Switching From Windows to Mac - Comments Page 1

Thanks for the great overview. I've used both platforms for years and ideally would have both. Next system upgrade, I will be looking at getting a dual OS Mac.

The only downside of both I find is the mentioned keyboard shortcuts. When I move back and forth between them, I sometimes get them confused. They are actually quite similar but the Apple - Ctrl variation is where the gotchas are. You can use PC style mice on the Mac too, if you prefer.

Great article Bob. Pretty much spot on. I use both systems daily. There is no doubt, that my experience with Windows on the Internet, and Mac, my preference is Mac. Absolutley will not put my personal Windows maching on the net. Mac is cool but there are things I like about Windows. I actually like the taskbar. The Dock is not quiet the same thing.

Also, my Mac is 3 years old but all Macs DO have a power button on the box in addition to the keyboard. Always have. However, the past couple of years, if I'm not mistaken, the power on keyboard button has been absent. If you have an Apple Display, press the power button on the display and the whole system boots up. If you have a PC monitor, just press the power button on the box.

Apple's mail program is simply called "Mail", not "email." They sitll cost more than Windows on the low end but high end machines are very comparable in price. Mac's lower end computers are a few 100 dollars more than a cheap PC but the basic mac computer does have better components comparatively. However, when someone just wantes to email, surf the net, a little word processing, I recommend the cheap PC everytime.

Thanks for the article Bob. I switched years ago and only use Windows when necessary (ususally from my Mac). Had to use Windows at work (arrg.) The Mac doesn't seem to get in the way as do Windows machines. I believe all new Macs come with a Mighty Mouse, which is essentially a multi-button mouse with a scroll ball (like a mini-track ball). You can also plug in most any multi-button and use it, as David said.

Nice to see you looking at the Mac platform. However, I have a few comments and corrections. First, Windows switchers will find an excellent summary of the differences between XP and Mac OS X built in. When in the Finder, go to the Help menu and choose Mac Help. In the resulting menu, click on Switching from Windows. Voila!

Similarly, it's been a few years since a power button was on the Mac keyboard (other than laptops). This button is on the front (Mac Pro) or rear (iMac, Mac mini).

The folder which contains Mac applications is (surprise!) the Applications folder. Many, but not all, Mac programs are installed by dragging them into the Applications folder. Others are supplied with installers which put things where they're supposed to be. Often, but not always, the installer is also used to uninstall -- there's no "Add/Remove Programs" equivalent.

The very cool lighted keyboard you describe is only on the MacBook Pro laptops. There's no "gear" on the Trash icon's menu. Click and hold on the Trash icon and select "Empty Trash". Alternately, hold down the Command (open-Apple) and Shift keys, then hit Delete.

Microsoft stopped updating Internet Explorer at V 5.2.3 a couple of years ago. Quite a few web sites are unreadable using IE now.

I work as a tech coordinator at a school, half macs, half pcs. I spend WAY less time maintaining the Macs and they don't get outdated nearly as quickly. We use Microsoft Office everywhere and kids use it on either platform without any trouble switching back and forth. The software that comes with the Macs is fantastic and is also used a lot and probably saves us money in the long run. Just my 2 cents.

Don't you have to pay for Mac OS updates, where comparable Windows updates would be no-charge? If so, about how much do you budget per year for that purpose?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You pay only for major new releases of OS X (similar to moving from XP to Vista), but not the regular patches and updates.

Thanks for all the info, especially Garry's tip to check the Mac's help for info on switching from PC to Mac. I just bought my first Mac a week ago and have been slow to setup my wireless network to allow the Mac to connect to the internet and really dig in to it. I'm planning on setting everything up this weekend and these tips will really help.

I've been working as a systems analyst for the past 18 years and have worked on PCs since switching from CP/M years before that. I'd had little exposure to Apple or Macintosh until one day about a year ago when I got a chance to play around with one at a video production lab. I was impressed by the overall design which I can only describe as "smooth."

Recently, I had been eagerly awaiting Windows Vista and planned to upgrade/overhaul my PC to take advantage of it, but after using Vista on a friend's PC, I felt a little disappointed. Faced with the decision between upgrading to Vista and not being fully satisfied and trying something new, I took a chance and bought a Mac. So far, I'm convinced that I made the right decision, but I'll only know for certain after it truly becomes our family's central system.

Very interesting article! Yes it's true that the Mac OS X (with its versions named after German WWII tanks) is far more stable and secure than XP or Vista - that's largely due to the fact that it's based on the Unix filesystem/security model.

It's also has a dumbed-down interface and is horrendously expensive! For true computer users who don't have a money tree in their back garden there's only one alternative today - Linux!

My daughter will be going away to college in the fall and is pestering me for a Mac laptop instead of a PC laptop to use at school. I do not have any experience with Macs.

I see a comment above from a tech coordinator above, but can anyone provide some of their experience in using a Mac on a school network? I want to make sure that my daughter doesn't run into some obvious "gotchas" that I will be unequipped to help her deal with.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Most colleges will tell you whether a Mac or PC is preferred (or required). Ask the admissions department or the department head what to buy.

