<p>I have used a PC for 18 years, and I have never used a Mac before (except for screwing around on my friend's Macbook). My parents are buying me a laptop soon for college, and the Macbook Pro seems really nice, but I don't know if it's a good idea to switch from PC to Mac in my transition to college. I'll be stressed out as it is with getting used to college, and I probably don't want to stressed out even more by trying to figure out how to do something on a Macbook that I knew how to do on a PC. Any advice?</p>
<p>I personally think a MacBook Pro would be a great choice, and as long as you have a few weeks between the purchase and when school starts, you should be in great shape. Web browsers are going to be quite similar, as well as productivity applications like Microsoft Office. The operating system will take a while to get used to, in terms of how/where to save/find files and applications but in the end I think that you will find the change to be worth your while.</p>
<p>NOOOOOO, don’t move to the dark side. Please don’t~!!</p>
<p>Personally, I find Macs a major pain in the ass to use. Why would you want to switch, OP? Well, it’s your choice, though, so do what you want.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it’s not hard to transition. Now, I use PC but when I first tried out OSX it took me a couple hours of fiddling to get used to it. Just spend a saturday clicking random buttons and watching some youtube tutorials (if you want to use advanced features).</p>
<p>So, no it’s not stressful.</p>
<p>P.S. the search button on a Mac is your friend.</p>
<p>Macs are great. Look at it this way, with a mac you can run Mac OS, Windows and even Linux if you want.</p>
<p>It’s very easy to switch from a PC to a Mac, but not from a Mac to a PC. The Mac is very, very intuitive and easy to use. It’s also great for photos and music.</p>
<p>On the assumption that you know windows quite well (at least for everything you plan to do) the claim that OS X is better because it is more intuitive is not applicable to you. If you are perfectly satisfied with windows, switching to a mac should be a hardware-based choice, not software-based.</p>
<p>As for the whole argument about intuitiveness of different OSes, my philosophy is that every OS that can seriously be considered is pretty much a google search away from any reasonably common inquiry, and that if it isn’t it clearly is something intuition isn’t going to help a bit with.</p>
<p>Correction: I did not say that OSX is better because it is more intuitive. I simply said that if someone were interested in switching, it is easy to switch because Macs are very intuitive.</p>
<p>I own a computer store and sell both Macs and PCs, and my experience is that it is easy for people to switch from a PC to a Mac, but the other way around is more troublesome for people.</p>
<p>^Not about your statement. Its a blanket statement. If hes comfortable with windows, then software is less of the decision point for him, because neither choice is going to be hurting him (well, OS X until he learns it up to his knowledge of windows)</p>
<p>You will also have to factor in the much-inflated cost of Apple hardware in such a decision.</p>
<p>Think about this. A good dell laptop is around 1000 bucks. An equal spec macbook is 2000 bucks. You could buy MANY things with 1000 dollars you have left over. You could buy a motor scooter to get around town in your college, buy a TV and xbox and games, 1000 dollars worth of books. The list is never ending. Just buy a PC laptop and enjoy the compatibility with all programs and cheap price.</p>
<p>^ haha that’s what I did. Decent laptop + xbox 360 for gaming.</p>
<p>I have had no trouble transitioning in my first year.</p>
<p>Here’s what I suggest: get a mac and then delete mac os x and install, instead, windows 7. The product itself, the computer and hardware is unsurpassed and peerless. It will last a long time.</p>
<p>But I hate Mac OS X because it’s so inconsistent and a lot of programs don’t run on it.</p>
<p>Almost all good programs are designed for PC and sometimes for Mac. But so rarely is it the other way around.</p>
<p>^ : ( You have to buy mac and Windows 7</p>
<p>Buy a $1000 laptop, keep it 3 years, buy another $1000 laptop(much better specs since its newer/up to date), keep it for another 3 years.</p>
<p>Macs are generally double the price. Not worth it in my opinion - I use Windows 7 and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS for both my desktop and laptop.</p>
<p>I have used a Dell Latitude E6400 for about 2-3 years now. It’s holds up to everyday abuse. I usually just toss it in my car. Would you be able to do that to a $2000 jewel?</p>
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Probably just doesn’t feel cool enough after seeing everyone walking around campus with a MacBook, Moleskine notebook, thick-rimmed glasses, and tight jeans.</p>
<p>I personally prefer windows to Mac Os X (and I use both frequently). However, I like to tinker around with my computer so for some people macs are better. To each his own. With regards to the transition, a transition to mac os x should be quick and painless, as long as you give yourself a couple days to play around with your new laptop. Try uploading your photos, music, etc. and you’ll have gotten the hang of it in no time.</p>
<p>I switched the summer before I started college and didn’t have a problem switching. The learning curve is very easy. I like my Mac a lot and was also one of those guys who tweaked everything on his PC and made it run exactly the way I wanted it to. I have very very few complaints about my Mac and will probably buy another when I graduate even though I’m not a Moleskine-toting, thick-rim-rocking, tight-jeans-wearing hipster. I’m actually wearing a tie right now, and not a skinny one.</p>
<p>I’ve never had trouble finding an app that does what a PC app does. Certainly for someone who’s not a power-user, you will not have a problem. Even for the one or two apps I need occasionally that run only on PC (they’re both related to hacking my phone), Boot Camp makes it easy to run Windows for whatever I need.</p>
<p>I would challenge the PC users to give me an app that you think Mac doesn’t have and is necessary to a college student.</p>
<p>That said though, Windows 7 is impressive so you may consider getting Windows 7 on a nice PC. I’ll at least think about it before I get a MacBook Pro.</p>
<p>Macs are overrated and overpriced. Windows 7 is just as intuitive and easy as OSX and I’ll go as far as saying it’s even better. This comes from a guy who has worked with both operating systems a lot, by the way. I just can’t get over the price of Apple. You just get a whole less hardware for the same price and people buy it because they truly believe it’s better. This isn’t true; the people at Apple have hired really good marketing guys, that’s all.</p>
<p>If you’ve been using Windows for all your life, using a Mac is gonna suck for a while. Everything is in a different place. Even the keyboard and mouse work in a different way. Macs aren’t better like they want you to believe, they’re just different, that’s all. My question is, “why bother the trouble”? Just cos you see Macbooks in movies and series? Gimme a break.</p>
<p>If you have a high budget for a laptop, you can always get a Sony Vaio. They’re really stylish too, and have an operating system you’re familiar with. My advice would be, stick with Windows.</p>