So....i'm thining of moving from windows to a mac!

Bubba

Am I mad?

I got a new vostro 1700 only 2 months ago, with top specs, its a good machine like. Just recently its been crashing loads and programs not responding etc etc. Even while writing this post just as i had finished and about to sumbit it, windows explorer crashed and I had to write it all again!! I just put a post in adverts seeing if anyone is interested and then if i do end up selling it i'll prob look into getting a macbook. I've been using windows all my life though and am a bit wary of moving to a new OS even if a mac can dual boot windows or leopard.
I half wish i listened to my friends who before i bought this vostro were telling me to go for a mac. Now i feel stupid ha!
Has anyone had any similar problems with windows and moved to a mac?

Oh yeah and if anyone wants to buy a new vostro...give me a shout haha!

Adam

I'm doing the same thing, tired of windows, and find myself using a lot of software that was made for Mac originally, so I'm looking to get a desktop replacement spec that's light enough to still be portable.

Pricey though Selling the stuff in my sig to fund it, already let my laptop go!

Bubba

Mirror wrote: »

I'm doing the same thing, tired of windows, and find myself using a lot of software that was made for Mac originally, so I'm looking to get a desktop replacement spec that's light enough to still be portable.

Pricey though Selling the stuff in my sig to fund it, already let my laptop go!

That was my thinking, wanted to get a good spec machine that was portable. Not doing the job tho :mad:

aidan_walsh

Moved from Computers & Technology.

FruitLover

Far easier (and cheaper!) to install a Linux distro, e.g. Ubuntu on your existing laptop. If you don't like it, you still have the option of getting a Mac at that point.

Breezer

FruitLover wrote: »

Far easier (and cheaper!) to install a Linux distro, e.g. Ubuntu on your existing laptop. If you don't like it, you still have the option of getting a Mac at that point.

Cheaper yes, easier no IMO. I got pissed off with Windows a couple of years ago and installed Ubuntu, which I loved for the most part. But there were just too many things it wouldn't do: run iTunes (I know there's alternatives, but no iTunes store), run Quicktime (again there's alternatives, but some websites use .mov for streaming video), run most of the software I was using for web design at the time, connect to my wireless without any hassle, etc. I had a look at Gutsy Gibbon a while ago and it seemed to have come a long way, but a quick look at the Ubuntu forums shows that people are still jumping through hoops.

That said, considering you've just bought the Vostro, I would suggest you go with Ubuntu, and run Windows in a virtual machine using VMWare Player (which is free, unlike its Mac counterpart) - that way you can still run non-Linux programs. If this works for you, then stick with it and buy a Mac when you're changing your system. If not, it cost you nothing but time. Sell the Vostro and go Mac, you won't regret it. Don't leave it too long though, those things depreciate quickly!

triple h

I moved to mac november 2006 ( i chanced my arm, well that is what i said to myself at the time) and i will never buy a windows computer again.

But the guys above are right, try the Ubuntu route. You are after spending a lot of money and it would be a pity to spend a lot of money again.

If you do not like Ubuntu, then, buy a mac.

But next time you buy a new computer buy a mac.

Of course if you can sell it that is perfect and this may be your best solution.

ZENER

Wouldn't it be cheaper to simply clean up the OS ? Sounds like an application using up too much CPU !
Run a virus/malware scan too and make sure Windows Defender and AVG 8 at a minimum are installed. Turn off some of the software that is in the Startup group and uninstall the various toolbars that seem to appear from nowhere - I recently had a Vista machine with no less that 7 different toolbars installed and visible at the top of IE - Google, Yahoo, MSN Live, MyWebSearch, AVG Toolbar, Nero Search Bar etc. etc..

A bit of a drastic move selling up though !

ZEN

Bubba wrote: »

Am I mad?

I got a new vostro 1700 only 2 months ago, with top specs, its a good machine like. Just recently its been crashing loads and programs not responding etc etc. Even while writing this post just as i had finished and about to sumbit it, windows explorer crashed and I had to write it all again!! I just put a post in adverts seeing if anyone is interested and then if i do end up selling it i'll prob look into getting a macbook. I've been using windows all my life though and am a bit wary of moving to a new OS even if a mac can dual boot windows or leopard.
I half wish i listened to my friends who before i bought this vostro were telling me to go for a mac. Now i feel stupid ha!
Has anyone had any similar problems with windows and moved to a mac?

