01-24-2007, 06:03 PM

I think this can all be summed up like this.

If you:
+ are a Windows user and rely heavily upon MS Windows applications
+ have no intention or desire of running or learning OS X
+ are just "curious" about Macs
+ need a computer to use for your job that is based in Windows
+ just think Macs "look cool", but again don't want OS X
then DON'T get a Mac.
Get the computer you need. That is of course, a Windows computer.
Just because there are options and just because a Mac can run Windows, doesn't mean that you should get a Mac.
If you truly are "curious" about Macs, then don't get a spankin' brand new one. Get a machine that is a release or two behind. It won't matter if the machine isn't Intel, because you won't have any need to run Windows on it if you are looking to learn OS X. You will still have your Windows machine for that. Get a machine that will at least run OS X so you can get your feet wet and learn the ins and outs of OS X. It won't have to be lightning fast or bleeding edge if you are just curious about learning how the OS works. Save your money and get an older used system. You can get a Mac that will run OS X very nicely for less than $100. If you like it and find that it will suit your needs, then you can spend $1000 or more to get a brand new Mac. If you don't like it, then you are only out $100, which you could easily recoup if you sold it on eBay or by some other means.

Windows = Windows PC
Mac OS X = Mac

It really is that simple.

01-24-2007, 06:11 PM

Todd,

I knew that you weren't chastising me.

I am very confident I made the right choice.

I also recommend that everyone unfamiliar with Parallels
take a look at The Bleeding Edge video that is located 1/3 down the page.

What is very interesting to note is that Parallels software
designer Benjamin Rudolph pretty much hints that Vista
graphics capability will most likely be supported in upcoming
months.

What makes me so very excited about running Vista under
Parallels is that while there may be a few drawbacks at first,
I have no doubt that Parallels is going to address all these issues
very quickly.

(and no....I don't work for Parallels)

01-24-2007, 06:19 PM

NJRonbo -- I don't doubt you're right. If they can figure out a way to get Direct3D working in Parallels, then it truly is "Windows on Mac" side by side with OS X.

Though it will be an interesting race to see which happens first: will Parallels become a complete solution, or will most of the programs you want be available as native Mac UB.

01-24-2007, 06:21 PM

D3v1L80Y,

I understand and respect your statement above, but I think
that there is an "awakening" going on amongst PC users who
watch these really clever "I'm a PC -- I'm a Mac" commercials
and see that macintosh offers something better than what they
are used to.

Now, combine that with the fact that for the first time, you can
actually run Windows within Mac OS X.

This is why people like myself -- who are amongst many that
are now posting to this forum --- have come to purchase a mac.

Honestly, if not for the fact that mac can run Windows, I would
not have bought it. The computers are expensive and software can
be a "touchy" issue pending on your needs.

Now all of this is not a bad thing, although some mac die-hards
are turning their noses up at those of us who even mention
running Windows.

I think foremost, most of us migrated to a mac because they
are better built computers. Many of us are tired of the constant
blue screen crashes and peripherals that don't play nice with
each other.

If we wanted to run Windows we would buy a PC. What we want
is to familiarize ourselves and (hopefully) slowly migrate over
to MAC OS X while our PRIMARY function will be to run Windows.

So, respectfully, I don't totally agree with your statement that
Windows users should stick to their PCs. We are here because
PCs are generally unreliable hardware compared to mac.

I also personally thinks Windows SUCKS, but does provide a purpose.

01-25-2007, 12:28 AM

I also recommend that everyone unfamiliar with Parallels
take a look at The Bleeding Edge video that is located 1/3 down the page.

I'm not in on this discussion, but I just have to say that is very impressive. Coherence is amazing!

01-27-2007, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by fleurya

I'm not in on this discussion, but I just have to say that is very impressive. Coherence is amazing!

No Joke...wow....

01-28-2007, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by NJRonbo

..

I have been using Vista Business for a few days now (I got it through the MSDNAA e-academy as a CS Student) and on my 2Ghz Core Duo MacBook with 2gb RAM Vista runs pretty darn well. I have tried it with Office 2007 (Which is an absolutely incredible suite, even though I pretty much switched to Mac's full-time I am still a die-hard PC Office fan, and really hope that Office 2008:Mac doesn't let me down. I haven't run into any compability issues yet with running programs except for some programs that aren't yet Vista ready (so its not really a compatibility problem its just me getting ahead of myself). I think you will have a great experience running both of the OS's with your machine and especially once you throw in Photoshop I don't think you are overkilling it

01-28-2007, 03:53 AM

I'll be installing Vista Business ton Tuesday.

I just hope that very soon, Parallels will enable the AERO graphics.

