Is it worth buying a Mac

Alice Milligan

I've never used a Mac laptop before but need to get a new laptop. Just for basic stuff like Uni assignments, listening to music, connecting to internet.
Is it worth paying over €1000 for a Mac or would I just be better off buying a cheap laptop? What are the benefits of paying extra?

newirishshogun

It has the same underlying structure as a PC (hardware) the OS is different (pro and cons with both) you're basically paying a premium for pretty and an Apple logo. I personally would buy a Windows laptop, Win 7 is very stable and fairly idiot proof. There are some really good bargains out there and they look pretty good too.

Dawwwg

Short answer: No

Long answer: Hello no.

:P

Sad Professor

Well, I think they are 100 percent worth it, but (like the posters above) I'm biased.

Have you ever used a Mac, OP? I always like to say that they are better at selling themselves than any salesman. The best thing to do is to go to a shop and use one and decide for yourself.

There are many benefits. The hardware and software are tightly integrated so you have less compatibilty problems. Viruses (currently) aren't an issue so you don't have to worry about getting AV software. The operating system is very intuitive and most switchers say that they could never go back to Windows.

DMG_49

Don't think it is worth paying double the price if all your going to be doing is listening to music and assignments etc.

Said above, better of with windows 7

Dymo

Price that's the biggest stumbling block I have to owning a Mac, anytime I go into research to buying a new computer when I weigh up the pro's and cons of everything the PC always comes out on top. I don't really buy into the propaganda that Mac's never go wrong and as for viruses once your protected correctly it shouldn’t come into the equation. 2 of my computers are now 4 years old and both running windows 7 and both running fine, Windows 7 if anything is over engineered for the normal user so these’s nothing I can see what a Mac would offer more.

I’d love to own a Mac but to pay €1,000 for one of there lower end models is still too far where I can get a PC laptop for about €650. Can Mac owners please correct me and tell me where the difference is.

TeddyTedson

I love my mac since I made the big switch, but for college work and music ect I'd say go for a Windows laptop.
Saying that though I don't exactly challenge the power of my mac

Kewreeuss

Is your lipstick Rimmel or Chanel?
Did you buy your coat in Penneys or a boutique?
Do you buy make your own sambo or buy it it M&S?

Apple is mostly image, you can't deny it is a thing of beauty.
But you don't need an antivirus and I heard they don't crash.
Hands up any Dell /Microsoft owner who hasn't had that problem!

Willbbz

Go try one in pcworld or compub OP
As for me I love my macbp

I have a windows 7 computer that I'll probably never use again because of Mac.

old_aussie

NO,

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Feature/92605,32-reasons-why-pcs-are-better-than-macs.aspx

banquo

PCs are subsidised - THAT's why they're so much cheaper.

A lot of pc manufacturers - Dell being the worst offenders - just cram the cheapest parts they can find into a shot black box with a screen. How many people do you know with regular laptops whose batteries or chargers have died? Or it has a rubbish battery life? Or software randomly stops working?

Win7 is extremely stable, I actually love it almost as much as OSX. Credit where credit is due! There are a few stupid (typical Microsoft) things that annoy me. For example, there are 2 'Downloads' folders, which has confused a few of my friends to the ends of the earth! But there are silly little annoyances in both OSs.

I do think that OSX is really what you pay for with a mac. You can run the specs side by side of the mbp with a Sony machine and they'll be around the same price too. It's not as much of a fashion premium as everyone says.

David086

Yes.

Dr.Sanchez

Buying a mac is a long term investment. Sure, you'll pay a higher price for the same hardware you'd find in a windows laptop. But I can guarantee that you'll still have the mac laptop in five/six years time and it'll be still running like new.

miralize

Superior Build Quality
It can run Windows if needed.
Longer lasting battery life
OS X
They look amazing
They're very quiet

Yes there not cheap, but paying a few hundred more gives you a reliable machine for 2 or 3 years longer than the pc equivalent

conor.hogan.2

Yes if you want a laptop that:

will last twice as long (or more)
has twice the battery (or more)
is twice as fast (or more)
gives you half the hassle (most of the time)
can run every os on it (easily)

I could buy a 400-500 euro laptop and pimp it out and make it almost as good in theory as a mac but it would still be:

Worse hardware, even the better ones
great os, but i want to print not hunt for drivers
would have to buy a second laptop when that one inevitably breaks
most likely worse battery
it would cost me time and effort with av etc

Freddie59

Dymo wrote: »

Can Mac owners please correct me and tell me where the difference is.

