Is Apple doing enough to get Windows users to switch to the MacMini?
I'm a former Windows user who received a MacMini exactly one week ago. Since that time, the OS X experience has exceeded my expectations, expectations that were already very high. My only notable dissapointment is the lack of fully configurable keyboard shortcuts encompassing all possible user interaction.
Having said that, the reason I was able to implement the switch so easily is because I'm very computer literate, which meant that I knew how to tranfer the files from my PC to the my MacMini effortlessly.
To the best of my knowledge, short of some hints on the apple site for users looking to switch, Apple has not given Windows users a sure-fire method to seemlessly move their files from Windows to Mac. I realize this is difficult for most companies to to accomplish in an intuitive way, but this is Apple we're talking about.
So why hasn't Apple provided a process for Windows users to migrate reasonably effortlessly to the MacMini? It seems that all the pieces are in place to do this from the hardware side, but I don't see a solution that's even remotely as simple as the process by a user can migrate files from one Mac to another, which essentially only involves plugging the two computers together via a firewire connection.
Having said that, the reason I was able to implement the switch so easily is because I'm very computer literate, which meant that I knew how to tranfer the files from my PC to the my MacMini effortlessly.
To the best of my knowledge, short of some hints on the apple site for users looking to switch, Apple has not given Windows users a sure-fire method to seemlessly move their files from Windows to Mac. I realize this is difficult for most companies to to accomplish in an intuitive way, but this is Apple we're talking about.
So why hasn't Apple provided a process for Windows users to migrate reasonably effortlessly to the MacMini? It seems that all the pieces are in place to do this from the hardware side, but I don't see a solution that's even remotely as simple as the process by a user can migrate files from one Mac to another, which essentially only involves plugging the two computers together via a firewire connection.
Comments
Copying files isn't really that hard. I agree that maybe Apple could supply some more documentation on this topic, but I would think that most people switching to Mac would at least know how to copy their files to a CD and burn it. And if not that, then it is ridiculously easy to setup a file server on the Mac that you can send files to from the PC.
Sure Firewire transfers from Windows to Mac doesn't work, but what do you expect?
In my opinion, the actual process of switch from Mac to PC is trivial compared to actually getting Windows users to switch from their platform to the Mac. That is where I think Apple should be focusing their resources; convincing people why the Mac is better, advertising the Mac mini, and showing people what OS X is all about. They haven't advertised their platform since the Switcher ad campaign, and that failed. Now that they have the hardware to back up their campaign, they should start over from scratch. I don't see why Mac and iPod ads can't run along side each other.
http://www.quicktime3.com/samples/hu...in98crash.html
And clearly point out that it still happened to Gates a several WEEKS ago...
and what has Apple done in the past 8 years? hey, it aint perfect, but definitely a lot better effort in improving the computing experience
Originally posted by JavaCowboy
I'm a former Windows user who received a MacMini exactly one week ago. Since that time, the OS X experience has exceeded my expectations, expectations that were already very high. My only notable dissapointment is the lack of fully configurable keyboard shortcuts encompassing all possible user interaction.
Open System Prefences, choose Keybored and Mouse, the last tab is "Keybored Shortcus", go there and walla, you can customize your own shortcuts
at the buttom you can activate full keybored access too if you want
Originally posted by Odedh
Open System Prefences, choose Keybored and Mouse, the last tab is "Keybored Shortcus", go there and walla, you can customize your own shortcuts
at the buttom you can activate full keybored access too if you want
I know how to configure keyboard shortcuts from the System Preferences application.
I was referring to the lack of fully configurable shortcuts for operations that I came to expect from WindowMaker, an XWindow environment which is effectively a direct descendent of NeXTStep. Namely:
1) Launching a specific application. I would love a keyboard shortcut to launch a terminal window, or to launch Firefox. From SystemPreferences, this doesn't seem to be possible. (I know the keyboard navigation will allow me to focus on the dock and choose the application my moving with my mouse keys).
2) Connect to the internet. I tried adding an All Applications keyboard shortcut called "Connect", which didn't work.
3) The Mac equivalent of {Windows Key}-R, which allows me to run the command for any application (ex /Applications/Firefox)
I realize that I'm nitpicking and that aside from this small imperfection, OS X is an absolutely brilliant operating system. If I could configure the above three keyboard shortcuts, the experience would be almost perfect.
Apple listens.
Also, this and this may be of some help to you for launching apps quickly. They are both free.
Welcome to the Mac.
It allows you to press a keyboard shortcut followed by some text to launch an app. For example:
<apple-space> brings Quicksilver to the foreground, then if I type fire <return> it will launch Firefox, or if I type ab <return> it will launch Address Book. It works with all applications, is very quick and unobtrusive.
i *hardly anymore* open an application the non-QuickSilver way nowadays...
edit: unless i'm feeling lazy and sitting back on my couch slouching away then i'll just use one hand on the trackpad and button... then i'll use the Dock way