Thinking of changing to Mac

[Sparrow]

As a household we now have four PCs (and two game “boxes”) on wireless network and I’m finding keeping the whole thing running very time consuming, despite my best efforts they seem to always have some issue or other and be running slower and slower over time.

Now with the advent of Vista, and the hardware upgrades that probably involves, some of my ISP’s software is already refusing to run on an eighteen month old XP laptop, the volume of junk and viruses needing anti-virus and firewalls maintaining all eating into my quality time I got to thinking, would it make sense to start switching to Mac.

Is it a silly idea from where I am now? anybody got an opinion; keep in mind I’m a bit of a techno dummy

I have all my scammer and printer software for Mac but would need to buy Photoshop

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Just do it.

It's so easy, and it always works.

 

[markinlondon]

You and me both, Stewart. You may not need to buy PS, have a look at apple Boot Camp and Parallels desktop for Mac. They both allow XP on a Mac.
I'm just waiting for the money from my M6 to buy my Mac Mini, then it's Arrividerci Windows.

 

[Sparrow]

Hi Mark, that allows you to run PC software? on the Mac

 

[Sparrow]

Just do it.

It's so easy, and it always works.

Even if the system is “mixed” for a time?

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I've never tried emulation software. But I have used Apple for 20 years or more, and OSX since it was launched, and have never had any issues at all.

Look into the iMac: it's got a big screen (good for photos) but it's really small on the desk.

In case you don't know it's http://www.apple.com

 

[abumac]

I did it a lot of years ago. My first Mac was the first genration iMac. Now I have a G4 PowerMac. It allways works. No more silly blue screens announcing a "fatal error in modul K29393837465X45646Y36353".

Just do it, you will enjoy it.

 

[Sparrow]

I've never tried emulation software. But I have used Apple for 20 years or more, and OSX since it was launched, and have never had any issues at all.

Look into the iMac: it's got a big screen (good for photos) but it's really small on the desk.

In case you don't know it's http://www.apple.com

I started out on Mac in the 80s but the business side of things moved to PC through the 90s, is the reliability and compatibility as good as everyone claims.
I think I’ve read their entire site its weather I believe it or not now

 

[markinlondon]

Hi Mark, that allows you to run PC software? on the Mac

Oh, yes. Boot Camp (free from Apple) allows you to create a dual boot machine. Parallels Desktop (about $60) gives you a virtual windows machine within OSX. 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.

 

[amoz]

Hi Mark, that allows you to run PC software? on the Mac

Hi Sparrow, the current Macs run on Intel processors, so no need for an emulation environment. If you want to, you can just run XP strictly for photoshop on a separate partition (of the same Mac-machine) and boot into either one at start-up.

Contrary to Windows computers, Macs actually run faster when their OS gets an upgrade! Nevertheless, you better get yourself enough RAM to deal with image processing software. The RAM that is being sold by Apple is really expensive but you can add third-party memory yourself if you want to. I know it is very feasible on the PowerMac but I am not sure about unscrewing the top of an iMac...

Anyway, bottomline: go for it! I am sure you won't be disappointed (once you've recovered from the investment).

Best

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I bought extra memory from Crucial. It arrived next day from Scotland. I downloaded the upgrade instructions form Apple's site and opened my iMac, installed the memory and put it all back together again in less than five minutes. It is very easy to do. All you need is a small screwdriver and a towel.

 

[Sparrow]

Oh, yes. Boot Camp (free from Apple) allows you to create a dual boot machine. Parallels Desktop (about $60) gives you a virtual windows machine within OSX. 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.

Thanks Mark, I think I’d stump-up for photoshop6 or 7, just looked it’s £50-90 on eBay, it’s the iMac website, I’ve read their entire site now, just sounds too good to be true and I’ve become so sceptical over the years!!

 

[Sparrow]

I bought extra memory from Crucial. It arrived next day from Scotland. I downloaded the upgrade instructions form Apple's site and opened my iMac, installed the memory and put it all back together again in less than five minutes. It is very easy to do. All you need is a small screwdriver and a towel.