I've had both. Was a PC user for 12 years. Bought an iMac in June 2010. Also installed Windows on it. The Mac side is still the same as when I bought it. 52 seconds to OS from startup; 7 seconds to shut down. The PC side is already becoming sluggish - and I only use it for email and some small video editing.

The definition on the Mac display has to be seen to be believed. That's what convinced me to buy it. I was setting wireless up for someone on one of them and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Go see for yourself. I don't buy into the whole Apple can do no wrong thing. For example, their video editing software is touted as the be all and and all, but, while it doesn't crash, it is cumbersome and doesn't hold up well against some of its PC counterparts. But there is the key - it NEVER crashes. Ever. Go figure.;):)

Johnmb

I would say that it definitely is worth buying a Mac. Those who claim the Mac is more expensive generally aren't comparing like with like. I didn't do a comparison when buying my own laptop as I just wanted away from Windows no matter what the cost. But for work, when we needed a new computer, I wanted an iMac, so I did a comparison with Dell, on a like for like basis. The iMac was quite a bit cheaper, and that was even after having to add on the cost of a copy of Parallels and Windows 7 in order to run some specific software!

whiterebel

old_aussie wrote: »

NO,

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Feature/92605,32-reasons-why-pcs-are-better-than-macs.aspx

An article rehashing a previous 3 year old article? Talking about gaming, ease of broadband..........what a load of crap.:rolleyes:

MartMax

if u can afford it, go for it.

i just got my first mac for Christmas, a MacBook Air and simply attached to it. i've been using Windows for years and now Windows 7 on my primary desktop.

personally i think Windows 7 is the best version of Windows. however having used Mac OS X for couple of days now, Apple has done an excellent job - i think it is less cluttered OS, minimal in the front so i feel less much distracted.

plaasjapie

My 2 cents? If you are used to a PC, it's not worth the effort to re learn everything on a mac. If money matters, don't get a mac If you work in an office, don't get a mac If you have esoteric hardware (obscure printers etc) don't get a mac. I use a PC, and haven't had a crash (BSOD) since I switched from Win95 to XP in 2001. My PC is on 24/7 for work etc. I use Microsoft Access / Photoshop / some video editing with Skype and other P2P stuff mostly. Since I am careful on the net, and use Firefox + noscript, I haven't needed Anti-Virus since 2004, and don't have a firewall since the switch to Win7 early 2010. I do a free scan at Panda / Trend Micro / etc. every once in a while, always comes up clean. I don't recommend this for newbies, or in a family environment though. Macs are great, and work great out of the box as long as you don't buy any obscure hardware. So if you are loaded, and don't have any investment in learning the windows platform (or don't mind learning everything again), get a mac. Just make sure everybody knows it, because at that price, you have to get your moneys worth.

Losty Dublin

Oh dear, oh dear oh dear :rolleyes:

plaasjapie wrote: »

My 2 cents? If you are used to a PC, it's not worth the effort to re learn everything on a mac.

So the advice here is not to change platform as you have to learn the new software. Does this apply to all new softwares as well, don't you have to learn them? Like Vista and 7?

plaasjapie wrote: »

If money matters, don't get a mac

What you actually mean here is if you want a cheaper computer that will have a lower resell price, probably lower specced, uglier (in design and function) and are happy with Windows don't get a mac.

plaasjapie wrote: »

If you work in an office, don't get a mac

Most people simply need word processing, excel and e mail/net access in work. Almost all specialist softwares for other work duties (Like your ordering/account systems) can be easy sought for a Mac and therefore will benefit from Mac OS advantages over Windows. Apple don't charge OS licence fees like Microsoft do so chances are that a Mac will cost less and have less paperwork as a result.

plaasjapie wrote: »

If you have esoteric hardware (obscure printers etc) don't get a mac.

