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Switching to an Apple Macbook Pro

the_alcatraz

the_alcatraz

Head Mod
Elite Moderator
I've been using Lvo, Hp, Dell, Toshiba, LG, and several other brands of PCs throughout my life and career. I'm thinking of switching to a Mac.

I need some advise on why I should or shouldn't and what benefits I can get by switching...What are the pros and cons.

Now there is definately I premium you need to pay to get a Macbook Pro, 15", at least 2.5 GHz processor with 3-4 GB of RAM and a decent integrated graphics, maybe some discrete graphics as well.

Applications would be watching dvds, browsing the interwebs, playing games, music, etc...maybe even learn Photoshop
 
The wife just got a macbook pro, the 13" one, she loves it. It is taking her some time to learn all the differences.

Coming from a anti-apple programmer, my spiel ...

pros: nice design, works well, has a unix backend, can run windows 7/XP if desired as long as it is a new one. It is great for photoshop and other adobe products.

cons: paying an expensive premium, lots of program still do not work or have a mac equivalent, still a lack of gaming (WOW works though), i have had just as many macbooks fail as pc laptops over the last 2 years.

Mess with it at a BB or something, if you like it get it. Just watch out for the horrible commercials ....
 
Unless you are gaming or running PC-specific applications (i.e. engineering apps), a Mac will be infinitely easier to use and lower maintenance.

If she's an MS Office "power user", she may be a little disappointed with very high-end Excel and PowerPoint and remember they don't make Access (the office database) for Macs. But unless she's writing macros in VB or doing some way out-there presentations, that won't be an issue.

But in terms of web, email, audio/video editing, address book, contact management, etc. etc. the Mac will be vastly superior. You'll have to ditch your PC mentality though -- you basically turn a Mac on and it runs forever. You won't have to tweak, defrag, debug, etc. etc. anything.
 
Don't do it I did it two years ago I know you get a deal from work but a PC is much better trust me if your ever going to be VPNing with it you have to remap the keyboard etc it is a pain in the ass.
 
superqt4u2nv said:
Don't do it I did it two years ago I know you get a deal from work but a PC is much better trust me if your ever going to be VPNing with it you have to remap the keyboard etc it is a pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

You can just attach a keyboard via USB and use the MAC regularily no?
 
mrplunkey said:
Unless you are gaming or running PC-specific applications (i.e. engineering apps), a Mac will be infinitely easier to use and lower maintenance.

If she's an MS Office "power user", she may be a little disappointed with very high-end Excel and PowerPoint and remember they don't make Access (the office database) for Macs. But unless she's writing macros in VB or doing some way out-there presentations, that won't be an issue.

But in terms of web, email, audio/video editing, address book, contact management, etc. etc. the Mac will be vastly superior. You'll have to ditch your PC mentality though -- you basically turn a Mac on and it runs forever. You won't have to tweak, defrag, debug, etc. etc. anything.
Click to expand...

what about running anti-virus and anti-spam programs?

Isn't a Mac better for Photoshop?

Why would a Mac suck for gaming, doesn't it have superior graphics to a PC in general? or is it the compatability issues you're referring to?
 
Now that Macs have integrated the intel chips you are dealing with essentially the same product, as much as mac users will agrue they are not.
To say you turn a MAC on and you'll NEVER have a problem is total hogwash.

I know you are into IT (severs etc). Take QT's advice and run. Run to a PC with Windows 7 and make sweet, sweet love to it bro. The other thing about Macs not working with alot of MS designed apps and such.
Also MAC doesn't run updates, patches etc like MS. They instead make you pay for it. Talk about double dipping.

PC FTW :)
 
the_alcatraz said:
what about running anti-virus and anti-spam programs?

Isn't a Mac better for Photoshop?

Why would a Mac suck for gaming, doesn't it have superior graphics to a PC in general? or is it the compatability issues you're referring to?
Click to expand...

I've never ran Photoshop on a mac (actually never used a mac) but photoshop works just fine for me on PC, and my laptop I use photoshop on at home is a total POS.
 
the_alcatraz said:
You can just attach a keyboard via USB and use the MAC regularily no?
Click to expand...

Nope you cant if your trying to work the AS400 you need to remap the key board to make all the commands work this is of course assuming you would use it to remote log into work. What are you using it for exactly I can tell you pretty quick if it will be worth the dough or not. I still use my MACbook a fair bit but I also have a desktop PC which I use more got it a year after I got my MAC.
 
the_alcatraz said:
what about running anti-virus and anti-spam programs?

Isn't a Mac better for Photoshop?

Why would a Mac suck for gaming, doesn't it have superior graphics to a PC in general? or is it the compatability issues you're referring to?
Click to expand...

Blah net time corel comes in get an NFR for Paint Shop Pro they give them away every time they come into our offices. I used to have all corel NFR on my old acer laptop product is easy to use and unless your a PRO no need to use photoshop paint shop can do pretty much every it can.
 
Now that Apple uses Intel pc hardware the only real reason to switch is if one platform runs software you need and the other doesn't. Yes, there are fewer viruses for Mac but chrissakes. In 15 years I can count the number of viruses I've gotten on one thumb. Get a PC with a router, anti-virus software, an anti spyware app and STFU.
 
the_alcatraz said:
what about running anti-virus and anti-spam programs?

Isn't a Mac better for Photoshop?

Why would a Mac suck for gaming, doesn't it have superior graphics to a PC in general? or is it the compatability issues you're referring to?
Click to expand...

I've never bought an anti-virus or anti-spam product for any of my Macs.

