About to switch from PC to MAC
 

Hey everyone !

I don't know if this is the right forum to post my thread - so fill me in if I'm wrong.
I'm about to trade in my (with XP pro equipped) personal computer for an eMac with 1.42 processor with super drive (eMac M9835LL/A).
As I only encountered a few iMacs in the past (for internet use only), I'm not really familiar with Macs. However, I've heard so many good about Macintosh, that I'm about to make the change.

Some things I should look at, buying an eMac?
Or generally some advantages you get from using a Mac?
I've been using a lot of music programmes on my xp pro, but the thing keeps crashing on me - so I'm definitely sick and tired of that...

Alright... help me out please !

Some advantages:
No viruses. Zero. I don't bother using anti-virus software. Macs aren't affected but they can be carriers. I figure if I accidentally pass one on to a PC user, it's up to them to protect their system. No Adware either.

Plug-n-Play actually works on a Mac. No: "Please wait while the OS installs new hardware." How can software install hardware anyway? I'd love to see it plug in an external hard drive. :rolleyes:

Uninstallers not needed. Want to get rid of an app? Throw it in the trash. Empty trash. Done.

OS X stays out of the way. No pop ups telling you things you don't need and don't want to know.

Reliability. My current system uptime: 5 days, 3 hours. It would be much longer, but I installed software that required a reboot.


Disadvantage:

The eMac is a low-end Mac. It's a decent machine, but if you want lots of power and expandability (and can afford one) the G5 towers are sweet. ;)
The G5 iMac is a nice system in the middle as far as price/performance.

Hey cwtnospam,

>>No viruses. No Adware either.

I heard that before too... It sounds wonderful ! My pc's a mess probably only due to those freaking virusses and spyware...



>>>>> Plug-n-Play actually works on a Mac. How can software install hardware anyway?


I've gotten used to the ironic Windows system, but if mac is really about plug and play, it's only a huge bonus.




>>>>Uninstallers not needed. Want to get rid of an app? Throw it in the trash. Empty trash. Done.

Now that is a big one ! Unless a routine format now and then, my OS is covered in files that are left from (un)installations (if that's a word)



>>>>My current system uptime: 5 days, 3 hours.
Cool, you just leave your mac running day after day?
Doesn't it eat power like hell?



>>>> (and can afford one) the G5 towers are sweet
Would you say the low-end G5 iMac is better than the super drive eMac?

if you can afford it, get an imac G5, it got a brand new 1.6mhz version that is half a year out of date for £499 and with a gig of ram for £63 on top of the 256 it had.... it runs SWEET.

What music software and other apps do you run on windoze? Most of the music apps are mac and peecee so you should be able to import your old tunes with minimum fuss.

Also when you do the switch it might be worth looking at 'littlemachines' outlook2mac, its onlt £6 and will take your mail, contacts and cals over to your new mac with zero fuss.

as for up time, my OSX server is hard to beat its currnetly on 3years 4months! and my imac at work has been on for a month or so.

welcome to mac! the grass is greener :D

Heh. I don't turn off my PowerBook unless I won't be using it for several days. My G4 tower (Mac OS X Server) never gets turned off. (I simply put my PowerBook to sleep when I'm not using it.)

Unix would prefer you keep your computer on; Windows breathes a sigh of relief every time you reboot.

I'd add as an advantage of mac OS over windows is that you already have a well configured UNIX, this comes with the chance of installing most of the open code applications already running in linux.... Having a PC wasn't such a bad experience for me. Of course, I only used to boot linux on them.

R.

It doesn't use too much power. I keep it running three to four (one doesn't always run: http://cmgm.stanford.edu/~cparnot/xg...ord/index.html)distributed computing projects while it's idle or I'm not using much processing power, so I figure it's being used for a good purpose.

The G5 iMac is faster. The eMac only has a G4 and the G5 is generally faster at the same clock speed.

The eMac is a totally capable machine (having used the 700mhz model for about three years now!) just make sure you get plenty of ram...probably go for 1 Gig. But if you can squeeze it, the G5 iMac would of course be better, especially for multimedia stuff.

Hey thanks you guys !
I am definitely about to buy a Mac in a few weeks now.
I'll see if my wallet can cover up for an iMac G5; otherwise I'll stick with the eMac...

thanks everyone for your two cents, though !

:)

An update...

I'm saving money and selling some high valued stuff that practically just lays around because I don't use it anymore.
I changed my mind about the eMac.
I think choosing for the entry model iMac G5 will be a better investment in the long run than the eMac. So as soon as I get those $$$'s... my next post will probably be headed "Oh My God this iMac is UNBELIEVABLE!!!" :D

Good for you for making the switch! You've made a very wise choice! :D

Our family have been Mac users since the late 80s and we're onto our 11th Mac now! :D Ones currently in use include an old G3 iMac for serving our broadband connection, my brothers old Powerbook G4, my old Powerbook G4 which I've given to my Dad, my new Powerbook G4 (what I'm typing on now!) and our glorious 1.8GHz G5 iMac! The new iMac's a truly spectacular machine - 2 inches thin, lightning fast, it burns DVDs and it was surprisingly inexpensive considering it was a Mac (they do tend to be more expensive)!

Another thing, over the past 16 years of using Macs, we've never bought anti-virus or anti-adware software and we've never had any viruses/adware plague our computers - not bad really! :)

You will be VERY happy with the new iMac - the amount of desk space it takes up is ridiculously small!

Here's our current high-end work machine. I'm currently using that to munch through raw video encoding like there's no tomorrow (converting VHS to DVD) - I haven't switched it off in days!