Why not just get a new printer

plaasjapie wrote: »

I use a PC, and haven't had a crash (BSOD) since I switched from Win95 to XP in 2001. My PC is on 24/7 for work etc. I use Microsoft Access / Photoshop / some video editing with Skype and other P2P stuff mostly. Since I am careful on the net, and use Firefox + noscript, I haven't needed Anti-Virus since 2004, and don't have a firewall since the switch to Win7 early 2010.

I have a Hyundai and have not crashed it; it doesn't make it a safer car brand

plaasjapie wrote: »

I do a free scan at Panda / Trend Micro / etc. every once in a while, always comes up clean. I don't recommend this for newbies, or in a family environment though.

A few minutes ago didn't you say something about re-learning softwares etc but now you advocate not using something that works well?

plaasjapie wrote: »

Macs are great, and work great out of the box as long as you don't buy any obscure hardware. So if you are loaded, and don't have any investment in learning the windows platform (or don't mind learning everything again), get a mac. Just make sure everybody knows it, because at that price, you have to get your moneys worth.

Pricier but you get what you pay for and over the long haul they last the course and have both a longer working life than most PC's; two PC's may well not last the life of one Mac.

quad_red

Wife has always had macs (graphic designer). 'Broke' into using a mac on her macbook pro.

Bought my first macbook a year and a half ago and haven't looked back since. Have W7 installed on bootcamp to play starcraft2 but apart from that it's mac osx for everything. Smooth, simple, stable. Love it.

Replaced the parents in laws bloatware infested fijitsu laptop with a macbook in the summer and they haven't looked back since.

Yes, macs are more expensive and that may not be worth it for some people. However, the ease of use and the user experience have me won over. It's all so smooth....

conor.hogan.2

Oh btw my old macbook (23 months old - 1000 odd charges) is now the laptop of my parents who havent had a computer since our old pc broke.
So as I said before macs are like 2...n/1 machines when compared with 500 ish euro laptops.

I have windows 7 ultimate (thanks ucd) that I needed because a stupid lecturer wanted us to use access 2003.
But since I reinstalled it in virtualbox again when I got the macbook pro I have had no need to use it.
I only reinstalled it was because I might buy a technet subscription, as there is no other software I need it for beside MS products

mykro28

moved to a MBP about 18 months ago and I will never move back. Worth every penny, I even upgraded the RAM and got a hybrid disk and it is humming along quiet nicely.
I use it for work, they have a good policy, they will not support it but they will allow me to access work resources on it. I have Office 2011, which is sweet and the only thing I need my XP image for is InfoPath and Visio. Other than that I love my MAC. It is really fast and I picked up an Apple Care Plan on ebay for about 50% of the cost which made it worth while.

On the printer issue, I have a Dell Laser Printer which is a rebadged Minolta I think, which does not have a MAC driver. This is due to cheap printers, most other good printer brands have no issues. Also when I go into my office, I can print without having to set up printers, if I look at printers near me they are all available. I have a lot of old hardware too and I have never had any issues.

I would say that a MAC is well worth it and more and more people in my office are using them, and we work in IT Security! Full Shell access!!!!!!!!

Deffo get one, it just works!

If you want to do any media at all, Photography, Audio video etc Mac. IF a pc replies and says a PC can do it better or a PC can do it too they haven't used a Mac. They are just a lot more efficient.

Also there other benefits:

* Environmentally friendly

* Has proper software installed for photo, music, and movie organization

* Usually have a 7 year life span. ( A PowerBook G4 from 2003 made it all the way to 2009 until Snow Leopard came out but before Snow Leopard it could run all those operating systems from jaguar (10.2) all the way up to Leopard (10.5)

* The batteries on them are awesome. My 2009 MacBook Pro 13" gives me 5:12 of battery life playing webHD content in iTunes, 50% brightness, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth off and 6:50 of battery life browsing the web (I use click to flash to disable flash content) WiFi on, 40% Brightness and bluetooth off. Apple advertised on this model upto 7:00 hours

* People who say your paying for the logo is well.... This smilie explains it :rolleyes:

* OS X is based on Darwin, UNIX, has protective memory, runs a GUI EFI system rather than bios.

* And Macs CAN play games. With software like steam available there's over 100 titles on that store than with apple store games etc. I believe EA games from 2009-2010ish on the DVDs have versions for both PC & Mac. If you bought a PC game on steam you can play it on the Mac for free. Then theres World Of Warcraft etc.

