So, why did/are you switch/switching

So, why did/are you switch/switching

post below -

i am so glad that i switched, i have just taken my pc (windows xp) to a specialist to get rid of viruses, spyware u name it!

but my mac is just perfect.! :mac:

I switched over a year ago, Im planning on buying my next Mac sometime this summer. I will keep my iBook to have a portable, with a shiny new iMac to keep me busy at home. I do all sorts of things on my Mac that I never even really thought of on my PC.

For me, I'm not sure at this point the term is Switched completely accurate for me, since I'm not replacing my PC(s), I added an Intel Based iMac to my collection about 2 weeks ago. That said, I've made it my new primary system for a number of reasons. I want to learn it as fast as I can, so I've moved most of my important data over to it. Secondly, I have grown extremely tired of the endless holes, patches and bugs with Microsoft Windows. Even though windows XP doesn't crash as often as previous versions, it still does from time to time. While I have no intention of getting rid of my PCs, nothing pisses me off more than fight getting a new program or hardware device working or having my system reboot for no apparent reason. And I'm not your casual computer user, I've been working on PCs for a living for about 20 years in an IT job.

Anyway, I love the iMac and really look forward to learning, growing and having fun with it!

I switched because of my major, im majoring in visual communications (graphic design). I live at home so I wanted to get a notebook and I knew it needed to be a mac because they are the best with design.

My reasons are in reasonable detail within my post on this section of the forums.
But in simple terms, I guess I just got frustrated with Windows......I mean, I guess most people would be frustrated by Windows if you used it for like...10 years? Especially if you used ME for a few years (ouch).

So yeha, changing to avoid Windows, use a better OS, well built system which will hopefully help me with my studies.

Myself, I was in the market for a 12" laptop. The ibook was quite competitively priced(In singapore anyway). I also wanted to give the mac os a go, so I took the plunger. Only regret is that I did not buy a powerbook instead. But, at the time I was not sure if going the mac route was the best option, hence I was loath to flash the cash too much. Making the swap was the best thing I ever did, my PC stands idle now.

I Never switched I am a true blooded mac user

i personally wanted to experience the mac side, i'm glad i switched

I rediscovered the G4 Cube in December and purchased one off ebay with OS X. I absolutely love it and have decided to add an iMac Intel to the family. I can never completely switch since my primary software investment is already in XP and some apps only run on Windows (still waiting for the Universal release of Virtual PC), plus I do a lot of PC work for clients. I'm a "power user", but with OS X it's just so much easier to work than worry about the system. Everything "feels" better, too: the interface is smoother and looks prettier, the system doesn't choke when you put a CD in, and it can multitask very, very well.

Lets see, my laptop is in the shop for the 3rd time in just over the last half a year for major problems. Past my abilities, which in all honesty I take good care of my PC computers but on my schools network I just can't protect them. On my home network, I haven't gotten more than a hand-ful of viruses/spy-ware on my system(s) in the last 3 years.


At college, I literally get 30 spyware atleast a day. Anyways, back on subject I need something that's not going to screw up on me. Which, my laptop is just a Lemon I swear to it but I have to have it worked on so many times, with parts replaced, before Best Buy (where I bought it) will concider it so and replace it. Though, next time my PC laptop goes to BB for repairs will be the time they replace it. FINALLY!


I wont be dealing with it though, it's going to my mother as this morning I pre-ordered a MacBook Pro (the cheaper version). Right now I'm currently useing my desktop which I believe is fighting against the CD or DVD-R/DVD+r/CD (you get the point) burner which were recently installed because both CD drives suddenly died out on me. Anyways, now the desktop (even after just reformating it) is STILL giving me problems as I type.


I just want my **** Mac, I'll sacrifice my gaming to NOT DEAL WITH THIS CRAP! I don't have to deal with spyware programs, I run two on all my PCs, and I don't have to deal with Virus-Protection, which costs money for a good one. Not to mention Macs are just wonderful for what I want to do. I need something that's great for Unix for my computer-science classes, Macs are Unix based... and I need something that has a word processor and such programs that I may need in the future. Though, for sure I need a word processor which Mac has.


Currently, I am just battling my desktop until my laptop gets back in... fastest being two weeks from now. Which, I figure I'm going to have my PC laptop back at school for a week or two and then the Mac should arrive!


Then I will laugh at all the PC users who have to deal with Viruses and spyware and all that other crap! Though some will laugh at me for not being able to play games... which will suck, but the move to Mac just takes a major strain off of my college life. I don't have to worry about my computer screwing up from day to day, and possibly just crapping out on me the next day leaving me computer-less when I need to do school work.


