Thinking of converting, need to know the facts

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Comments

  • Reply 21 of 26
    easyceasyc Posts: 69member
    AppZapper all the way!
  • Reply 22 of 26
    lfe2211lfe2211 Posts: 507member
    I use both platforms everyday. All the hassle of ridding an App in Windows don't exist in OS X. Drag the App to the trash and your done. Unlike windows, where removing an App can take hours or days of frutration. I still have Windows Apps that refuse to be "killed" no matter what I do (even using good registry cleaning programs like Smarty Cleaner).



    Other points-

    --no more wasted hours defragging your hard drive

    --no more hours wasted doing viri, spyware and malware scans on the OS X side--not so if you also use XP via paralleles or Boot Camp.



    Here's a great series of articles by Scott Finnie, a long time well known Windows tech writer (many credits on PC World and other Wintel sites), who swithced this year and wrote about it. He's very picky about what he needs on his computer. You'll get a good feel for what's available in the Mac world to duplicate or replicate your favorite Windows Apps. If you read all the switcher articles, go then to his newsletter for his evaluations of Mac Apps.



    http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/88.htm
  • Reply 23 of 26
    midwintermidwinter Posts: 10,060member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by slickhare View Post


    So I'm wondering, honestly, what are the pros and cons of using a Mac? Is it worth the extra money, especially since the entry level MacBook is pretty expensive for the specs. Hopefully some other people who've converted can tell me what their experience has been like.



    Considering that on any modern Mac you can multi-boot Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, I can't imagine why there would be a downside.



    Quote:

    One specific question I have is how well Macs can connect to non-Mac (not the Airports, but something like Linksys or whatever they use at wi-fi hotspots) wireless networks?



    I have never had a problem in any city, in any country. It's all TCP/IP anyway, so it doesn't matter.



    The only problems I've ever encountered are when sites require IE7 to download something, but then I just reboot into XP and all's well.
  • Reply 24 of 26
    midwintermidwinter Posts: 10,060member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by slickhare View Post


    on a side note:



    how long to macs tend to last (specifically Macbooks)?



    My 12" Powerbook G4 is still going strong after almost 4 years.



    Quote:

    how resistant are Macs to fragmentation?



    Mac OS X defrags when the system has some spare cycles, I believe.



    Quote:

    is there much free software for macs? or do you often have to pay when you need a software solution?



    My sense is that while the amount of software for the Mac is smaller, the quality of that software is superior to the Windows side. The only things you'd ever have problems with would be Windows-specific (like if you use a PocketPC and want to create a Microsoft Reader ebook). But one of the effects of Mac OS X being based on UNIX is that lots of open-source projects from Linux made their way over.
  • Reply 25 of 26
    oxidoxid Posts: 19member
    For the thread starter:



    I tested leopard beta on a macbook, well only for a few hours because i was about to sell him, now i got a macbook pro.



    Just for the info, leopard needs 512 of ram and 800mhz processor so the macbook wil certainly run leopard just fine.



    Greetings

    Oxid
  • Reply 26 of 26
    bergermeisterbergermeister Posts: 6,784member
    OK, I'm in.



    Go for the MacBook. It is a great value for your money, it can run Windoze if you really need to, it is compact and light enough to carry to class and the library, and to lunch and to your girlfriend's room and everywhere else. I have a MacBookPro that I love for its size and the screen space, but I find that I leave it at home and carry my wife's MB instead. Save your money; if you later really want gaming ability, get an iMac.



    The MB comes with some great apps, to which you will need to add: a word-processor is not included.



    iLife will let you do most everything outside of typing your papers and taking your notes. You can post your own website with ease to impress your friends and family. You can also make movies of your adventures and learning (this is why you are going to college).



    You might need to get Microshaft Office (or at least Word) depending on your professors, but I would go with iwork (Apple software that has Pages, a page layout app and Keynote, a presentation tool that rocks).



    Other apps you might consider:

    (be aware many of these have student discounts)



    http://flyingmeat.com/voodoopad/ (there is a FREE lite version that should do you fine)



    http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/mindmap/main.php



    http://journler.com/ (FREE)



    A new app that will help you organize your assignments and projects and even take notes. It is FREE and pretty well put together:

    http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...hoolhouse.html



    It also allows you to share data with friends (who also have the ap).



    Curio is an interesting app for curious minds.

    http://www.zengobi.com/products/curio/



    Edgies is a great app for post-its and more; I use it along the left side of my screen to serve as a notepad, a to-do list, a launcher.

    http://www.oneriver.jp/EdgiesEn/



    For your dock to keep it uncluttered:

    http://www.stuntsoftware.com/Overflow/





    I have said this to others in the same position as you are: get your machine about a month before heading to school so that you can get used to it and play around with its functions. Try making a presentation and a couple of short movies; create a family newsletter; learn how to take notes in whatever app you choose for that and how to organize them, etc. A month is good because you don't have to rush and you are likely busy doing other things. Some people will say you don't need that much time, but I would suggest knowing your machine so that when you hit campus, you can focus on everything else and the machine will be there to help you, not distract you.
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