Author Topic: Should I become a Mac-er?  (Read 30334 times)

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debos23

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #45 on: Jan 03, 2008, 01:06 pm »
Congrats on your new toy, Justin!  My iBook turns 5 years old today.  Enjoy!   :D

J

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #46 on: Jan 12, 2008, 09:20 pm »
I LOVE IT!  Only a few problems transferring to excel, and everything else is just fine. It is FUN!

sammythesm

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #47 on: Jan 14, 2008, 05:08 pm »
I converted to Mac about 2 years ago, after they switched to Intel architecture.

I used PCs for 12 years as a very HEAVY power user... I've had Dells HPs and computers I've built by myself.

Currently I own a Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, 2 mac minis, an iPod, and (soon) an iPhone.

Reasons I Love my Mac family:
1. high quality components (they don't use crappy hardware) and there is no such thing as a low end machine.  every time you buy a new mac, you are getting a top of the line computer.
2. excellent retail experience (if you live close to an Apple store, you HAVE to go check it out)
3. Knowlegable, american based support.  I called three times, twice getting their call center in California, only once going to India.  This was before I discovered the "genius bar" at the apple store.  Now I go in there when I have a question and I get free IN PERSON support.
4. Security. Security against viruses, malware, etc.  macs give you Unix security!  Amazing!
5. TONS of free software!  It's true that not every title is available for Mac, but oftentimes there is a FREE alternative.  (i.e. I use Adium for instant messaging, it's far superior to any IM client for PC)
6. Spotlight search eliminates the need for wasting days categorizing and cataloging your files and programs into nerdy little folders.  When you want to start something, just hit the spotlight and type it in.  It searches inside your documents, mail messages, everything!
7. Superior apps.  Particularly iTunes, Mail, and iPhoto are just hands down superior to any other SW out there.
8. Incredibly anal approach to User Interface.  It's near perfect, and every detail is thought through excruciatingly. 
9. Even more anal approach to design.  Backlit keyboard, aluminum case... i could go on and on...
10. Macs love each other on the network... they easily share files, music, etc.  I have spent days troubleshooting permissions and sharing from Windoze machines.

For those people who HAVE to run windows... I would recommend using VMWare's Fusion rather than Parallels.  It's much more stable, has better performance and compatibility. 

For switchers from MS Office: Office '08 for Macs is coming out tomorrow.  It will support all your office files.  Entourage (the Outlook equivalent) does not support direct import of your .PST file, but there is a supported way to migrate your Outlook mail to Entourage.  I actually went from Outlook to Mac Mail by using a small program I paid $5 for that does the export for you very quickly and automatically.  There is also great free alternative in NeoOffice (based on OpenOffice)

Hmm... so much more to say, but I'll stop there. :)

Cherie B. Tay

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #48 on: Jan 14, 2008, 09:45 pm »
I got Office 08 a month ago as a beta test.

It's great, but it crashes a lot.

zayit shachor

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #49 on: Jan 15, 2008, 02:31 am »
Ooh, I'd like to hear more about Office 08.  I've never really liked the Mac version of Office ... what changes have they made?

sammythesm

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #50 on: Jan 15, 2008, 12:42 pm »
AppleInsider.com did a really comprehensive review and comparison last year:

newbielink:http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3417 [nonactive] (Word vs. Pages)
newbielink:http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3424 [nonactive] (Excel vs. Numbers)
newbielink:http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3429 [nonactive] (PowerPoint vs Keynote)
newbielink:http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3434 [nonactive] (Entourage vs Outlook vs Mail/iCal)

avkid

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #51 on: Jan 15, 2008, 12:56 pm »
The last good version of Office was 1998.
Philip LaDue
IATSE Local #21 Newark, NJ

Baz

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #52 on: Jan 15, 2008, 09:00 pm »
NeoOffice -

http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

Save yourself a couple hundred bucks and get most Office compatibility...

(if you've just gotta use Macs. Kidding! Just kidding!)

SM'ing since God was a child.

Scott (formerly Digga)

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #53 on: Jan 18, 2008, 10:03 am »
AppleInsider.com did a really comprehensive review and comparison last year:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3417 (Word vs. Pages)
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3424 (Excel vs. Numbers)
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3429 (PowerPoint vs Keynote)
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=3434 (Entourage vs Outlook vs Mail/iCal)

Haven't had a chance to go through this yet but something tells me it might be a bit biased. 

Cherie B. Tay

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #54 on: Jan 20, 2008, 11:03 am »
Did anyone watch Keynote2008?

Mac Calder

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Re: Should I become a Mac-er?
« Reply #55 on: Jan 24, 2008, 10:39 am »
I believe this topic has long since run it's course, and I am sorry for not jumping on it earlier.

*Click*
« Last Edit: Jan 24, 2008, 10:48 am by Mac Calder »