Imac, MacBook or Mac mini

[sarasota]

Well...my Dell 1501 deal fell through. After trying to get the thing delivered to the house for a week and finally being told I'd have to make a 90 mile round trip to pick-up, I was fed up with Dell and and DHL Express and returned the thing - even though Dell offered me a $150 discount to keep the thing.

I'm now considering a Mac. Here are my reasons:

1) I will not need virus protection, spyware, etc.

2) The system will not be preloaded with craplets or whatever all those promotional ad programs that Dell and others add to their computers.

3) I'll still be able to use my old versions of Photoshop and Illustrator, which I only use to keep my skills current and not to create massive memory hogging files.

In additon to some of the above, I only plan to use the computer for internet surfing and possibly dow nloading music. I really don't see myself expanding beyond this in the near future and only need a basic model. I also don't see a need to take my computer beyond the confines of my home. If work requires one, they'll provide it. That's about it.

Are my assumptions ( 1,2, and 3) correct???

The Dell laptop would have cost $500 (including tax) and the iMac (which I think I'll go with) costs $999 plus tax. I figure the savings in time and programs to ad and manage virus and spyware proofing programs that Windows would need will offset the additional cost of the Mac in the long run.???

Thanks again.

 

[danibbler]

The least expensive iMac is actually C$1099 plus tax. You could go with refurbished machines if you want to save money. The vast majority of people who have bought those have been happy.

As for your assumptions; first one, as far as I'm concerned, you don't need one although Macs may be vulnerable. I've used Macs for well over a decade and never encountered a virus. Second, yep, no extraneous stuff and, third, make sure that you ask the Mac dealer (or Apple) if you can run the old software versions on your machine.

 

[juanbrujo]

None of the above.

 

[jim9000]

We use all MACs in out office. The imac is very nice becasue fot the good price and large screen. Also the screen-computer combination is very conservative in desk space. These days the i-books have almost equivalent power and storage so I use the portable for convenience. Basically the machines are bomb-proof except for the routine crashing of microsoft products (mostly word and excel). Fortunately macs can "force quite" so you don't have to re-boot. We have an new imac that acts as our file server as well as a main use machine and we haven't had to re-boot it for months.

In my judgement the older macs are not worth the money. They basically hold their value too much and the new ones are quite a bit cheaper in real dollars (maybe the intel chips saved money).

Have fun

 

[Damondean]

You can't use the PC version of Photoshop on a Mac. I heard that if you give them the serial number, they may license it for Mac. It's probably best to buy a Mac version of Photoshop Elements or just stick with their iPhoto.

Be prepared for a bit of a learning curve if you have been using PCs. I use a MacLaptop (G4) but would not do it again. Nice screen but just about everything else is different.

Hewlett Packard make nice laptops.

 

[juanbrujo]

Basically the machines are bomb-proof except for the routine crashing of microsoft products (mostly word and excel).

If everything on a Mac just works, then why does a website called "Mac fix it" exist?

http://www.macfixitforums.com/

 

[danibbler]

seems that the new macs are not to compatable with pc software, but of course there updateing it

No and no.

All Macs use a different operating system than Windows (XP or otherwise). You simply cannot run Windows software on a Mac unless you run Bootcamp or Parallels along with the Windows OS installed too.

File compatibility between PC and Mac software is usually pretty good but it all depends on what programs we're talking about.

 

[Never Compromised]

If you are planning on using Photoshop, don't bother with the Mac mini, end of story.

You pay a premium for portability, so think hard about where you use the computer and if you really need to be able to move it.

iMac is probably your best bet. As for Photoshop, Photoshop Elements is under $100.

 

[blackdog]

Buy any mac and your life will change. Im not kidding. You will no longer have to think about computer shit, It will all just work. With virtual PC you can run all your old PC stuff. In time you will realize that you never go into virtual pc mode because you don't have to. Its hard to tell this to old thinking PC people because they seem to have the strange idea that you should spend alot of time on the computer all the time fixing problems and re-installing things and blah blah blah. In reality a computer is a tool that you should turn on when you need it and thats it. Thats the seceret to macs success, it works and you don't have to think about it. I have better things to do with my time than agonize over stupid computer problems. I would rather fuck a hot EE prostitute than worry about the latest computer virus. Oddly enough thats what I do...

 

[danibbler]

Got to clear up something here, "virtual PC" can refer to an old software program that allows you to use Windows programs on a Mac. These days, the program to use would be either Bootcamp or Parallels. You will still need a copy of WinXP loaded too.

 

[Shades]

Got to clear up something here, "virtual PC" can refer to an old software program that allows you to use Windows programs on a Mac. These days, the program to use would be either Bootcamp or Parallels. You will still need a copy of WinXP loaded too.

I'm thinking of moving to Apple as well. So, a question...when you install these programs does it then become seamless in integrating windows with the Apple computer? I get a number of documents sent to me in word as well as power point, excel and adobe. When I get an e-mail with one of these attachments do these programs do whatever they do invisibily so I can just open them and work on them....and send them back? When they get sent back...do they arrive back in the appropriate format so that the other end can work on them on their PC's?

