11-14-2009, 11:15 AM

Hi all,

I've spent some time reading through posts picking up some really good info and tips etc (great forum), but I still have a few questions that I'm sure most of you will know the answers to.

I've always been a windows user and am seriously considering switching to Mac. My 'better half' has ALWAYS used Macs and just laughs at my frustration when windows messes up, runs slow, gets a virus, crashes etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.

I use Photoshop 5 and this was my main reason for staying with Windows, if I buy a new PC now this won't run on Vista or 7, so as I'd have to upgrade anyway it seems a good time to switch!!

As you can imagine I'm a little worried I'll find the difference too big and not like it. I'm hoping however that I'll wonder why I didn't do it years ago.

Anyway, now you know a little about my background and where I'm coming from I have a few questions.



First off I'm looking at buying the cheapest model of iMac (21.5" screen), but it then adds options to upgrade the processor from 3.06 to 3.33 for an extra £160, and also the memory from 4GB to 8GB again for an extra £160. I really want a machine than runs well and often have a lot of programs open at the same time. I can't afford both options but would like to go with one. Which is more important to how the machine runs, especially with lots of programs open?

Next......I love the 'all in one' design and the neatness of it etc, but am a little concerned that this means if one thing stops working it disables everything. For example I recently had an LCD screen go down on me - easy to fix £80 for a new one. If the display goes down on the iMac is it easily fixed etc or does that bug**r up my whole system and end up expensive to repair? (I don't go for insurance as usually it's a waste of money.) Basically my question is, do I need to worry about this?

Ok, on to programs.......does the iMac come with CD/DVD writers? I guess it must do?

PDF - I've been using Cute PDF on Windows which is great. I know Macs have a built in feature to print to PDF but I understand it doesn't work from everything. If I have a folder with say 5 jpg's in it, am I able to save them all as single pages inside one PDF document? I hope that makes sense? If not I'll re-explain. It's something I do a lot of!!!

Open Office - I've heard that MS Office doesn't work too well on Macs and the way to go would be Open Office (suits me, it's free!) However I have found things move around between programs, especially inserted boxes, which I use a lot of. Does anyone know if there is a way round this? I often send out Word documents to others, so I'm worried about compatibility when they open them in Word.

Another point, I find Open Office slightly slower than Word, anyone else found that? (just curious)

Email - here comes the biggy. What email client do you guys use and if you've switched how have you found settling into the new one after switching to Mac? I've only ever used Outlook Express, which I'm quite happy with, so I'm a little worried about moving this one. Although I'm sure there must be something just as good, albeit different, so will just need getting used to.

One last question - I've owned 2 Windows PCs and both of them started slowing down after roughly 4 -5 years. I know this isn't due to viruses or spyware etc as I recently wiped the disc and reloaded Windows starting afresh. - Still clogged up and crashing etc. I've been told they 'just wear out!' Again my better half laughs at the fact he's never had that problem on a Mac, but.....he upgrades every 2 - 3 years. Is that why he hasn't had that problem? I'm just hopeful that maybe my shiny new iMac will keep me going for at least 5 years. (I'm someone who's happy running old software as I'm used to it!) Any thoughts on how long a Mac could last? I mean physically not technologically, as I don;t mind being behind with the technology, I just can't cope with slowness!!!!

In advance thanks a million for any replies. I can't wait to hear what you have to say. Especially as I can't wait to order my new machine!!!!!!!!!!


P.S. If anyone here uses Garage Band please let me know your thoughts on it, and what it's good for etc. I'm a pro musician, so would love this in my home set up!!! I use Audacity a lot but can't do any multitracking on it due to a time lag between tracks. I have a VERY old 8 track recorder, but it would be soooo much easier to go straight into the computer for recording.

11-14-2009, 12:35 PM

You don't need to worry about things going wrong if you have Apple Care
Did you read any of the tech specs on the apple website?!

Yes it comes with a Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW).

You can do print to PDF thing by dragging the files into TextEdit and printing as PDF

There is a Mac version of Microsoft Office 2008 which works great for me! But otherwise you will just have to get used to the new interface, not every program can be the same The compatibility is no different since they use the same file format.

Never noticed a difference between them to be honest.

Your iMac could easily last you 2 - 5 years, although you may need to do a little bit of system maintenance in that time! haha very simple to do!

I have used Garage Band a little bit, but never really liked it! But it should do what you need it for! I've always preferred Logic Pro but obviously this is a lot more expensive!

11-14-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks G3XO1, I appreciate your answers

Can I expand on them though. I think some of my questions weren't worded clearly. My fault for rambling on to much. Cheers!!

Originally Posted by G3XOI

You don't need to worry about things going wrong if you have Apple Care
Did you read any of the tech specs on the apple website?!

Yes, I have seen Apple Care on the website, but as I said I don't want to pay an extra £136. I am also more worried about things further down the line. If a monitor goes down you just buy a monitor, if the iMac monitor goes down can it be repeared without messing up your whole computer system?

Originally Posted by G3XOI

Yes it comes with a Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW).

Here I meant does it come with programs to write to the drive? I'm guessing stupid question as it must do if it comes with the drives. Just checking. For example my PC came with Nero installed on it for writing to the drive.

Originally Posted by G3XOI

You can do print to PDF thing by dragging the files into TextEdit and printing as PDF

Great thanks. Can it print multiple JPGs to one PDF file, so they are seperate pages within the file?

Originally Posted by G3XOI

There is a Mac version of Microsoft Office 2008 which works great for me! But otherwise you will just have to get used to the new interface, not every program can be the same The compatibility is no different since they use the same file format.

I've heard that Office doesn't run well on Mac and has issues with crashing, so I'm not too fussed to pay out for it. However I do have issues with Open Office document not opening the same in Word, even when saved as Word Docs. The text seems to work ok, but if you insert boxes they jump around the page. I do this a lot and can't afford things to move. I'm asking if there is a way to stop this happening?

Originally Posted by G3XOI

Never noticed a difference between them to be honest.

Cool. maybe it's just my PC being slow (although why it would be slower with one program than the other I have no idea. Nothing would surprise me though!)

Originally Posted by G3XOI

Your iMac could easily last you 2 - 5 years, although you may need to do a little bit of system maintenance in that time! haha very simple to do!

I think I muddled you up with my long winded wording here I'm asking what the chances are of it lasting AT LEAST 5 years. I'm happy to run it for 5 -7 really, as I don't mind outdated systems/programs. I just resent having to fork out so much money every 4 - 5 years.

Originally Posted by G3XOI

I have used Garage Band a little bit, but never really liked it! But it should do what you need it for! I've always preferred Logic Pro but obviously this is a lot more expensive!

Mmm I imagine Logic would be cool, but I can't afford it on top of a new computer and software. Just not sure Garage Band would do everything I'd like it to.

Thanks again!!!

11-14-2009, 02:35 PM

Oh.....anyone any thoughts on my 1st point about whether to go for the larger processor or the larger memory to get the most out of the speed of the Mac? I can't afford both so not sure which would be best.

Thanks.