* Macs CAN Run windows.

* If you use mobile broadband dongles but on the road want to use your dongle with other devices you can turn any mac into a mobile hotspot (Once left on)

* Drivers for everything, Ranging from webcams to printers and so on. Never ever use a printer driver or web cam driver again in your life (assuming the printer was made in 2004-2005 or later), it's funny as webcams have a technology built in that makes them universally compatible on every OS without drivers but Windows still needs that 50MB Logitech bloatware

* Macs have IPS screens. As a matter of fact, take what some PC fanboys call the overpriced iMac. Woah €1700 for 27" Computer right. Turns out the 27" Display on it's own is worth 1,000. Which means the computer is worth €581. iLife is €80 and the Operating system is Snow Leopard €29. When the next more full featured OS comes out and will cost €129 the price of the system gets reduced to €481 for the hardware. Now add SMS sensors to the iMacs, IR sensors (Mac Notebooks have them built in) and more. Your getting really a high quality display on a high quality computer. OH don't forget the wireless keyboard and mouse and battery charger.

(The price of the 27" Cinema display is €1000 and they have the same features and IPS technology as the 27" iMac. Not to mention the resolution of the computer 2650x1600, then apple has to make the display a bit thicker using more metal to house the computer, add 3 system controlled fans with advanced sensors etc.)

* Office runs on the Mac. 2010 is the latest version.

* Only one copy of Mac OS X to purchase, unless you want the server edition . Snow Leopard (€29) up against Windows 7 ultimate (€200)

You know who to call if you encounter a hardware failure (Never happens). Hmm, the computer is crashing on the PC side do I call HP or microsoft? And there's Apple here in ireland so your computers dont get shipped around the world to fix

ruanaidh

Once you go mac you'll never go back! I bought a macbook 5 years ago. I have been using it daily since and it's still going strong. Only enhancement I made to it during that time was to add an extra 2GBs of RAM when I had it 2 years.

9 to 5 I use Windows at work and it can be infuriating to use at times (having to kill extra process, software hanging etc). I rarely ever experience such issues with the mac (occasionally VLC and Firefox might hang, but not nearly as the same frequency as windows). The mac starts up in seconds and the Mac OS X is extremely nippy and reliable compared with Windows! Having a UNIX based operating system being the reason!

The extra few hundred quid hurts when having to cough it up, but it's so worth it and you won't regret it.

Basq

00Blaine00 wrote: »

Buying a mac is a long term investment. Sure, you'll pay a higher price for the same hardware you'd find in a windows laptop. But I can guarantee that you'll still have the mac laptop in five/six years time and it'll be still running like new.

This!!

There's plenty of people who'll say they're not worth the money.. but if they say that, they've probably never owned one - simple as!

My MacBook is 4 years old in May and still as reliable and speedy as the day I got it.

Don't get me wrong.. they're nothing wrong with a PC. But over time, they'll get bloated and sluggish.. whereas Mac's don't.

Also I'm throwing in Macs auto defrag throughout the day without you noticing.

plaasjapie

Deleted User wrote: »

If you want to do any media at all, Photography, Audio video etc Mac. IF a pc replies and says a PC can do it better or a PC can do it too they haven't used a Mac. They are just a lot more efficient.

As an Graphics/Animation/Programming professional working in a large company, I looked at getting a MBP because people in my line look down on PC owners.

Not worth the effort required to re learn everything. I carry it to meetings, but its all windows under the hood.

Love the Apple TV 2 though. Pity it has such bad codec support. And no TV shows in Ireland, but that’s off topic…

plaasjapie

plaasjapie wrote: »

As an Graphics/Animation/Programming professional working in a large company, I looked at getting a MBP because people in my line look down on PC owners.

Not worth the effort required to re learn everything. I carry it to meetings, but its all windows under the hood.

Love the Apple TV 2 though. Pity it has such bad codec support. And no TV shows in Ireland, but that’s off topic…

Relearning everything, Are you serious Why do you think media professionals use it, because it's easy to learn = effiecent.

And you know they are other ways of getting WebHD, E.G a 1GB torrent for an episode in HD is considered webHD = about 4,000kbps bit rate.