From what I understand, something like that could happen.

01-28-2007, 04:12 AM

This has been an interesting thread to read. This is really the future of computing that's that's being discussed - breaking down the barriers/boundaries between OS's and their usergroups. Compatability is the key word and personal computer users worldwide can only benefit from this integration.

01-28-2007, 11:37 PM

I purchased a Macbook Pro, 2.16ghz Core 2 duo, with using Boot Camp to boot in Windows XP as a huge selling point, making my transition from pc to mac osx less daunting.

I am having the same issues, the most irritating being that all sound, even booting Windows XP "chimes", crackles and glitches. I write music using computer software, and though I'm growing more familiar with osx applications, which run fine, there are still some core Windows apps that I was hoping would run smoother on my new notebook.

I am not so defeated as to surrender to the idea that windows xp just runs poorer on the macbook pro as I have a friend using a Boot Camp partitioned Windows XP on the same model Macbook Pro as mine, running multiple of the same music software apps that stutter on my setup flawlessly. It frustrates me to no end that my new pristine laptop hinders and fumbles where his excels even though his setup mirrors mine exactly.

I have talked to apple, waited at the genius bar, only to be turned away as boot camp (being beta) and especially windows xp are not "supported".

PLEASE any help or suggestions would be vastly appreciated!

Thank You

01-29-2007, 12:28 AM

I have to say that I am surprised by the amount of people who got a macbook to run windows. I am planning on running some of my windows programs in parallels but I never looked at this conversion as a way for me to run windows on a mac.

I personally think it is not so much of a testament of how "great" macs are....it seems to be more a testament to how "sick" people are of windows!

Just another point of view.

01-29-2007, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by novicew

Well, if your sole purpose is to run Windows, you did a fundamental mistake purchasing a Mac. They are made to run OS X and Windows is just a small complement. I am sure you would have found top of the line lappy from some other notebook manufacturer for that price.

Most of the Mac enthusiasts are spending high price not just for the hardware, but it is the combination of hardware and software that makes Macs so great. People install windows on Macs only to run one or two non compatible software or if they are into gaming. Windows as the main OS in a Mac is a very rare case.

Good luck!

Well i am the rare case.

I have been looking at swapping over to a Mac for a while as i do prefer the os. However atm i am so busy with work i do not have the time to chnage over, and my pc died so instead of buying a power pc i bought a Mac. For the spec i wanted the Mac was cheaper by far and ATM for last 2 + weeks has pretty much ran just windows XP and i have not noticed any problems. In our county the school are buying mac's and using just XP on them. That was recommened by Apple aswell! So all this about not working great, maybe for some people but i get on just fine.

When i am less busy then i will start to learn OSX and change over.

Craig

01-31-2007, 08:03 AM

I'm running XP using Bootcamp on my MacBook and it behaves exactly as it does on any of my PC hardware, I'm even using it to play many of my PC games (it can't handle anything requiring shaders of course but that's because of the crummy intel gfx chip).

I use the same machine to run XP in parallels with no problems either.

Are you using the latest Beta of Bootcamp? Did you install the drivers properly? Is it a genuine copy of XP with SP2 built in?

The only real problem I've noticed running XP natively with Bootcamp is that my fans seem to run up far more than under OS X or Linux, even though the CPU usage seems to be around the same.

Amen-Moses

01-31-2007, 08:38 AM

My first post

I am in a similar position. I have being using a PC for nearly 20 years since using them at School. My work is in videopgraphy and photography and I now understand that having a mac pro would give me a more stable os and machine together with great software.

Over time I have built up my software collection, but primarily would only use three Windows based apps on a mac. I will keep my pc for internet, email, MS Office and for the kids, but use a Mac for my business work.

Is there a big learning curve moving from PC (advanced level knowledge) to a Mac and using Appeture and Final Cut compared to say Adobe's Photoshop and Premiere Pro?

I'm in London next week so have set aside time to go the the Apple Store for more info and possibly order. When is OS X 10.5 coming out?

07-26-2007, 01:55 PM

I disagree with a good number of these posts. I am running Vista Ultimate on my MacBook and I couldn't be happier. I too depend on Windows for work (network admin) and I haven't run into ANY show stoppers yet. There are a few things I have noticed are funny, but nothing that has kept me from doing any work: tap-to-click not yet supported, iSight doesn't work and various power management features are either not implemented or not implemented well. Otherwise, I must be having great luck from what I'm reading in this thread.

I did have my first BSOD the other day - that sucked. But overall I'm very pleased with my MacBook and Vista. It's WAY better than the other laptops I've used. Nice hardware, nice looking, and I can mess with OS X, which is something I've always been curious about.