It's a serious question, although it reads like a flame attempt. The fact that I'm here asking this question means I am seriously considering moving from Windows (since 95!) to Mac. What I'm asking for help with is some compelling reasons why I should make the move, and what MacBook Pro would be my best bet. I'd very much appreciate what advice you have to offer.
So a few things about me - I'm a cartographer; I make maps for a living. While at work I am provided with a Windows machine, I also make maps on my own time on my own computer. You need a fairly powerful rig to run most engineering/mapping software. The computer I use is a HP EliteBook 8530w (15in) which I bought back in September 2009. It's reaching the end of its life span.
The primary piece of mapping software I use is ArcGIS. ArcGIS is Windows only, although ArcGIS's creator, ESRI has said you can run it on a Mac via Bootcamp. They make no guarantees about ArcGIS if you go this route however. Has anyone here ever attempted to run ArcGIS through Bootcamp, or more generally what has been your experience using Bootcamp to run Windows programs? Other software I commonly use, is availible in OS X versions, like AutoCAD, Google SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite. CorelDRAW is Windows only, but I prefer Adobe anyway.
Perhaps the biggest reason I've never seriously considered a Mac in the past was the lack of gaming options. I can see that this is changing. How do you find Mac compare to Windows in terms of game selections and releases? I've never been someone who wants to play the latest and greatest, because when I find a good game, I tend replay it a lot. This means I have a library of Windows games, some of which have Mac versions I could buy, most of which do not. Will Bootcamp allow me to continue playing my Windows games? Also, is MacBook Pro a solid gaming platform if I do want to get the latest and greatest?
Some miscellaneous things now. I am not terribly familiar with OS X. I have probably spent less than 10 hours in my whole life using a Mac. Coming from Windows XP, how easy is OS X to pickup? I don't have trouble learning new things, but how long have you found, assuming you haven't always been Mac user, does it take to get comfortable with OS X? As a long time Windows user I've got lots of data I would want to migrate. How difficult have you found this? Considering any new Windows machine I get will have Windows 7, which I have not used, I've been thinking that moving to a Mac from XP can't be much worse than going from XP to 7. Any thoughts about that?
If I get another Windows machine, my likely choice would be a HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation 8560w (15in). In its favour, I shouldn't have compatibility issues as it's still Windows; its the same series as what I already have; and it is slightly cheaper than the MacBook Pro 15 inch. Going against it, I've had several hardware issues with my 8530w. Since I bought this thing for a course, all the other students had the same machine and image installed on it. We've all had the same issues with overheating, rapid battery burnout (mine was toast before 2 years, others in less than 6 months), and the wifi cutting out, requiring a restart (which mine did while writing this). I don't know if the 8560w has these problems, but computer reviews can't tell you how the thing will be in 2 years.
If I get a MacBook Pro, I'd get the 15 inch version. The 13 inch has too small a screen and isn't powerful enough, but the 17 inch is too large to cart around easily, and is rather expensive. By all accounts the MacBook Pro is a reliable and powerful machine. I'm not really sure how I would customize the 15 inch to fit my needs, but I would prefer to keep it under $2500. Any suggestions would be welcome. I also own an iPhone 4S. It is the first smartphone I've purchased, and have been quite pleased with it so far, but does using it with a Mac improve its usefulness, even in an intangible way?
So yeah, if you made it through that wall of text, I'd be thankful if you could answer some of my questions, or even make some suggestions that I haven't thought of. I'll take these questions into my local Apple store as well, although they are absurdly busy all the time.
Thanks very much!
So a few things about me - I'm a cartographer; I make maps for a living. While at work I am provided with a Windows machine, I also make maps on my own time on my own computer. You need a fairly powerful rig to run most engineering/mapping software. The computer I use is a HP EliteBook 8530w (15in) which I bought back in September 2009. It's reaching the end of its life span.
The primary piece of mapping software I use is ArcGIS. ArcGIS is Windows only, although ArcGIS's creator, ESRI has said you can run it on a Mac via Bootcamp. They make no guarantees about ArcGIS if you go this route however. Has anyone here ever attempted to run ArcGIS through Bootcamp, or more generally what has been your experience using Bootcamp to run Windows programs? Other software I commonly use, is availible in OS X versions, like AutoCAD, Google SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite. CorelDRAW is Windows only, but I prefer Adobe anyway.
Perhaps the biggest reason I've never seriously considered a Mac in the past was the lack of gaming options. I can see that this is changing. How do you find Mac compare to Windows in terms of game selections and releases? I've never been someone who wants to play the latest and greatest, because when I find a good game, I tend replay it a lot. This means I have a library of Windows games, some of which have Mac versions I could buy, most of which do not. Will Bootcamp allow me to continue playing my Windows games? Also, is MacBook Pro a solid gaming platform if I do want to get the latest and greatest?
Some miscellaneous things now. I am not terribly familiar with OS X. I have probably spent less than 10 hours in my whole life using a Mac. Coming from Windows XP, how easy is OS X to pickup? I don't have trouble learning new things, but how long have you found, assuming you haven't always been Mac user, does it take to get comfortable with OS X? As a long time Windows user I've got lots of data I would want to migrate. How difficult have you found this? Considering any new Windows machine I get will have Windows 7, which I have not used, I've been thinking that moving to a Mac from XP can't be much worse than going from XP to 7. Any thoughts about that?
If I get another Windows machine, my likely choice would be a HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation 8560w (15in). In its favour, I shouldn't have compatibility issues as it's still Windows; its the same series as what I already have; and it is slightly cheaper than the MacBook Pro 15 inch. Going against it, I've had several hardware issues with my 8530w. Since I bought this thing for a course, all the other students had the same machine and image installed on it. We've all had the same issues with overheating, rapid battery burnout (mine was toast before 2 years, others in less than 6 months), and the wifi cutting out, requiring a restart (which mine did while writing this). I don't know if the 8560w has these problems, but computer reviews can't tell you how the thing will be in 2 years.
If I get a MacBook Pro, I'd get the 15 inch version. The 13 inch has too small a screen and isn't powerful enough, but the 17 inch is too large to cart around easily, and is rather expensive. By all accounts the MacBook Pro is a reliable and powerful machine. I'm not really sure how I would customize the 15 inch to fit my needs, but I would prefer to keep it under $2500. Any suggestions would be welcome. I also own an iPhone 4S. It is the first smartphone I've purchased, and have been quite pleased with it so far, but does using it with a Mac improve its usefulness, even in an intangible way?
So yeah, if you made it through that wall of text, I'd be thankful if you could answer some of my questions, or even make some suggestions that I haven't thought of. I'll take these questions into my local Apple store as well, although they are absurdly busy all the time.
Thanks very much!