mac noob

Adam 3000

ok, I was lusting after a mac recently (although Im in no possition to pay for one just yet) anyway, I was thinking about it, and given that I have no room in my bedroom for anything else (especially not a mac or pc), I began to think about an ibook or powerbook (ive been thinking about getting a laptop and this would be two birds with one stone)..

anyway, Im wondering firstly, how compatible my PC stuff would be with the mac. I have a zip drive that has mac drivers, so thats cool, but as the laptop would be mainly for college, would my zip discs work (that i use on the pc, or do they have to be mac formatted), and will programmes i have for pc install and run on mac (photoshop, quark, flash, word, stuff like that)?? Also will files of the previous programmes made in PC run on mac, and vice versa, so if im working at home on my ibook, and then want to finish it on the college pc, will it be ok??

and very importantly, what price would i be looking at for a good ibook/powerbook that will run the above programmes well (Im not really looking at anything for gaming etc, my PC does all that... although I may use it for BB )

thanks for your help.... Im sure many of my questions seem stupid, but I just want to be sure... which at the moment Im not!

babypink

probably the most important of your questions to answer first is the software one - the unfortunate thing for you is that PC software will NOT install and run on OSX. That essentially means that unless you are stuck with a fairly hefty software bill if you are to go out and buy the software new....total cost of photoshop, quark, flash etc. quick comes to over 3K Not good where price is a concern.

Second thing to answer is that the files created by these packages will generally work without a problem at all on windows machines, most packaged automatically include the filetype extension, although not necessary on the mac, for compatibility with PC users. So if you do managae to get hold of the apps that you want there won't be a problem doing some work at home and then the rest in college.

Hardware wise, OSX will read and write to PC formatted disks and volumes so all you need to do is plug your zip drive into the ibook/pb and away you go. As long as the thing is USB you're fine...in fact you win't even need the drivers at all - just plug it in and insert the disk and you're flying. Also printers, scanners and that are generally fine, OSX has a coomprehensive printer driver database built in and the likes of Epson and HP supply OSX software.

Next thing to get to would be appropriate hardware...personally from what you're saying imho don't think that you need a powerbook. Too expensive for what they do..although great (i want one myself sooo badly) the performance gain doesn't justify the price premium over the iBook...unless of course someone else could be persuaded into paying for it - then go nuts.

Believe me the current crop of ibooks will run everything you want without a problem at all. you really need to decide if you want the 12' or 14'. 12' at 1199 is an absolute bargain! for xtra speed think of the 933Mhz 14' at 1449 and the 1Ghz 14' at 1699.

apart from the increase in processor speed and screen size the machines are identical apart from the hard drives which are 30gb on the 12' 40gb on the 14' 933Mhz and 60gb on the daddy! they are customizable if you order online though.

The choice is yours....

Adam 3000

thanks for all the help babypink!
I know afew people with macs, so I'll sus out the cost of all the apps (and if there are any, erm.... legitamate but free copies of the apps :D:D)

Also, i think my college does a mac purchase scheme next year, so if ibooks are included, and I can afford it, i might get involved in it (its supposed to be great value, and i dont think theres any or much interest on it too)

anyway, thanks again, sadly it wont be for some time til i get a mac (unless i win alot of money), but i can always plan ahead

RobertFoster

I'm in the same boat as you Adam....poor and I want a laptop/mac

Aren't there Windows emulators for the Mac? Couldn't one of those run the software?

eth0_

Originally posted by RobertFoster

Aren't there Windows emulators for the Mac? Couldn't one of those run the software?

There's Virtual PC, I have it on my powerbook, not advisable to use it if you have less than 512mb ram though!
And running windows photoshop or games...forget it

anya

It may be worth checking around for discounts, I know the applestore on Kildare Street in Dublin do a 10% discount for students.

Anya

RobertFoster

the online store has discounts too - 40GB iPod is €505 instead of €549...not much, but still

Adam 3000

the online store has discounts too - 40GB iPod is €505 instead of €549...not much, but still

are you sure?
that might be the pre-tax price....

anya

Originally posted by Adam 3000
are you sure?
that might be the pre-tax price....

Nope, he's right... You can indicate when you log on that you're a student or teacher/lecturer and it shows you the discount prices -- the 40GB i-pod is reduced to 504.57 euro.

Adam 3000

thats pretty sweet!
has anyone any solid info on that student purchase scheme?? might get involved in it next year if its affordable.....

oh, and two more questions:
given there are only 2 usb ports on the ibook, is it ok to plug a USB hub into a mac?? i assume they work the same as on PC

secondly, if i get all the right networking hubs etc, can I file-share between my PC and ibook (ha, my... i wish)

thanks

babypink

the student purchasing thing can be done in 2 main ways

1) your college may have an agreement with a supplier of apple equipment, generally they do as the colleges try to offer equal accessability to PC and Mac hardware, well at least my college does anyway. Typetec might well be the suppliers of choice.

2) through the online store you can access student pricing and purchase directly from apple at student prices. Part of the way the thing works is that you agree, if apple asks, for provide proof that you are a registered student or staff member at the educational insitution.

..

Yeah a USB hub will work perfectly no problem at all, and you most certainly can file-share between PC and ibook, i do it myself....all you need is a hub for more than 2 computers or just a plain simple crossover cable.

endanagle

you should have a look at the compu b site...

http://www.compub.com/index.php?s=1

they're doing iBook purchase for students from under €12 per week... i think they do the student discounts etc and all the usual stuff, but the finance bit looks good...

I got a powerbook from them recently... still drewling!!

Enda
--

ZENER

Pretty much any hardware will work with the Mac, but just a couple of things I know of that may not:

Scanners that offer a parallel and USB port e.g. HP Scanjet 4470c may not work in OSX but drivers are available for OS9.

Xerox All in one Printer/Scanner/Copier and some of the new Lexmark devices (X1150 I think)

In my opinion Virtual PC is dross ! The only thing I can see it being useful for is if you want to run Linux in which case it's too slow to be useful. Windows 98 runs OK and is usable. To be honest though . . why would you need it ? All the major apps are available for the Mac native !

The new iBook G4 1GHz 14" is excellent value for money when you compare it to the Powerbook with the same spec. Get an Airport Card with it by the way, handy for college where there is a wi-fi hotspot.

ZENER

Jorinn

Originally posted by anya
It may be worth checking around for discounts, I know the applestore on Kildare Street in Dublin do a 10% discount for students.

Anya

Actually it's 3%, er, so fk all really. Conveniently enough I checked this out recently, if I was to buy an iBook with an Airport Extreme card, and a larger HD I could buy a plane ticket to the states (about €400) to arrive in the morning, pick up the kit during the day from an apple store, maybe do some more shopping and hop on a plane in the evening and assuming I spent no money on the rest of the day, I'd have about 50 euro/dollars still in my pocket instead of buying it in ireland either through a retail store or through Apple's website.

So, if you can find a website that'll ship from the states (Apple generally ban them from doing it) or know someone going over, or even fancy a day trip I'd say buy it that way. Getting an iPod brough over myself this way next week.

drane2

Looks like the APR on that mac finance is about 20%? A bank would give it to you cheaper.