Second question; how hard is it for an old PC dinasour move to the Apple operating system from Windows?

 

[Never Compromised]

I'm thinking of moving to Apple as well. So, a question...when you install these programs does it then become seamless in integrating windows with the Apple computer? I get a number of documents sent to me in word as well as power point, excel and adobe. When I get an e-mail with one of these attachments do these programs do whatever they do invisibily so I can just open them and work on them....and send them back? When they get sent back...do they arrive back in the appropriate format so that the other end can work on them on their PC's?

Second question; how hard is it for an old PC dinasour move to the Apple operating system from Windows?

You just buy the Apple version of MS Word, Adobe Photoshop and things are cool. The Apple version of the software will open the documents, you can work on the docs and send them back to your PC buddies and everyone will be happy.

Just dont' try to send an AppleWorks doc to your PC friends.

 

[ThePunkPanther]

I've moved from windows to mac OSX and not looking back. OSX is the most usable and generally nicest commercial grade BSD/Unix implementation I've seen in ages.

on the machines that run windows, I'm running Windows2000 [I wont touch xp, and forget vista]

the macbook is a decent machine, when my 17" powerbook/G4 eventually dies, I'll likely buy a 17" macbook to replace it.

 

[danibbler]

I'm thinking of moving to Apple as well. So, a question...when you install these programs does it then become seamless in integrating windows with the Apple computer? I get a number of documents sent to me in word as well as power point, excel and adobe. When I get an e-mail with one of these attachments do these programs do whatever they do invisibily so I can just open them and work on them....and send them back? When they get sent back...do they arrive back in the appropriate format so that the other end can work on them on their PC's?

Second question; how hard is it for an old PC dinasour move to the Apple operating system from Windows?

I am going to assume you are asking about Bootcamp and Parallels. I'm not too sure how seamless they are or if you have to re-boot your machine into the "Windows" environment. Your best bet is to ask at a couple of Apple dealers if you can't get to one of the four Apple Stores in Canada.

Second, it's dead easy to move over to the Apple OS from Windows.

 

[canucklehead]

Well...my Dell 1501 deal fell through. After trying to get the thing delivered to the house for a week and finally being told I'd have to make a 90 mile round trip to pick-up, I was fed up with Dell and and DHL Express and returned the thing - even though Dell offered me a $150 discount to keep the thing.

I'm now considering a Mac. Here are my reasons:

1) I will not need virus protection, spyware, etc.

2) The system will not be preloaded with craplets or whatever all those promotional ad programs that Dell and others add to their computers.

3) I'll still be able to use my old versions of Photoshop and Illustrator, which I only use to keep my skills current and not to create massive memory hogging files.

In additon to some of the above, I only plan to use the computer for internet surfing and possibly dow nloading music. I really don't see myself expanding beyond this in the near future and only need a basic model. I also don't see a need to take my computer beyond the confines of my home. If work requires one, they'll provide it. That's about it.

Are my assumptions ( 1,2, and 3) correct???

The Dell laptop would have cost $500 (including tax) and the iMac (which I think I'll go with) costs $999 plus tax. I figure the savings in time and programs to ad and manage virus and spyware proofing programs that Windows would need will offset the additional cost of the Mac in the long run.???

Thanks again.

I would never be so smug to say do not get anti virus ... just use clamAVx it is free.
Not to many extras but some trial software.
Depends on how old your version of Photoshop is really. You are getting an intel you need at least CS or CS2 to run since os9 classic does not run on the intels....
If you have a Windows Version of Photoshop and have licensed copy of XP you will be able to install your Windows software on the XP side but u will still need anti virus. It is the Operating System with the gaping security holes not the hardware.
Buy a mac be happy.
Too many haters that have no idea but hate because it is different.....

 

[sarasota]

Thanks again. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the iMac. There is a Apple store nearby so I may make a decision this weekend. I'll let you know.

 

[Freewheelin Franklin]

I am going to assume you are asking about Bootcamp and Parallels. I'm not too sure how seamless they are or if you have to re-boot your machine into the "Windows" environment.

Boot Camp will come installed on your iMac. It requires you to reboot the machine to switch from one OS to the other. Third party software like Parallels or Crossover will run both OS X and Windows concurrently allowing you to switch back and forth at will.

It's already been mentioned but it's worth repeating... when running Windows on a Mac you're susceptible to all the usual Windows gremlins (driver issues, viruses/malware, etc.)

 

[Shades]

For mail, calendar and address book I now use Outlook. Can you use Outlook on an Apple or do you have to port the data to a different program?

 

[danibbler]

Boot Camp will come installed on your iMac. It requires you to reboot the machine to switch from one OS to the other. Third party software like Parallels or Crossover will run both OS X and Windows concurrently allowing you to switch back and forth at will.

It's already been mentioned but it's worth repeating... when running Windows on a Mac you're susceptible to all the usual Windows gremlins (driver issues, viruses/malware, etc.)

Thanks FF for clarifying that.

 

[danibbler]

For mail, calendar and address book I now use Outlook. Can you use Outlook on an Apple or do you have to port the data to a different program?

MS replaced Outlook on the Mac with Entourage which is very similiar.