1.03.2007
It seems like everyone is getting a Mac lately. AppleInsider reported that nearly 2 million Macs were sold this holiday season. Amazon also recently announced that the MacBook was their best selling laptop over the last several months. Heck, even my girlfriend and brother have picked up a Mac in the last two weeks. I hope these new users enjoy their systems.
I was also a new Mac user just six months ago. The MacBook was just too luring to me and I broke down and picked up my first Mac system. As I entered the wonderful world of Mac, I was alone and afraid. I basically jumped head into the computer with no knowledge of OS X. Fast forward six months and I am in love with my machine. It has been a great experience up to this point.
Anyways, I was helping my brother set up his new MacBook today. He has been a long time Windows user and has never spent quality time with OS X. While helping him, I remembered starting up my machine for the first time. Certain things on OS X are very different to long time Windows users. It reminded me of things that I wish I would have known when I first started using OS X.
So, I decided to put together a list for my brother, girlfriend, and everyone else who is new to the Macintosh operating system. I hope this list gives some good hints for newbies who might have picked up an iMac or MacBook this holiday season.
1. When you install an application, you might not have actually installed an application. - It took me a good couple of days to realize that I wasn't really installing NeoOffice. I couldn't understand what was going on. I looked at some help sites and finally realized that I needed to drag the application icon into my application folder. Most programs make this obvious, however some don't. If you're new to a Mac and you try to install a program that doesn't make this obvious, you could end up scratching your head for a while like I did.
2. When on a MacBook, two fingers on the trackpad plus a click can equal a right click, if you know how to set it up. - Windows users love their right-click. When on a PC, if all else fails I would right-click. New Mac users will obviously notice single-click bar on MacBooks or MacBook Pros. Control+Click works as a right-click, but it is kinda awkward. However, if you go to System Preferences>Mouse and Keyboard, you can find settings for the trackpad which allow you to right-click if you have two fingers on the trackpad while you click.
3. Embrace iLife. - Windows users are used to searching the internet for programs that fit their every need. Apple solves a lot of this for Macintosh users out of the box with Apple-made software. Mail, iChat, iTunes, and iPhoto might all be lacking features for the extremely hardcore, but everyday users will be amazed by their usability. The programs also work together very well. I must admit I was impressed when iChat allowed me to view what songs other Mac users were listening to while I chatted with them. I was even more impressed when I could easily link to that song in tne iTunes music store and listen to see if I liked it.
4. Use the built in search. No, really use the built in search! - Windows users should all be aware with the horrible monstrosity of a search found on XP. The search dog might look cute and cuddly at first. Except, I think a dead dog could find search results faster. Windows searches also often gave me useless files which never really seemed to match the terms I was searching. Basically, Windows search features are useless. However, do not hold that grudge against Spotlight! Apple's search feature is much more useful. Search any term and I would almost guarantee a useful result. You will also get your results back before the apocalypse.
5. You will no longer dread turning off your computer. - Nearly every Windows user I know cringes at the thought of shutting down a PC. They hate the idea of waiting five minutes before the computer loads into a state of usefulness. I am sure everyone reading this knows what I am getting at. First, you go through 2 minutes of a Windows XP logo with a little loading blue bar. Next, you log-in. Done, right? Hahaha, you couldn't be more wrong. Useless applications start loading out of no where. AIM followed by MSN Messenger and Yahoo! EZ Web Chat something or another. Who the hell needs that many messaging clients? Why do they assume I want to use them when I start my computer, causing another 5 minutes of load time? On my Mac, I see a short load screen followed with a prompt for my user password. I am then loaded and ready. Start up literally takes less than 20 seconds.
6. With BootCamp or Parallels, you can boot into Windows. Except, you really won't need to. - I was really worried when I bought my Mac. Even my parents were worried . They even went to the extent of buying me a new copy of Windows XP to install on the Mac with BootCamp. When college came along, I assumed I would boot into Windows almost every day to edit documents or print papers. Well, I was wrong. I only booted into Windows once during my first semester in college and that was only to prove that it was possible to a Mac-hater who lived down the hall. After about a month, new user will realize that nearly every program they could ever want was on a Mac.
7. Don't bother with games, even 2 year old games. - If you're a PC gamer, don't buy a Mac. Simply stated, you won't find any games you like and I don't want to hear you bitch about it. You're right, I couldn't even get Halo to run decently on my MacBook. You know what, I don't care. That is why I just spent $250 on a Nintendo Wii. Mac users don't tend to be the biggest computer gamers. We would rather e-mail and blog with ease and without fear of computer crashes or spy ware.
8. iTunes automatically makes copies of songs when you add them to your song library. - I am one of those guys who knows nearly every file on his machine and how large it is. I have this odd fixation over how much hard-drive space is left on my disk even when it really doesn't matter. I transfered over some albums I owned in .mp3 form from another computer using a thumb drive and noticed that twice the size of the files was taken away from my available disk space. This confused the hell out of me. On a Mac, iTunes has a default setting which causes it to "organize your music". This feature is great, but I was unaware of it. It basically makes an exact copy of your music files in another location on your computer. Just remember this and delete the file you originally placed on your computer.
9. Exposé is your friend. - In your System Preferences folder, you will find a nifty little icon for Dashboard and Exposé. Be sure to set up Exposé either as a keyboard button (default is F9) or as an active corner. Exposé takes every open window on your desktop and makes a smaller version of it. You then chose which screen you would like to view. You will become ten times more productive after you start using this feature. Exposé sounds simple or pointless at first but with use it will become one of your favorite parts of the operating system.
10. Don't second guess your decision. - It took me a couple weeks before I finally talked myself into getting an Apple computer. I worried about nearly one thousand different things before I finally made the decision. If I can give you any advice in this post it is this; jump into the Mac experience and enjoy the ride. The experience will amaze you and while the price tag might seem a little steep at first, it will be an investment well made. After a month on the system, you will have no regrets.
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this post. I especially hope it was useful to new Mac users. Please e-mail any questions, comments, or suggestions you have to TeenageFanboy@gmail.com
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140 comments:
I got a macbook pro switching form 10 years of Windows. Now I own 3 macs after only 6 months from the switch.. Fucking apple made me get loans.. I need more...and more I thought.
I only owned one Windows based Computer at a time.. Mac will change everything and recharge your love for computers... no question..
Being lived in a Windows world for more than 10 years, I switch to MAC 6 months ago.
Since then, i never looked back of using Windows again. Getting things done on a MAC is so straight forward and simple and yet the Mac OSX is very stable.
Boot up time is just under 20 seconds after 6 months usage with lots of apps installed. I can imagine the how long will it take to boot for a Windows under same circumstances :-)
For all those who are currently still considering to get a MAC, my advice is go to your nearest Apple store and get a feel of the machine and carry the MAC back proudly with you!
I was previously a Windows user with no experience of the Mac kind. One day my parents took me out shopping for a new computer and my dad liked the fact that the iMac didn't have a base unit and everything was contained in the screen. Long story short, we bought it and I have never looked back.
I hope you enjoy the Mac experience and I hope you support the independent software developers. They make some outstanding software.