To clarify about the Macintosh Finder, you can choose to view files in "Column" format. This is very similar to a PC, where you are shown a split-panel view where the tree of folders appears on the left and the contents of the selected folder appears on the right.

But even better, you can instantly choose how many columns you'd like displayed, and you're shown a preview of the file you have highlighted.

Re: catweasel's comments: If you're too macho to use the "dumbed down interface" on the Mac, navigate to the /Applications/Utilities folder and open up Terminal -- you have your choice of shells. You can also simultaneously run your favorite Linux distros (note the plural) as virtual machines via Parallels.

As for relative cost, you can beat the price of a Mac if you assemble your own 'puter, don't put any value on the time you spend researching, shopping, and assembling it, and use only freeware. For the rest of us, Macs are competitively priced with similarly loaded Wintel boxes of equivalent quality.

Re: Chuck Kay's comment: Actually, I think you'd find that, feature for feature, Macs aren't more expensive anymore. You simply get more features with a lower-end Mac. Also, for someone who "...just wants to email, surf the net...", they would be much better off with a Mac due to the much lower security risks. Tip: if you're looking for the cheapest way to get a new(ish) Mac, look at the refurbished models. They're accessed by clicking on the SALE tag about half-way down the main Apple store page, on the right. Those machines are at least a couple hundred less than brand new, but include the same full-year warranty as new. I've almost always bought refurbs, and saved some hefty dough over the years!

Bob: Do you know if blind and visually impaired persons are able to find in the Mac what they have now found in the Windows XP environment? Thank you for your answer.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm not sure how it compares to Windows, but Mac OS X Tiger has VoiceOver, which offers magnification and spoken English descriptions of what’s happening on screen.

I just bought a MacBook, it hasn't arrived yet. I been using Windows for many years and I have never have had a virus, worm, or Trojan because I keep my systems up to date, have a firewall and anti-virus running, but I've fixed many other computers that were infested with them (they don't read TOURBUS). I've had an Emac G4 that died with a bad logic board, that Apple finally fixed after quietly admitting there was a problem with a bunch of them. My friend's Imac (the one that looked like a lampshade) died with a bad logic board too, and Apple replaced it with a newer model. Another friend who is a Mac Fan boy and swears by them, but when I talk to him his system is almost always giving him problems. My experience with PC hardware has been very good. I have very old machines running and performing well: a Compaq Contura running Win 3.1 at 25MHz and newer laptops running XP as well. I thought I'd give Apple another try cause I like the lightness and size of the MacBook, BUT I also bought Apple Care with it!

I am wanting to move to a Mac from PC laptop but keep putting it off as concerned that it will take me a while to learn how to use it. Also, is it true that PowerPoint files made in Macs have conversion issues when viewed in Windows?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, there is a learning curve. I know some hard-core computer users who tried to switch to Mac and couldn't make the switch. As far as I know, PPT files are portable from Mac to Win.

Great article Bob and I see from the comments above a few people have correct you on a few issues. I have been a die-hard PC user since I was 16 yrs old (back in the 80's). I tried using a MAC back in the early 90's but hated it! Now I own a mac mini AND a mac book laptop and I LOVE them!! They are so much easier to use!! Last night I set up a printer on a home network and my mac found it immediately and with a click on two it was installed! Not so for the PC!! I had to tweak it and use the IP address to install the printer. Not something most people would know how to do. If your debating Vista VS MAC OR if you are just thinking about a MAC let me tell you the are pretty easy to use now AND you can easily install windows XP on the intel MAC's and have the best of both worlds on one machine! Take it from this Network Admin who has had lots of experience on PC's and now owns a Mac Mini running Mac server and a mac book.. Mac's are the way to go!!

Two points re the article:

1: Macintosh's Text Editor is actually called TextEdit and is vastly more capable than NotePad.

2: The email client in OSX is called Mail, not Email.

So how do you right-click to get to a short-cut menu? The easiest method is to plug in a 2-button mouse. It will be recognised immediately and left & right-click work just as they do in Windoze.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, but that's not part of the Apple-blessed Macintosh Experience... Macs still ship with the "hoof mouse"...

OK, my first pc was a DeskPro 8088 and I'm comfortable with my PC's; but I just purchased a Macbook for my college attending daughter. Right now I still want to keep myself insulated from this new animal. Is there something similar to the files and settings tranfer wizard to get her data easily transfered from her current laptop (XP Pro) to the new one?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You may want to remain unsullied by the Mac, but your daughter will have to learn it and use it daily. I'd let HER figure out how to transfer the data, and in the process, become familiar with the machine.

I came to computers late in life. Have been toying with buying a Max OS.5. (leopard). At present use Windows XP.

I have two external hard drives - one Maxtor about 3 years old and a new Western Digital Elements. I also have a Canon scanner 4 years old and an Epson Stylus C65 printer. I also have an Olympus 400 Digital Camera. Does any one know if they would be compatible.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The hard drives would have to be converted into external USB drives to be used on your Mac. Not sure about the scanner, since you didn't give the model number, but the Epson Stylus C65 has no Mac support, from what I've read. The camera should work fine with your Mac.