Oh yeah and if anyone wants to buy a new vostro...give me a shout haha!

WUSBDesign

Get a Mac - for sure, what else? - and install VirtualBox to virtualise Ubuntu. Or windoze.

forbairt

Having moved over a few weeks ago ( and just in the last week started using it full time ) I'd definitely recommend a mac ...

I'm using VMware Fusion as well to run an XP install .. and its working out very nicely for a few windows only apps.

I've a MBP and its hooked up to an external monitor as well.

Best of luck if you do move

srdb20

Hey OP, Im in the same position as you, just sold my vostro and i am making the switch to a Mac next month... Cant wait:D

Also managed to convert most of my friends and family who were looking for new laptops, so far there's 6 people ive managed to convert!!!! All of them love it so far, they cant believe that it just works!!!!

I was initially going for a macbook, but im thinking i may get a MBP, mainly because of some of its features (Aluminium Casing, Screen resolution, LED backlit display, Nvidia 8600, Plus the battery life is way above what i wsa expecting!!! i mean WOW)

Sorry if i went slightly off topic, but just excited about getting my MAC, feels like im buying my first computer all over again!!!:D:D:D

Red Alert

I've moved to a macbook pro almost full time, i do have a pretty good PC at home which now rarely sees any use. I was thinking of getting a mac mini too to act as a much smaller and less power hungry server than what we currently have too.

Get0fix

ZENER wrote: »

Wouldn't it be cheaper to simply clean up the OS ? Sounds like an application using up too much CPU !
Run a virus/malware scan too and make sure Windows Defender and AVG 8 at a minimum are installed. Turn off some of the software that is in the Startup group and uninstall the various toolbars that seem to appear from nowhere - I recently had a Vista machine with no less that 7 different toolbars installed and visible at the top of IE - Google, Yahoo, MSN Live, MyWebSearch, AVG Toolbar, Nero Search Bar etc. etc..

A bit of a drastic move selling up though !

ZEN

I must agree with Zenner here, I'm sure a good solid clean up of your OS will certainly help you if you are looking to save cash.
My first Vista machine was terrible, until I formatted it and installed all the Windows updates (SP1 is out now) and added some security (Anti-virus etc), then it ran like a treat! I also moved away from IE and started using Firefox (Never had any stability issues)
As another option, why not give the new Fedora 9 a shot? I have been using FC8 for a while now, and even though I'm no Linux buff, its proven to be a easy and friendly desktop to use at home.

Adam

Just for the record, I've been down the linux route, more than once. I think I'll eventually switch to it on my desktop but for my laptop I want something a bit more commonplace.

Coincidentally, does anybody know how/where I might get a good price on a Macbook Pro?

forbairt

Mirror wrote: »

Coincidentally, does anybody know how/where I might get a good price on a Macbook Pro?

New york ...

(not much help if you've no plans on going)

It really helped me make up my mind on going Mac ... the apple store in soho was great ... staff extremely helpful and knew what they were talking about (such a strange thing for me)

Alternatively keep an eye out on the refurb store ?

If you're still a student you can get the discount buying one .. which could be an option

Adam

Do Apple themselves have an official refurb site? And can you get a refurbed with student discount? I haven't seen anything about student discounts anywhere...

Kid Nothing

Education Discount site: http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/IrlInd

Refurd Store: http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/irlstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&node=home/specialdeals&sf=w4KK97TTT9DU4XPU2

There's no student discount on refurbs though, it's one or the other unfortunetely

Breezer

Even better student discounts than the standard student discount may be available through your university - UCD have an agreement with Apple at any rate.

papu

Bubba wrote: »

Am I mad?

I got a new vostro 1700 only 2 months ago, with top specs, its a good machine like. Just recently its been crashing loads and programs not responding etc etc. Even while writing this post just as i had finished and about to sumbit it, windows explorer crashed and I had to write it all again!! I just put a post in adverts seeing if anyone is interested and then if i do end up selling it i'll prob look into getting a macbook. I've been using windows all my life though and am a bit wary of moving to a new OS even if a mac can dual boot windows or leopard.
I half wish i listened to my friends who before i bought this vostro were telling me to go for a mac. Now i feel stupid ha!
Has anyone had any similar problems with windows and moved to a mac?

Oh yeah and if anyone wants to buy a new vostro...give me a shout haha!

sounds like PEBKAC to me.

Hugh_C

papu wrote: »

sounds like PEBKAC to me.

???
??
?

