thinking of going Mac

dbnavan

Over the last few months I am gradually seeing more and more Macs in use and they look very attractive, For the last 15 years or so I have been using PC's and would definitely consider myself a good bit above average user.

I am mostly concentrating on java at the moment but I have a working interest in Web Design, DTP, surfing the web, and networking. A lot of people tell me stuff like once you go mac you don't go back etc etc, but my question is how quick would one adapt to a new OS etc, what are the main considerations,

I have heard all the pluses of changing graphics, no virus all that, but the questions i want answers to is how long will it take to get used to, whats the negatives of changing, would I PC professional become competent in MAC in weeks, months, years??? Though questions I know but these are what I need to know.

aidan_walsh

dbnavan wrote:

how long will it take to get used to

Only you can tell us that. Its somewhat subjective, don't you agree?

Oriel

dbnavan wrote:

would I PC professional become competent in MAC in weeks, months, years??? Though questions I know but these are what I need to know.

It's about the same as windows. OS X is unix based. You can get to grips with the basics in no time at all. It just depends on how far you want to go...
For programming, stick with the PC by the way.

Look for a book called "OS X - The Missing Manual" by David Pogue.

S.

rainbow kirby

I wouldn't necessarily agree with sticking with a PC for programming. I've had no problems with doing anything programming-related on my iBook, and most of the lecturers in my department have Macs. I also know quite a few Powerbook-owning programmers.

dbnavan

aidan_walsh wrote:

Only you can tell us that. Its somewhat subjective, don't you agree?

was hoping someone who had similiar changeover might be able to tell me who long it took them, yes I agree it's like asking how long is a piece of string, but people with expierence of doing it might be able to tell me how it was for them

irishguy

I was thinking along the very same lines as you since apple started using x86 and i could install windows if i didnt like OSx. Then a friend of mine got a new macbook pro and i was amazed by how fast and smooth it so i ordered me one i will be able to tell you how easy it is to switch. My expeniences so far with apple sales were very positive very nice guy on the phone really knew what he was talking about and was very helpful. Ill let you know how i get on with it, but i would say just go for it

P.S My friend has since converted to OSx and never boots into windows any more

m_stan

I'm not using mine for programming, but for webdev, and general multimedia use as well as the usual office apps its a simple changeover. Took me a few days to figure out all I needed to operate it efficiently and after that I just learnt more and more. The iLife suite is great fun (esp GarageBand - I got a MIDI controller here on boards, and now I think I'm Moby !!!) - this comes bundled for free with every Mac AFAIK.

You can get deep into the guts of Unix or just use the GUI - up to you.

I was a windows only user until I started. Now I'm Mac at home and Windows in work.

The changeover won't be a problem. Just do it. If even just for fun. A Mac Mini is a good place to start if you don't want to shell out a huge amount of cash - just don't expect earther shattering speed or amazing graphics. I bought a PowerPC based mini and I'm happy-out.

Dr_Teeth

sinecurea wrote:

For programming, stick with the PC by the way.

No way! OSX is a far superior development platform, especially for web development projects which are usually deployed to a unix-based web server when they go live.

WUSBDesign

Mac OS X boots up quickly (as opposed to the minutes waiting for Windows XP Pro). Try this out on a friend's machine and wow yourself.

The time to learn Mac OS will be equally fast :cool: . And you'll find a lively Mac community to sort out every question you have.

condra

i went from pc to mac about 6 months ago.

within about a week i was doin most of the shtuff one might wanna do on a pc, make new folders, change icons, feck around with system preferences... but the beauty of it all is.. you dont NEED to learn everything about the OS- coz you never run into problems- you just have your mac, and you have your apps.

dont forget, macs DO have a right click.
also dont forget, itunes is actually great when you get used to it! - like much apple stuff, most things can be done simply by drag and drop. dead handy.

for me there was a couple of things i missed about windows, namely Soundforge, SONAR, and webcam on yahoo messenger.:p But Im over it now.

Sonderval

I'm a recent convert too, having being persuaded by the arrival of boot camp to pick up a MacBook Pro. Needless to say, I started to use OSX and now use it almost exclusively when I boot up. I hate to sound like a corporate shrill, but it just works

For development I have heard good things - my MBP came with X-Code, which I have not used yet, but have been told its a decent IDE (anyone care to back that up or refute it?). And, as mentioned, OSX is unix based, so your unix hax0r skillz transplant well to the new environment.

What has me really giddy though is the way applications are "installed". You just drag the icon to the application folder. Uninstalling, just drag the icon to the trash. Its soo simple - its insane what Windows does, with the crazy byzantine registry, and all that crap. Expose and Dashboard are also incredibly useful, especially for coders I would think. I have the PHP library widget on the Dashboard as well as the Java library widget. No alt-tabbing through windows for me no more!

So yeah, as a Windows man who used to despise Mac's, I've come to my senses. They are not faultless, but they are a damm margin better then Windows and with the new intel chips and boot camp, there is no reason not to try. I doubt you will regret it.

ircoha

only since yday so early yet, the arrival of www.parallels.com as an alternative to bootcamp is what did it for me.

One question I have is for stuff like office, did u guys stick with MS or go to office for mac [or what ever it is called] and if u do are the files useable in both environments?
Thanks

uncle_sam_ie

Sonderval wrote:

What has me really giddy though is the way applications are "installed". You just drag the icon to the application folder. Uninstalling, just drag the icon to the trash. .

You do leave some bits behind when you drag an app to the trash. I use this App for uninstalling http://appzapper.com/

Bunnyhopper

I haven't tried iWork (I think Tiger should have a demo built in) or OpenOffice, both alternatives to MS Office, but I do use Office for Mac 2004 in OS X 10.3.9 and I've never had any problems swapping files (usually Word but sometimes Excel) with Windows users.

If you are switching over from Windows to Mac then take a look at:
http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=422326&rl=1 (which discusses word processing options)
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://plasticbugs.com/?p=312
and
http://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/Switch%20To%20The%20Mac

tywy

I got a Macbook in early September. I think it took about a week to get used to it. I'm still finding cool new things about OSX I love it!

deevey

webcam on yahoo messenger

I thought that always worked.... I'v been using webcams on macs since on os9 through x ... firewire (DV) or logitech only mind you.