will I wont I will I switch to mac...

SolarNexus

I've waited far too long, I've had experienced with windows & linux in their multitude of flavours but a great deal of people still use Apple Macs and as a developer of software and websites I really need something to test against.

So heres my question: anyone got any experience switching and any ideas how best to do it? for example, I thought maybe I should subscribe to one of those mac magazines (MacFormat maybe?).

Also, anyone know when the intel-powered G5 or equivilent will be out? I'm not switching without an intel cpu (keep my options open with bootcamp), and I dont want a mac mini... too underpowered for my needs.

any help apreciated.

ntlbell

SolarNexus wrote:

I've waited far too long, I've had experienced with windows & linux in their multitude of flavours but a great deal of people still use Apple Macs and as a developer of software and websites I really need something to test against.

So heres my question: anyone got any experience switching and any ideas how best to do it? for example, I thought maybe I should subscribe to one of those mac magazines (MacFormat maybe?).

Also, anyone know when the intel-powered G5 or equivilent will be out? I'm not switching without an intel cpu (keep my options open with bootcamp), and I dont want a mac mini... too underpowered for my needs.

any help apreciated.

Try the Mac forum for this girly stuff

Diarmuid

I switched in November and haven't looked back. There is one application I miss (Guitar Pro) but it's being released on OSx next month.

The iMacs are Intel based and are pretty good performers and I there are pretty strong rumours that the new iBook (MacBook) will be released in the next 2 months....

BTW What are you doing that the new mac mini (intel) is not fast enough...http://www.macworld.com/2006/03/reviews/macmini/index.php

To switch I would advise
1. Make a list of the software you NEED on a daily basis. See if you can run the same software on the mac (post a list here maybe). If you can then go for it, if not then don't/

2. keep your windows pc around for a while until you have found replacements for the software you used to use.

To be honest I would only keep the bootcamp option as the last resort.

SolarNexus

RE: Try the Mac forum for this girly stuff
the only thing I hate about boards.ie is that theres too many damn forums, I looked for a mac related one but couldnt find it :rolleyes:

RE: What are you doing that the new mac mini (intel) is not fast enough
Software development, Website evaluation, Video editing, Audio Editing, Image editing etc. I have no intention of using the computer as a media center / htpc.

I'm not familiar with how computer power equates to actual functionality in Mac's but the litmus test would be how well a mac (mac mini lets say) can play a graphically intensive game.

also, on a side note: this wont be replacing windows, as a matter of fact it will be working in conjunction with two other pcs one loaded with Windows XP and the other loaded with Redhat Fedora core 4 (linux).

Diarmuid

SolarNexus wrote:

RE: What are you doing that the new mac mini (intel) is not fast enough
Software development, Website evaluation, Video editing, Audio Editing, Image editing etc. I have no intention of using the computer as a media center / htpc.

I'm not familiar with how computer power equates to actual functionality in Mac's but the litmus test would be how well a mac (mac mini lets say) can play a graphically intensive game.

Well you could compare game performance but a more instructional comparsion would be the actual benchmarks of the same software packages on both the apple and the pcs. I haven't looked but I'm sure you could find plenty benchmarks for what you need.

In any case I thought the A/V market is sewn up by apple? (Photoshop, Final Cut etc....)

netwhizkid

SolarNexus wrote:

I've waited far too long, I've had experienced with windows & linux in their multitude of flavours but a great deal of people still use Apple Macs and as a developer of software and websites I really need something to test against.

So here's my question: anyone got any experience switching and any ideas how best to do it? for example, I thought maybe I should subscribe to one of those mac magazines (MacFormat maybe?).

Also, anyone know when the intel-powered G5 or equivalent will be out? I'm not switching without an intel cpu (keep my options open with boot camp), and I don't want a mac mini... too underpowered for my needs.

any help appreciated.

Go for it man, No more Troublesome Internet Explorer or the need to have an army of softwares to keep your computer safe. My next computer will be a MAC however I invested so heavily in my current Dell at the end of 2004 that it won't be obsolete until about two or three years into Vista and even then it will be motoring along nicely. 3.4Ghz and another multitude of stuff leaves me wanting to get a MAC but they are still unable to compete with my Dell in terms of speed etc.

MAC FTW still all the same.

Khannie

If you think you'll be more productive on the mac then go ahead. It's the key question really.

It's for this reason that I use linux in work and windows at home. In work I want power. At home I want simplicity.

SolarNexus

Mac fanatics forgive me for this, but theres one thing alone thats stopping me from buying a mac atm: how much of a difference is there between a Mac OS and linux? the more I look into mac software, the more open source/unix software I see and I'm wondering if I'll really notice the difference beenween mac & 'nix.

also: I was thinking maybe a mac mini was underpowered for video editing, though I might look into that.

