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New Switcher - PC to Mac - needs software tips and help

S

stockinvestor

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 10, 2011
84
0
Hey Mac smarties

I just ordered a mac book pro 15 ".

I have some questions what software for mac could replace the software i now use on PC with windows xp.
I'll list the software I use on PC.

1. Windows software i use and need replacement for on the mac:

  • WinRAR
  • PDF writer ( A way to save documents as PDFs from word or other programs)
  • FTP software ( i now use Filezilla, should i stick with it on mac or another?)
  • Simple text editor with colors for html,php and so on (use Notepad 2 now)
  • Office pack (bought it for mac with my mbp)
  • Skype (looks to be a download away )
  • Firefox (looks to be a download away)
  • Google talk ( google dont have a version of this for mac :S)
  • MSN
  • VLC (looks to be a download away )
  • CD/DVD/image creation and burning tool
  • found out in another post here that must install Flip for Mac WMV and perian codec for video?


2. What should I use parallells or vmware fusion?
I intend to run bootcamp as well as one of this too for another way to use windows.


  • The software i intend to run is some special only windows stuff like
  • Reuters EcoWin
  • Strategy Runner
  • Online Trader
  • Goldman Sachs REDI Plus
  • Bloomberg LP (I found out I can use Boomberg Anywhere on the mac)
  • Pair Trade finder
  • Clue

3. I have some exchange, google stuff i need to sync to my phone and pc

  • Exchange mails probably no problem?
  • Google mail?
  • Do I get a mac mail or something? .me or what is it ?
  • Is there a good way to sync the google calendar and such with mail software in mac?
  • What mail software should I use, I use outlook on pc and webmail google gmail ?


4. Backup system

  • What should i pick? SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner ( I used Acronis on Windows - i make images)
  • Machine Time can probably copy Individual folders and files to a external hard drive ?
 
1. Windows software i use and need replacement for on the mac:
WinRAR
> The Unarchiver, UnrarX, iUnarchive (paid, Mac App Store), if you want to create RAR archives, look into sArchiver

PDF writer ( A way to save documents as PDFs from word or other programs)
> Built into Mac OS

FTP software ( i now use Filezilla, should i stick with it on mac or another?)
> Filezilla for Mac OS X, or you can go with Transmit (paid), Cyberduck

Simple text editor with colors for html, php and so on (use Notepad 2 now)
> TextWrangler (also in Mac App Store)

Office pack (bought it for mac with my mbp)
> MS Office for Mac, iWork

Skype (looks to be a download away )
> Skype for Mac OS X

Firefox (looks to be a download away)
> I'd recommend Safari (included in Mac OS X) or Chrome instead, Firefox is a memory hog on Macs

Google talk ( google dont have a version of this for mac :S)
> Adium

MSN
> Adium, Trillian

VLC (looks to be a download away )
> VLC for Mac OS X (there's nothing better)

CD/DVD/image creation and burning tool
> built into Mac OS (Disk Utility)

found out in another post here that must install Flip for Mac WMV and perian codec for video?
> Definitely install Perian, enormously useful
​
2. What should I use parallells or vmware fusion?

> I, myself, prefer Parallels to Fusion, although they're both very good.
> Check out Alternativeto.net to find alternatives to software you use
​
3. I have some exchange, google stuff i need to sync to my phone and pc

> If I'm not mistaken, both iCal and Mail (included in Mac OS X) support MS Exchange - free of charge. Mail should be compatible with Gmail as well. Otherwise, you can try alternatives such as Thunderbird or Sparrow, or Outlook. I prefer Sparrow over others because it has a nice, clean interface.
> iCal should sync fine with Google Calendar
​
4. Backup system

> Both CarbonCopyCloner and SuperDuper are excellent.
> I, myself, prefer to use Time Machine, but you'll have to dedicate an entire drive to it, it'll be formatted in HFS+. Time Machine backs up everything, except the individual folders you choose to exclude in its preferences.
​
 
Last edited:
Perian is one of the first things I install on my Macs for video codecs. Adium is top for IM(many different messengers all-in-one) client.
 
Thanks alot for your commets :D

I also have one question regarding backup and file system..
I have a external harddrive for some backup both for Windows files and I wish to write the mac image with SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner.
Is there any filesystem that both windows and mac osx can write to and read?
I know they both can read alo but have problem to write to many filesystems..? :)
 
stockinvestor said:
Thanks alot for your commets :D

I also have one question regarding backup and file system..
I have a external harddrive for some backup both for Windows files and I wish to write the mac image with SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner.
Is there any filesystem that both windows and mac osx can write to and read?
I know they both can read alo but have problem to write to many filesystems..? :)
Click to expand...

ExFAT will do. I use it on all my external drives, except the Time Machine drive, and it works perfectly.
 
stockinvestor said:
Thanks alot for your commets :D

I also have one question regarding backup and file system..
I have a external harddrive for some backup both for Windows files and I wish to write the mac image with SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner.
Is there any filesystem that both windows and mac osx can write to and read?
I know they both can read alo but have problem to write to many filesystems..? :)
Click to expand...

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
  • Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
    [*]Maximum file size: 4GB.
  • Maximum volume size: 2TB
NTFS (Windows NT File System)
  • Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
  • Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
    [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
  • Some have had good results with Paragon (approx $20)
  • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
  • AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
  • Maximum file size: 16 TB
  • Maximum volume size: 256TB
HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)
  • Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
  • Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! backups of Mac internal hard drive.
    [*]To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
    [*]To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
  • Maximum file size: 8EiB
  • Maximum volume size: 8EiB
exFAT (FAT64)
  • Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
  • Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
  • exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
  • AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
  • Maximum file size: 16 EiB
  • Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
 
Thanks very much!

I have a question about parallells VS vmware fusion. I think i read somewhere that with parallells you can use one "partition/image" to run both parallells on OSX and use the same on bootcamp? While if you use VMware you need to have "2 images/partitions", one for bootcamp and one for parallells in OSX.. is this right?
If so do you install bootcamp or parallells first to make this work?

Thanks very much for any comments! I love OSX so far! Got my MBP! But I need the mentioned software from Windows to work on the MBP before i can shut my PC down... and make a lasting switch..
 
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