Considering buying an iMac... opinions needed

[nataliamck]

I have been using PC's my whole life and my most recent one has died. Therefore I am in the market for a new computer and the iMac is at the top of my list.

However, I have been reading reviews and people have been saying that there is so much more freedom with a Windows machine. I mostly use my computer for downloading torrents, updating my iPod, surfing the net and editing videos.

What I am afraid of is that there will be certain programs I really need that do not have Mac versions. Like if I download a torrent in .RAR format will I be able to access it? And can I convert videos for my iPod/iPad using Mac software?

The programs I have downloaded before have been free versions from places like downloads.com, will I still be able to do this? I don't mind just buying another Windows machine, I would just like your opinion.

Oh, and if you have nothing helpful to contribute then please don't post :rolleyes:

[spinnerlys]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4561230714_d6e9a40397_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/4561230786_df757c578a_o.jpg (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/)

.rar files can be extracted via UnrarX, The Unarchiver and some other applications. MRoogle (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/) for the rescue. Thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=972533).

There a plenty of torrent clients. uTorren, Transmission, Tomato Torrent, Vuze, xtorrent, ... MRoogle for the rescue.

Converting to an iPod/iPad friendly format: Handbrake (http://www.handbrake.fr), and sometimes MPEG Streamclip (http://www.squared5.com). MRoogle ...


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4561230218_c2819bc7f2_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/4561230346_6904d4f234_o.jpg (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/4560602663_e227399248_o.jpg (http://guides.macrumors.com/Finding_Mac_Software)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/4561230472_434b3af2ff_o.jpg (http://www.macupdate.com)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/4560602777_e66f72a625_o.jpg (http://www.pure-mac.com/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/4560602971_2af6e4d281_o.jpg (http://www.versiontracker.com)http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4561230528_c2a2c0569b_o.jpg (http://www.lifeintech.co.uk/mac-101/top-mac-applications.html)

Btw, you can run Windows natively via Boot Camp or install it as a virtual machine (VM) in Mac OS X via Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion or Sun Virtual Box.

Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.

Mac OS X Basics
Switch 101 (http://www.apple.com/support/switch101) - guide with articles made by Apple on how to accustom yourself, after you switched to Mac OS X from Windows

Mac 101 (http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/) - How to get started with Mac OS X

Find out how (http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/) - tutorial videos made by Apple on how to do certain thing in Mac OS X

Pro tips (http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/) - tips made available by Apple for easier ways of doing certain tasks

Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343) - Learn about common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.

Mac OS X Beginner's Guide by MacRumors (http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Beginner%27s_Guide) - learn about software, media players, shortcuts and some useful tips, tricks and hints

Mac Guides (http://guides.macrumors.com/) - tutorials, product guides and more

Mac Guides - Finding Mac Software (http://guides.macrumors.com/Finding_Mac_Software)


MRoogle (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/) - a very effective tool to search these fora using Google and made available by edesignuk (http://forums.macrumors.com/member.php?u=4465), introductory threads: 1 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=122361), 2 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=512274) and 3 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=604760)

"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=205018) created by mad jew in 2006

[Hellhammer]

UnRarX (http://homepage.mac.com/pnoriega/unrar.html) for .RAR files and HandBrake (http://handbrake.fr/) for video encoding. Almost all things can be done in OS X that can be done in Windows

[AlexisV]

Oh, and if you have nothing helpful to contribute then please don't post

Sorry bud, that just makes me want to post this unhelpful post.

[nataliamck]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4561230714_d6e9a40397_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/4561230786_df757c578a_o.jpg (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/)

.rar files can be extracted via UnrarX, The Unarchiver and some other applications. MRoogle (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/) for the rescue. Thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=972533).

There a plenty of torrent clients. uTorren, Transmission, Tomato Torrent, Vuze, xtorrent, ... MRoogle for the rescue.

Converting to an iPod/iPad friendly format: Handbrake (http://www.handbrake.fr), and sometimes MPEG Streamclip (http://www.squared5.com). MRoogle ...


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4561230218_c2819bc7f2_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/4561230346_6904d4f234_o.jpg (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/4560602663_e227399248_o.jpg (http://guides.macrumors.com/Finding_Mac_Software)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/4561230472_434b3af2ff_o.jpg (http://www.macupdate.com)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/4560602777_e66f72a625_o.jpg (http://www.pure-mac.com/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/4560602971_2af6e4d281_o.jpg (http://www.versiontracker.com)http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4561230528_c2a2c0569b_o.jpg (http://www.lifeintech.co.uk/mac-101/top-mac-applications.html)

Btw, you can run Windows natively via Boot Camp or install it as a virtual machine (VM) in Mac OS X via Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion or Sun Virtual Box.

Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.