Khannie

I haven't used the mac OS, but I can say this with relative certainty....unless the world has gone haywire, it's going to be easier to use than Linux.

edit: Unless you're already comfortable with linux.

cregser

The amount of half finished... in this thread ...hard to read

Capt'n Midnight

You're not sure whether to use windows, MAC or linux ?
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/18/intel_mac_gets_triple_boot_trick/

conzy

Not that I am endorsing the use of macs:p

But my friend uses Final cut pro on his Mac Mini and its grand;)

Diarmuid

SolarNexus wrote:

Mac fanatics forgive me for this, but theres one thing alone thats stopping me from buying a mac atm: how much of a difference is there between a Mac OS and linux? the more I look into mac software, the more open source/unix software I see and I'm wondering if I'll really notice the difference beenween mac & 'nix.
.

Night and day... the user interface on the macs is years ahead of either kde/gnome. It's consistant, intuitive and a pleasure to work at. I used to like tweaking my linux machine years ago, now I value my time more and just want something that works. That's the mac...

Sam Vimes

netwhizkid wrote:

Go for it man, No more Troublesome Internet Explorer or the need to have an army of softwares to keep your computer safe

i haven't used internet explorer in a few years. firefox ftw

and the fact that you don't need an anti-virus is the upside to the mac not being compatible with anything

wheresmybeaver

I use my girlfriends iBook quite a lot. Its a great system, really simple, but Christ that single mouse button really pisses me off..... I'd still consider buying an Intel Powerbook next time round tho, so I could dual boot. Just trying to imagine how pissed off I'd be in Windows XP without my right-click....

Sidane

wheresmybeaver wrote:

I use my girlfriends iBook quite a lot. Its a great system, really simple, but Christ that single mouse button really pisses me off..... I'd still consider buying an Intel Powerbook next time round tho, so I could dual boot. Just trying to imagine how pissed off I'd be in Windows XP without my right-click....

Simple solution - get a two button mouse. I think all or most Logitech mice work on Macs, or you can pay over the odds for Apple's "Mighty Mouse".

My next computer will be a mac (probably a MacBook Pro), especially since the release of Boot Camp. I was a windows man through and through up until 6 months ago when I had to use mac in my new job. I used OS 9 in college and hated it. But OS X is a different story. Once I got over the initial (albeit slight) learning curve, I was sold - Windows is clunky and bloated in comparison.

I do web development and having a unix based OS is a definite boon. I haven't done any serious video editing on a mac so the OP's concern over horsepower may be a valid one. An intel iMac or Macbook Pro will probably meet your needs but you'll want to research it.

I still use Windows at home and would never ditch it completely as I do a fair bit of gaming.

The only major downside of Macs - the price of the hardware! They make beauitful kit but it's way over-priced.

sioda

I have both a Windoze and a Mac machine at home and find that the Mac is a pleasure to use but the software base is relatively small and expensive and well my XP machine has only one fault XP. But I netorked them both together and find it great I use the Mac for surfing and graphical and audio and the windows for gaming and filing.

Really is the best of both worlds but now I cant replace the Mac coz aint ever buying another intel machine. :-(

kwalsh000

Thot i wud chime in. Having grown up using macs and pc's...2 macs and 2 pc's in the house now, i can honestly say macs ive never had a problem with and when it comes to audio and video editing etc macs will win hands down. Makin the change from using a mac for my graphics editing to using a pc when i was in college was hard as it cant compete. All in all, if you can, i wud recomend a mac:)

whippet

could somebody please substanciate the claim that mac software is more expensive than that for windows.

All adobe, macromedia etc .. is the same price regardless of the platform.

wheresmybeaver

Sidane wrote:

Simple solution - get a two button mouse. I think all or most Logitech mice work on Macs, or you can pay over the odds for Apple's "Mighty Mouse".

But I always use the laptop's touchpad, never the mouse... my Vaio even came with a wireless mouse, but I never use it.... But that's just me

I'd love to see a "hidden" right click when you press on the far right of the big click button on the new Intel iBooks and Powerbooks... but I doubt it :rolleyes:

K.O.Kiki

Switched late last year, haven't looked back much (although it would have helped to have partitioned my external HDD in FAT & not NTFS...)

Simple tip: learn your shortcuts -- shortcuts are so much easier when using a thumb (for CMD) instead of my pinkie (for CTRL); and there is consistency for shortcuts between apps.

(I also just realised that half my arguement can be torn apart for right-clicking... oh dear...)