Haha. I experience the same thing as you did when I first got my MacBook. Which is august 2006.
you are = you're
I've been debating for quite a while on whether to get a mac or not. I happened to pass by an apple store today and gave the iMac a spin. I love the two larger screen sizes, 20" and 24" if I remember correctly. After reading a lot of guides made by the large number of "switchers" from windows to osx I'm fairly certain I won't have too much trouble. Quick question though, with Parallels could you used windows media center instead of XP? The reason I ask is because of my waning desire to record tv? Not really a must have feature but it would be nice.
I've got to take issue with #7.
Halo is stupidly demanding, even on PCs. Something that ran great on a 733MHz Pentium 3 (Xbox) runs crappy on a 3GHz Pentium 4. On top of this, the Macbook is in no way a gaming machine. Like the Mac Mini and the cheapest iMac, it has an Intel GMA950 graphics card. These are absolutely useless for gaming. All other Macs have decent ATI or nVidia graphics and are suitable for gaming.
Do not use the Macbook, Mini, or low-end 17" iMac for gaming comparisons any more than you'd use a base model Dell.
I am still um-ing and ah-ing about getting a mac. Your article has made me feel more confident about making the switch. Thanks.
no games? are you kidding!? there are plenty of games! check the proof out here.
And plus there is World of Warcraft.. when will you have the time to ever play other games again11?!@
this article really isn't about how to use osx so much as it is about windows bashing. get over yourself we all don't like windows u don't need to bash it every sentence to make yourself sound intelligent.
- linux user
Your first complaint is honestly rediculous... almost every dmg tells you to drag it to the apps folder. If it doesnt, the readme does. It's your own fault you cant follow a diagram...and really complaining that "to install an app, I have to drag it to the apps folder"...that just sounds stupid. It makes complete sense.
Also, whining about gaming...then talking about bootcamp? You can play windows games through bootcamp you know. Bootcamp doesnt emulate windows, it IS windows. The fastest notebook to ever run windows is a mac. So, any game you can play on windows, you can STILL play on windows on your mac, so that really doesnt matter.
Overall, I'm glad you stuck with mac, and realize its benifits...but badmouthing your own flaws as something that is apples fault is just lame.
If you REALLY want a right-mouse click just get yourself a good USB mouse, which should work just fine.
Good thing that World of Warcraft doesn't run on a Mac.
No wait, it does...
That past 8 months I have been wondering to get one or not. My friend has a Mac book Pro and I love it, but I have used Windows my whole life. After reading your blog, I have now fully decided to get a mac book sometime in the next year, especially after seeing I had 408 spy ware infecting my computer yesterday. Thank you for all the time you took into writing this blog, It helped me extremely.
i must say that i completely agree with you, except for the gaming part. i have a macbook pro, and its bitchin runnin CoD2 and Counter Strike: Source. if youre on a macbook, then no dice, but if you have a machine with a dedicated graphics card, then you should be set.
I have hundreds of hours of video files and just bought a mac pro to edit them. Imagine my surprise to find that OSX does not natively handle MPEG format. You have to convert MPEG files one by one to another format to be able to edit these video files on the mac - even in Final Cut Pro. Unbelievable. I can edit the files in a Parallels WinXP box on the same machine, but not natively in OSX. Apple tech support on the problem? Totally unhelpful. Web answers? Unhelpful unless I want to take the hundreds of hours it will take to convert each and every one of my MPG files (taken on a variety of cameras and other machines - hello, Apple, MPG is actually a common format...) I feel failed and deceived by a marketing scheme which suggests that Apple is better than windows for video editing. Not true. Wish I had known that or I would have never bought this pretty, pretty doorstop.
In response to Christopher; I would assume so. I know BootCamp requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2. I think Media Center would fall into that category. Parallels is much more flexible with what OSes it will run. I am almost certain Parallels would have no problem, but I would check out their official website before I made the purchase.
If you have the video files from another computer, I would suggest Front Row. It will come standard on any Mac you buy. Front Row is a hell of a lot better than Media Center.
"You're right, I couldn't even get Halo to run decently on my MacBook. "
Probably because Halo is PPC (unless you shell out an extra $5 to get a universal copy) and your MacBook is intel, so running Halo will emulate it with Rosetta. This is, unfortunately, going to be a problem with a lot of games. There's a wiki with a nice list of games and whether they are Universal, or run well under Rosetta.
There exist plenty of good games on the Mac. I have BootCamp installed simply so I can reboot into Windows, but I rarely end up doing that. I have more and better games on my Mac then I have for Windows - pretty much the only reason to boot into Windows is to futz around with Garry's Mod.
Good guide...
Don't forget to mention that the F11 key exposes the desktop...I never understood how that could be useful until I began to use it. Now, I don;t think I could use my mac without it.
I started using PC's back in 1981. Starting with DOS working my way up to WinXP and Windows Server 2003 over 26 years. I used to scoff at all the elitist Mac dorks. Especially when the Apple III and the Lisa came out. They were so far out of the mainstream. Well I have a buddy I work with that is a hardore Mac user. One day I decided to take a look at his Power book and got a look at an iMac at the local CompUSA. I was impressed.
I bought an iMac last year and have not regretted it for one second. I have 4 systems I use in my house. A linux server, a high end PC strictly for gaming, a Win2K machine and my iMac. When I got the iMac I used it maybe 5% compared to 95% usage on my PC. Mostly because I had been using M$ products for 26 years. There was a small learning curve in how things are done on a Mac. Today the ratio is about 99.5% on the iMac. The only time I use the PC is to use Quicken and Quickbooks (but when I get around to upgradinig to new versions they will be for a Mac).
The slogan "It just works" is so true. I have had absolutely ZERO issues with my Mac in the last year I have had it.
Nice article, just found out about Nr 8, a month ago or something. And that cleared alot of space for me.
Have had this Macbook Pro now in 9 months. And haven´t had a problem with it yet. Just love it. And Front Row is so amazing.
Chris said...
you are = you're
January 3, 2007 5:24 PM
Couldn't have said that better myself. BURY this crap.
I stopped at number three, the whole iChat thing about being able to see what people were listening to when chatting with them; along with linking to iTunes, is like the most useless thing I have ever heard.
You do realize how easy it is to rectify the slow start up times (listed under number 5) with windows... right? you don't need all those start up programs, just use "msconfig" in the run dialog (under the start menu). That said, many of your complaints are a bit basic. In my mind, only the first item had any value. When I ran OSX86, (to test out the OS) it took me a short bit to figure it out as well (If I hadn't been too lazy to actually read the instructions / readme, I may not have had the problem).
Lesson: switching from any OS involves a bit of a learning curve; just stick with it, and you will be up n running quickly.
Joined the club about 5 months ago with my Macbook. Now I justed picked up a 20" iMac before christmas. I think I'm becoming addicted to the system. PLEASE HELP!
Wow ur a noob if you AIM, MSN, and yahoo messengers open when u start windows. My windows doesn't take 30 minutes to load. Loggin in is instant. Just change teh settings on programs to not have other shit start up, or you can get some other program (forgot what), makes your computer startup clean. AFter I read that I only skimmed through the rest. Winamp owns iTunes, you can get that for PC too and its crap.