Hugh_C

Ah, too smart for me by half ...

PEBKAC

papu

Hugh_C wrote: »

Ah, too smart for me by half ...

PEBKAC

rubbish in rubbish out as my maths teacher used to say , people complain about there problems and rush to blame things which are not at fault , if your not a very technical person click 5 times to open things and dont really give a damn about anti virus its like not caring about your car , computers and operating systems need services and maintenance. so really if your having problems with a computer it really wont matter what O's you switch to you'll just have different troubles.

dubmick

srdb20 wrote: »

Hey OP, Im in the same position as you, just sold my vostro and i am making the switch to a Mac next month... Cant wait:D

Also managed to convert most of my friends and family who were looking for new laptops, so far there's 6 people ive managed to convert!!!! All of them love it so far, they cant believe that it just works!!!!

I was initially going for a macbook, but im thinking i may get a MBP, mainly because of some of its features (Aluminium Casing, Screen resolution, LED backlit display, Nvidia 8600, Plus the battery life is way above what i wsa expecting!!! i mean WOW)

Sorry if i went slightly off topic, but just excited about getting my MAC, feels like im buying my first computer all over again!!!:D:D:D

I have to say I am not impressed with the battery life of my MBP, other than that I'm delighted with it.

Biscuit Baron

dubmick wrote: »

I have to say I am not impressed with the battery life of my MBP, other than that I'm delighted with it.

I'm considering a 2.5 GHz MBP myself, and I'd be interested to know what the real-life battery performance is. How much time do you reckon you'd get out of a full charge, on average? The Apple website claims 5 hrs battery life with wifi enabled:

http://www.apple.com/ie/macbookpro/specs.html

I was afraid that might have been a bit too good to be true...

papu

Biscuit Baron wrote: »

I'm considering a 2.5 GHz MBP myself, and I'd be interested to know what the real-life battery performance is. How much time do you reckon you'd get out of a full charge, on average? The Apple website claims 5 hrs battery life with wifi enabled:

http://www.apple.com/ie/macbookpro/specs.html

I was afraid that might have been a bit too good to be true...

5 hours my bum....

my Dell 1530 will do 5 and a half with some power tweaks just browsing over ethernet , wifi sucks a good deal of energy

forbairt

I'm getting about 3 - 3.5 hours with it ... wifi / blue tooth .. enabled .. and a bit of stuff running ... if I didn't have all the stuff running obviously that'd increase ... also this would maybe mean watching some tv .. (had vmware to use XP to connect to E4D on it)

All in all I'm pretty happy with it

Probably won't get the chance to just test with the bare minimum running there just always seems to be something else to do and its my main machine now. semi desktop by day ... laptop by night ... its MBP man ...

kevteljeur

After 2 years, I'm getting about 15 - 20 mins out of mine. With WiFi. Time for a new battery, I suspect...

ZENER

kevteljeur wrote: »

After 2 years, I'm getting about 15 - 20 mins out of mine. With WiFi. Time for a new battery, I suspect...

2 years eh ? That makes your machine about as old as mine. Which makes it possible there is a free battery replacement waiting for you. Check here - might save you a hundred quid or so

ZEN

Biscuit Baron

forbairt wrote: »

I'm getting about 3 - 3.5 hours with it ... wifi / blue tooth .. enabled .. and a bit of stuff running ... if I didn't have all the stuff running obviously that'd increase ... also this would maybe mean watching some tv .. (had vmware to use XP to connect to E4D on it)

All in all I'm pretty happy with it

Probably won't get the chance to just test with the bare minimum running there just always seems to be something else to do and its my main machine now. semi desktop by day ... laptop by night ... its MBP man ...

That sounds decent enough. I currently have a 2005 iBook G4, and I can expect to get about 3 hours maximum from it, which I find to be just about sufficient.

kevteljeur wrote:

After 2 years, I'm getting about 15 - 20 mins out of mine. With WiFi. Time for a new battery, I suspect...

Christ, that's dreadful! You must have been using it fairly heavily over those two years.

silvine

I made the switch recently and haven't regretted it. I use a copy of Vista (via Bootcamp) to play games but that's it. Leopard is head and shoulders above Windows. Hot corners, expose, spaces are all major time savers. And the whole thing feels cleaner and more seemless than anything I have used on Windows, Vista included.