If you can, spend the little bit extra and get the wireless Apple keyboard and mouse - they're too sexy not to have as part of the iMac setup! With those you've only got one, yes ONE wire to worry about - the mains lead!! Show me a PC which looks as good which can do that.

All the best, and if you've got a problem/question, we're all here to help you along the glorious road to enlightenment - becoming a Mac user! :cool:

Cheers,


David

check out the Apple Refurb site...

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL....3.1.1.0?55,45

Apple has some pretty strict price-fixing with their mainstream dealers, but you can find bargains if you look around. Places to look...

Refurb site as noted
Educational site (requirements are pretty broad for education discounts)
eBay of course
infinity-micro.com is often $300 under list on some models
techbargains.com and pricewatch.com

If you buy used, make sure original OS discs are included for Tiger, not some previous OS, and that iLife 05 and Garage Band are included (since you said you want music software).

One advantage not mentioned is the sheer ease and elegance of file handling - everyday things like finding folders into which to put a new file, finding files before opening, moving files from one folder to another even if the two folders are a long way from eachother in the HD hierarchy. Even dialogue boxes are more efficient! I strongly recommend that you get a shareware called Default Folder from:

http://www.stclairsoft.com/

It makes finding etc. files even more elegant and easy.

There is also a lot of free software that comes in the box which is very good. All Macs come complete to run out of the box without having to add sound cards etc.

The Mac is the intellegent thinking person's computer. I sometimes have to enter the Windows world and I really really hate it.

The iMac is a good choice. Although I have a one-year-old G5/2.0 GHz, my next Mac, in a few years, will be an iMac which is amply powerful for most people.

2nd the suggestion to get DefaultFolder. That is one astonishingly intuitive and helpful piece of shareware. I consider it indispensable on my system.

Alright guys. Thanks for your 2 cents...
I will get that thing, default folder as soon as I get that iMac up and running (which will practically be: drive to the store, buy it, drive back and get it out of the box).

I'm a student, so I made some inquiries about the education price - and I can have a 1.8 Ghz iMac (without dvd-writer) for 1240 euro ($1,523) and a 2.0 Ghz with dvd writer for 1425 euro ($1,750). Money-wise I think I'll go for the one with 1.8 Ghz.
Buying Apple computer is less expensive in the States, but of course it has to be imported to Europe, where I live. The store where I plan to buy is the cheapest around. Though, I think it's worth that amount for a new mac (as mentioned before: mac's have become a lot less expensive over the years), so I won't buy used.

Alright: now I can't wait to get it :p

Congratulations on your decision; all the best of luck in the Mac world.

Personally, I am a dual user myself (Mac and PC), and I think there are pluses and minuses on both sides. I own a 12" PowerBook, a 15" PowerBook, and a G5 dual processor (2.5 GHz with 2 GB SDRAM); also a Toshiba Satellite (Pentium 4 3.2 GHz with 1 GB RAM) running WinXP. I'm still running Panther on my Macs.

What I like about Mac is user-friendliness, good design, and easy compatibility. Also the Apple world is great on media, and just getting better. The sound from iTunes with a good pair of speakers is phenomenal, and the iPod is a terrific device. (Again, beautifully designed and easy to use.)

Feel free to contact me by e-mail or PM if you want.

Like asher813, I'm a multi-OS user (and agree on the pluses and minuses for any OS). One thing that I think has not been mentioned in this thread is... be patient with your new computer.

Switching to a new OS can be difficult, there are a lot of little things that you'll find are different. Many differences for the better, some for the worse (depending on your current habits, of course), and some just... different.

When I switched from PC to Mac I did so exclusively, and I had a strong desire to learn the new OS. But I also know a few people who tried to switch, expected things to work exactly like Windows, and gave up after a very short time. OS X is not Windows, and getting it to work exactly like Windows (sans viruses and adware) is a very challenging task.

Macs are great and definitely my preferred choice, just adding a note of caution to the exuberance.

hey nkuvu,

A few days ago when I visited an Apple Centre nearby, I definitely hàd to try that iMac I'm willing to buy. Of course, you're in a store, and it feels a little strange. So I was just looking through OS X, opened a few programs, tried to find a few stuff. But I felt a little helpless at first. I wanted to see which programs were on the computer, except for the ones shown in the dock. And it took me a while. I couldn't find it in the Control Panel... So I tried Spotlight (good luck it was there, because I know so little about this OS, that I would probably be lost without Spotlight or Finder). I had to type a few different things, and then I found it.
So, what I'm trying to say is: it's going to take me a while to get rid of my Windows habbits, and get to know my new computer and OS. But this iMac will be the first computer I own - ever - so I think I'll probably spend about all the (computer-spent) time on that machine. The computer that I'm on now, is my mother's, so when I get my new machine, she'll get her computer back... finally :D

However, I understand what you're saying... I'll just have to bite through the first few days, weeks, getting to know the new world that is Macintosh... and after that: enjoy it :) ... I hope :rolleyes:

cbasje,

when you buy the new iMac make sure you get at least 512 mb ram (ideally 1 gig) and post your questions... no matter how dumb they may seem! There are alot of Switchers, Windoze Certified Techys and very clever people on this forum that will be only too happy to help! :D

Yo, Hogster - nice setup...

... one thing to ask - is that really a little mirror clipped to the top of the iMac?

I just got my brand new iMac !!
 

Hey guys,

I'm writing this post on my brand new iMac !
I ended up buying the one with 2.0 Ghz processor and SuperDrive. The dvd-burner made me choose this one, as I opted for the entry model at first.
I will experiment with it some time, and let you know how it goes.
And of course, I will post my questions on this great forum too !

CBasje