Sage advice for the new Mac switcher

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Chas,

Brand new switcher, here! Thanks for a nice start. I'll pick mine up tomorrow! :)
 
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from a complete novice point of view a great help thank you
 
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I'm a new user just got my new 21.5" iMac last week, this thread and also the Switcher forum has been great for me. I am really starting to like my mac!:)
 
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Thanks for a great thread. I've read it, saved it and downloaded several of the recommended programs. As a new switcher I've decided not to install Windows on our new MBP, why mess with a good thing.
Bill
 
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Great post, Very well organized
 
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Great post, chas. I'm a new Mac user (got my 15" MBP about 3 weeks ago), but have used Windows systems for as long as technology has been around. I teach technology and computer software (on Win only), so this was a big jump for me.

A few comments:

#2 and #3 -- programs: some software and programs you can't avoid installing. Well, yes, I suppose you could, but it makes things difficult. I'm talking specifically about the MS Office suite. A college kid relies on that. When a prof has a .docx or .xlsx document or requests a PowerPoint presentation -- it had better be able to be accessed or it better work when presented in class with their software. Sometimes OpenOffice or other stuff just doesn't cut it. This is why students (and educators) are offered deep discounts to buy MS Office. Anyone who is a student or a teacher can purchase the latest version of Office for the Mac at well below the retail price. College bookstores are super-cheap ($33 for the 2011 version), but you need to have a college ID. Otherwise, students (and yes, that's K-12 kids) can get it for well under $100. Adobe remains pricey, but it still is much cheaper if you have some sort of educational connection. Agreed -- buy it. Pay the developer. The real deal is the best deal.

#6. Switch 101 is excellent, but so is Mac 101. I used that site to navigate the interface before I even walked into the Apple store, and then I visited it twice as much afterward.

I also had people tell me not to sign up for One-to-One. I went ahead and disregarded their advice and paid the $99 for one year of unlimited private training sessions, because as I told them when I bought this, "I know enough to be dangerous." The few sessions I've been to have been superb. They got me going with Time Machine, helped me transfer my iTunes library seamlessly, and assisted me with installing an FTP client (since I maintain websites). I showed up with a list of what I wanted to learn that day and the assistant walked me through everything. So worth it.

That, and forums such as this, help me make an easy transition to the Mac, and I am loving it. When I walk into my classroom to teach on my Windows machines every day, I'm giggling because now I know there IS a better way!
 
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chas_m

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I concur about MS Office with one caveat: I've prepared literally hundreds of slideshows on Keynote that then were shown on PowerPoint and have never had a problem. Naturally the fonts and transitions are considerably uglier on PP but that's been the only issue I've ever had, and the same goes for my (admittedly not very complex) Pages-to-Word documents.

Thanks for the comments!
 
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Great post. #1 and #2 are the main reasons I bought a Mac in the first place. You can trust that your Mac will be ready to use, right out of the box. Everything is straightforward, minimal, and intuitive. Straying too far from Apple's intentions can ruin the synergy that I so admire in Mac OS.
 
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This is where I'm starting...

And so it begins, the rest of my life as a mac user.
This seems like a great place to start.

It just feels good reading that post knowing I'm part of something better now.
Much to learn...
 
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New Mac user

Hey all !

Switched to an iMac about a month ago and could not be happier. Liked your set of "rules" but have to offer a bit of contention about "not installing Windows". The main reason for the new Mac was my PC bit the dust, I didn't want to put the time (or effort) into fixing it and had the funds to buy a Mac - plus, I have been working with Micro-crud since DOS 2 (if anyone remembers back that far) and they have gotten steadily worse. Couldn't wait to drop them like a bad habit. Unfortunately, I have two software packages that I use daily (one for Scouting and one for a side business) that do not have a Mac counter-part :Angry:. Because of this (and the dead PC), I had to install Windows on my beautiful Mac (and felt "dirty" doing so - LOL). I must say, Windows runs better on the Mac than it ever did on the regular PC.

But it was not installed, as you wrote, as a crutch. I am actually looking into getting some Mac certification (I ran the MS gambit - now to try something new) and took to OS X like a fish to water.

I hope I won't need much help, but it's nice to know there are people out there with answers!
 
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Picked up my NEW MacBookPro last night, i love it, although i haven't really done anything on it yet.

iTunes first, email 2nd.

I'm sur i will love it once i get used to it
 
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Useful info

Thanks chas_m for the useful info.

Im 3 weeks into the switch over from Windows to Mac. I wish I had made the switch sooner.

Im finding a lot of useful info on this forum.

Once again Thanks:)
 
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Just wanted to say thank you for this sticky. I joined the Mac cult ( ;D ) just a couple days after the 2011 MacBook Pro was released, and I can't see myself ever going back. I'm already loving this forum - thanks for your kindness to those of us who are recent converts and still learning.
 
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I'm a new switcher and am looking forward to this forum. I have a bunch of noob questions.
 
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Wow, thanks for putting this info together. As a new Mac user myself (today is day 7), it will was a very useful read.

I just discovered this site today and I love it. Talk about a wealth of knowledge.
 
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I am loving this thread. I am less than 18 hrs into my MacBook and love it. As of now I don't see me going back to "the dark side".
 
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"in general Windows users pirate like crazy"

Generally helpful post, but this bit is sheer bigotry:

I'm not speaking to you directly on this, but in general Windows users pirate like crazy...

This noxious rhetoric reinforces the granfalloon of "cool Mac users" vs "uncool Windows users".

Shame. To quote the original poster (my emphasis added),

This is why Mac users sometimes come off smug
 
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Cheers, chas_m,

I followed your links. If you dig down, you see that the poll shows that Mac users self-report buying more CDs and downloaded music than Windows users. Then blog headline writers concluded that Mac users are more honest than Windows users. Is that the kind of logic you're advocating? Wouldn't you rather focus on reinforcing positive behavior instead of playing along with divisive stereotypes?

Hey, you wrote a fine post. I was just -- writer to writer -- taking some time to contribute.

Otherwise you could -- with minimal changes -- be writing a "Guide for Newcomers to Beverly Hills".
3. Don't shoplift. Pay for what you use.

I'm not speaking to you directly on this, but in general out-of-towners shoplift like crazy -- to the point that they are not even aware that they're doing it. Particularly when it comes to our community stores, Beverly Hills NEEDS to retain the best kinds of businesses, and that means those retailers should be paid for their wares. Hunt for bargains, take advantage of sales, but I think you'll find that most Beverly Hills merchandise is of WAY higher quality than most inner-city merchandise, and we really like it that way, so please pay for what you pick up.

As for entertainment, I think you'll find major-label music so much easier and more enjoyable (and for the most part reasonably priced) to use you'll appreciate the value. [than what? unclear antecedent. --ed.] As my dad always said, "Nothing is ever really free. You always pay Peter when you rob Paul." This is why Beverly Hills residents sometimes come off smug -- because we understand VALUE versus just PRICE.

Lastly, do you really think this kind of pious admonishment actually works?

The rest of your piece is great!

Peace.
 
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