Mac hater may switch to it.

erikfig

erikfig


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Sup guys?!

So...

I've been a Mac hater all my life (I know I know) but after many years of hating I think is finally getting my attention. I've been working as a Desktop Support Specialist for a long time so I know PC inside out.

I when to the apple store for Christmas to buy an ipads for my kids and was really impressed with the Macbook Pro construction and design.

I heard the Mac is really clean and really stable OS, but honestly I don't even know how to restart one :( Anyway I think I will buy a Macbook Pro next week. This will be a whole new learning experience and I think I will have fun learning it.

Questions:

Should I get the Macbook Pro now or wait for the 2012 release?

Can I watch flash content videos and files on a Mac?

Can I use MS Office in Mac?

Would I loose all my files on my PC or I can somehow transfer them to the Mac? I would like the switch to be smooth as possible.

My iphone is already Synched to my Pc. Do I need to erase all the data and apps to Synch again to Itunes in the Mac?

What will happen with all my Ms office documents and PDF?

Thanks for reading... :)
 
Chuckoir

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erikfig said:
Should I get the Macbook Pro now or wait for the 2012 release?
Click to expand...
That depends really - Nobody really knows what the MBP will be like when it comes out, we can speculate, but that won't help your cause and there's no telling in when it will be released. The simplest answer is "If you want one now, buy it now. If you can wait, wait"
erikfig said:
Can I watch flash content videos and files on a Mac?
Click to expand...
Yes - You just need to download Flashplayer from the Adobe website.

erikfig said:
Can I use MS Office in Mac?
Click to expand...
Yes - Although you will have to buy the Mac version, as your Windows apps won't run on OSX, unless you install Windows on a separate partition.

erikfig said:
Would I loose all my files on my PC or I can somehow transfer them to the Mac? I would like the switch to be smooth as possible.
Click to expand...
There's a built in utility in OSX called "Migration assistant". It does exactly what it says on the tin. You just have to have your files on an External Hard Drive, or flash drive, and you can move them across.

erikfig said:
My iphone is already Synched to my Pc. Do I need to erase all the data and apps to Synch again to Itunes in the Mac?
Click to expand...
Yes. There are walkthroughs on Apple's site which will guide you through it, but you will have to re-sync with the Mac.

erikfig said:
What will happen with all my Ms office documents and PDF?
Click to expand...
Nothing. They will still work as normal, providing you have a programme that can open them. You've said that you want to use MSOffice - but there are the free versions too, such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice (I'm sure you're aware of these already).

Check out Chas' sticky in the "Switcher Hangout" as that offers great advice for people such as yourself.

Hope that helps somewhat! :)
 
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erikfig

erikfig


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Chuckoir said:
That depends really - Nobody really knows what the MBP will be like when it comes out, we can speculate, but that won't help your cause and there's no telling in when it will be released. The simplest answer is "If you want one now, buy it now. If you can wait, wait"

Yes - You just need to download Flashplayer from the Adobe website.


Yes - Although you will have to buy the Mac version, as your Windows apps won't run on OSX, unless you install Windows on a separate partition.


There's a built in utility in OSX called "Migration assistant". It does exactly what it says on the tin. You just have to have your files on an External Hard Drive, or flash drive, and you can move them across.


Yes. There are walkthroughs on Apple's site which will guide you through it, but you will have to re-sync with the Mac.


Nothing. They will still work as normal, providing you have a programme that can open them. You've said that you want to use MSOffice - but there are the free versions too, such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice (I'm sure you're aware of these already).

Check out Chas' sticky in the "Switcher Hangout" as that offers great advice for people such as yourself.

Hope that helps somewhat! :)
Click to expand...

Thank you Chuck!
 
Shikarnov

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Chuckoir said:
erikfig said:
Can I use MS Office in Mac?
Click to expand...
Yes - Although you will have to buy the Mac version, as your Windows apps won't run on OSX, unless you install Windows on a separate partition.
Click to expand...

That's only partially accurate. Erik can also purchase VMWare Fusion or Parallels and run Windows and Windows programs simultaneously with OSX inside of a virtual machine. Both will create container files for the Windows installations, which enables the installations to be backed up by Time Machine, and eliminates the need for a true hard drive partition.
 
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chas_m

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In point of fact, Microsoft Word and Excel debuted on the Mac, not on the PC. Microsoft was then and is now one of the largest dedicated Mac developers outside of Apple.
 
chscag

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+1 to what chas stated. Not only that but Mac Office is one big cash cow for Microsoft. :)
 
afriqueart

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I, too was a PC guy (and a Unix back room) guy. Went mac in April. Don't even turn on my PC anymore. No blue screen. No hang ups. No hassles. I'll never go back!
 
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erikfig

erikfig


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afriqueart said:
I, too was a PC guy (and a Unix back room) guy. Went mac in April. Don't even turn on my PC anymore. No blue screen. No hang ups. No hassles. I'll never go back!
Click to expand...

Hopefully I will be in the same state of mind in a few days :)

Thank you all for the feedback!
 
trampsky

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I can guarantee you will enjoy the experience.

With nearly 6 years of apple under my belt I will be willing to help you with everything you need help with.
 
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erikfig

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trampsky said:
I can guarantee you will enjoy the experience.

With nearly 6 years of apple under my belt I will be willing to help you with everything you need help with.
Click to expand...

Wao! I really appreciate it trampsky. Thank you.
 
TattooedMac

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trampsky said:
I can guarantee you will enjoy the experience.
Click to expand...