I have a new MBP Core 2 Duo 2.16 Ghz. I am running Call of Duty 2 with every setting set to as high as it goes, and it runs flawlessly. I never get any lag, and the graphics are great.
I've recently obtained a dual 2GHz G5, which is now sitting at home. I had it set up for a month or two and would use it every now and then for random tasks. Reading my Gmail, getting directions from Google Maps, maybe using iChat every now and then.
Now it sits in the corner doing nothing. I am a >hardcore< Windows guy, but was excited at learning a new OS when I got it. It was just TOO different for me. It wasn't comfortable to use. Things weren't where I expected them. OS X wouldn't do what I expected it to do for very simple tasks. I'm sure once I got used to it I'd love it, but in the mean time I was so less efficient and it was just plain frustrating.
I run my Windows machines lean and mean, and even my oldest crappiest machine in the house boots faster than my G5. I love the power and customization I have in Windows - I hate feeling like I gotta do everything Apple's way in OS X.
I'd sure buy an Apple for my wife, or Mom, or my Uncle... but for someone like me who is so ingrained in the MS way of life - it was a nightmare.
Great article and very well written. I have to agree with every thing in it. Also, Expose is the one feature that I just find hard to live without. When I'm on my Windows box to play games, I am always moving my cursor to the top left corner of my screen (that's my active corner for Expose on my MacBook).
What a shitty article.
Really.
So all it takes is to raise your boot times is msconfig on windows XP?? Yeah you know what you are doing... I am not even a mac fanboy but if you are going to bash mac please have some knowledge of Windows. After 2 years I don't care what you do with MSCONFIG your boot time will suck...
"Your first complaint is honestly rediculous... almost every dmg tells you to drag it to the apps folder. If it doesnt, the readme does."
Wrong. I agree this is a drawback of some Mac applications. Developers don't think it through or don't invest the time in creating an Installer (which, in Mac development, is about as difficult as getting wet in a swimming pool.)
This is an area that needs improvement and developers need to do a better job (or Apple needs to educate better). Every part of owning my Mac means stuff just works. Why shouldn't that part?
Granted, it's really just a click of the mouse. Unlike Windows, there no DLL hell and forty thousand random files to install (everything is contained in one applications, which on OS X is really an application package, or a folder of resources). But all the same, I think it's a valid critique.
LOL, dude, i had the exact same problem when i first got my MBP, i had firefox sitting on my desktop for nearly a month, i had no idea i had to put it into applications to install it.
Also, you can set itunes so it does not make a copy of eveyr music file you import. Go to Preferences > Advanced and it should be the second option from the top.
I do agree though that it's a shame that developers don't make more games for OSX. oh well, all that may change when vista sucks the big one.
iTunes running in Windows also makes copies of songs added to your library, if you have that option turned on.
Christopher,
I'm also a long-time Windows user, still am, mainly for .NET and SQL Server software development. However, I plan to switch to my MacBook pro 100% when Leopard comes out and I'll throw on a bigger hard drive.
I've successfully run Windows XP Home, Pro, MCE, Windows Server 2003 and Vista on Parallels. Parallels is just simply awesome and with the latest betas it keeps getting better and better!
Nice review, though I did think it was a bit biased.
Linux is just like Mac, possibly better, because it has a lot of those features you just mentioned, ran faster (I tested out both OS's on the same computer), and is a really customizable OS.
I think you're being hard on Windows. If you use it properly, don't load up spyware or too many programs, then you should be fine. I used total FOSS software back on Windows, and my startup time was excellent. It shutdown in less than ten seconds, and standby in less than 2 seconds. And it wasn't a very good hardware-wise computer...
Well let me just say this.One day a friend of mine needed help on her Mac and asked me to help her out. I was like WTF is this dock thing its so confusing. I told her to get a real computer then i could help.
4 months later I applied for a job with apple on a whim. Going into training I didn't have any knowledge about Macs I didn't even know they had a 30 LCD or even what an iMac was. Everyone else in training had been using Macs forever. I started out as a Mac specialist (sales) for 6 months and had the best sales numbers in the store. I then got promoted to a Mac Genius and have been in that position for a year and now I'm interviewing for a position at Apple Corp
Bluehost, please be informed before making bold statements.
Do you really know what DLL hell is? If you did, you wouldn't have said it.
TO Christopher:
You do not need Media Center (Thank God). I thought the same thing until I bought a Miglia’s award winning TVMini HD™ (HD and iPod ready). This puts media center to shame!
TO Christopher:
You do not need Media Center (Thank God). I thought the same thing until I bought a Miglia’s award winning TVMini HD™ (HD and iPod ready). This puts media center to shame!
A bit more on disk images, as mentioned in Tip #1, if there's anything you haven't figured out yet ;-) :
Unlike on a PC, most applications for Macs come in handy little packages called disk images that end with .dmg. When you open a .dmg on a Mac, your computer "mounts" a virtual drive on your computer. This is similar to plugging in a USB drive and mounting the physical drive.
The data inside is stored in the .dmg file, but you can only access it after you mount it. You can open the mounted "drive" like any folder, and open the contents right from the virtual drive.
However, this is inconvenient because running the application or document takes more memory, and you cannot edit any content of the virtual drive. Disk images are similar to .rar or other compression files on a PC. It's recommended to drag all usable contents onto your desktop or applications folder before using them.
After you're done copying, you should un-mount the virtual drive by dragging it in the trash can in the dock, or hitting Apple + E. You need to un-mount the virtual drive before you can permenently erase the .dmg file.
You can make your own writable disk images with Disk Utility, located in /Applications/Utilities/.
Decent post. I actually thought that the comments would have more zealots on both sides in response...
The first computer I ever used was a Mac, and about 10-12 years went by before I started using computers again - and I inherited a Windows machine, used it through school, then at work, etc..
I bought my first Mac about 15 months ago, and I really loved it - and there are a lot of things that take some time to get - including a couple of your item listed. I got assistance with all the little things from my Mac-zealot-uncle...
Once I got used to the Mac, I found I was much more productive on my Windows machine at work as well. Mac lets you drag/drop almost anything anywhere ( even urls from browser to iChat, e-mail, desktop, etc.. ) I find little things like this also work in Windows, and little Windows tricks work with the Mac..
I love my Mac, I kick Windows butt ( and enjoy it ) and fully support Linux distros in any way, shape, or form. Set me in front of nearly any computer and I will be comfy with an hour or so - excluding the 1-5 hour initial customization of any system after the initial installation. ( I mean all the GBs of those handy programs we find and can't live without. )
I love my Mac, but I am pretty happy in front of any machine. It's all about the tweaks...
Um.. I don't believe any of his points were "whining" , he's simply being honest and saying "these are somet things i didn't know that i learned, so i'm passing the knowledge onto anyone else interested". Personally I've got friends and family who have recently switched to the mac and they have issues with understanding how to install some applications. Some disk images mount on your desktop with an application inside them, no readme file, no instructions to drag to your application folder. My cousin has about 5 mounted images on her desktop at any given time cause she doesn't get that you need to copy it to the applications folder, then eject the disk, then throw away the .dmg file.
His point about games is valid when you consider he is running on a macbook with integrated intel graphics chipset... it doesn't have the horsepower for many games (although the computer itself is plenty powerful).