And if you think Windows is easier than Mac you obviously haven't tried it and if you tried it within your job enviornment give it 2 weeks to kick in, soon the shortcuts will be so useful. Efficiency can be as little as using spaces to separate final cut with photoshop and illustrator and expose within a space.

Johnmb

plaasjapie wrote: »

Not worth the effort required to re learn everything. I carry it to meetings, but its all windows under the hood.

What is this business of having to relearn everything? The only problem I had with switching was that now and again when I'd be doing something new, I'd look for the most awkward, non-sensical way to do it (a-la Windows). But once I got around to trying the easy and obvious way first, it all was very natural. You may have to learn Windows, but you just have to use a Mac.

David086

I found learning how to use a Mac was easier than learning how to use Windows. You'd be surprised how much easier it is than Windows.

You sometimes hear 'oh I hate Mac's they're so confusing and hard to use'. That's just laziness in my opinion, not trying something new. But again that's just my opinion.

David086

David086 wrote: »

I found learning how to use a Mac was easier than learning how to use Windows. You'd be surprised how much easier it is than Windows.

You sometimes hear 'oh I hate Mac's they're so confusing and hard to use'. That's just laziness in my opinion, not trying something new. But again that's just my opinion.

Johnmb wrote: »

What is this business of having to relearn everything? The only problem I had with switching was that now and again when I'd be doing something new, I'd look for the most awkward, non-sensical way to do it (a-la Windows). But once I got around to trying the easy and obvious way first, it all was very natural. You may have to learn Windows, but you just have to use a Mac.

Finally I get my backup LOL! My tip is to forget some your windows habits. Infact you can keep some of your windows shortcut habits! just one small change. Instead of holding control hold CMD or the key with the apple logo on it. So
Copy and paste CTRL C = CMD C. CTRL V = CMD V.
New window: CTRL N = CMD N.
To open a new tab: CTRL T = CMD T.
Print: CTRL P = CMD P
Refresh: F5 = CMD + R
Although ALT + F4 gets changed to CMD + W and if you want to quit the app instead of just closing the window for some applications it's CMD + Q

The F4 keys etc are gone because they are special function keys. F1 + F2 is brightness. F3 is expose. F4 is Dashboard. F5 + F6 is keyboard brightness or if your using a mac desktop keyboard you can program them. F7 - F9 are for iTunes. F10-F12 is volume. F13 is eject DVD

conor.hogan.2

You are not a very good programming professional if you think you have to "relearn" a lot to use a mac.

Also, macs on average are more expensive and dont have as much games you cant argue against that.

Still worth every cent.

conor.hogan.2

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

You are not a very good programming professional if you think you have to "relearn" a lot to use a mac.

Also, macs on average are more expensive and dont have as much games you cant argue against that.

Still worth every cent.

Yes, they can't play as much games and they are expensive BUT they are also high quality remember that they ARE NOT overpriced.

* Macs have IPS screens. As a matter of fact, take what some PC fanboys call the overpriced iMac. Woah €1700 for 27" Computer right. Turns out the 27" Display on it's own is worth 1,000. Which means the computer is worth €581. iLife is €80 and the Operating system is Snow Leopard €29. When the next more full featured OS comes out and will cost €129 the price of the system gets reduced to €481 for the hardware. Now add SMS sensors to the iMacs, IR sensors (Mac Notebooks have them built in) and more. Your getting really a high quality display on a high quality computer. OH don't forget the wireless keyboard and mouse and battery charger.

(The price of the 27" Cinema display is €1000 and they have the same features and IPS technology as the 27" iMac. Not to mention the resolution of the computer 2650x1600, then apple has to make the display a bit thicker using more metal to house the computer, add 3 system controlled fans with advanced sensors etc.)

conor.hogan.2

Oh they are not over-priced but they are expensive (just saying - i cant speak ive moved onto a macbook pro)

PCPhoto

I'm both a Mac and PC user.

apple have designed a system which is easier for the user to use,

Windows 7 is microsoft coming into line creating functionality as the key.

lets face it - most of us dont use all the functions on a computer - you want it to run specific programmes and do its job.