Now that is a big call ;)


Welcome to the dark side. Ill drop a few links and info here you might want to check out.

Have a look at these for starters .....
Mac Switching 101
Mac 101
MacTricksAndTips ~ 100 Essential Mac Apps
Mac OS Menu Bar Items
Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts
Mac downloads ~ Apple

Here is a list of Apps that people around here use a lot, but be sure to check out what came with the Mac as they are really sufficient in doing most things

Adium ~ Chat Client
Growl Notifications
SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner ~ Both make bootable copies of your HD
HandBrake ~ Video Converting
Burn ~ As it says A Burning App
Transmission ~ p2p client
Skitch ~ Screen capture and more
VLC ~ Video player that plays most codecs and does a lot more
Perian and Flip4Mac Makes watching certain codecs easier ... This is Essential IMHO
Audacity ~ Play with Music App
CandyBar ~ Mods all your icons, and dock
MainMenu or Oynx ~ Does the same as Disk utility only more thorough
Quicksilver ~ Works like Spotlight but way way better and does so much more
StuffitExpander ~ Opens Zip and rar files and more
Lil Snitch ~ Firewall type App that looks at your incoming and outgoing traffic
and last but certainly not least .....
AppTrap ~ Once installed it sits in System Preferences and deletes all associated files of anything that you put in the trash ...

Should keep you busy for a while lol
HTH

Cheers
 
iggibar

iggibar


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Too many...
TattooedMac said:
Now that is a big call ;)


Welcome to the dark side. Ill drop a few links and info here you might want to check out.

Have a look at these for starters .....
Mac Switching 101
Mac 101
MacTricksAndTips ~ 100 Essential Mac Apps
Mac OS Menu Bar Items
Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts
Mac downloads ~ Apple

Here is a list of Apps that people around here use a lot, but be sure to check out what came with the Mac as they are really sufficient in doing most things

Adium ~ Chat Client
Growl Notifications
SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner ~ Both make bootable copies of your HD
HandBrake ~ Video Converting
Burn ~ As it says A Burning App
Transmission ~ p2p client
Skitch ~ Screen capture and more
VLC ~ Video player that plays most codecs and does a lot more
Perian and Flip4Mac Makes watching certain codecs easier ... This is Essential IMHO
Audacity ~ Play with Music App
CandyBar ~ Mods all your icons, and dock
MainMenu or Oynx ~ Does the same as Disk utility only more thorough
Quicksilver ~ Works like Spotlight but way way better and does so much more
StuffitExpander ~ Opens Zip and rar files and more
Lil Snitch ~ Firewall type App that looks at your incoming and outgoing traffic
and last but certainly not least .....
AppTrap ~ Once installed it sits in System Preferences and deletes all associated files of anything that you put in the trash ...

Should keep you busy for a while lol
HTH

Cheers
Click to expand...

+1...you gotta wait for your rep :D
 
C

class77


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erikfig said:
Sup guys?!

So...

I've been a Mac hater all my life (I know I know) but after many years of hating I think is finally getting my attention. I've been working as a Desktop Support Specialist for a long time so I know PC inside out.

I when to the apple store for Christmas to buy an ipads for my kids and was really impressed with the Macbook Pro construction and design.

I heard the Mac is really clean and really stable OS, but honestly I don't even know how to restart one :( Anyway I think I will buy a Macbook Pro next week. This will be a whole new learning experience and I think I will have fun learning it.

Questions:

Should I get the Macbook Pro now or wait for the 2012 release?

Can I watch flash content videos and files on a Mac?

Can I use MS Office in Mac?

Would I loose all my files on my PC or I can somehow transfer them to the Mac? I would like the switch to be smooth as possible.

My iphone is already Synched to my Pc. Do I need to erase all the data and apps to Synch again to Itunes in the Mac?

What will happen with all my Ms office documents and PDF?

Thanks for reading... :)
Click to expand...
Wait for the 2012 release. New chip, 3.0 USB and you're probably 1/2 way or more thru the 2011 cycle
 
Sawday

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afriqueart said:
I, too was a PC guy (and a Unix back room) guy. Went mac in April. Don't even turn on my PC anymore. No blue screen. No hang ups. No hassles. I'll never go back!
Click to expand...

Similar here. After 25 years in the PC world working on the very first IBM PC with just 5¼ floppy drives running DOS to Windows 98 I lived, breathed and loved them all, but once I discovered macs...

Just one unanswered question remains - why, oh why, did it take me so long to see the light? !!!
 
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erikfig

erikfig


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Sawday said:
Similar here. After 25 years in the PC world working on the very first IBM PC with just 5¼ floppy drives running DOS to Windows 98 I lived, breathed and loved them all, but once I discovered macs...

Just one unanswered question remains - why, oh why, did it take me so long to see the light? !!!
Click to expand...

LOL!! I'm confident I will love Macs too. I can't wait for next week!!!
 
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Mac Buyer's Guide: Know When to Buy Your Mac, iPod or iPhone

This shows you the actual days between hardware update/refreshes.

It calls the MacBook Pro cycle point "Neutral, Mid-Product Cycle" at 97 out of an average cycle time of 290 something. But the 97 days is referring to a slight bump in the icore processor speeds (i.e. 2.7 to 2.8 kinda thing). Considering most people would call that a minor update, at the end of this cycle there may be some things worth getting.

Although, as mentioned above.. when is the question we all ask every year all year..
 

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