Great to hear your experiences on the Mac; good tips. Windows has been overappreciated; the Mac has been underappreciated. I would however, like the linux users to keep out they are like Ralph Nader of the Green Party- looks great - but not viable yet- just party poopers in the meanwhile...
Hi, I was wondering if you could play games in mac after booting into windows. Can you?
As a new Mac user myself since about the same amount of time as yourself. I have a few quibbles with some of your points.
1. Installing is a little confusing, but most .DMG's have a picture in the background of the window that pretty well describes what a person needs to do with the files in the .DMG image. It took all of about 5 minutes to figure out what they were saying in those images.
2. With my MacBook, the first thing I did after getting it was to get a small wireless Microsoft mouse. Something that had at least 2 buttons and a scroll wheel that supports 4 way scrolling. The Mac has supported using multi-button mice for quite some time. They just didn't sell one until the Mighty Mouse came out. BTW, the Mighty Mouse is an awesome mouse if you don't need to press both the right and left buttons at the same time. I love the track wheel they have.
5. Something that should be mentioned here is that when you close your MacBook so that it goes to sleep and then later reopen it. It only takes about 2 seconds to wake back up and be ready for business. With Windows notebooks, I have seen waits of over 1 minute.
7. I'll admit that the pick of games available for the Mac are quite sparse. However, one of the games I play pretty often, World of Warcraft, is available natively for the Mac and it's pretty snappy even on a MacBook. Mind you, you can't really put any add-ons into it with that hardware configuration, but it's quite usable otherwise. Plus, there are some quite enjoyable casual games for the Mac.
That's really all. Now that I have made the switch, I am never looking back! I can't imagine ever using Windows for anything other than games ever again. :)
not a bad read ... im still not convinced ... maybe if they did not overcharge ... just maybe
The first time I needed to install a piece of software on my mac (switched 9 months ago), the instructions said to drag the icon to applications and then had an exact replica of the Applications icon in the install window...
so here i was trying to drag the icon to the applications icon within the install window, 'twas very embarrassing when I asked an experienced mac user what i was doing wrong...
kat,
That's funny.. Sometimes that little Applications folder is actually a link to the directory.
j
Why don't they make macbook pro in other colors? I just hate that silvery crap. Reminds me of all electronic systems from the 80's. Blah.
Sneaky bitch makes it sound like there are 10 issues with the mac when in reality this is just a mac-wanker using reddit value to force into virtue what in reality are pathetic shortcomings of that toy called Apple.
@Shashi
"I would however, like the linux users to keep out they are like Ralph Nader of the Green Party- looks great - but not viable yet- just party poopers in the meanwhile..."
Shut up. It is entirely viable, and you're just a FUD ridden brainwashed Mac/Windows user whose never even used Linux and doesn't know that in fact it's just as good as any other OS. Comparing it with Ralph Nader is inaccurate, it should more appropriately be compared with Andrew Jackson--a self-made man, he was a revolution in politics and as unique as anyone. Not as great as the Washingtons, but he was a great force for America.
I would like you to keep out and come back after you have researched thoroughly what Linux is and can do. Linux is the future, only a few people have realized it yet.
Bravo for having the patience to explain all that. I had to learn most of that stuff on my own. As a PC user I was used to having to micromanage and second-guess the placement of files. My Mac just works. Welcome to the community and thanks for sharing your experience!
5. You will no longer dread turning off your computer.
My PC laptop comes out of hibernate in about the same amount of time that my parent's Mac Mini does. If their Mac is completely shut down, it takes about the same amount of time to boot up as my laptop does from a cold boot.
All the same, I have been seriously considering a Mac. I make my living programming .Net applications, so I really need Visual Studio aka a Windows development environment. With MacTel + Parallels, I could do that very easily. I give myself about two months until I own a MacBook Pro.
I love your article and I think you did a good job. I do not think you bashed windows too bad. I did blog about it. I added a number 11 though!
http://www.paulmalenke.com/blog/archives/36
The mac sort of has a built in video recorder though to really time shift, you have to write an automator script but all cable companies are supposed to offer a firewire drive if you ask - just plug the firewire out from your cable box into your mac- launch imovie. click record. Now imovie has a "clips panel" you can really remove but I don't really find it to be a problem - afterwards, you can add eyetv which will let you timeshift record.
Trade in your MB for a MacBook Pro (and make sure your games are Universal Binaries, as others have mentioned), and you will change your mind about gaming. Shit, I can play WoW on my Powerbook G4, and it's a much, much less capable machine than your MacBook. Granted, the framerate isn't always consistent, and the image quality is only as good as the old-ass Radeon doing the rendering, but it's definitely playable.
You're doing something wrong if you can't play games on your Mac.
I wanted to mention that Apple controls both the O/S and the Hardware so ofcourse there should be less conflicts for booting and sleeping and shutting down.
At the end of the day it what your more comfortable using. People are comfortable with Windows because it is the only the OS they know.
Of course this cause Linux fan boys to steam about how great GNOME and KDE is, and for a computer literated person that is fine but for the vast majority Linux is not even in the brain patterns of usability.
For the OS X it is a good Desktop Manager just good, if they wanted to be more people oriented they should include some type of start up training on using OS X to help newbies to the OS X system.
At the end of the day it is not that Linux is superior, or OS X rules or Windows is not secure. It goes down to what people can afford, and know how to use.
Today most people drive automatic cards because it has beeen a generation or 2 since the clutch was standard on all cars.
If you want to know what a great OS was before Windows, Linux or OS X check out the Commodore Amiga of the 1980's. That my friends was OS ahead of its time.
I really can't stand macs...
when I have to... I use them
personally... I'm more of a Linux dude :)
I'm stuck with windows for now...
but in the future... I can build a efficient and powerful machine that's cheaper than a Mac.
I happen to think that a mac is for people who hate using computers.
They just want it to work.
It's one of those usability over functionality.
however, I find with the many Linux distros out there, I can chose both for free.
a fine example is the 50 MB DSL that can either be run as a Live CD or installed onto the Hard drive.
Knoppix is also a live CD and offers more flexibility.
for those who don't feel like mucking around, Ubuntu is a great choice because it's one of dare I say THE easiest to set up and use
and surprisingly... you can test it out as a Live CD first
I doubt I will ever resort to using a mac in my home but I can see their use for...
on second thought, I can't really see any reason to use a Mac instead of Linux or Windows...
what can a Mac machine do that Linux can't?
answer that and I will try EXTREMELY hard to prove you wrong.
Rock on
~Ryan
I like Ubuntu Linux better!
Good, clean post. While there are definitely some things I would have added, I concur with most of it, notably #1. I figure out new gadgets pretty quickly, but dmg/drag/eject took a few tries, especially since installs are inconsistent for programs in any OS. It doesn't "make complete sense" when you're accustomed to the Windows Install wizard. I got over it, I learned my lesson, I moved on, and so did the OP.
What I loved the most about your post is the friendly nature of it. I've read so many "how to switch" lists that mostly come off as "you are an idiot if you don't know these already" or "Windows blows, you Johnny-come-latelys". Even worse are the comments, especially ones from the psycho Mac elitist fanboys and Windows/Mac/Linux OS know-it-alls.
