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switching from a windows desktop to iMac?
- Thread starter cinek
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Actually, the one thing that hasn't been said is that the Mac makes an excellent machine on which to run Windows. In general it is more expensive than PC's,but (unless you get a dud) Mac's tend to last for a long time. I have a PowerBook 180 that still runs fine and I bought it in the early 1990's.
Last winter, I got on my wife's computer to do something for her and was stunned at how slow it had gotten. I had just reloaded XP 6 months before. So we were going to get her a new computer as the one she had was 5+ years old.
Our daughter always went straight to the Mac's whenever I took her into Best Buy, so when we were in Columbus, we went over to the Apple store. I was thinking 21.5" iMac, but after looking at it and the glossy screen, we opted for a Mini.
Over the next couple of weeks as I migrated her stuff over, I was stunned by how intuitive the Mac OS was. I didn't need to put a .pdf creator on it as it was already there. It was just very easy to use.
Next time we were in Columbus, I came home with a MBP. I had needed a new laptop and this was going to be the test to see if I could use OS X on a daily basis. I found out that I could, but I needed to run WIN7 in a VM for Quicken. Not a big deal as I just use Spaces. CTL-2 and I have my WIN7 screen, do what I need and then CTL-1 and I am back in OS X.
So as soon as the new iMac's came out, I went and got a 27" and don't regret it for a minute.
Our daughter always went straight to the Mac's whenever I took her into Best Buy, so when we were in Columbus, we went over to the Apple store. I was thinking 21.5" iMac, but after looking at it and the glossy screen, we opted for a Mini.
Over the next couple of weeks as I migrated her stuff over, I was stunned by how intuitive the Mac OS was. I didn't need to put a .pdf creator on it as it was already there. It was just very easy to use.
Next time we were in Columbus, I came home with a MBP. I had needed a new laptop and this was going to be the test to see if I could use OS X on a daily basis. I found out that I could, but I needed to run WIN7 in a VM for Quicken. Not a big deal as I just use Spaces. CTL-2 and I have my WIN7 screen, do what I need and then CTL-1 and I am back in OS X.
So as soon as the new iMac's came out, I went and got a 27" and don't regret it for a minute.
I switched 3 years ago with the iMac and have been extremely happy. This from a guy who goes back to MS-DOS typing in the command prompt!
The hardest transition for me was understanding file structure and the Apple-nomenclature. I just didn't know what things did. That and the habit of moving the cursor to the top right instead of left for minimizing windows. Apple's website has a ton of useful videos to help the transition. I wish I'd used them from the start, but being a man, well, you know, shoot first, aim second.
I use Powerpoint quite a bit and have only PC access at work. My only issues have been when I'm working on a project and shuttling between work and home. There are some functions that don't easily convert when you're going back and forth, particularly if you use a lot of video in your presentations.
The hardest transition for me was understanding file structure and the Apple-nomenclature. I just didn't know what things did. That and the habit of moving the cursor to the top right instead of left for minimizing windows. Apple's website has a ton of useful videos to help the transition. I wish I'd used them from the start, but being a man, well, you know, shoot first, aim second.
I use Powerpoint quite a bit and have only PC access at work. My only issues have been when I'm working on a project and shuttling between work and home. There are some functions that don't easily convert when you're going back and forth, particularly if you use a lot of video in your presentations.
I moved to Mac five months ago (my iPad made me do it 
) and I haven't regretted it for a second.
I bought a new PC about ten months before that here is a brief comparison of my experience setting each up...
Windows PC:
First box, unpack monitor and cables, next box, unpack computer and more cables, next box, unpack wireless keyboard and mouse. Eye pile of manuals and disks accumulated on desk.
Start assembling computer, plug in cables... Wait where does this cable go? There's two VGA thingies... Oh well pick one. Why does my monitor need two cables to the computer? Do I need both? Where's the manual? I do need both, drat.
Get everything sorted and turn it all on. Ok I can hear the computer starting up, but why is there nothing on the screen? Oh right the two VGA plugs! Fiddle around and plug the VGA cable into the right place. Success! The screen appears!
Wait for endless loading bars to reach the end of loading Right enter my details, hey wait the keyboard isn't working... Or the mouse... Borrow dads wired keyboard and mouse, fiddle around and get them plugged in, yay it's working! Enter details, wait for more endless loading bars to load. Hey I made it to the desktop!
Let's get that keyboard and mouse working! Find disk, install drivers, finally they are working!