Also I got an iMAc with nearly 33% off from the Apple re-furb store. I'd say definately keep an eye on it, if you are thinking of moving. They have some great bargains.

mike dee

Yeah refurb store is great. be ready to buy when you see what you want. I bought macbook (Black) great value. Then bought 4gb of ram from crucial. I installed VMware fusion to run xp (vista isn't worth it, its a hog - i had a laptop with vista, one of the main reasons for my switch).

randombar

Right what's the deal with vmware? I've used it before but things have changed, how much does it cost? Do Mac Books pop up on the refurb store much?

mike dee

I bought VMware direct from parent US site, as a download - was cheaper -€59 (same as student price). It worked fine for me. I used it to virtualise XP installation that I had on bootcamp. Macbooks pop-up on refurb site about every 2 weeks, sometimes will be loads, other times less. Are Macbook pros there now, no macbooks.

jahalpin

I wouldn't use a Mac as my main computer.

I bought a Core 2 Duo Mac Mini with OSX Leopard a few months ago.

For a start, a lot of applications, especially Firefox and Safari, keep crashing and the system freezes when this happens.

You will also lose the ability to view a lot of multimedia websites due to Apples' refusal to allow others to use their DRM.

The computers and their peripherals look very nice, however, due to the crashing and lack of application support mean that I am keeping my Windows Vista Home Premium system as my main computer and the mac mini as a secondary computer.

babypink

jahalpin wrote: »

You will also lose the ability to view a lot of multimedia websites due to Apples' refusal to allow others to use their DRM.

such as??

silvine

My mac has crashed once since I got it and I use for everything from uncoding movies, streaming films, listening to music, converting files, wordprocessing, the net, etc often having over 10 apps open. I've had no problems with any websites so far and I use firefox.

The only thing I don't do on it is game.

nialler

jahalpin wrote: »

I wouldn't use a Mac as my main computer.

I bought a Core 2 Duo Mac Mini with OSX Leopard a few months ago.

For a start, a lot of applications, especially Firefox and Safari, keep crashing and the system freezes when this happens.

You will also lose the ability to view a lot of multimedia websites due to Apples' refusal to allow others to use their DRM.

The computers and their peripherals look very nice, however, due to the crashing and lack of application support mean that I am keeping my Windows Vista Home Premium system as my main computer and the mac mini as a secondary computer.

Vista? you're completely being a troll I'm afraid i look after systems and XP is a handful but vista is a joke. Apple got it right in the ads with big brother standing over you shoulder (think of the non power user who hasn't a clue how to turn it off which is 90% of us).

Macs work (I could be a bit biased in this opinion) I have never met a mac that didn't do what it was supposed to do straight out of the box with the exception of a server install that wasn't let us say given a GUI for what it was capable of doing so lots of research, once done there's email, calender sharing, php, address book sharing etc anyway borrrringggg.

Macs work, wintels are worked.

Sad Professor

jahalpin wrote: »

For a start, a lot of applications, especially Firefox and Safari, keep crashing and the system freezes when this happens.

If the whole system is freezing then there's something wrong. I can't remember the last time this happened to me on OSX, maybe in the 10.0 days but certainly not now. If an app hangs it should always be possible to force quit it without the rest of the system being affected.

Re: Safari, it has a problem with flash on some sites causing it to crash. As much I'd love to blame Apple for this the fault really lies with stupid lazy ass website developers who only test their sites on IE.

freakgirl

Defiantly got a MAC!

Using mac laptops for 4 years. never ever have a problems. reinstall just once in a 2 years foe their own good thats it.
Didn't remember what is problems with viruses.

Dont be at yourself

I wouldn't use a Mac as my main computer.

I bought a Core 2 Duo Mac Mini with OSX Leopard a few months ago.

For a start, a lot of applications, especially Firefox and Safari, keep crashing and the system freezes when this happens.

You will also lose the ability to view a lot of multimedia websites due to Apples' refusal to allow others to use their DRM.

The computers and their peripherals look very nice, however, due to the crashing and lack of application support mean that I am keeping my Windows Vista Home Premium system as my main computer and the mac mini as a secondary computer.

If programs like Firefox or Safari are freezing and crashing on a brand new mac mini, I suggest you send it back to Apple. I have had a succession of mac minis, and they've been solid as a rock for me - even when doing heavy lifting like video conversion etc.

You won't lose the ability to view any multimedia codec. With the installation of 2 plug-ins, you can view virtually any codec on the mac mini. Flip4Mac will enable Windows Media support, while Perian enables you to decode everything else. No hassle.

jahalpin

babypink wrote: »

such as??

