Thinking of changing to Mac

[ClaremontPhoto]

I'm running my iMac with 1GB RAM and it's fine.

Crucial will advise about possible upgrades, but my usual method is to fill up any empty slots. To get to maximum you'd need to throw away installed memory.

My G5 model came with 512MB in one slot so I just put another 512MB in the second slot.

 

[ChrisL]

If you currently have a legal copy of PS running on your PC you can cross upgrade to the Mac version for free. Adobe has a document that you need to sign saying that you will destroy the PC media and remove the software. They in turn will ship you out the Mac version cd's.

 

[Pablito]

Pherdinand, as I think we've discussed in another thread, the situation with your macbook is extremely unusual. OSX is remarkably stable. Between home and work I have 5 macs, all on OSX, and have only experinced two or three real crashes since the release of OSX! I suspect faulty hardware. In your shoes, I would not not accept this. I'd take the machine to Apple, especially if its still under warranty, and demand a fix.

 

[dcsang]

Pherdinand, as I think we've discussed in another thread, the situation with your macbook is extremely unusual. OSX is remarkably stable. Between home and work I have 5 macs, all on OSX, and have only experinced two or three real crashes since the release of OSX! I suspect faulty hardware. In your shoes, I would not not accept this. I'd take the machine to Apple, especially if its still under warranty, and demand a fix.

I'd go one step further... especially if it's under warranty.. and request a replacement.

For all the Macs I have (wow.. I've got a whole whopping 2) I always purchased Apple Care.

For PC's I felt "no way" about replacing such and such or adding this-that-or-the-other-thing but in the Macs; especially with newer released models (MacBook and Mac Pro) I've taken to "investing" in the 3 year Apple Care as a "just in case".

Dave

 

[PHOTOEIL]

"... would it make sense to start switching to Mac..."

What are you wayting for?😕

 

[Sparrow]

OK I’m sold!
Now I need to decide which one, what do I need in the way of firewall and anti-virus?

 

[RObert Budding]

I'm planning to buy a Mac next year. My wife can keep the PC for her work and I'll use the Mac for scanning and photo editing.

 

[kaiyen]

Sparrow,
You'll be fine with the built-in firewall on the mac, I think. I've always been fine with the built-in one on the PC, too. Using these tools - firewalls, whatever - properly is usually just as effective as going and buying a hardware one.

While there are viruses out there for OS X, you probably don't need to bother installing software for it. I hate saying that. Not because I don't like macs - I do, though I can also build a PC for a lot less with a lot more horsepower - but because the idea of "it's a mac, I don't need antivirus" is one of the mantras of Mac "fanboys" that just drive me crazy.

I work with PCs and Macs all over the place. We have 350 Macs, and 275 PCs, give or take. They have their pluses and minuses. Don't believe all the hype, one isn't always better than the other for everything, and just try to buy the right tool for you. Having said that, perhaps a mac will meet your needs if you are feeling frustrated with keeping your windows set up going.

One thing I don't get is why you feel you have to upgrade to Vista. But that's another question.

allan (running Vista, on an iMac with Bootcamp, right now...)

 

[Pherdinand]

hi Pherdinand
I’m not expecting perfection; the question is would you go back to PC?

I never had a pc🙂) this is my first own computer. I use pc at my work and the windows "tricks" annoy the hell out of me but there is no way to make the whole thing change there so i get to use both worlds every day.
But i definitely not regret buying my macbook. I is a great little machine.

 

[Pherdinand]

Pablito,
maybe i made it sound worse than it is.
The hardware shutdown problem was repaired, the lid-closing issue is not a real issue and is also halfway solved by the sys update, the only thing is that crash of iMovieHD that i don't understand.
Otherwise it IS stable.

 

[BillBingham2]

Just Do It!!!

Get more memory be it PC or Mac.

I've run both and am moving back to a pure Mac HW environment. I have looked at BootCamp and it's fun, but not as functional as I want. Parrallel Desktop seem fine (had the bells and whistles I need) but I read that Apple in thier next OS version might have that functionality. So I am holding off the purchase till the next Apple OS comes out.

