Switching from a PC to a MAC - Couple questions.

Hi johnnyp500,

For what you describe you would like to do with the Mac, the Macbook would be a great choice. The Macbook Pro really shines if you are doing graphics processor intensive work or wanting to play games.

The Macbook will "feel" very quick and responsive in all the applications you use, especially with 2GB of RAM.

The latest 5400 RPM drives are fast enough and you won't notice any lack of performance.

Application management and troubleshooting IS different on the Mac - as a fairly advanced switcher myself it took a little while to get used to the way OS X operates compared to Windows XP. Not harder, just different. The biggest change, in my opinion, is getting used to the idea that you don't have to "tinker" with the OS to get it to behave like it should - most things just work as they should.. (Note I said most - not all!!)

Good luck with the switch and welcome to the Mac community.

Regards,

Nelson.

ps Get yourself a copy of The Missing Manual - OS X Leopard by David Pogue.. One of the best references I've found.. If everyone had it you'd find a lot less questions being asked on these threads!

These are great questions...

but you may find it easier to go to the nearest Apple Store and drop in on some of the workshops and speaking with some of the genius' on duty as well. I've bought Mac only since the mid '80's and have (1) Fujitsu LifeBook 9" screen that was given to me, which I've used (2) times. I can't really compare anything to your PC experience, since I'm 100% Mac.

I do know from experience that my BlackBook 2.4 Penryn 250GB is strong, large HDD, fast with 4GBSDRAM, I run Photoshop CS, InDesign CS, Final Cut Pro HD, Illustrator CS, HandBrake for transferring DVD to my iPhone, Guitar Pro 5, and the OS is the easiest for my friends and family that I've "converted" over the past 20 years. I think you would really benefit from a visit to several of the workshops at the Apple Stores. I'm a regular at three different stores here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Good Luck!

get a big hard drive, after your hooked on itunes,movies,etc your hd space will be sucked up in no time.

I have the macbook c2d 1.83 and love it.......gave up on windows years ago.. never looked back. I've only had 1 mac software crash and 2 lock ups in the past 7 years. I use my mini on as a server constantly and never worry. it just takes time getting use to "quality" made products.

good luck.

the biggest problem with switching that people have is realizing that
"yes you really just click that and it will do what it should"

The regular Macbook should do fine for you. Keep in mind that the Mac OS is different. You will rarely have to worry about fixing OS stuff. It might take about a day to get use to the navigation.

The best thing to do is go to the Apple web site and view some of the excellent tutorials they have available for "switchers". Very informative stuff.

I switched in December and haven't looked back.

I switched back in October and I have to say that I couldn't be happier. When they say "It just works," they mean it. I certainly don't miss any of the jumping through hoops and weird things u gotta do to get ur Windoze PC working right. I bought the MacBook mainly cuz it was in my price range, and it works great for me. I say go for it.

Just do it

I switched 18 months ago....and Mac is the best.
In my office I have to use windows and I can't wait till 5:30 to get my home and use my Mac.
Switching is not hard and you'll love it....and get a large HD or an external HD....flir67 is right about iTunes, movies, etc...GO FOR IT!!!!

I think like others have mentioned, go to an Apple Store and play with them. See how they work on Office apps and other preloaded sftwre and find what you like. Personally, I find little difference in performance for what I do with the MB/MBPs.

I am not a gamer disclaimer...

Was it old model? It should be same as Apple prices.

I am going to switch to mac also but in the fall. I'm going to be a freshman in college and think a Macbook will be just fine. As in your case you shouldn't need a Pro unless you are doing alot of things with graphics. I am thinking about to switch later rather than now because of the specualtion of the laptops being refreshed before August... Also I can afford to wait....

johnnyp500 said:

Thanks everyone for all the replies.
I was in Best Buy today and I think I like the Macbook Pro better, I thought the screen was much brighter and clearer on the pro than on the blackbook. One thing I noticed, which was kinda weird was that the price for the pro in best buy was $1699, and online it starts at $1999, any idea why?

Click to expand...

That was most likely the older model (the new penryns were released just last week) They ahve them in the refurb store online for 1449 and 1649 as well and a lot of schools are selling out the old models new in box for 1499 and 1699. You probably looked at the 2.4 SR C2D macbook pro which was the higher end model of the old revision. Pretty similar but no multitouch in the trackpad and different amount of lcache. Really good deals though I'd highly suggest getting one if you don't care about multitouch, since you were looking at the macbooks chances are you don't.