I'm ecstatic to finally move on from my FUBAR Dell, but reading mean "how to" lists makes me feel like I'm supposed to submit to hazing to some crappy frat before I can "belong".
In short, good list, and thanks for being nice in a sea of mean posts.
If you stick the MP3s directly into the iTunes folder it doesn't make copies, jut reorganizes them if you highlight and then double click on the files.
@Christopher
to record TV look at elgato and eye tv, better than miglia.
@Charles
you need to install the right codecs, there are many variants of the mpeg format
You have your fingers full of truth. Once you get mac you never go back
Wow... all those comments and not a single person mentioned Quicksilver.
More powerful than Spotlight. Faster (in my opinion). Looks better (from a 2-paned "glass" style window to an overlay on the menu bar). Easier hotkey, for example, I double-tap the Apple key, and the menu appears, and I can start typing. Insane amount of plugins (Firefox/Mozilla, Disk Image, Terminal commands, iApps, Growl support (a notification app, growl.info), Keychain support, the list is endless.
I disabled Spotlight completely in favor of Quicksilver.
Great list. It may be worth adding a "Delete" button tip to the compilation.
I would just like to leave a comment in regards to number 7; Though I think the general idea of Macs not haveing a gaming selection as strong and extensive as PC has had, they are growing and getting better. In fact, Steve Jobs has been meeting with companys to work together, just the same way he did with movies on iTunes...and everyone though that it was going to be a failure. Turned out great. And so did the TV Shows which people were skeptical about...
Also, the MacBook has a shared/integrated 64MB graphics card. Anygame (well most games) which are less than that should be fine. Even WoW works well (with some graphics turned down). Anyway, the point is that It still can do a few things.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about your experiance.
Kevork
I too have recently made the switch. Microsoft has recently stated that it does not expect to increase market share so in order to keep delivering increasing revenue it must squeeze more money out of its current users. Well that's just not my cup of tea Gates. You can shove your unreliable software thats only intention is to line the pockets of the already rich (think clandestine anti-piracy shit) up your billionaire, monopolistic, capitalist ass!
I'm never turning back
I don't use OS X much on my macbook (its a linbook more than anything) but the times I do drop into the X I find things much easier since I worked out how to assign copy and paste to ctrl-c/v as well as the apple-c/v. If the bookmark for a site explaining how to do this wasn't on my OS X partition I'd paste it here ;)
The point you made about iTunes goes on Windows as well ...
So it doesn't realy apply to OS X.
My MBP runs the Halo demo fine... just so you know, I bumped the stock 1 gig ram to 2 gig.
I've used dos / windows / linux for about 20 years. When I got my current job I was introduced to macs and osx. Previous macos versions never appealed to me; osx to me is unix done right, and no driver/version hassles like linux/bsd (especially on laptops). Stuff just works. With all the licensing/drm shenenigans MS is currently playing I feel the balance is finally tipping where moving myself and my parents (who are on the "family dinner support plan") fully off windows and onto mac rather is less hassle than moving to vista when our w98/w2000/wXP setups are no longer viable.
Installing on OS X always installs.
You confuse disc image mounting with the installation of package files. Normally, you only need to drag and drop, not install.
Also, iTunes has a setting, just like in Windows, to not copy files.
Hi there, this may well have already been said - I dint have the time to read them all. I also bought a new macbook about 6 months ago!. Just to help you out with iTunes in preferences you can also set it o it doesnt copy a new file but just references the location of the old one, I have all my music on an external HD for example, because I want my space for other things, of course I can only play the music when I have the external plugged in.
You go to references, advanced and on the general tab uncheck "copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to the library"
Hope this helps :D
"searching the internet for programs that fit their every need. Apple solves a lot of this for Macintosh users out of the box with Apple-made software. Mail, iChat, iTunes, and iPhoto"
Umm, Windows Mail, Messenger, Windows Media Player and photogallery (which now offers editing options, you've also got paint). Windows also includes a lot of programs that should be enough; Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker, Windows Media Centre, Calender, Contacts, Defender, Fax & Scan... the list goes on and on. The only downside is the amount that comes with Vista means it takes up 10GB on a full install, but that's what you get for doing a full install.
"Use the built in search. No, really use the built in search!"
Vista actively indexes your files so when you come to search, *ping* and the results are up. It even displays results as you type.
"You will no longer dread turning off your computer"
Try suspending? Btw, don't install loads of crap, then Windows won't take fricken ages to start. My Vista takes about 20 seconds to start-up, when I bet your mac isn't fully shutting down (correct me if I'm wrong).
Ew, I don't even want to comment on point eight.. You've made Macs sound as horrible as they really are. The only reason I hate macs is because of the annoying iDork friend I have who has been hypnotized to Mac ads, and everything Mac. Constantly goes on about Macs. Grrr. He takes insults about Macs very personally, and he's really stubborn. Why does every Mac person go like this?
Macs are a branded compromise. There's nothing special about them. Ps. They ARE PCs
1. If this took you days, I'm surprised you can write your own name since most dmg's have a readme or how-to-install or a big mother f***king arrow pointing to a picture or shortcut to the Applications folder.
5. Windows can load very fast on a new machine, especially if you don't have a bunch of shit loading at startup. You're comparing Windows starting and loading AIM, Yahoo, WeatherBug, SuperSpyware++ to a Mac loading to the login prompt. Bravo. Your Mac is new, but loading times will...slow...down. A fresh install will always load faster.
6. I'll give you that some people won't use Windows as often, but if you have Parallels, you'll be "booting" Windows more often, especially if you have any sort of IT job.
7. Ugh... I regularly play Sims 2, WolfET, Civ 4, Doom III on my Intel iMac, and I know people who play World of Warcraft. Hell, even if a game isn't available for Mac, you could always bootcamp to Windows if you really needed to play it. I've got a 360 and Wii too, but don't disregard the Mac as a gaming platform. Halo would play fine if you don't have a low end Mac notebook. That's like going out and buying a cheep PC notebook with integrated graphics and expecting to play high end games. You really don't know what you are talking about.
8. Windows iTunes will do this too. It's a preference setting.
Also, I second Quicksilver over Spotlight search.
about the lack of games comment, more games are coming out for both but any game i want to play i just boot into windows or play it on parllels, granted i have a upper mbp, i mainly got it because i was a gamer
and heads up, there's something coming out in leopard that runs games faster than xp, i've seen it with my own eyes
As a fellow Mac user [Powerbook G4 and iPod 30gb] I too was amazed at all the things a mac could do. I will never buy another PC, though I have one to run pointless programs and for storage, but my PBG4 is my main computer. Love the post!
Fashion Groupies and Whores
The difference between Apple and Windows is as follows:
Apple is about being fashionable and fashion is about worshipping and being a groupie because they have little self-respect & confidence. They like to be driven, masochistic, tread upon etc, because they believe [like religious nutters who are in the fashion of being “holier than thou”, not forgetting that true religion is within, like innocence & wisdom] that they have found their god and this god will look after them. That is called indulging in blind faith. And the bad thing about fashion [in any matter under consideration] is that unless your god is true, you are just a groupie. One reason why fashion always demands a higher price. As much as they like to screw their besotted, hynotised and self-disrespected groupies, these groupies loved to be screwed for they believe, like most religious nutters, that they are being screwed by their god. Fashion is ALL about worshipping and blind faith, not common sense.