Mac OS X Basics
Switch 101 (http://www.apple.com/support/switch101) - guide with articles made by Apple on how to accustom yourself, after you switched to Mac OS X from Windows

Mac 101 (http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/) - How to get started with Mac OS X

Find out how (http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/) - tutorial videos made by Apple on how to do certain thing in Mac OS X

Pro tips (http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/) - tips made available by Apple for easier ways of doing certain tasks

Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343) - Learn about common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.

Mac OS X Beginner's Guide by MacRumors (http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Beginner%27s_Guide) - learn about software, media players, shortcuts and some useful tips, tricks and hints

Mac Guides (http://guides.macrumors.com/) - tutorials, product guides and more

Mac Guides - Finding Mac Software (http://guides.macrumors.com/Finding_Mac_Software)


MRoogle (http://mroogle.edesignuk.com/) - a very effective tool to search these fora using Google and made available by edesignuk (http://forums.macrumors.com/member.php?u=4465), introductory threads: 1 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=122361), 2 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=512274) and 3 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=604760)

"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=205018) created by mad jew in 2006


Thanks for the info. Something for me to mull over.

Any more opinions/advice on Mac vs PC would be helpful.

[nataliamck]

Sorry bud, that just makes me want to post this unhelpful post.

Well I don't care if people just want to post here if they have nothing better to do.... I just don't want the usual "Why didn't you search?" crap.

I did search, nothing specific enough came up.

[3lionsbecks]

Typical attitude from the current 'lost' generation. Asking for help yet being totally rude and projecting an image of entitlement.

You got a great response already but you don't deserve it.

Stick with your PC and your miserable life.

[Focks]

I have been using PC's my whole life and my most recent one has died. Therefore I am in the market for a new computer and the iMac is at the top of my list.

However, I have been reading reviews and people have been saying that there is so much more freedom with a Windows machine. I mostly use my computer for downloading torrents, updating my iPod, surfing the net and editing videos.

What I am afraid of is that there will be certain programs I really need that do not have Mac versions. Like if I download a torrent in .RAR format will I be able to access it? And can I convert videos for my iPod/iPad using Mac software?

The programs I have downloaded before have been free versions from places like downloads.com, will I still be able to do this? I don't mind just buying another Windows machine, I would just like your opinion.

Oh, and if you have nothing helpful to contribute then please don't post :rolleyes:

You can even convert your videos to iPhone/iPod format with the native QuickTime Application. And Unrarx is perfect for .rar files. Don't worry about compatibility problems (unless you are some kind of professional and need to work with a specific program that does not run on Mac) Even so you can install win 7 via BootCamp natively, as I did. I moved to Mac a couple of month ago with a wonderful i7 27" iMac and I can tell you that I will never go back to PC again. Do i need to run a Windows only program? Restart my iMac and boot in windows. So simple as that! And if you're a student (as I am) you can order wind7 ultimate for only 34€ (In Portugal you can, so I suppose you can everywhere..)

Really, if you can afford the extra bucks for the mac, do not hesitate...

[wordoflife]

WTF is with all these rude comments :eek:

You can do everything you do on your PC, on a Mac. Just like others said, there are programs for everything you need. If you know someone who has a Mac, you should ask them if they'll let you try it out.

[nataliamck]

Typical attitude from the current 'lost' generation. Asking for help yet being totally rude and projecting an image of entitlement.

You got a great response already but you don't deserve it.

Stick with your PC and your miserable life.

This forum is an embarrassment!

The reason I wrote that was because I knew wankers like you would be straight on condemning me for needing help.

Nice attitude by the way. Unhappy with your life? Take it to your therapist, no-one on here cares.

[nataliamck]

You can even convert your videos to iPhone/iPod format with the native QuickTime Application. And Unrarx is perfect for .rar files. Don't worry about compatibility problems (unless you are some kind of professional and need to work with a specific program that does not run on Mac) Even so you can install win 7 via BootCamp natively, as I did. I moved to Mac a couple of month ago with a wonderful i7 27" iMac and I can tell you that I will never go back to PC again. Do i need to run a Windows only program? Restart my iMac and boot in windows. So simple as that! And if you're a student (as I am) you can order wind7 ultimate for only 34€ (In Portugal you can, so I suppose you can everywhere..)

Really, if you can afford the extra bucks for the mac, do not hesitate...

Thanks for that.

An actual helpful post. I'm in shock :eek:

[phobic99]

This forum is an embarrassment!

The reason I wrote that was because I knew wankers like you would be straight on condemning me for needing help.

Nice attitude by the way. Unhappy with your life? Take it to your therapist, no-one on here cares.

If you're going to read these forums regularly, expect to see that snarky kind of attitude a lot. I'm not sure if it's because of the type of people that buy Apple products or the fact that a lot of people here are miserable.

There are quite a bit of helpful people here though after you weed through all the attitude. ;)

[nataliamck]

If you're going to read these forums regularly, expect to see that snarky kind of attitude a lot. I'm not sure if it's because of the type of people that buy Apple products or the fact that a lot of people here are miserable.