Both will do that .... the difference is that the Mac will be more expensive, last longer (less problems - hardware and software).

every Mac user will tell you its easy to use, every PC user will tell you a mac is hard to use (they wont say a PC is easy to use...they try to claim the other is worse to make theirs sound better)

I may be biased - I use my mac more than my PC, I own 3 PC laptops and 1 macbook, 2 of my PC laptops are pretty much redundant.... I purchased a PC laptop in 2008 (July) for approx €700 today a similar spec machine would be €350ish .... I also purchased a macbook in 2008 (dec) for approx €1400 ....today a similar spec macbook is €1200ish .

Both have different uses for me - if I was to sell either, I could get approx €300 for the PC laptop, I could get €700-800 for the macbook.....the PC is in top condition original box, accessories etc etc all mint condition.

Anyway - OP ... if you can afford to pay the extra - get a macbook, (they are due to release a new range of macbooks in Feb/March...so might be worth waiting till then)

plaasjapie

Deleted User wrote: »

Relearning everything, Are you serious Why do you think media professionals use it, because it's easy to learn = effiecent.

And you know they are other ways of getting WebHD, E.G a 1GB torrent for an episode in HD is considered webHD = about 4,000kbps bit rate.

And if you think Windows is easier than Mac you obviously haven't tried it and if you tried it within your job enviornment give it 2 weeks to kick in, soon the shortcuts will be so useful. Efficiency can be as little as using spaces to separate final cut with photoshop and illustrator and expose within a space.

Whell, here is one media pro that doesnt use it. I use Maya/SOFTIMAGE XSI/Lightwave/Illistrator/Photoshop almost every week depending on the project, on Windows. I have keyboard shortcuts. I have scripts. I have workflow. No MAC needed. All my clients run windows, so I would have to re-dubug every time. No thanks. Also the finder sucks IMHO.

I would also add that I dont even know how to defrag in Win7, I never had to. Bashing windows for Defrag goes back to windows 95, which was released 15 years ago.

The comments advocating illegal downloads are off topic.

plaasjapie

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

You are not a very good programming professional if you think you have to "relearn" a lot to use a mac.

Also, macs on average are more expensive and dont have as much games you cant argue against that.

All the drivers, all the backup stuff you users never get a look at is different. Why do I even have to explain this? Every idiot can switch on any computer and go to youtube and google.

Unfortunately I make my money by doing things fast. I am used to PC. I dont have the time to re-learn everything, end of.

If you dont have an investment in windows, and you are loaded, and you dont have to debug someones access database they made in 1992, macs are great.

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Still worth every cent.

In your opinion.

conor.hogan.2

Access ah yes that is difficult, im sorry

plaasjapie

plaasjapie wrote: »

Whell, here is one media pro that doesnt use it. I use Maya/SOFTIMAGE XSI/Lightwave/Illistrator/Photoshop almost every week depending on the project, on Windows. I have keyboard shortcuts. I have scripts. I have workflow. No MAC needed. All my clients run windows, so I would have to re-dubug every time. No thanks. Also the finder sucks IMHO.

I would also add that I dont even know how to defrag in Win7, I never had to. Bashing windows for Defrag goes back to windows 95, which was released 15 years ago.

The comments advocating illegal downloads are off topic.

You need to Backup your claims here man, Firstly, I was saying that webHD is avail and when i watch it the battery life i get and you said it doesn't exist here in ireland but you can get it :rolleyes: TV tuners tend to export 720p 40 minute videos in webHD as well. There are tons of USB TV Tuners for MacBook Pros, iMacs and lada and PCI cards for Mac Pros
As for defrag that thing you will still hear tech experts recommend you use it to keep your computer in sync, that didn't even die down with vista. The finder sucks? Firstly no backup of the claim. Thats like me saying Windows 7 explorer sucks! Well actually it does and i'm going to back it up now. (Firstly it has multitasking alert support (What does this mean) It means that if one application requires your attention it doesn't disrupt your entire workflow. Secondly the explorer when dialog windows open (To open, to load, to save etc) it doesn't pop out of the window your working on so if you go and do something else and come back to the window there's a chance you will forget which window it came from especially if it's a photoshop file and have multiple windows with drafts open. On a Mac the dialog windows are attached to the window your trying to do the action on and again the multitasking support so you can leave the window in that state and go and do something else. On another note, windows has anything but efficieny, seen from the moment you boot, in fact when you boot it only uses one core! Is that efficient to you? Well go to msconfig, hit the boot panel, click options, tick num. of processors and select how many cores your processor has! A free tip for the Operating system that you find better to use for media than mac.

miralize

Must admit, the Finder does suck, but thats easily fixed with TotalFinder.

miralize

miralize wrote: »

Must admit, the Finder does suck, but thats easily fixed with TotalFinder.