Windows is about being a devious whore who doesn’t mind being screwed for they are “Open Source” for in the midst of being taken for a ride [seemingly], they’ve entrapped a lot of customers. Their aim is monopoly and once that’s done, they couldn’t give a toss [not that they are so endowed]. Open source means problems aplenty for the modern world operates along the theme of, “Stealth Thievery Through Multiplicity of Choice”. Mucho “software, senor, hokay? And all these software do is … crapola. Bloatware, keyloggers, scamware, even vapourware. And within this turmoil of Mr Monopoly juggling to maintain an air of self-respect and screwing one and all to make what a monoploy always desires, her customers are smelling her true odour, but hey, some like it that way, right? Being streetwise is a must if you live amongst the gutters of humanity.
In summary, would you like a cheap whore or an expensive call-girl? It’s all the same for the principle they operate on is licentiousness, not innocence and wisdom. This is where our real hero appears. Mr Linux. Truly a good person for morality is about benelovence to ALL [not the dumb finger-pointing tricks of the “religious”]. Truth is just another word for unity. Or integration, whereas untruth is another word for division, or disintegration. Self empowerment will always strive to seek recognition through strife and division [of creating groupies or eliciting one’s immorality/greed] whereas real power has no such notion.
True power is that which is permanent for when you are permanent, power means Love. Love/Truth/Morality/Unity has only one role, and that is to give and give, asking nothing in return. Now, self-imagined gods, thieves, corrupting through fashion and other such depths of dumbness and immorality, desperately trying to perfume themselves as amoral saviour-of-sorts, have only one role, and that is to enrich themselves regardless of the damage they wreck on others. That in any other name is called division/destruction/immorality. When a principle is such, they have no other conscience for a thief’s role is to steal and needs no justification. Our job is to identify them and bin them accordingly by not becoming their victims. The War on Truth is within the individual’s innocence and wisdom. Not in the gutters that they call “The Media”. Why? Because commercialisation is just another word for Theft.
"Don't second guess your decision."
Heh.
Borg much?
You said everything that was needed to be said. I bought my iBook G4, went to Australia, lived in a residence, coverted 3 people to macs. I didn't have any problems, and the Spotlight tool really caught their eye.
Good Job!
I've been a Windows user since birth, but am thinking of purchasing a Macbook. I don't do much gaming, so I'm not worried about the integrated graphics card. However, I don't know how to configure a Mac:
- Which Core 2 Duo - 1.83GHz? 2.0?
- How much Memory - upgrade to 1GB? 2GB?
Although I appreciate this article's discussion about some 'idiosyncrasies' of switching to OS X, I'd appreciate a hardware article as well.... Anyone?
The Mac kernel is based on FreeBSD, and you can find sendmail and other trinkets on the Mac now, if you look. Linux adherents (whom I admire) should check it out. However, I'm still UNIX all the way.
Good article! Point #1 indicates too long exposure to Windows; there is no such thing as "installing an application" in OS X. Just double-click the icon. Place it in /Applications if you want to, but you don't have to. Keep it on the desktop or wherever you want. The "install" process in Windows is necessary due to the horrible design decisions made in Windows (registry, dll files, etc etc etc).
Enrique, I would personally upgrade as much as I could afford. Just like any computer purchase, It will be well worth it in the long run.
I am currently running a 2.0 Ghz Core Duo with 1GB of RAM. I feel like I have tons of power and would recommend this system to anyone.
1 Yes, applications are installed, simply by dragging them to any folder, unless there is an installer.
isn't that a lot more transparent ?
2 u can also right click by tapping the trackpad with two fingers, no need to click (this is easier on the fingers)
5 i would always use Sleep, there is really no need to shutdown the computer, unless u are not using it for a long time, and need to use it before u can plug it in again
7 Yes u can play great games on a mac, just use Boot Camp :) (the only good reason to use it anyway)
8 i like the fact that iTunes organizes my music for me, but this is a question of taste, and like u say this can be deactivated in the preferences.
Glad to read about your experiences.
In my years working with computers, it's never been as good as it is with Mac OS X and Apple's new equipment. Looking forward to 2007.
Bought my 1st Mac in the Holiday
period. Work with Windows at work an fancied something different!
Went for an iMac Core 2 Duo 2Ghz - absolutely love it.
Build quality is gr8, OS X is fab.
Problem is now I want an ibook tooo!
Would recommend to anyone thinking about it - just get one :)
Gav
@ Enrique
if you are not planing any heavy use (games, 3d rendering etc) and have to choose by budget go for more ram rather than processor speed... if you can aford both... ENJOY :)
please people
linux is completely useless
no games
no audio software
no video software
gimp for foto editing...ewwwww
it might be great for system management and networking, but who cares
it is free cos it is crap
there may be some apps masquerading as games video, audio software...total shite
halo works great on my ol' mac mini 1.5ghz g4
windows users stick with windows we dont want ya'all scumbags pirate losers coming to our elite mac world
Thanks for a nice, concise and effective post.
Regarding the shutdown/startup issue, I'd just like to add that on a Mac, there is no need to shutdown at all, really (except after applying system updates or such).
Just close the lid and put it to sleep. Open the lid, and the Mac's ready to go in 2 or 3 seconds. If the battery drains completely in sleep, the Mac will go into "deep sleep" mode and save everything in memory to disk, which will restore automatically when power is restored. Even then, it will take about 20 seconds to restore the contents of memory from disk.
To that poster about how Vista is all that - I think the point of the post is, Mac users have been enjoying all these features Vista will have for a long time already - and the Mac will still work better to boot because half the problem is how a solution is actually implemented (ummm, Spotlight produces results as you type, too, which the poster seems clearly unaware of to somewhat embarrassing effect).
What will be funny is how Microsoft is trumpeting Vista as the latest and greatest just as they are about to run face first into the approaching train called Leopard.
I worked on PC's for 10 years and after dealing with so many problems, ended up working at a company that switched over entirely to Macs. We have never been more productive and have never looked back. We had to let the tech support guy go, as there was nothing for him to do.
Many of our machines have not been restarted in six months and 'just work'. This is what technology should be like. Anyone mentioning 'msconfig' in windows does not understand that any user should not need to be having to find out what this is. Why do users know what 'Device Manager' is? Poor design and integration - that is why. I would expect my devices to sort themselves out, thank you very much!
The reason Mac people becoming very vocal about it, is that for most people, they don't know there is a better way. Their office or parents have told them that a computer must have Windows on it. I have converted six people to Mac and they also have gone on to convert others.
Macs are your servants. PC's are your slaves.
A lot of people don't love OSX is because they don't know it very well...they are windows formated!
I was a 10 years windows user and I switched because of several problems with windows PC's (spywares, reboot, DLL problems, registry keys problems...).
Now, I know that a Mac is not a toy, is a productive computer, and much more than windows because of the simplicity, the stability and more other things (exposé, iLife...).