I used to work at Apple, loved it then back in the days of the Mac II. When I was demoing the FX vs Compaq, I trippled the VM on the Compaq and the FX still blew it away. Now, giving it 4X the VM, the Compaq blew away the Mac IIfx, but I never showed anyone (outside of Apple) that.

Mac hardware is great and most has the new fast N wireless networking hardware built in.

Go Mac and you will be fine.

B2 (;->

 

[kaiyen]

I believe that it's bootcamp that will be in leopard, not parallels. Just fyi.

What about bootcamp is not functional for you? It allows dual-booting. It functions. 🙂

allan

 

[colyn]

You could also consider switching to Gimpshop which is an open source package with a similar look to Photoshop. You could test drive Gimpshop on Windows before taking the plunge as there are versions for both OS's. You may not need your Windows after all.

I just dl'd gimpshop for the Intel Mac and was wondering if any additional software is needed to run it?

 

[Sparrow]

Sparrow,
BIG SNIP
feeling frustrated with keeping your windows set up going.

One thing I don't get is why you feel you have to upgrade to Vista. But that's another question.

allan (running Vista, on an iMac with Bootcamp, right now...)

I’m not techno-savvy, I’m an artist, I just want to switch it on and use it. I spend thousands in support at work and even with the goodwill of their technicians it’s a struggle at home the on costs of PC in time and money are getting me annoyed, so I’m looking for an alternative where the cost is up front

PS thanks for the info

 

[colyn]

OK I’m sold!
Now I need to decide which one, what do I need in the way of firewall and anti-virus?

I use a router/firewall and no anti-virus. Software firewalls and anti-virus waste system resources.

Virus and spyware don't affect a Mac..

 

[zuikomatt]

I switched to Mac last year and I'm happy!!!
(Still have PC's on my work, so I can compare)

 

[ambientmick]

Having used Windows for some years (and still at work) and switching to first a Mac G5 tower and recently a Mac Pro, I can tell you that there is no comparison. Windows is unstable, slows down over time and is very prone to viruses/spyware etc. OS X is a much better operating system - faster, easier to use and it doesn't treat the user like a child with constant pop-ups about trivial system information. Windows has the philosophy of telling the user when things are working ("USB device plugged in", for example) as well as when things aren't working, whereas OS X assumes that if you are using the device then you know it is working so why show an annoying pop-up to tell you. This may seem trivial but the whole experience of using a Mac is cleaner and more efficient. As for viruses; there aren't any on the Mac.

One of the best things about a Mac for me is how quiet it is. I constantly fought with noise with my PCs over the years and creating a really quiet PC is difficult and can be expensive. The Mac Pro whispers. As for cost; the Mac Pro uses 2 dual core Intel Xeon processors and quality components throughout. It might be possible to build a PC at less cost but I doubt it would be as quiet or reliable and of course it wouldn't run OS X.

Having said all that, if the software you use is only available for Windows then use Windows. Most of the time it's fine but IMO life is too short to wrestle with Windows - I just want a machine that works and since getting into Macs my time is spent more creatively.

 

[sepiareverb]

Don't wait! Simple, reliable and beautiful. A good thing in a camera, computer or partner of any kind no?

 

[kenspix]

Lovin the g5

Lovin the g5

After many years i have to say that its nice to purchase a laser printer and the g5 saw it and it was ready in 5 minutes. nice also to see the g4 laptop will always connect to the wireless connection,work from the bedroom and transfer pictures to and from both machines using bluetooth. Happy that i did the change.

 

[kaiyen]

Stewart (sorry I didn't note your name in your sig earlier),

Whatever it is you decide to do, I wish you luck. Again, in general don't buy too much into too many "universal" comments. All computer systems have their issues. I"m not saying anything one way or the other, but it would not be wise to consider switching to a mac being an absolute up-front-only cost. You never know what might happen down the road, what might break, what a company may or may not repair under warranty in a proper manner, etc.

allan