12-23-2007, 05:11 PM

Hmmm, where do I begin? I'm a long time PC user ready to switch to the Mac. However, I have lots of questions so please bear with me as I try to figure things out. Here's my current situation:

In my home we have 2 PCs running Windows XP. Both connect to the internet via a Linksys WRT54G router (one PC connects via Ethernet and the other via WiFi). The primary PC connects to our printer (a Canon) via USB and the two PC's are on a Windows home network so the secondary PC can also use the same printer and we can occasionally share/transfer files between the two PCs.

I consider myself PC literate as I built these last two machines from the ground up and am a nut for new technology. My wife on the other hand usually has a hard time with change (you know, now you need to click x instead of y to do that thing you did before). Therefore I need to make the change as simple and painless as possible.

We use our PCs for: Video editing, DVD creation, Photo management/editing, music management, web browsing, and my wife also has some specialty hardware/software (its a vinyl cutter) for her business that runs on Windows XP and requires a Parallel port connection. Therefore I anticipate setting up a dual boot system.

As for Mac hardware, I'm pretty sure I'm going to opt for a Mac Pro instead of the iMAC (even though speed wise the iMac sounds like it would be plenty) because I fully anticipate expanding overtime by adding HD's, memory, etc. and I just can't imaging buying a computer that should one thing like the LCD go bad I'd have to send the whole unit in to get fixed. Anyway, I'm open to discussion on this point (of going Mac Pro vs iMac), but at least this is my current thinking.

So, here are just a few of the questions I have, with I'm sure more to come. Thanks for your help.

1) I presume the Mac Pro doesn't come standard with a Parallel port. What do I need to do to remedy that so I can connect my wifes vinyl Cutter to the Mac?

2) I assume I can still keep and use my Linksys router, so no change there hopefully?

3) With a dual boot Mac/XP setup, can the Mac see and access all XP files such as MS Word, Excel, MP3's, etc., or are the two environments walled off never to be shared?

4) Since the PC I'm replacing is the primary PC which connects to my printer and was the hub of the home network, can the new Mac be setup so my 2nd PC running XP can still have access to the Printer (that would connect to the Mac) and the two machines (the Mac and PC) could share files if I ever needed to? Would I need any special software to do this?

5) Why do Apple LCDs cost so much (like 2-3x their PC counterparts)? I'm thinking if there's one area I can save some money on, its going with a non-Apple LCD, like an HP (I really like the base their monitors sit on that moves up and down) or Samsung. But before I purchase a non-Apple LCD, is there anything I need to be aware of?

6) I plan to add lots of HD space (probably 1-2TB) for both video archiving and for backup (using Time machine). Where's the best place to shop for drives that will plug into the Mac Pro

7) Last question is related to Mac software. I currently use PC versions of Adobe Premiere and Photoshop Elements for my video and picture editing. I know I don't need the top of the line video/photo software, but what's the best application for someone like me that's a pro wanna be with not enough time to learn the ropes of pro software but still wants to put out awesome video/picture materials?

Thanks for your help.

12-23-2007, 05:24 PM

2.) It should connect just fine

6.) Newegg.com always has some pretty good prices

sorry i just recently switched myself (about a month ago) so i don't know the answers to many of your questions =[.

12-23-2007, 05:30 PM

7) Adobe products work with both pc and mac. I think you have to get a new serial or deactivate the pc product phone just to be safe.

12-23-2007, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by northy124

7) Adobe products work with both pc and mac. I think you have to get a new serial or deactivate the pc product phone just to be safe.

Good idea, I hadn't thought of that. However, I'm also curious if those with Mac video editing experience feel Final Cut Express is that much better than the Adobe products?

Thanks

12-23-2007, 06:49 PM

Contact Adobe and ask about their cross-grade offer. I read somewhere they offer Mac versions of their Adobe products to former PC users for a very small fee. The details on how this actually works escape me though.

12-23-2007, 07:29 PM

Any input on questions 1, 3, 4 and 5? Thanks

12-23-2007, 08:21 PM

http://www.macease.com/review-parallel_to_usb_ada.html

maybe that would work ??

12-23-2007, 08:32 PM

3) Your best bet in this scenario would be to make 2 partitions when you install Windows. One partition for shared files formatted in FAT32, and one partition for Windows formatted in NTFS. There are third-party alternatives, but this is the easiest way to minimize any hassles (For OS X, an NTFS partition shows up as a "read only" partition, thus preventing you from saving anything.)

4) By turning on Windows file sharing under the Sharing options in OS X, you can share files without too much hassle. Keep in mind that when saving files on the Mac, be sure to use the option that is most common (for example, save a MS Word document as a .doc Word 2000/XP format).

12-23-2007, 08:42 PM

1: You'll need a PCI-Express (PCIe) Parallel Adapter. Here's one store listing:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Network%...20Express%20x1

AFAIK, these will only work in Windows and with the correct drivers, so don't expect to be able to use that vinyl cutter in OS X.

2: Yup... your Linksys router will be fine.

3: If you have Windows & OS X installed on the same computer and want to be able to share files between the 2 OSes, well here's what you need to know first...

a. Windows can't read OS X's file system (HFS) without use of 3rd party software.
b. OS X can read and write FAT32 formatted partitions, which Windows XP can use. However, FAT32 has some technical limitations and issues that make it far less desirable to use than the alternative, which is NTFS. I would not use FAT32 at all.
c. OS X can read NTFS formatted partitions, and can write to them as well with the help of some 3rd party software (including free alternatives). I would go all the way here and enable the write-access with the free software.

So given all that, you can either get the 3rd party software to let Windows read/write to your OS X partition, or just set up a 3rd partition formatted with NTFS and use that as a "Data Drive" that both OS X and Windows can read/write to without any extra software (except for getting OS X to be able to write to it).

4: You can do printer and file sharing between Windows and OS X systems with very little trouble and without any special software. If your router has a USB port on it for the purpose of plugging in a network-capable printer, that would be easiest to do, though not absolutely necessary.

5: Well I can't say "why" Apple's monitors cost so much. I'm sure the aluminum frame and base add extra cost versus a plastic enclosure, but you can get perfectly good monitors from other companies. If you are buying a monitor for a feature like swiveling it to portrait perspective, just research it to be sure you can use it in OS X if you plan to.

6: You can use the same serial-ATA drives you would have used on a PC. Just buy from whoever you are comfortable doing business with.

7: As pointed out by MHC, you may be able to get a cheap upgrade from Adobe. If you want to try something else... well for video editing, Apple's Final Cut Express is the low-cost cousin to their own Final Cut Pro, which is regarded as the best of the best. For picture editing alternatives, the Gimp is an open-source picture editor that is supposed to be an excellent alternative to Photoshop.

12-23-2007, 09:29 PM

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the help!