Actually I found that a few days ago and got a free press pass to review it! I love it! And I loved not hav......

Oh heres one more to add to the Macs are efficient. A application like TotalFinder that modifies a system app like the finder so much it even integrates into the preferences and modifies shortcuts maps and everything.... NO RESTART. Just a simple restart of the finder, had that been on the windows platform it would have required a reboot.

But back to total finder I loved the not rebooting thing. I love how smoothly it runs and dragging tabs out of the window and being able to drag them back in and so on. Two thumbs up to them.

Although i'm still wondering why do you think the finder sucks as it brought a lot to the table for e.g the dock. The dock is a separate app but needs to be running along side the finder otherwise the folders area fecks up.

milltown

Deleted User wrote: »

Finally I get my backup LOL! My tip is to forget some your windows habits. Infact you can keep some of your windows shortcut habits! just one small change. Instead of holding control hold CMD or the key with the apple logo on it. So
Copy and paste CTRL C = CMD C. CTRL V = CMD V.
New window: CTRL N = CMD N.
To open a new tab: CTRL T = CMD T.
Print: CTRL P = CMD P
Refresh: F5 = CMD + R
Although ALT + F4 gets changed to CMD + W and if you want to quit the app instead of just closing the window for some applications it's CMD + Q

The F4 keys etc are gone because they are special function keys. F1 + F2 is brightness. F3 is expose. F4 is Dashboard. F5 + F6 is keyboard brightness or if your using a mac desktop keyboard you can program them. F7 - F9 are for iTunes. F10-F12 is volume. F13 is eject DVD

Thanks!
My first mac is on it's way to me. Can you point me anywhere to find more of this type of condensed "you used to do this - now you do this" type of knowledge? Without having to watch the Apple videos preferrably, they bore me to tears!

miralize

http://www.myfirstmac.com/index.php/mac/articles/ultimate-switcher-guide-windows-pc-to-mac-keyboard-shortcuts

milltown

milltown wrote: »

Thanks!
My first mac is on it's way to me. Can you point me anywhere to find more of this type of condensed "you used to do this - now you do this" type of knowledge? Without having to watch the Apple videos preferrably, they bore me to tears!

The apple videos bore us to tears because the ****er talks so slow LOL. The above poster linked the short cuts. The only other difference is that the Enlarge minimize and x is on the left side of the screen when your browsing the web and so on. A thing you should try doing is on your current PC download all of the apple software for PC, safari, quicktime and itunes. For Quicktime open all of your .mov and mp4s with it. With itunes make it your default music service and so on.

maccored

i have dell laptops (running ubuntu) and a MBP. Life is so much easier with the MBP. Firewire is easier, the built in webcam is easier, audio is easier - plus even though the macbook is a good 3 or 4 years old its like brand new. personally, I think you get what you pay for. Pay for peanuts and you get peanuts. Pay for a quality product and you get something that you use more and that lasts way longer. Thats just imo.

acous

+1 for totalfinder. I could never go back to vanilla finder again.

As for whether or not to buy a mac, it depends on your priorities. You're really paying extra for good design and total integration. Good design doesn't mean it looks attractive, but that's part of it. Good design is visible in things like having the biggest trackpads in the industry, sensibly placed connector ports, slot loading optical drives and little touches like the power/charging LED being on the end of the charger cable instead of somewhere on the computer. This design philosophy extends to the internals as well as the software. If this is valuable to you, you might find it worthwhile to pay the premium.

I think it's valuable to everyone, consciously or not. Then again I am a big mac fanboy so I might be biased

conor.hogan.2

besides tabs why use totalfinder? (genuine qs, not snarky)

acous

Tabs, folders on top and dual pane mode (command+u) for me.

I always found finder a bit annoying in some situations where I was moving lots of files around. Those 3 simple features seem to have done away with all that.

miralize

cut copy and paste in the context menus too.