It would be like putting a pussypad on the bar in the squat rack. Sure you can do it -- but that doesn't mean it's to be done.
 
superqt4u2nv said:
Nope you cant if your trying to work the AS400 you need to remap the key board to make all the commands work this is of course assuming you would use it to remote log into work. What are you using it for exactly I can tell you pretty quick if it will be worth the dough or not. I still use my MACbook a fair bit but I also have a desktop PC which I use more got it a year after I got my MAC.
Click to expand...

AS400? Do you even use a terminal or just feed it punched cards?

I kid!

:)
 
Dial_tone said:
Now that Apple uses Intel pc hardware the only real reason to switch is if one platform runs software you need and the other doesn't. Yes, there are fewer viruses for Mac but chrissakes. In 15 years I can count the number of viruses I've gotten on one thumb. Get a PC with a router, anti-virus software, an anti spyware app and STFU.
Click to expand...

LOL! Sig worthy brother

BTW + 1
 
the_alcatraz said:
Damn why all the hate...Macs are rock solid yo!
Click to expand...

agreed, but so are $5-700 laptops now equipped with windows 7
and dual core processors

Ultimately, get what you'd like bro. Personally, I'd spend the extra money on dildos :p
 
the_alcatraz said:
mac air?? wtf would you get that....mac book pro broheim and it's not like im taking it to the gym with me
Click to expand...

Trust me droping a pro would do the same thing drop a think pad or even for that matter and elite book now and it would keep ticking can't say the same for a MAC.
 
I have both and use both. For most of my work (including the MS Office stuff), I prefer the Mac. However, part of my work involves diagraming and modelling. Although I can do this with a virtual machine, it tends to drain the battery incredibly (ie 5 hours gets reduced to 2 hours). I've tried the Mac versions of Visio and the other applications that I use, but I found that they aren't quite "perfect"; there's always one or two things that are off. I don't have to log into System I / P anymore (it's not called an AS400 anymore), but I didn't find a problem with the Mac clients that I had access to.

As for the virus problems and the other problems that both sides say that the other have, I haven't run into a serious problem because I ghost my HD on a weekly basis and keept my data files on a server. Thus, when there is a problem with a virus or consistently poor performance, I re-deploy the ghost image on the HD. For my Win7 machine, I was doing this on a weekly basis (for awhile); but have started only using it for the diagramming and have plans to extend the ghosting duration to monthly instead of weekly. Sure, it's a pain; but the battery is a key important item for me. I've looked at getting the new Macs, but the reports that I've read indicate that the battery life is still hampered (from 7 hours on a Mac program to 3 with a virtual environment).
 
ortiz34 said:
Now that Macs have integrated the intel chips you are dealing with essentially the same product, as much as mac users will agrue they are not.
To say you turn a MAC on and you'll NEVER have a problem is total hogwash.

I know you are into IT (severs etc). Take QT's advice and run. Run to a PC with Windows 7 and make sweet, sweet love to it bro. The other thing about Macs not working with alot of MS designed apps and such.
Also MAC doesn't run updates, patches etc like MS. They instead make you pay for it. Talk about double dipping.

PC FTW :)
Click to expand...
What are you talking about? They do run updates.

Are you refering to the $30 upgrade for Snow Leopard? They saw that as a major upgrade. If you're worried about double dipping, I thought you would be more worried about Win 7 (which to me is a minor upgrade to Vista).
 
EnderJE said:
I have both and use both. For most of my work (including the MS Office stuff), I prefer the Mac. However, part of my work involves diagraming and modelling. Although I can do this with a virtual machine, it tends to drain the battery incredibly (ie 5 hours gets reduced to 2 hours). I've tried the Mac versions of Visio and the other applications that I use, but I found that they aren't quite "perfect"; there's always one or two things that are off. I don't have to log into System I / P anymore (it's not called an AS400 anymore), but I didn't find a problem with the Mac clients that I had access to.

As for the virus problems and the other problems that both sides say that the other have, I haven't run into a serious problem because I ghost my HD on a weekly basis and keept my data files on a server. Thus, when there is a problem with a virus or consistently poor performance, I re-deploy the ghost image on the HD. For my Win7 machine, I was doing this on a weekly basis (for awhile); but have started only using it for the diagramming and have plans to extend the ghosting duration to monthly instead of weekly. Sure, it's a pain; but the battery is a key important item for me. I've looked at getting the new Macs, but the reports that I've read indicate that the battery life is still hampered (from 7 hours on a Mac program to 3 with a virtual environment).
Click to expand...

what ghost software are you using?
 
EnderJE said:
What are you talking about? They do run updates.

Are you refering to the $30 upgrade for Snow Leopard? They saw that as a major upgrade. If you're worried about double dipping, I thought you would be more worried about Win 7 (which to me is a minor upgrade to Vista).
Click to expand...


I was referring more to service packs and such. It came out wrong.
I agree W7 is alot like Vista, but in the end it's better, more stable and not the resource hog vista is.
 
EnderJE said:
I have a trial version of Ghost and a full version of True Image right now. I was going to buy it from QT, but she's got to make it worth the while.
Click to expand...

I got two old NFR's I got to kiji them if you were closer I let you have for $20
 
EnderJE said:
I have a trial version of Ghost and a full version of True Image right now. I was going to buy it from QT, but she's got to make it worth the while.
Click to expand...

make sure you buy them from her face-to-face she's a knockout I know...we used to work together :p
 
I wub my Ubuntu Linux PC.
 
For those that care (and I'm sure that most don't), I've been testing out an application called Crossover Mac. As it turns out, it can be used for my diagramming applications with no discernable impact on the battery. Happy days! The new PC will likely be going back soon.
 
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