Wow, this thread has become quite popular! Thanks everyone!
On an MBP, how would it be any different in Windows than it would be in OS X?
---------
A few of you mentioned actually having difficulty going back to PC keyboards/mice after getting used to those on a MacBook... I'd hate for that to happen to me, since using PCs is pretty much inevitable with many careers at this point in time.
Also, there's one other issue that I forgot about... maximize/ minimize/close being on the opposite side. How much adjusting do you think this would take?
Are you referring to the ability to place your cursor over an inactive window and scroll within it?One killer feature of OS X for me is the ability to scroll in a window without actually having it in focus. That is, you can type in one form while scrolling a background window at the same time. Makes working with databases/lists/looking up data so much quicker.
Thanks for clearing that up for me.Its not double-tap is right click, its two finger tap (simultaneously tapping with two fingers - its awkward at first, but you'll learn to love it). A double tap is just like a regular mouse double-click, you quickly tap two times with a single finger.
Does anyone know if this is possible to do on an MBP?The only issue I have with a macbook's trackpad is that it seems physically impossible to do a right-click-drag in excel (for when you want to quickly fill in cells with a series of values).
Actually, most of the Mac users I know are casual users, while my more technically-inclined friends use Windows and/or Linux.I am a computer dunce compare to most of these guys on this board, and if I can make a mac work...anybody can....seriously it is pretty smooth, and wave bye bye to all the hassles with windows that drove me nuts.
I didn't know that. Does anyone know if there are any shortcuts to go to the end of a line? Can you create such a shortcut?I will say that one thing I don't like about OSX (maybe this is changeable, I don't know) but in Windows I frequently used the END key to get to the end of a line. In OSX this just takes you to the bottom of the page.
What do you mean by a game being unavailable through Console? From what I know, Console is a utility in OS X that lets you examine error messages and such.The only reason I would go back to PC, is because sometimes I get the itch to build one, and I would only do that if there were some game I wanted to play that wasn't available to me through console/OSX/bootcamp (due to hardware requirements)...All in all, I think I am done with Windows as an operating system, especially considering how Win8 is.
See the below quote. I'm actually quite satisfied with Windows.It was an easy switch for me. Can I ask why you are switching though? Are you unhappy with Windows?
I am an aspiring Film student, and a few of the classes at my college teach on Final Cut Pro. While it's not required that I have a Mac for them since there are on-campus labs, it is highly recommended. On top of that, I understand that Macs are generally superior for video editing, which is really the main area of Film that interests me, and I know FCP is the software of choice for many professionals.
That's really the reason... were it not for that, I'd just stick with PCs, especially since they have some exclusive features that I like.
Haha, well I do already have an iPhone!I came back to the fold after nearly 20 years of PC this year. Now I have an MBP, my wife uses a Macbook, the study has an iMac that also serves iTunes to 2 ATV3's and they're all linked by an Airport Extreme. Oh and an iPad too. We're sold lol! As many others have said go to an Apple store and have a play.
What is Apple's return policy? I would be ordering/customizing it online and likely opting for the in-store pickup, if that matters.I'd say don't assess it solely in the store. Spend a couple weeks or so with it to get past the differences (until you're comfortable with it and using it is second nature) and then make your decision -- especially if you're the type that dislikes change in general.
Do you feel that this is the way to go for me, as I'm so used to using Control shortcuts, or would I likely find using the Command key for those same shortcuts to be "easier" once I get used to it?In OSX, you can set it in keyboard settings to swap the control and command keys, so that control+C = copy and such.
Regarding your comment about editing, if you're referring to Windows Movie Maker, I've never really used it much (I use Pinnacle Studio, and used Dazzle in the past), but I heard that the new Windows Live Movie Maker (included with Microsoft Live Essentials) is actually quite nice.See my comments above.
Are Command + spacebar shortcuts uncommon? From what I see, Spotlight is the only thing that uses them.I use my left thumb and right thumb to strike and hold the Command key and it works very well because my thumb doesn't feel uncomfortable at all and I rarely need to hit the space key at the same time as a command shortcut.
Thanks for the tip!Also note that there's a free App for OSX on the App Store called "Cheat Sheet" which shows you ALL the available shortcuts for the App you are currently using. All you do is hold Command for a few seconds and a dark transparent overlay displays all the shortcuts you can use. It's very useful.
Is there no option to disable having to enter your password for that?It's not easy to view system files on OSX and even doing something like deleting 'kext' files requires entering your password.
