Hello. I'm not actually going to buy any new computer anytime soon because of lack of funds (poor student), but I think it would be great if I got some advice. I know there are a lot of posts like this and I've read through them, but it seems better to ask my own questions.
First off, I'm a PC user since I've first touched computers, but I have used Macs before on brief occasions, nothing big though. I do believe that I would be able to switch over fine. My uses for the computer are usually simple stuff like word processing, hand-written html, surfing the net, but I also dabble quite a bit in Photoshop especially, and I play a lot of mp3s and movies on my computer. Basically a lower-end-user with occasional intensive graphics needs. Oh, and I'm not into games, unless you're talking minesweeper.
Besides Photoshop, it looks like it's quite easy to switch over. I'm quite a sucker for user interfaces and designs (a.k.a. I like pretty stuff). Plus I also don't have a lot of luck with my Windows OSes. So I was thinking of switching to a Mac.
Now here's the situation: because of my tight funds I would probably only be able to afford one computer on a scholarship computer loan, and maybe another system sponsored by my family. Thing is, I would try not to ask from my family if possible. So that leaves me with only one possible computer purchase in the near future of about three years. Now my vote has always been on the iMac, one because I drool over it everytime I see it (superficial as that may be, it's a big consideration for me), two because it fits my needs. My current desktop is an Acer 600Mhz machine running Windows XP on 128mb of ram. Which translates to slow for some people but I find it okay. So if I get an iMac it will replace my current system, which would probably go to someone else in the family.
Problem is that I might be going overseas to study soon and buying a desktop would defeat the purpose. Also, a laptop would be a better option to carry to campus and maybe later on, to work. On that account I have been considering several mid-range models of Fujitsu, when I came across the posts on the iBook and the TiBook and how great they are in terms of battery life.
Confused yet? Hope not.
The ideal situation would be for me to get a Wintel laptop from Fujitsu and also the iMac, because I don't exactly adore the keyboards on the iBooks and the TiBooks, and because I find it's better to own both macs and pcs. Unfortunately I only can only get one system.
So? Should I plan for a Wintel laptop and try and save up enough money to fork out for a iMac myself, or should I just get an iMac and forget the laptop, or should I just get an iBook or a TiBook?
Some other questions:
Does anyone recommend any good keyboards to go with the iMac? I don't really like the Apple keyboard: the keys stick a little bit more than I like, and I'm fussy with keyboards.
Is there such a thing as pirated Apple software?
By Academic Version, does that mean the software (in this case I mean specifically the Adobe Photoshop 7 Academic Version) lacks some tools or functions?
In the case of Adobe Photoshop 7, do they have two different versions that you have to buy separately, or is it just one installation cd that can install on both macs and pcs?
Thank you very much for any help rendered.
Lili
First off, I'm a PC user since I've first touched computers, but I have used Macs before on brief occasions, nothing big though. I do believe that I would be able to switch over fine. My uses for the computer are usually simple stuff like word processing, hand-written html, surfing the net, but I also dabble quite a bit in Photoshop especially, and I play a lot of mp3s and movies on my computer. Basically a lower-end-user with occasional intensive graphics needs. Oh, and I'm not into games, unless you're talking minesweeper.
Besides Photoshop, it looks like it's quite easy to switch over. I'm quite a sucker for user interfaces and designs (a.k.a. I like pretty stuff). Plus I also don't have a lot of luck with my Windows OSes. So I was thinking of switching to a Mac.
Now here's the situation: because of my tight funds I would probably only be able to afford one computer on a scholarship computer loan, and maybe another system sponsored by my family. Thing is, I would try not to ask from my family if possible. So that leaves me with only one possible computer purchase in the near future of about three years. Now my vote has always been on the iMac, one because I drool over it everytime I see it (superficial as that may be, it's a big consideration for me), two because it fits my needs. My current desktop is an Acer 600Mhz machine running Windows XP on 128mb of ram. Which translates to slow for some people but I find it okay. So if I get an iMac it will replace my current system, which would probably go to someone else in the family.
Problem is that I might be going overseas to study soon and buying a desktop would defeat the purpose. Also, a laptop would be a better option to carry to campus and maybe later on, to work. On that account I have been considering several mid-range models of Fujitsu, when I came across the posts on the iBook and the TiBook and how great they are in terms of battery life.
Confused yet? Hope not.
The ideal situation would be for me to get a Wintel laptop from Fujitsu and also the iMac, because I don't exactly adore the keyboards on the iBooks and the TiBooks, and because I find it's better to own both macs and pcs. Unfortunately I only can only get one system.
So? Should I plan for a Wintel laptop and try and save up enough money to fork out for a iMac myself, or should I just get an iMac and forget the laptop, or should I just get an iBook or a TiBook?
Some other questions:
Does anyone recommend any good keyboards to go with the iMac? I don't really like the Apple keyboard: the keys stick a little bit more than I like, and I'm fussy with keyboards.
Is there such a thing as pirated Apple software?
By Academic Version, does that mean the software (in this case I mean specifically the Adobe Photoshop 7 Academic Version) lacks some tools or functions?
In the case of Adobe Photoshop 7, do they have two different versions that you have to buy separately, or is it just one installation cd that can install on both macs and pcs?
Thank you very much for any help rendered.
Lili