There are quite a bit of helpful people here though after you weed through all the attitude. ;)

Thanks. I just hope that when I do buy an iMac I can come on here for help with getting torn apart. ;)

[JoelMarcey]

I think spinnerlys and Hellhammer summed it up nicely for you. For paid programs, I like BetterZip for archived files and for video work I like RipIt and DVDRemaster or Mac DVDRipper Pro.

[juicedropsdeuce]

Typical attitude from the current 'lost' generation. Asking for help yet being totally rude and projecting an image of entitlement.

You got a great response already but you don't deserve it.

Stick with your PC and your miserable life.

Awww, snap!

LOL @ 'lost generation'. WTF?

[Btom]

Sorry bud, that just makes me want to post this unhelpful post.

C'mon, he said "please" after all.

Tom B.

[dlemmon]

I had the same thing going through my mind about 3 years ago when I ended up buying my first iMac and a Macbook. I was previously a PC user.

I had to buy the mac version of Microsoft office, but other than that it's just easier. You can do all the things you need to do, without all the hassles of rebooting your pc every 10 minutes, and all the bugs.

My macbook is just as fast as the day I bought it, and I've never had to reinstall the OS like I've had to do many times on a PC.

[3lionsbecks]

Awww, snap!

LOL @ 'lost generation'. WTF?

Indeed. WTF, Indeed.

[Crunch]

Thanks. I just hope that when I do buy an iMac I can come on here for help with getting torn apart. ;)

So what happened? Did you get an iMac or what?

[opera57]

You could use boot camp and install windows to dual boot with Mac OS to ease the transition. When I bought my first mac, my main intention was to pretty much just use it to run Windows, after about 2 days I realised how much more user friendly and smooth Mac OS was and I haven't looked back since! http://scottty.com/imgs/signature_silverapple.jpg

[Warbitrary]

UnrarX was last updated in 2006 and BetterZip is shareware. I personnaly use The Unarchiver (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22774/the-unarchiver), it's free and handles many formats.

[bndoarn]

I made the switch not that long ago and I don't plan on ever going back to a Windows only machine (I do have Windows 7 installed in Bootcamp incase I ever need a Windows-only program which is actually pretty rare from what I've observed so far). There is uTorrent for Mac that you can use for torrents and Handbrake for Mac for ripping DVDs and converting videos. The hardest thing for me to get used to was the application windows not running in full screen but it didn't take that long to get used to it. And of course not having minesweeper.

[moocat]

UnrarX was last updated in 2006 and BetterZip is shareware. I personnaly use The Unarchiver (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22774/the-unarchiver), it's free and handles many formats.

Another newer option is an app called Keka (http://www.kekaosx.com/en/)

One of the coolest app icons around as well : )

[Crunch]

One of the coolest app icons around as well : )

Yes, it is! ;) Virus Barrier X6 has the coolest UI of any app! It makes you want to scan for viruses haha...

P.S.: I love my new iMac, too. Is it me or are there an unusual amount of Mac n00b's like the OP (and myself) around? According to Apple's sales figures, the Mac platform is enjoying a pretty good growth rate.

[butterscotch]

I was a PC user for almost 10 years and just recently converted everything over to MAC and I will NEVER look back!

I can pretty much say EVERYTHING works faster and more reliably with a MAC. Everything.

My partner switched to MAC two months ago after I kept raving about how fantastic it all is...and he's not a techno-efficient user to begin with...and he LOVES his IMAC.

I would not hesitate to tell everyone to make the switch. There is nothing that you cannot do on a MAC that you can do on a PC except it will be 10 times easier and faster.

[Crunch]

I was a PC user for almost 10 years and just recently converted everything over to MAC and I will NEVER look back!

I can pretty much say EVERYTHING works faster and more reliably with a MAC. Everything.

My partner switched to MAC two months ago after I kept raving about how fantastic it all is...and he's not a techno-efficient user to begin with...and he LOVES his IMAC.

I would not hesitate to tell everyone to make the switch. There is nothing that you cannot do on a MAC that you can do on a PC except it will be 10 times easier and faster.

That's great! I am equally as ecstatic. I even demoted my Windows 7 Ultimate x64 BootCamp partition to below one tenth of my TB drive. :D I do like Windows 7 and ThinkPad notebooks, but Lenovo has been weak lately and quite frankly, even the so-called high-end PC's, many of which cost more than a comparable Mac (especially laptops), are going the cheap route and as a consequence, they run into problems.

I'm BIG (HUGELY really!) into display quality, and the MacBook Pro's are the only line of Apple products that do not (yet) have the much superior IPS premium display technology, when even the iPhone 4 has IPS as of last month! Amazing stuff! Hopefully next MBP refresh, Apple will include IPS.

I still can't get over the stunning 27" screen on my iMac. You know you have a great screen when you have to lower the brightness to below HALF! lol