But some windows users didn't use OSX enough to see how mac is comfortable to use!
They think vista has all features and more than OSX...but all that features are copied from OSX....and they didn't ask themselves: how a so big company with thousands programmers can't innove or invent news technologies and is obliged to copy competitors?
Since windows exists, it's the same thing, and the system is still unprotected from viruses, still complicated with regitry keys, DLL...
People have to know that others systems are still available and much more efficient (AmigaOS, MorphOS, BeOS and some Linux distro), but microsoft killed them whitout has innovation!
FYI... the current line of MacBook Pro's offer the same graphics card available in AlienWare's laptop lineup and still COSTS LESS.
Do the comparison. You can BTO more on AlienWare, but the price delta between a high-end "PC" gamer laptop and the Apple MacBook Pro is negligible.
The "costs more" line is BS.
Speed
About Linux proponents :
I still wonder how linux developer earn their living... Unless "linux developer" are also "Microsoft/apple/sun/Hp employees"...
I think that free software is a good point, considering that it is not real work but only the result of great entertainment of people who enjoy developing software.
Linux is what it is : voluntary service.
I used to use Mac's around 1995 or so. I left for the WinTel world and in 2003 I bought after much hand wringing my first Mac ever a 12" Powerbook G4. In 2005 I bought an iMac G5 20" (no iSight) and in 2006 I sold my G4 Powerbook and bought an Intel based Macbook Pro 15". So for three years I've bought Apple products and will do so as long as they are available. I plan on refreshing my laptop and desktops every three years.
No looking back. I have not bought a PC for me since 2000.
- DWM aka Mr. OpCodes - Texas, USA
Actually Macs are probably better for gaming than PC's. Bootcamp is really amazing and windows seems to run a lot faster on a mac for me.
Nice read!
However...
you can very much game on a mac using the bootcamp or parrellels
i have several friends that do this to play city of heroes/villains
they play just dandy like!
"Crapintosh". That is the term my co-worker and I have dished to the Mac. I work at a web design firm in NYC. Prior to working here I always used a PC. I was not a "PC lover" and was interested in getting to know the Core 2 Duo IMac that I was about to start working on. That was a few months back. Every day I wish I was on my PC at home. Here is why (all my MacHead friends never told me of these non-user friend annoyances):
1. I'm in any program of my choice trying to select something and I accidently click on the 1px x 1px "opening" to another program and BAM! im in another program. I have to alt tab back and try again. WHY CAN'T MACS HAVE SOLID BACKGROUNDS TO THE PROGRAMS! Open up Flash on PC and then on a Mac...tell me which looks a lot more manageable,
and cleaner.
2.THE CRAPSIMIZE BUTTON (maximize button) Whats the point? rarely, if ever actually maximizes a window. Have no idea where it gets its random sizing from.
3. Can we please cut a file? no, you have to copy, paste and then go back and delete it.
4. What a RAM hog. They should make a "less pretty" version of OSX so people can just get work done without half of their ram going to bouncing icons, pretty alt tabs and fancy minimizes (i know you can alter those but geez, they eat a lot of ram).
I'm tired not but here is my final thought...
PC's aren't perfect either and all the companies selling them aren't the greatest at marketing especially vs apple. But based on all the stuff you here about macs from people that own them, or by stepping foot into a store which is filled with 200 people (half of them are 18-20year old girls who dont even need a mac but want one because the 'look cool') you would think that there is nothing wrong with them and that they never crash and do your dishes. I just wish people would talk about the downside of the mac more and maybe that way the developers would fix these little annoyances instead of focusing on how to make version 2.0 of the genie effect. (and just for the count, my flash 8, photoshop and firefox has crashed on my mac 10x more than on my pc, but maybe it's just rosetta).
Goodnight.
Cameron - I'm a Leo too, but, at 44 years old with three kids, I could probably just be your mom.
I love this post of yours and was thrilled to read about it in the NYT last week. My husband and 12 year old son have been urging me to write a How to Survive the Conversion book (I happen to be a freelance writer) but maybe I'll have to entice you into a collaboration first.
My history: I worked with Macs before you were born - starting in 1985 at Yale University (and I also worked with the original IBM PCs in the US Dept. of Justice in 1982-1984 - the techs were in EVERY SINGLE DAY, I kid you not). I was the first person in an office of 75 people to say, we need this, and they gave me a budget to get one. I used the Hypercard application (you'll have to google it) and made many presentations and created databases for the office in which I worked.
But then, I was off to law school and got a Compaq - the first in a series of probably five or so that I would buy over the last 15-18 years.
Fast forward to 2000, I have three kids and the fifth or sixth computer in two decades and start to consider becoming a freelance writer. I get published, I start blogging. I get a laptop - Toshiba. I hate it - for the most part. It crashed, it took 18 minutes to boot up, it got infected with a Trojan Horse - bla bla bla woe is me - the whole thing.
So, then, this summer, I say, enough. All my writer friends were getting new Macs. My 12 year old wanted me to get a Mac. I spent hours in the store - asking questions taking notes and so on. Finally, I bought the thing, and the classes to go with it. And, as you say, I've never looked back.
If this nearly 45 year old mother of three who used a PC for more than 20 years can make this switch work, anyone can.
Again - thanks for sharing your insights - my experience echoes every single one of them. good luck in college.
-dugg!- great write up, will use it upon considering a new laptop.
I have never used anything but Windows until about a year ago. My ex boyfriend had a Mac and I had a PC. After using his Mac once, I was totally hooked. After we broke up, I think I might have missed his Mac the most. So I ordered one for Christmas and it has seriously changed my life. I am obsessed with my MacBook! Never again will I use a Windows machine!
I need to get a new laptop, but am still very much on the fence. Love the design and hardware of the Macs, but don't know how my 10 years worth of Win files will work on a Mac.
Besides MS office (I have been told that Access files will not work on a Max :-(, although all the rest will be just fine) I also use, and therefore have huge stashes of files in odd applications like CatchTheWeb for web clippings, iDaily Diary for my diary, Palm Desktop (God knows if and how the Win and Palm version will interact to convert my ca 700 contacts and years worth of memos), etc.
Cameron's article was yet another encouraging one, but what bothered me was the realization that he was not so competent a Windows user either, so many of the problems he experienced with Windows probably stemmed from his inexperience. Many a folks here have already mentioned MSConfig. Also, you never ever get in trouble with spyware on Windows if in Internet Explorer, you elect to not automatically accept cookies, but rather do it on a need basis (and not accept any cookies unless absolutely necessary). I have successfully wielded off spyware and viruses using this simple method for over 7 years... Seems like a basic and prudent thing to do even on a Mac.
So in conclusion, I'd like to hear from a Windows power user who has switched to a Mac and uses the Mac every day for business purposes. If s/he can convince me that there are no problems with Windows users receiving and using Mac-generated MS Office files, and that the other compatibility problems I mentione can be solved, I think Mac might have gained another fan.
I'm just not quite convinced yet!
I got an iBook about a year ago (and no, I'm not at all bitter about the fact that Apple came out with a new laptop with a built-in webcam a few months later...). Your 10 points are basically what I had to figure out at first, but now everything just works to smoothly and efficiently that I dread using a computer somewhere other than my home (my friends and my school only use Windows). Not to mention Macs look way better then PCs.