Actually, Windows 8 has this feature too.Hot corners.
LOL! The issue with Windows automatically rebooting after an update isn't an issue to me since it can be disabled, but I do agree that it was a poor decision to make it the default.Updates shmupdates. One thing I hated about Windows was it's "screw you" method of installing updates. I was in the middle of a movie with a date, full screen, things were going GREAT with me and her. She was enjoying the movie, I just fixed her a drink. Randomly the movie exits full screen and my computer starts shutting down. It says "Configuring Updates. Do not power off or unplug the computer". It took 6 minutes for it to shut down. No big right? Small chat for 6 minutes and we'll be good to go? I restarted, it was configuring 9 updates and it took 15 minutes. The buzz was killed and she had to go shortly after. Windows.... The "something other than pop-up" blocker. What's that? You can configure the Update settings differently? If that's the case, why the HELL would the DEFAULT recommended settings be to shut down your computer without asking? What engineer proposed that and managed to keep his high paying job at Microsoft?
I can't even imagine the conversation:
"Okay guys let's talk updates... How should we handle them?"
D-Bag Stevens (Chief Engineer) : "I think updates should be #1 most important and we should shut down the computer immediately when they're done. That should be the way."
Future Apple engineer: "Don't you think we should install the updates in Windows and put a small notification in the corner to restart? Let them restart when they're done working?"
D-Bag Stevens: "Are you crazy? Don't you know that if you install Windows updates while in Windows, the computer will go Ape **** and babies will go flying all over the place with explosions?"
Future Apple engineer: "Well okay then, as long as they can get back to work as soon as it's done restarting."
D-Bag Stevens: "Well it will have to configure the updates when the computer starts..."
Future Apple engineer: "But wasn't it installing them when it was shutting down? You have to install again?"
D-Bag Stevens: "Well yeah, we installed them when we were shutting down, now we have to configure them when we start it up... It's a complicated process but it makes sense. And this should be the default setting."
Future Apple engineer: "I think I'm done here, good luck guys."
I've actually never had much of a problem with viruses on my PCs (only 1 or 2 major ones in all my years), to the point where I scan much less frequently than what is recommended. I'm not careless with what I download like other people seem to be. I know that Macs can get viruses too though...The best part is the most subtle novelty: No antivirus. I didn't notice how much I didn't enjoy leaving my computer on scanning for infections one day a week until I didn't have to do it anymore.
Isn't one of the 3 colored "dots" in the top-left corner of an app a shortcut to exit that app (the equivalent of Windows' "X")? If not, do you exit all apps by File -> Close?I guess the biggest adjustment for me was the way to exit applications and plug-ins. With Macs the process isn't just unplugging the USB or clicking the X button. You have to physically quit each application and eject each plug-in, and that can be a bit clunky.
Do you now prefer the Mac's TrackPad to the ThinkPad's TrackPoint?I've used ThinkPads for almost 20 years. I always used the track point and couldn't stand the trackpad to the point of turning it off in the settings. When I switched to a MacBook Pro, I was amazed at how much better the trackpad was.
I'm somewhat of a programmer (Computer Science student)... I'd be interested in hearing more about this.For a programmer, Apple offers a very rich set of APIs which even allow you to extend standard UI controls; e.g. changing the system-wide spellchecker or adding a new file system type.
I mainly use Microsoft Office, Notepad, Firefox, video editing software, some user-created programs (most of which are Windows-exclusive), and IDEs. I would certainly like all of them to run as optimally as possible.From a purely technical perspective, its all about what applications you need to run and how optimal you'd like those applications to run.
Thanks for the heads-up!Be warned that Apple also made no effort to optimize bootcamp - so Windows is less than ideal (terrible battery life, poor fan control).
Actually, Command is 2-3 (depending on which side) keys closer to the spacebar on the MBP's keyboard than Control is on a PC's.The command button has the same placement on the keyboard as the control does on a PC. However if you plan on using win 7 on your macbook you might find it annoying with the only control button.
On an MBP, how would it be any different in Windows than it would be in OS X?
---------
A few of you mentioned actually having difficulty going back to PC keyboards/mice after getting used to those on a MacBook... I'd hate for that to happen to me, since using PCs is pretty much inevitable with many careers at this point in time.
Also, there's one other issue that I forgot about... maximize/ minimize/close being on the opposite side. How much adjusting do you think this would take?