In all honesty I will be strictly Mac for a while, though some time next year I"m going to be purchasing (hopefully) a top of the line desktop (PC) for my gameing habits. Though, I'll probably have to buy it myself... so I need this Mac to last me years on end which I have confidence it will from all that I've talked to.

In 6th grade, I worked with an old Blueberry iMac G3/ 266 mhz model in my broadcasting class at school.

There were 4 Windows PCs in the room with Adobe Premiere.

The iMac had iMovie.

You know how they say Premiere is a lot more proffesional? I honestly didn't care, because I didn't have to read a book or go to a workshop or call some tech support guy to figure out how to use it, it just worked (no pun intended). I loved it. It wasn't "oh ****, I have to edit now" it was "yay, we get to edit it!" Doing work on the footage was as fun as screwing around while we got it. I didn't spend 10 minutes waiting for hang-ups, I didn't have to boot it up before we went to film, it edited better than P4's with 1 gig of RAM on them.

A year later, my PC was litteraly fried. Fed up with viruses, spyware, and pure **** for tech support, I told my parents to go Mac.

But they would hear nothing of it.

"It's to slow."
"It's to expensive."
"It won't work."
"You don't know how to use one."
"How do you make Word documents?"
"Wait, do Macs even still exsist?"
"Windows is easier to use."
"Oh god, our son is becoming a rebellious teenager, how will we stop it?"
"It's just a phase..." (that one was the worst)

But a year later, litterally hundreds of hours of research, and pain in my knees that will never go away, they said "fine."

Imitially, I was going for a Mac Mini, which I planned on upgrading myself, however, they said "with high school coming, a laptop would be a good idea." So I thought "an iBook looks cool..." but the specs weren't even at those of a Mac Mini, and at just a litle more cash I could pick up an iMac G5, so they said "what exactly is this 'PowerBook'?"

And then came the birthday(ironically the birthday that I ended up getting food poisining from the frosting on my cake), the greatest birthday anyone can imagine: a fully loaded PowerBook G4 sitting in their lap.

And... well... here I am today.

Some might tell me "dude, I could get a Dell that beats those specs soOoOoO badly", but you know what? I wouldn't be able to use a video editing software without hang-ups. I wouldn't be able to litteraly never turn of my computer. I wouldn't have a keyboard that becomes backlit AUTOMATICALLY in the dark. And I wouldn't be a part of a community like I am here. There are just some things you get with a Mac. Be it tech support that speaks English, computers designed with EVERYTHING in mind, a computer that never crashes, and a great group of people who I will always have a common bond with.

I know my story probably isn't unique, and it'll bore many, but whenever I begin to doubt myself (rarely) I just think of the alternative.

great stories/reasons

keep them coming!

Well, I bought a new 14" iBook because I got a pay rise at work so it was a little treat Not the greatest of reasons, but I had a crappy Windows laptop which did the job, but was really annoying, and someone at work kept banging on about how great OS X was, so I took his advice and went and bought one. I haven't looked back, they are great!

i did not really switch as i still have and use my Pcs, but i got my Mac caus the course i was doing used Mac.

I started with a G3 iMac running OS9 but to be honest I didn't like that OS. I had a PC with XP that ran faster but, as we all know, that has it's own problems.

When the mini came out it was heaven and I finally took the plunge. I was doing part-time work at Uni and the PC tech workmates thought I was nuts. You should have seen the look on their faces when I pulled the mac out of the box. They couldn't help themselves, crowded round looking and touching the mini like it was a newborn baby. Boss kept mumbling "why do I have such a big ugly PC at home...why...why?"

At home that night 2 minutes with OSX and I knew that I was never going back. Next day went to work turned on the windows box and felt nauseous. Now I'm just waiting for, fingers crossed, 12in Macbook Pro and the Intel towers and I'll be first in line.

Well I am no Mac expert, but I can at least tell you why I switched to Mac. Please let me start off by saying I was a huge PC/Dell fan. When anyone would ask me what kind of computer they should get...I would always reply, "Get a Dell." However time went by, and I just found myself having deadlines and important things to get done...and the PC would just crash.

One day I happened to come across the Apple website and read reasons why to switch and the testimonies of those who had switched. So I found myself riding to Jacksonville, FL and visiting the Apple Store to sit in a few sessions and play with a Mac. I actually left the store and debated it for a month or so. Eventually, after more Windows crashes...I decided to give them a shot. I've gotten rid of all of my PCs and converting hasn't been one problem for me at all. Which was surprising considering I have almost two CDs full of information on my PC to bring over.

