I Made an EXTREME Switch :-)

[Mark]

Well, in my final bit of extreme frustration with Windows I decided I needed a change and a new laptop. I tried to switch to Linux but it just wasn't working out. It didn't have what I was needing. So I was thinking of just buying a newer faster laptop but Windows Vista absolutely disgusts me and that's all you can get on a Windows based laptop now.

So what did I do? I bought a MacBook Pro of course. I have a cousin who has had one for 5 years now and he says he loves it (and it proves the hardware is built to last! ). Also my parents both made the switch about 9 months ago and haven't looked back. So I went ahead and made the switch myself. Yes it was quite too expensive for what I wanted to spend but if I can get 5  years out of it then why not?

Here's what I got:

MacBook Pro 15-inch Widescreen
2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x2GB
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB
200GB Serial ATA @ 7200 rpm

Here's the rest of the specs: http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs.html

I should hopefully have it by the end of the week, I'm crossing my fingers. I customized it so it takes 1 - 3 business days before it will ship. But 2 day shipping was only $10.

EDIT: Oh, and if you're wondering why I got so much RAM I have to use VMWare Fusion to run Windows so I can still use Adobe CS3 as it's way to expensive to buy a Mac version especially when you already own the Windows version.

[Jason]

Cool, good luck

(I was going to ask about your purchased software since you faced that problem with Linux)

I don't think I could handle that switch!  No more double-clicking, right?!

[Mark]

No, by default it's all single click but I think you can change that in the preferences. Same goes with right click, the new mice (and even laptop touch pad I believe) have sensors so you can turn on right clicking.

And really, the only purchased software that I can't replace is Adobe CS3 (not because there isn't a Mac version but because it's too expensive). My dad has a 3-User license for MS Office:Mac 2008 that I can use for my office suite needs and it works with all my Office 2007 documents (one of the big issues I was having in Linux as OpenOffice doesn't support them). Other than that, only other PC software I have on my laptop such as CuteFTP, Stuffit, FeedDemon, and Nero all either have Mac versions of the same software or there's a different Mac version available (i.e. FeedDemon would be replaced by NetNewsWire which is made by the same company).

So, we'll see how it goes. I will update you after a few weeks.

[dania]

Looks good KP

Have fun times

[Mark]

Update! I'm loving my Mac!!! I don't think I could ever use a PC as my main computer again! In fact, I'm thinking of replacing my aged desktop at home with one of those new 24" iMacs. But I still have a small bit of my MacBook Pro to pay off before I do that.

Since the day I received my Mac I've learned that Office 2007 for Mac is just as terrible as Office for Windows in terms of bugs and security issues. So to move completely away from that I tried iWork '08 and preferred that over Office. Now I have iWork '09 and it's 10 times better than iWork '08 making it even better than Office for my needs. Also, iLife '08 came with my machine and I've since upgraded to iLife '09 which received some pretty incredible updates as well. I've also found a great FTP program (Transmit) as well as an HTML/Web Development program (Coda). Further sliming my aforementioned need to launch into Windows (still can't replace that Adobe CS3, Coda helps for quickly editing webpages but I still need a graphics program... on the cheap anyways).

Also, in my previous post I made in response to single click, right click, etc. It's double click for everything by default (except for links, so much like Windows). And right clicking is there in many forms, including just right clicking. Also, if you use a lot of keyboard shortcuts in Windows, it's pretty much the same for generic ones (copy, paste, etc.) just that instead you substitute the Command key for Control. Even though the Mac has a control key, it's not the same. Also, it takes keyboard shortcuts to the next level in that you can create custom ones for ANY program. Which is nice.

The only drawback I've found is that most of the video games that I own don't have a Mac version on the disc (I do have some that have both PC and Mac versions on the same disc) or even available. But over the last year or two I've mainly been playing console games anyways. Last PC game I bought was Half-Life 3: Episode  2 which came out October 10, 2007. But then bought the Xbox 360 version as my computer, while mostly doing okay with the game, struggled a bit in some parts. So yeah, that's not a big deal anyways.

So in short, switching from a Windows machine to Mac was WAY worth it.

[Jason]

I think I fall into the "can't teach an old dog new tricks" category on this debate 

That and I like the fact I can build my pc's from the ground up and fix them if needed.  Though maybe you can do that for Macs these days to some extent?

[Mark]

Nah you can't, that's one of the few drawbacks. But it's compensated with a service plan that can't be beat, so if anything goes bad within 3 years it's replaced for free. And that's about how often I was upgrading my PC so it might be the same with my Mac? Though some people they get years more out of their Macs before upgrading so we'll see.

[dania]

I too would love a Mac,

For those that do have a Mac and can't use Flash just remember that Swishhttp://www.swishzone.com/index.php?area=products&product=max&tab=overview won't play on a Mac either. The company say it will never happen even though it used to be an almost daily question...pity

[Finner]

Started on a Com 64 went to 128... then had an Amiga.... Mac plus... Power Mac

Moved to windows just before OS-X (ten-lol)

now I'm finally dabbling in Linux   

http://www.aspyr.com/  ports a lot of the popular games to Mac