Towel??? Is that an Arthur Dent thing?

Contrary to Windows computers, Macs actually run faster when their OS gets an upgrade! Nevertheless, you better get yourself enough RAM to deal with image processing software. The RAM that is being sold by Apple is really expensive but you can add third-party memory yourself if you want to. I know it is very feasible on the PowerMac but I am not sure about unscrewing the top of an iMac...

My .tiff scans are 232mb on a PC what size ram would I need on a imac?

 

[ncd_photo]

You won't regret the move!

You can integrate a new mac into your current set up as they all get along quite happily. I've networked 3 imacs running OS 9, OS10.1 and OS 10.4, and 2 PCs one running 98 and one XP, all sharing the internet and printing to 2 different printers. The only computer that ever gives any trouble is ---- yes you guessed, the shiny Dell running XP!

The new intel macs are superb, I'm using a 17in iMac and the screen is brilliant for photo work.

One warning - as the new macs are intel based you have to wait for software developers to bring out 'universal binary' programs that are optimised for the new chips to make the most of the dual core chip. But when they do they rock! Nikon capture NX is now UB, Lightroom is UB and runs very well indeed but you'll need to wait for Photoshop CS3 to take advantage of the new processor speed - or run it in a windows environment if you really must.

I also want to second what Jon said abour crucial memory, I buy all mine from them and you'll want to pack as much ram in as you can for the best experience.

 

[iml]

More RAM is always better. Anywhere from 1Gb-2Gb is good for photo editing, scanning, etc, but as much as the machine will take is always better. Basically, as much as you can afford. Likewise disk space.

I bought a Powerbook about 3 years ago, it's a great little machine and I've had no problems with it, although the time is approaching to upgrade it to one of the newer, faster, Intel-based models.

Ian

 

[Pherdinand]

Well, let's not be overly idealistic.
Macs are also not perfect. While I love my little white macbook, it had already several problems. One was the famous hardware problem causing sudden shutdown (was cured by the apple guys at the shop in three days). Other one, the OSX that came with it: when you shut it down and close the lid before the computer completely shuts down, it goes to "sleep"- a VERY deep sleep, only taking the battery out will resolve the problem!! this was at the beginning; nowadays it just crashes (i updated the system twice already and that seemed to solve the problem halfway but it boots a bit slower since).

ANd, last week: iMovieHD crashed TWICE on me, in the same evening. And was not even overloaded - i only had a little movie thing less than five minutes long.
Also, some not very important but everyday-used software (like yahoo messenger) are VERY basic/dumb under mac os at this moment. Hope it will change.

Good thing is, installing/uninstalling stuff in mac os x is extremely easy compared to win XP, no dumb questions or unexpoected dialog boxes; and if something crashes, the rest runs without problem. And, i like that all image displaying softwares read the image's icc profiles first (if it has any, of course). And, the computer does not handle the user as an asshole, meaning, if there is a message or dialog, it is probably necessary and comprehensible on the user level. No triple checks before deleting or installing something and no " Illegal operation in kernel k2345234" type useless messages.

And a lot more little and big details.

I wish irfanview existed under mac os x, though.

 

[Sparrow]

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

 

[dcsang]

I just switched over the weekend..
on a Mac Pro now.. it's pretty easy to switch - the only thing I'm not liking is the inability to now adjust the contrast on my Dell 20" LCD because it's DVI and no longer analog..

That said.. looking into the colorsync tool and such on a mac is a LOT more in depth and interesting than on the PC.

I too have to get Photoshop.. but I'm waiting for the CS3 release - I currently have Photoshop running on XP within Parallels on the Mac.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[ncd_photo]

We use PCs at work and its always a pleasure to come home to the mac.

I've 'converted' several friends over the last few years and not one has regretted the move.

Its true that all electronic equipment will have problems at one time or another but my last mac was a PowerMac G4 tower that wasn't switched off for 5 years - it never ever let me down and is now living on at a friends house, so I'm pretty convinced 🙂

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

You need the towel when you upgrade the RAM as you need to tip the machine onto its screen, and you dont want to scratch the screen on your desk.