about 8 gigs of info in no time at all....iMac is wonderful for video editing (iMovies and iDVD is really easy and nice....won't be professional quality, but as good as anything my work or the local tv stations put out...heck, my kids use it with their minidv camcorder and put out great movies....i may be biased though)...have fun...it will be a bit of a change coming from the pc world to the mac world, but not much (windows has constantly tried to change toward the mac...and now with os X, apple has actually changed abit toward the windows side)....you will like the iMac, but will have to re-buy some software....g



go here and go through the tutorial on using iDVD...you make great motion menus for your movies



<a href="http://www.apple.com/idvd/"; target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/idvd/</a>;



[ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: thegelding ]</p>

firehc

thanks guys

have seen mac's girl 's setup problem, I was terrified.

also, is there an easy way to transfer my files in PC (over 1G) to the imac?

BTW, I like your setup with no cables visible.



thanks

serrano

firewire or ethernet

firehc

[quote]Originally posted by janitor:

<strong>firewire or ethernet</strong><hr></blockquote>



I do have a firewire card in my PC, but how do I do that?

cosmonut

Connect the firewire port of the iMac to the firewire port of the PC. Restart (or start) the iMac and hold down the "T" key. This starts firewire disk mode on the iMac. Your PC *should* recognize it as a firewire drive (although I'm not sure about this) and you can transfer the files accordingly.



My only wonder is if the PC will recognize the Mac formatted hard drive.... <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

ghost_user_name

CosmoNut:



The PC will NOT recognize an HFS+ formatted drive without additional software.

alcimedes

actually, that's not exactly true. it depends on what your PC OS is. i know for a fact that win2k prof. server will fileshare just fine between PC's and macs with no additional software.



(although you will need the CD and install the correct filesharing modules)

neomac

If it is only 1GB of data, then just burn it onto two CD-R disks. Maybe borrow a CD burner from a friend.



The other way is to use a network. But it a bit more complex.

firehc

is it possible to share the harddisk over internet? window does support sharing drive

corvette

[quote]Originally posted by firehc:

<strong>is it possible to share the harddisk over internet? window does support sharing drive</strong><hr></blockquote>



yes, you can enable FTP on your imac, and then connect with your pc. you can then upload/download whatever using your login/pass.

firehc

further stupid questions:

is the MAc OS easily to use, as a PC user I have never used one (the earlier versions I mean)

also why is there 2 OS installed in the new imac? is it because of software problem?

thanks

buonrotto

Apple has two versions of the operating system because the new one is TOTALLY new. They are in transition from the old one the this completely new one, so they keep the old one in there in case the new one doesn't run a certain program. The old version is called "Classic" (Mac OS 9) and runs nearly all old programs while you're running the new one (Mac OS X -roman numeral 10). You don't have to think about this much. If the program doesn't work in the new OS yet, it will automatically open in the old one. It just looks different (by the way, all the included programs with the new iMac work in the new version of the OS). It sounds complicated, but you don't have to do much thinking about it at all. The computer figures this stuff out for you.



I use both PCs and Macs and I find while some things require some getting used to in the transition but it's nothing to get nervous about. I do find Macs generally easier to use and certainly maintain. The biggest difference is when bad things happen, Macs are easier to fix or deal with (the new OS basically just needs a restart if anything happens, but in my experience, problems are very rare). The hardest part of having a Mac is that stores don't stock enough software for them (I do most of my shopping online). Certainly the included "iApps" like iTunes, iMovie and iPhoto are a lot easier to figure out and use than anything on a PC. Those things just blow their counterparts in Windows out of the water. You can buy more feature complete stuff on both platforms for a lot of money, but these are the best basic-to-mid-level programs for their purpose out there.

firehc

thanks BuonRotto.

firehc

guys, i ve almost made up my mind to go for my first mac,

but more questions:thanks for all yr patience.



i ve a sony P1 (DC) and sony PC3 (DV), do i need a driver for the imac or the imac could recongize them? I realize I ve got driver for windows only.

firehc

I ve seen and touched the real thing today, (today is its first launch in Hong Kong). The 'thing' is just terrific.

imacfan

FireHC, look in the support section for iMovie at Apple.com to see if your Camcorder is supported. I have a PC100 that works like a dream.



Also, don't be worried about MacOS9 and X, because as you will be new to the platform, buying new programs, you will actually fit in better with the new system than most current Mac users!



Go on, you know you want to....

crusader

The sony DCR-PC3 will work with iMovie out of the box, but I do not know about the P1.

crusader

<a href="http://www.apple.com/imovie/compatibility.html"; target="_blank">iMovie camcorder list</a>