4od, any site that uses Windows Media Player for streaming, any site where DRM is used

I have Flip4mac installed and I still can't access sites such as magic.co.uk

jahalpin

nialler wrote: »

Vista? you're completely being a troll I'm afraid i look after systems and XP is a handful but vista is a joke. Apple got it right in the ads with big brother standing over you shoulder (think of the non power user who hasn't a clue how to turn it off which is 90% of us).

Macs work (I could be a bit biased in this opinion) I have never met a mac that didn't do what it was supposed to do straight out of the box with the exception of a server install that wasn't let us say given a GUI for what it was capable of doing so lots of research, once done there's email, calender sharing, php, address book sharing etc anyway borrrringggg.

Macs work, wintels are worked.

I'm expressing an opinion based on my personal experience, how is that being a troll? Last time I checked, I had the right to offer an opinion, I would have thought that would be one of the main reason for a site such as boards.ie!!!!!!

I have had Vista installed on my main PC (Dell Dimension 9150) since it was released and have never had a problem with it. Most problems in Windows are caused by drivers, which is caused by the openness of the PC platform as opposed to the closed nature of the Apple one.

I was just wondering, if Macs have no problem with viruses, how come the Apple store in London, sells 4 or 5 different brands of anti-virus software for the Mac?

Also if you read my post, I did not say not to get a Mac at all, just not to use it as your main pc, unless of course you use bootcamp to install Windows XP or Vista.

Dont be at yourself

I was just wondering, if Macs have no problem with viruses, how come the Apple store in London, sells 4 or 5 different brands of anti-virus software for the Mac?

Mac OS X has virtually no problem whatsoever with virii or malware. Anti-virus software for OS X is mainly used in scanning mail documents and other types of files that may be sent on to Windows computers. They are in no way essential to maintaining a smoothly performing operating system, as they are on Windows. I have maintained a number of Mac OS X systems connected to various networks and the internet for a number of years, and I haven't once encountered a virus infecting OS X.

Sad Professor

jahalpin wrote: »

4od, any site that uses Windows Media Player for streaming, any site where DRM is used

I have Flip4mac installed and I still can't access sites such as magic.co.uk

So basically because you can't access a few streaming websites on a mac they aren't suitable as a primary machine?

4oD uses a proprietary microsoft DRM system. The website developer chose to limit access to it's service solely to windows users. I'd imagine the same is probably true of the other site. How is this Apple's fault?

ZENER

Far from it being Apples DRM it's actually Windows (Microsofts) DRM that's the problem. Sky Anytime is another victim of this but hey that's why Parallels and VMWare were conceived yes ?

Oh and a list of "a lot of applications" that crash would be nice so I can avoid them please ?! Perhaps we can help pinpoint the problem if you describe what happens and how exactly they crash. Also try the Console logs in /Applications/Utilities/console. These are useful for pinpointing problems.

As for Firefox crashing on Macs that's nothing new, Firefox has never been ultra stable on the Mac platform - usually down to the odd plugin and flash.

As for Safari, remove the Adobe Reader plugin. This causes my Safari to crash after viewing a .pdf file. Well documented. I have never had another application crash on me that I can recall.


ZEN

randombar

Getting my mac the 1st of July WOO HOO!

So Vmware is the best virtualization ya?

Virtualization better than bootcamp?

Cant wait!!!!

Sad Professor

GaryCocs wrote: »

Virtualization better than bootcamp?

Not better just more convenient. Bootcamp has greater compatibility and performance. But VMware can use the bootcamp partition so you can use both. Enjoy the mac and welcome aboard.

freakgirl

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

Mac OS X has virtually no problem whatsoever with virii or malware. Anti-virus software for OS X is mainly used in scanning mail documents and other types of files that may be sent on to Windows computers. They are in no way essential to maintaining a smoothly performing operating system, as they are on Windows. I have maintained a number of Mac OS X systems connected to various networks and the internet for a number of years, and I haven't once encountered a virus infecting OS X.

Exactly!

BrookieD

have to say my company purcahsed me a nice new shiny Windows Vista Dell 630 and it failed on so many fronts when i needed it the most (Away on business and lost all my notes!!!!!!)
So i purchased a nice new shiney MBP 15.4" 2.5 ghz and what a powerhouse of a unit.

My IT Manager is having kittens trying to get this onto the AD enviroment now.