Making the Switch from PC

Macs, regardless of what other people say, are expensive. You're paying a premium for the OS X and hardware integration. If it falls within your price range, then definately go for it. Macbooks and iMacs have 2 RAM slots..the Mac Pro has many more (4?).

iMacs are great for webdesign with their nice big monitors. If you have your own large monitor, you can opt for just about anything except the Mac Mini (only 1 monitor port).

2 Gb RAM is reasonable for Macs, don't go for anything less. If you need the discrete graphics card, get an iMac or Mac Pro. Buy the RAM separately and install it yourself.

The Macbook, MBP, and iMac all fit your needs given your vague requirements (all can span desktop to a second monitor, all can be maxed out at 4GB of ram).

As someone who builds their own PC's and has nursed their current one along for a while, I assume you are bright enough to see the spec differences and make an educated decision based on what your preferences and budgetary constraints are.

There is no right or wrong answer. It's all about what YOU want.

kurzz said:

Macs, regardless of what other people say, are expensive. You're paying a premium for the OS X and hardware integration. If it falls within your price range, then definately go for it. Macbooks and iMacs have 2 RAM slots..the Mac Pro has many more (4?).

iMacs are great for webdesign with their nice big monitors. If you have your own large monitor, you can opt for just about anything except the Mac Mini (only 1 monitor port).

2 Gb RAM is reasonable for Macs, don't go for anything less. If you need the discrete graphics card, get an iMac or Mac Pro. Buy the RAM separately and install it yourself.

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Let's get something straight here. Macs are usually on par with PCs. They just have higher starting price. But for a dual monitor display, that rules out the Mac Mini. Either the MacBook or iMac lowest configuration models could do what you need. Only problem with MacBook (laptop) is that the lowest configuration model doesn't have a SuperDrive (burns CDs/DVDs) instead a Combo Drive which can read CDs/DVDs but can only write CDs. If you want to burn DVDs, you might want to look at the middle configuration which is priced at $1,299, it has slight processor upgrades and a bigger hard drive. The lowest configuration iMac only has 1Gb of memory, which you might want to upgrade to 2GB at least. The best in specs is the iMac which has a better graphics chip and also a bigger screen.

You asked about the ram slots. Both the MacBook and the iMac both have 2 ram slots, 2GB maximum each slot. RAM upgrades to 2Gb should cost you around 30-40 for good quality RAM, 4GB is around 50-60.

you could always get a second-hand mac for good prices too

The iMac is a Santa Rosa Laptop stuffed into a desktop case with a larger monitor and a desktop sized drive.

The Quad Mac Pro is a 5400 workstation/server chipset machine.

Nothing in between those two chipsets.

Want portability get a MB or MBP and a 2nd monitor.

Want two larger screens get the iMac and a 2nd monitor.

Want to cheap and large DELL screens on the same machine, but a refurb Mac Pro for $1799 -- might be a dual-core with a 5000x chipset, but still a lot of grunt and expandability.

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And most will say, buy a 2nd 3rd party monitor -- the on-display controls tend to play better with windows than trying to hunt down software drivers to control an Apple Display.

donga said:

you could always get a second-hand mac for good prices too

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Agreed. An even better option would be to wait for the projected (and expected) updates, and then buy a refurb model; if you do not mind lacking the extra features of the very latest model, a refurb can offer you a lot of what you are looking for. They have the advantage of having been rigorously tested, come with the Apple warranty and usually offer a generous discount.
Cheers

This is a really nice deal IMHO:

Refurbished iMac 24-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
24-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

for $1299. Free shipping. Free Printer.

It lets you kick up the size some from the one you mentioned. Toss in the after-market ram and you're good. If you're worried about HD size, you can always add an external.

Volodymyr said:

Thanks for the responses. I guess I should have been more specific. What kind of specs should I be looking at specifically? I know the debate rages even in the PC circles, but Apple doesn't really make my life any easier by offering 4 different processors 🙄.

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You may be the first person to complain about Apple giving us too many choices. 🙂

Volodymyr said:

I know I'm being high maintenance but convince me Mac is the right choice!!!

