<p>so before i purchase my MAC and become a convert, I just wanted to know if there are any important software/programs that aren't mac compatible. I heard that AIM doesn't work well on a MAC. Any input will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>thanx</p>
<p>I don't like mac AIM as much and I hate ichat (Mac's own version of AIM) but they're both usable and don't crash or anything. The only thing I can think of not working is hiding your online status and having 2 screennames signed in at once, and profile viewing is mildly annoying.
Also, I would suggest buying MS Office. It's worth it. Um...sometimes online videos that only work with Windows Media have issues, and downloading Windows Media on a mac seems counter-intuitive. You can get realplayer and stuff though. I really do like the computer.</p>
<p>Get Adium for MAC. It combines all the major instant messaging applications in one application. It also allows you to have tabbed conversations. That is not a problem.</p>
<p>A con of getting a MAC is don't expect it to be a gaming system. You're better off sticking with a PC.</p>
<p>Yeah the biggest problem is proprietary media formats, but i just downloaded real player and windows media player. Hopefully people will start using quicktime more cause mpegs are better than the other two... i use ichat cause its really simple, i dont need a lot of the extra stuff, but aim and yes adium both work quite nicely. get office for sure, the mac version is actually better than the windows version for some reason. Other than that, it comes with everything youd need right off.</p>
<p>Just curious, but what are you thinking about getting?</p>
<p>Mplayer and VLC will take care of most video and audio files.</p>
<p>NeoOffice/OpenOffice will work as a free alternative to Microsoft office.</p>
<p>Any "light"(no games etc) windows programs that need to be run will usually work with VirtualPC.</p>
<p>Expect to see some improvement with games when the intel move is over with, but that's well into 2006-2007.</p>
<p>Im getting the 15 '' powerbook</p>
<p>whats adium?</p>
<p>You know as soon as mac switches to Intel, there will be hacks out to run windows on Macs and Mac OS on PCs :D. Concievably, you will be able to have a dual boot system, using games on windows and everything else on OS X, if you so desire (games still probably will run better under windows, for various reasons).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Im getting the 15 '' powerbook</p>
<p>whats adium?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Nana767: Adium is consolidates popular IM services--AIM, Yahoo, etc.--into one application. Basically you can access and log on to these services using Adium. It offers tab conversations and multiple log-ins, so you could log in with your AIM account and yahoo account</p>
<p>aah thanks</p>
<p>Adium is AWESOME, I've been telling everyone about it. It's so much better than aim or ichat and it only works with Macs, so there's a pro! (though gaim is pretty much the same thing for PCs) </p>
<p>I noticed that some little things like google earth aren't supported by macs yet, but for the most part, you will have everything you need. I have a 15" powerbook and I love it</p>
<p>I Love Adium.</p>
<p>Adium > Ichat, Aim</p>
<p>I just made the switch to Mac at the beginning of the summer. The AIM format on macs is annoying at first, but not a serious drawback. I don't have thaht adium thing, but maybe i'll get it, but i don't know. it's really not a big deal. The only thing that bothers me (annd this is going to be reallllly lame) is that MTV and VH1.com have videos that you can't view on a mac. so, if you watch trashy tv like I do, and you want to waste time and watch the videos attached to them, you'll have to track down a pc. and that is my only complaint. I love my ibook</p>
<p>Macs to me are like cars that only work on a small percentage of the highways. They are cool but I prefer knowing that my media and games will work.</p>
<p>Perhaps, but they are really pretty cars that run on highways with less traffic :p</p>
<p>For those MTV and VH1 videos, I think all you need to do is download real player for Mac.</p>
<p>MPlayer = win :)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mplayerhq.hu/%5B/url%5D">www.mplayerhq.hu/</a>
I've watched series 4 of Family Guy this way.</p>
<p>or, macs work on their own highways at 80mph, while PCs are clogging up their highways with viruses and backups which can only be fixed with a reformat.</p>
<p>PS. Widgets are awesome. And I just got a mighty mouse /w a 360 degree scroll ball (not a scroll wheel). You can scroll diagonally /w it, nice.</p>
<p>Honestly, I've used apple computers my whole life. Apple II, SE 30, Power Mac, Power Mac, 1st gen iMac, G4 Tower, G3 ibook, iMac (pixar light style), and G4 15" titanium. The only downside I've found is the number of games are less. Most of the games come out for both, but not all. I've switched most of my gaming over to PS2 (soon to be PS3!) though =P</p>
<p>The biggest set back I see with the Mac platform is compatibility. Some stuff simply doesn't work with the Mac.</p>
<p>you are right
In fact I miss out on a lot of stuff because I have a mac
like all the myraid worm updates- patches and fixes that my friends around the water cooler moan about
I simply have no part of their conversation ;)
<a href="http://news.com.com/Windows+worm+knocking+out+computers/2100-7349_3-5835530.html%5B/url%5D">http://news.com.com/Windows+worm+knocking+out+computers/2100-7349_3-5835530.html</a></p>
<p>cons:
-expensive
-incompatible with some programs</p>