Everyone should get a mac. And anyong who thinks differently just sucks ;) jp
I made the switch on September 4, 2005 when I purchased my first Apple and laptop (notebook) iBook computer. I was so impressed, one year and 2 days later I purchased (ordered) my second, an Intel Core 2 Duo 24" iMac, and have been in computing heaven from the first day with my iBook. I'm now looking forward to the release of OS X "Leopard!" Regrets on leaving Windows? Just one - I dearly loved my email client - "IncrediMail," but have hopes that one day someone will produce something similar for the Mac. This past Christmas, my daughter got me a 1GB iPod Shuffle - it too is simply wonderful. I never thought the 21st Century would bring Apple and I together but I'm so glad it has, and I'm once again ecstatic about my future computing possibilities - with Apple of course :).
Not to be a hater or anything, but a few of your statements are purely false.
The search for windows XP and 2k, is very fast. Between 3 Hard disks, and 3 partitions (700GB total space) it only takes me a few seconds to come up with search results.
There is an option called indexing, use it.
You don't like your IMs and Itunes and other junk starting up when you turn on windows? Google Msconfig, it will make you feel real stupid how simple it is.
I simply don't get what Mac Fanboys are all hyped up about. I have a Mac at work, and all i have known of it us uselessness and errors.
I have an apple brand keyboard, and when i start up... it gives me an error about it...
The only way to open the CD rom drive, is to reboot. Start using some obscene finger bending Ctrl+opt+O+F. Just to get into some damn terminal and type in some command to open the cd rom tray.... the button on the keyboard is useless, and the button on the GUI is shaded out. lol macs.
I have since replaced the OS with Ubuntu on the mac, and people in the office have been very very happy. Except for the mouse... wtf is with a single button? No scroll wheel? this isn't the 80s.... lol @ macs.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SbMhk2fdl_k
Get the Mac anyway PC users, heres why ^
I am going through the same type of feelings right now, except I'm switching to Ubuntu. Man, I'm amazed at how much it does and all my misconceptions. I've been using Windows since 3.1. I've only dabbled on a Mac. But the beauty of Ubuntu is that not only did I NOT have to take out a loan, but I've revived one of my old computers that was too slow to run Windows.
i personally was a windows user since 3.1 myself, though i was relatively young at that age. i used to love my windows because i was one who loved to customize. some people complain of this or that crap about their windows, but seriously it all comes to how you handle your os...
if you leave crap all over the floor of your room dont complain when you step on something or stub your toe, thats all i have to say about that
recently i have switched to ubuntu and have LOVED my linux. i can customize anything, its great. i switch between 3 different window managers (gdm mostly, kde and enlightenment) depending on what im feeling like for the day. while i wont say linux is for everyone, neither is mac and neither is windows.
im going to put it like this:
Linux: advanced, customizeable
Windows: manstream, some knowledge required for clean operation, moderately customizeable especially with utilities
Mac: Simple, straightforeward
if you dont like to really tweak your computer that much and just "want it to do" go for your macs but dont be fooled by any of these people who tell you it allways works. ive seen far too many macs crash like crazy
oh
i have one simple request for maccies....
i hate mac supremists, if you like your mac, thats fantastic. dont treat everyone else like theyre morons, your sh:t stinks too
(not that all maccies are like that)
oh and the commercials suck too...
some mac users like to gawk and oogle over their "eye candy"
one word for you...
beryl
^i see jaws drop every time i spin the cube
(granted a few ideas i assume were taken from osx, but i rarely use them)
These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank you for your comment.
I brought a macbook this morning. Reassuring to read, used windows / dos and linux for the last 15 years. should be a nice change. can't wait till it arrives! :) never even touched osx.
The person stating that a Macbook (Pro or not) runs Windows faster than any other laptop, is just retarded. Now the fact that some apps run faster on the Mackbook under windows than they do in OSX has been tested and proven. It varys case to case.
I just use a homemade computer and run Linux, or get a laptop from vodoo and run linux, it better than windows, and much volumes better than a mac, much cheaper too.
Good design!
Thanks for interesting article.
I like articles like this. Thanks!
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Thanks for the useful tips and post! I am thinking of buying a MAC but still not sure If I will love It like windows and get used to it like Windows...Does the Mac OS X operating system more stable than Windows XP and Windows Vista?
Windows Laptops crash quickly and If you have a LOT of programs on them, they load for a VERY long time, is this the same for Mac or not??? Please answer me...
Well done. Keep up the great work. Best regards!
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It angers me greatly whenever someone tells me my Mac can't play games. Having a Mac user tell me that just pissed me off. I have Crysis running with Medium/High setting in DX10 on my MacBook Pro and I get an average FPS of 60 (For those of you that don't know what Crysis is: It is a computer game that require one of the most graphic processing power). Please refrain from writing a review if you can't even get Halo to run EXTREMELY well on you Mac.
Mac's have a horrible gaming reputation because of people like you. Please do us a favor and shoot yourself or go back to a PC.
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Thank you very much for posting this. Its been helpful.
this is so bias it's not even funny.
Mac's are terrible, I use them all the time (I'm forced to against my will). It looks great but the functionality of macs are terrible. Blog and email with ease? Did you have a hard time doing it on a pc? lol
I've been an active Mac user for 1,5 years now. Don't get me wrong, I really love OS X, I really do. But there is ONE thing which is still bugging me greatly when it comes to daily use...
Watching videos. Honestly. Your options for video playing is either QuickTime or VLC. And by video playing I mean err..."DVD backups" etc. :-)
QuickTime plays half of the videos decently but only AFTER you install Perian codec pack. Additionally, QuickTime cannot read "broken" video files with faulty indexes etc.
VLC is simply horrible. Buggy, laggy, unstable piece of software. 90% videos work right out of the box but if they don't... well, they don't. It's also the only player on OS X that can read mkv subtitles. Nice going.
I've solved every little thing that bugged me when I started using OS X but this. I really hope there's a God among Mac coders who could build a Media Player Classic -like player on Mac.
Thank you for reading.
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And... It only took until the send poster to fall for that one. Yer so smart.
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There is nothing wrong with windows people just don't know how to use it. everybody today wants everything to be really easy. Ive been using pc for a Lil over a decade and i really like all programs are made for it my college programs are made for it. the ones i have to use for my major they wont even go onto a mac. Macs are great and all Ive used them and they are fun to play with but as far as productive goes vista has yet to be beaten. I can do most things macs can do with vista. and i have more ram with PC and it didn't cost me a fortune to get either. yes it does take a Lil longer to boot up but once im up and running my programs pop up almost instantly with lots of things on my computer the trick is to not a lot of things on your desktop. so you have a lot of ram free. and ironically most mac programs will go on a pc so if your buying a mac just for the programs dont you can just buy or download them. mac books are over priced and over rated people buy them because of the hype around them. its all about perception.
I feel the same
Thanks, good review.
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Heck yeah that's awesome! I've had a Mac for 4 years now and haven't had ONE single problem with it.
That's awesome that this was printed in the New York Times! Congrats man!
Casey
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