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I don't think most on here care what you do. Sorry if that sounded rude. It was. What I meant was, there are thousand of threads and thousands of sites that show comparisons of PC and Mac. You can easily do the research yourself. There are vast differences and get the system that best suits you.

Just get a top of the range iMac and be done with you. Plenty of grunt there for you. I do 3DS Max stuff via Bootcamp and I have the 20" 2.66ghz 4gb RAM 320gb HDD spec and it suits me fine.

I think an imac would be a nice change of pace for yourself. Your setup will look infinitely cleaner than having a normal desktop, especially if you get wirelress mouse and keyboard.

(and imacs are very pretty and not to mention loads cheaper than the mac pro)

Hope your transition is smooth!

What I love since switching to a MBP this year is the dual monitor thing works out the box. I bough a Dell 24" (highly recommended) and plugged it into the digital out of the MBP. To my surprise the MBP instantly split the screen between the MBP screen and the 24".

So I put the MBP ontop of external h/drives to level it against the 24 " side by side somewhat, bought a wireless Apple keyboard (great), the awesome MX Revolution wireless mouse, so in effect the MBP I don't go near, it's just a screen beside the 24".

I've then set it so my comms apps (skype, adium etc) go to the MBP screen and FireFox etc goes to the 24"

You won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't when I originally switched in 2006. Macrumors made the switch so much easier, too. If you ever have any problems, just post, and someone here should help you.

Regarding the OP's question about language support, macs do have a lot of languages. I take a mandarin class at my high school, and the input for mandarin suits me fine. Not sure about cyrillic, tho. Just did some quick googling and cyrillic and it seems macs do have some support for cyrillic.

I might be interested in some of the parts on that P4 machine of yours if you plan to dump it.

Similar questions

Hi, I just read this post and all the replies. I appreciate the information that people have shared. I too am looking at making the switch from PC to Mac. I have narrowed the field to the MacBook Pro based upon graphics card capability. I understand there is likely to be a new MacBook Pro release on the 14th and I'll wait to see what that is all about.

Still a couple of questions. Background:
Right now, I'm running a PC with
-Intel Core 2 Quad processor (Q9450) which is 64-bit capable when the software comes out
-500 GB Seagate hard drive
-PNY GeForce graphics card (PNY 9600GT 512MB DDR3)
-4 GB RAM
-two DVD drives--one Samsung DVD-RW and one ASUS DVD-ROM, CD/RW combo

It has some extreme cooling stuff inside. Nice machine. But, it's not meeting my needs because I bought it on an emergency basis because my old machine died and I am a graphic designer. I needed a machine ASAP and this was one my computer guru could build and get to me in a week. What I really wanted was a laptop and that would have taken longer to build. Meanwhile old machine (which has pretty decent specs in its own right, has been repaired and is on it's way back to me).

Questions:
Like the original poster I have a dual monitor setup. Any glitches I need to be aware of with MacBook Pro and dual monitor? My monitor calibration tools are all PC based (USB Colorvision Spyder). any experience in running this softward on a mac?

I assume I can just buy an external DVD to get my dual DVD capability. Advice, pitfalls here?

My scanner is ancient. It's a SCSI machine. Any way to run it? I hate to buy a new one because I believe it will be fairly obsolete in a year or two anyway with so many of my clients having digital cameras now. Can't run SCSI under Vista so I can't use it with the new PC. Must keep the old PC on board now for any scans. Will that still be required with the Mac?

My printers are ancient. All parallel port and one is bi-directional parallel port. Must all be replaced too?

How about my Wacom 9 x 12 seriel port tablet? Must I replace with USB? Currently, I may have to do that anyway because of a conflict between serial port and add-in parallel card in the new PC.

WiFi. I've read some conflicting reports on capability. How well does it work in "public" wifi settings like motels, airports, etc. I have no experience with wifi at all. Advice, suggestions?