Ok Internet, plug in wireless Internet dongle... Wizard pops up, dig around for disk to install drivers... Wait... Installation not successful... Connect to Internet to search for drivers?!? What? How?!?
Drag modem into study (thank goodness there's a phone line in here) plug in via Ethernet, set up and finally get on the Internet. Ok update drivers for the wireless dongle, still doesn't work, google is your friend, search for solutions... A manual for it! Oh wait, can't open it, hunt down and install PDF reader. Manual is no help whatsoever. Try various tips, tricks and tools... Nothing... Give in as a bad joke. (Never did get the thing working, worked fine on my dad's xp PC)
Spend rest of the day installing firefox, safari, office, movie maker, messenger etc etc etc.
iMac:
Open box, remove computer, wireless keyboard, magic mouse and solitary cable (Wow!), oh and one manual.
Plug in, that took maybe 30 seconds. (Wow!)
Turn on, stare at awesome intro movie, dad walks past, also stops to watch. (Wow!) Right! Enter details. Hey the keyboard and mouse are working Desktop appears. That took, what, not even ten minutes? (Wow!)
Try out a few things, Internet in working, pdf's open, even a word document opens, iMovie is there, photo booth (Hey this is neat), safari, iPhoto, mail, messenger... It's all there!!! (WOW!) Open app store and install iWork, oh wait, maybe install isn't the right word, I didn't have to actually install anything it did it all for me.
Spend rest of day being more and more impressed with iMac.
Best decision I ever made, to switch to Mac. Yeah there is a learning curve (mostly learning how to think simply again) but wow, when you get used to it, it's just... Wow
) and I haven't regretted it for a second.I bought a new PC about ten months before that here is a brief comparison of my experience setting each up...
Windows PC:
First box, unpack monitor and cables, next box, unpack computer and more cables, next box, unpack wireless keyboard and mouse. Eye pile of manuals and disks accumulated on desk.
Start assembling computer, plug in cables... Wait where does this cable go? There's two VGA thingies... Oh well pick one. Why does my monitor need two cables to the computer? Do I need both? Where's the manual? I do need both, drat.
Get everything sorted and turn it all on. Ok I can hear the computer starting up, but why is there nothing on the screen? Oh right the two VGA plugs! Fiddle around and plug the VGA cable into the right place. Success! The screen appears!
Wait for endless loading bars to reach the end of loading
Right enter my details, hey wait the keyboard isn't working... Or the mouse... Borrow dads wired keyboard and mouse, fiddle around and get them plugged in, yay it's working! Enter details, wait for more endless loading bars to load. Hey I made it to the desktop!Let's get that keyboard and mouse working! Find disk, install drivers, finally they are working!
Ok Internet, plug in wireless Internet dongle... Wizard pops up, dig around for disk to install drivers... Wait... Installation not successful... Connect to Internet to search for drivers?!? What? How?!?
Drag modem into study (thank goodness there's a phone line in here) plug in via Ethernet, set up and finally get on the Internet. Ok update drivers for the wireless dongle, still doesn't work, google is your friend, search for solutions... A manual for it! Oh wait, can't open it, hunt down and install PDF reader. Manual is no help whatsoever. Try various tips, tricks and tools... Nothing... Give in as a bad joke. (Never did get the thing working, worked fine on my dad's xp PC)
Spend rest of the day installing firefox, safari, office, movie maker, messenger etc etc etc.
iMac:
Open box, remove computer, wireless keyboard, magic mouse and solitary cable (Wow!), oh and one manual.
Plug in, that took maybe 30 seconds. (Wow!)
Turn on, stare at awesome intro movie, dad walks past, also stops to watch. (Wow!) Right! Enter details. Hey the keyboard and mouse are working
Desktop appears. That took, what, not even ten minutes? (Wow!)Try out a few things, Internet in working, pdf's open, even a word document opens, iMovie is there, photo booth (Hey this is neat), safari, iPhoto, mail, messenger... It's all there!!! (WOW!) Open app store and install iWork, oh wait, maybe install isn't the right word, I didn't have to actually install anything it did it all for me.
Spend rest of day being more and more impressed with iMac.
Best decision I ever made, to switch to Mac. Yeah there is a learning curve (mostly learning how to think simply again) but wow, when you get used to it, it's just... Wow
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Go for an (SSD) iMac with a large disk, install VMWare or Parallel and you will never look back. It gives you Microsoft Windows with sandboxed programs plus all the advantages of an Apple. Mental switching costs will be high, though. You need to retrain on issues like software/OS handling - IMO that investment is well worth it.