I just made the switch the this past week, and I would say that the change was fine, but I can't say that I seemed to have the excitement about it that so many of my friends seem to have.

I have spent the past few years on a very nice and stable Sony Vaio, and I am a very heavy user. I do audio, video and a lot of business apps. I use my computer at least 8 hours per day, and there are many things that I will miss in my Sony verses this new Black MacBook.

The screen on my Sony simply puts my Mac to shame. And although the Mac screen is fine, I can really see the difference and it is was very disappointing for me simply due to the fact that I spend so many hours looking at my computer. I know that the Black MacBook is not their top of the line, but it is a few years newer, and still sells for $1500, and still come with a lower quality screen than my old Sony.

My second disappointment was in the actual casing of the computer. The Mac simply does not feel as nice as my old Sony. The edges alone, where your wrist may fall if not using perfect form, is very sharp and cheap feeling.

And as far as the OS that is so highly praised, I like it, but I never had any real problems with Windows XP all these years. And as I said I run my system HARD. Video, audio (tons of recording, mixing, multi-tracking, etc.), business apps, advertising design, etc. For at least 8 hours each day, and much more some times, and I have never had any trouble with any of my windows system.

Now I don't disagree that there are A LOT of people out there who may not have had the good luck or fortune that I have had on Windows, but as I get to know my Mac and it's OS I am seeing that a few of the problems that I am experiencing are pretty wide spread in many different forums. So no OS is perfect. And I really wish that either Safari would make some very drastic improvements or that Apple would get more serious about another browser. A number of the websites that I HAVE TO DEAL WITH DAILY for my work simply do not work in Safari. Very lame. Safari seems to force my hand in using something else for A LOT of my work.

The Max OS is a great system, but I would disagree with saying that it puts Windows to shame (as many of my friends and associates say). As I said, it IS a very nice OS, but it is just that, another OS. Not the end all or be all of OS's.

***As far as what I really do enjoy:

1) The integration of the software such as audio, video and web based tools all working so well together. Mac has done a VERY good job thinking these things out, and I love it.

2) Mac software. This is the only real reason that I made the switch. I am doing some work on projects that require that I do some video editing in Final Cut Pro. So I really needed to be very familiar with the Mac OS to be able to fly through these paying gigs as well as I would if they had said that they wanted me to do everything in Sony Vegas (Another GREAT software). So the ability to run what many of us consider as industry standards for some of our work is and was very important to me.

***So don't get me wrong, I am very happy with my purchase as a whole, but if I were to rate all of my computer purchases the Vaio would still be the at the top for me. And if it weren't for the fact that I really needed the Mac to help me better prepare and participate in some of my paying gigs I most likely would have been drawn to by another new Viao.

I really do believe that you will love both your decision and purchase, but remember that it is still just a computer and that it is still just an OS. Both very good, but not exactly earth shattering as far as I am concerned. Great yes, but so was my Viao.

And if money were no object I would simply bring this back and get the MacBook Pro. So if you have the money, and you are still leaning that way, well, just pull the trigger and enjoy.

I was just reading this on an other website (/ forum) they were talking about the new off button in windows vista....apperently you can change it functions but only going through 10 (!!) different "advanced options" "properties" screens / buttons / tabs....

Seriously..I switched a month ago and they're right mac os just works..period.
Only thing I had a "hard" time with was the navigation (at first) and finding the programs which would allow me the things I was used to on Windows (playing certain movie files & subtitles etc.) all set now..happy as a stuffed pig

And BTW, just to clarify my above comments, in case this matters to you:

As I mentioned, I am very interested and involved in both audio and video recording and editing. When doing this I am usually on location and using someone else's MacBook Pro. But I just thought I would mention that although I always prefer using a loaded MacBook Pro when doing these, that in a pinch even my black MacBook can handle quite a load without the fan ever kicking in. And that has impressed me.

They are very efficient and powerful little machines that can truly handle a decent amount of load bearing work.

Just thought I would mention that for anyone that has some interest in using there system for either audio, video or both. Once again, if money were no object, go get the Pro, but even the MB's can handle a lot of work.

well sense the macbooks just got revised i would go with the 2.4GHz MacBook. I have a 2.0GHz macbook right now and i use photoshop. This is actually my main computer and I got no complaints. So for what you use it for I recomend the 2.4 Ghz Macbook