So how am I thus far? I love my PowerBook G4 15". I mean..I'm not expert by no means. I am still learning keyboard shutcuts, tips, etc. I just can not get over how it is just this easy. I keep getting up everyday thinking I need to defrag, purchase anti-virus, etc. but then I remember my Mac just works. It does what I always dreamed a laptop should do.

Even in my Networking class...hardcore PC advocates are beginning to look into the Apple line. They really are starting to believe that Mac just works. I know with the introduction of the new MacBook Pro...many are wanting to upgrade from PowerBooks to MacBook. My PowerBook works...so why "upgrade" Kinda like that old saying..."if it works...don't touch it."

If you are considering switching...I encourage you to just give it a shot. You'll find yourself happy with Apple. Remember...an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Why? Cuz it's less stress having to worry about computing.

-youthpastor

The main reason I switched was because I didn't want to be bothered with viruses and spyware anymore. My Sony VAIO laptop worked fine and served me well, but I lost a lot of important documents from having to reformat every now and then and from corruption. It was also a pain in the neck going online because spyware and pop up ads would find their way through, even with the pop-up blocker software and top-notch anti-virus software.

I bought a 12" Powerbook g4 and it travelled with me to Shanghai and back when I was covering the Tennis Masters Cup. It survived below zero temps, long, bumpy travel (plane and bus rides, running back and forth the stadium to the media room) and all my documents and photos. It really has helped me get better at what I want to do most: writing. Because I don't have to worry about other stuff like viruses and spyware. And because the mac interface is simple and uncomplicated and very customizable according to how I work.

P.S. I use a Powerbook G4 15" now. Life gets better everyday.

My best friend and I were die-hard PC freaks. We grew up using and abusing them, and most of the time they worked... most of the time. But bear in mind we were rebuilding computers from ancient hulks, and we had the time to defrag, format, and make every mistake known to man so that by the time I went to college I was a PC GOD.

Then my buddy switched to Mac. I was like "You gotta be kidding me, right?" You can't customize 'em, there's no software for 'em, nobody uses 'em, why would you switch?? He said two words "Graphic design" and started raving about stuff like Lightwave and iMovie. I stayed in the PC world until last Christmas when I used his Powermac G4 867 Mhz to play a LAN game. I said "Hey, this is a new computer, right? It runs great!" He said nope, it's a 6 year-old model, sux compared to what they're selling now...


That did it.

sevenhelmet said:

My best friend and I were die-hard PC freaks. We grew up using and abusing them, and most of the time they worked... most of the time. But bear in mind we were rebuilding computers from ancient hulks, and we had the time to defrag, format, and make every mistake known to man so that by the time I went to college I was a PC GOD.

Click to expand...

Hehe, that paragraph brought back the memories for me.
That reminds me so much of my best friend and I.
We used to spend hours and hours.....and hours fixing PCs, customising them, basically learning them inside out. We did everything from software to hardware.....viruses to wireless networking. I don't think there is anything which we didn't A) Have a problem with at some stage and B) Something we don't know about Windows (in ALL flavors) and PCs.
As funny (and now sad) as it is, I remember he used to call me and be like "Dude, my PC is seriously playing up, get round here and we'll format it."
Rofl, how many times we did that.....it was kinda amusing and I guess, as kids we learnt a lot about computing.

Thing is, when you grow up....you don't have that time, you have more deadlines, more things to do, quicker.....From my experiences so far, with my iBook and soon my Intel iMac (which just shipped tonight ) Macs 'just work' and 'just work' is JUST what I need right now. Just to get tasks done and go for a beer, or to watch a game, whatever. But computing needs to be effecient now, so bye bye PCs.

I graduated from high school in 1993. Computers were not that big of a part of my HS education. They were kind of coming into use more while I went to college, but my college education really didn't focus on computers much.

I discovered the internet around 1998 and began tape trading (Grateful Dead, Phish) through the internet. Finally purchased my first PC in the Summer of 1999 mainly for internet. Put in a burner when tape trading became cd trading.

That computer was a gateway, top of the line at the time. 12 Gig hard drive running a pentium 3 with 450 mhz. I never upgraded, just kind of kept using it until last December. Needless to say, the thing ran like crap by the time we got rid of it.

My computer needs have changed since then. Now my main use other than the internet and email at home is digital photos and movies of my kids. I wanted to be able to make "interesting" home movies. Set to music, effects, etc. All signs pointed to Mac.

Also, my final years with the Windows 98 machine were right around the time that Mac started their "switch" campaign.

I liked the color iMacs (don't know the gen number, G3 I think), really liked the desk lamp G4's, but just kept holding out.

Finally broke down and bought the iMac G5 17" with iSight in December. Love it. It makes putting up with Windows 98 for that long worth it!