Graphics Software. I'll make the switch to CS4 native Mac with the new machine. But, I have LOTS of legacy files in PM6.5, Freehand, etc. Will I be able to install this "dead" software under the Windows bootcamp so that I can open files and then port to the new Mac equivalent software? Does anyone have experience with tools like PowerTone, Knockout, Painter in Windows version running on a Mac? It would cost a bundle to upgrade all these little add in programs. Might have to update some anyway (like PowerTone) because it runs as a photoshop plugin.

WordPerfect. Unlike most PC users, I do not run any Microsoft products other than OS on my machines. No Office applications. Hate them. I didn't see a Mac WordPerfect version on Corel's web site. Are there word processing options for non-MS Office users?

I appreciate any advice offered. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!!!

Volodymyr said:

EDIT: Also curious, I am assuming so but want to make sure that Mac/Leopard has good language support? Need cyrillic support.

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From the International System Preferences on my MBP - Cyrillic is supported for: Bulgarian, Bulgarian - Phonetic, Byelorussian, Macedonian, Russian, Russian - PC, Russian - Phonetic, Serbian, Ukrainian.

pencraft said:

Questions:
Like the original poster I have a dual monitor setup. Any glitches I need to be aware of with MacBook Pro and dual monitor? My monitor calibration tools are all PC based (USB Colorvision Spyder). any experience in running this softward on a mac?

My printers are ancient. All parallel port and one is bi-directional parallel port. Must all be replaced too?

WiFi. I've read some conflicting reports on capability. How well does it work in "public" wifi settings like motels, airports, etc. I have no experience with wifi at all. Advice, suggestions?

WordPerfect. Unlike most PC users, I do not run any Microsoft products other than OS on my machines. No Office applications. Hate them. I didn't see a Mac WordPerfect version on Corel's web site. Are there word processing options for non-MS Office users?

Click to expand...

There is a monitor calibration utility built into System Preferences. Others may know of more advanced ones available.

I have an HP LaserJet 5P hooked up to my Mac Mini using a Parallel to USB cable and it works fine.

I've not had any problems connecting to Wifi networks under OSX. WEP and WPA/WPA2 are supported, but probably aren't needed for connecting to public networks.

Other than Office there is iWork from Apple and NeoOffice/OpenOffice.org. Haven't seen WordPerfect available beyond OS9, so if you really want to run it, you would need to run SheepShaver to emulate a PPC Mac and install OS9 with WordPerfect on it.

If you need dual monitors then I'd suggest the MBP. It might just be me but if I have dual monitors then I would want them to be identical, not a mismatch in design and more importantly shape/height (which is what you get with an iMac + another monitor.)

I'd love Apple to release a headless Mac inbetween the iMac and the Mac Pro. (Mac Mini > iMac > ??? > Mac Pro.)

kurzz said:

Macs, regardless of what other people say, are expensive.

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Actually, Mac's are on par (and sometimes cheaper) that PCs spec for spec. The problem is the limited range of Mac's. There is no desktop that is inbetween the Mini/iMac, Mini/Pro or iMAc/Pro, and there is no notebook that is inbetween the MB/MBP. If this 'inbetween' computer is what you need, and you want OS X, then you either have to get a lower spec system that may not be suitable for your needs, or a higher spec system and might be more than what you need.

You should look at the iMac.

They take upto 4gb RAM, and unofficially 8gb, either via 2 x 2gb sticks, or 2 x 4gb sticks. They use laptop RAM, DDR2. There are 2 RAM slots.

They support another monitor, on top of the built in monitor obviously (although you need to buy a cheap little adaptor, mini dvi to full dvi).

So a 20" iMac, 2.4ghz Core 2 Duo Will cost you around $1000 altogether after your student discount (assuming you are a student of course). Plus the extra RAM, and the monitor of your choice.

Although not as fast as that Quad Core machine you specced up (although thats arguable since Windows doesn't utilise multi cores well). The graphics card aint great, but again your not gaming. It will be quite a nice machine, and certainly a great great deal faster than your old PC.

Your best bet for a free office suite is NeoOffice, or if you want to spend money Apple's own iWork, both great.

Edit: That was in response to the original poster by the way.