<p>This question is for anyone who has switched from a PC to a Mac (or anyone who has experience with this switch).</p>
<p>How was the switch and do you think it was worth it?</p>
<p>I'm thinking of getting a MacBook because I'm annoyed with Windows and think the MacBook is really nice. However, I've used PCs my entire life and am so used to it that I'm not sure whether switching is a good idea.</p>
<p>if you spend sometime playing around with OSX and doing things you do every day, it's not a big deal. and you can just ask someone to give you pointers on anything that isn't so obvious.</p>
<p>i personally don't think OSX is that much better than XP (i frankly don't like Vista, though it's bearable once user access control or whatever is disabled), but i still prefer it.</p>
<p>one thing i don't like is being stuck with itunes.</p>
<p>I use Mac OSX at work and most of the time when I'm using my MacBook Pro. There are a lot of nice things about Mac OSX that just work and it's nice not having to deal with antivirus software. I also use the system as a server from time to time and it works well there. At home, I'm mostly on Windows XP x64. I also have a Vista thin and light notebook that I use for traveling. I don't really like Vista but I can live with it. I have an XP Virtual Machine on Vista to run those programs that won't run on Vista.</p>
<p>I use Mac Tigers at school. For basic every day usage there won't be any problems. Especially if you won't be switching back and forth between mac and pc like me. Its annoying to learn the differences in hotkeys once but I have to switch every day, I'm really annoyed why apple thinks the apple button, which substitutes the uses of the control button on pc, should switch places with the alt/option button. Meanwhile there is still an actual Control (or command?) button way in the corner, but in the programs I've used so far it has zero use. [/rant]</p>
<p>One thing I would miss if I switched permanently to a mac would be knowing most of the infrastructure, where to go for certain files, certain services etc. Its harder to "look under the hood" on a Mac, in fact its harder to find where the hood is. And Mac's are very untweakable, so power users like me hate the inability to explore.</p>
<p>But the casual user usually enjoys macs better.</p>
<p>I think that you can remap keys on Apple laptops.</p>
<p>Mac OSX is Unix. If you use Solaris, Linux, etc., it should be pretty easy to navigate. If you're a Windows expert without Unix experience, then it can seem like a completely different world. In the old days, there were far more operating systems around and you just assumed some time in moving from one to another.</p>
<p>I really suggest that you try out mac first before buying it. Try to find a friend or someone who has one. I think you can also go to some apple store to try it out.</p>
<p>I personally didn't like it. I prefer Windows over OSX. I agree that Windows has some problems that OSX doesn't but OSX doesn't allow a lot of configuration and there aren't many programs for it. And the bit about viruses, as long as you don't open unknown programs or do anything illegal, you'll be fine. I have gone two years without any antivirus software and have never gotten any virus.</p>
<p>well, depends on what you wanna do in college...</p>
<p>like i do graphic design so I got my first macbook pro this last summer
i feel like OSX is much cleaner but its not as indepth as XP can be for configuration and stuff</p>
<p>but for those programs you cant run on windows... you can either use bootcamp or use CodeWeavers</a> - Your Home for Windows Compatibility on Mac and Linux which has a program called crossover which lets u run most popular windows programs on OSX</p>
<p>Yeah I have the same problem.</p>
<p>I use the computer alooot. and I"m sooo used to Windows I dont know if I WANT to make that transition.
But a Mac is so tempting..</p>
<p>Bill Gates will hunt you down.</p>
<p>Jobs is a IT magician and Gates is a seller, that's all.</p>
<p>My switch from a PC to a mac was extremely simple, everything is simply laid out and easy to find.</p>
<p>Yes, it is harder to go deep into system files but i doubt anyone will have time for that in college anyway. </p>
<p>And I use bootcamp to run Vista and it works really well, while starting up your computer you hold the option key and you will get to choose between "Macintosh HD" and "Windows" the OS then launches and then you are basically on a PC, works extremely well for running windows-only programs.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yes, it is harder to go deep into system files but i doubt anyone will have time for that in college anyway.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I do, practically on a weekly basis.</p>
<p>Then buy a mac, install windows, and go as deep into your system files as you want.</p>
<p>That actually made no sense...buying a mac just so one can install windows and root through the system files? Also, it's reasonable to assume that if the OP wants to access the system files, he wouldn't be doing it in windows as he has stated that his main reason for switching is annoyance at Windows.</p>
<p>I was merely pointing out that that type of thing is not as rare or inconceivable as one might think for a college student. And college students aren't usually so short on time that doing such things are impossible.</p>
<p>One of the main reasons as to why I bought a MacBook Pro for our son was that he needed a Unix system for his schoolwork. One of his professors would mark homeworks with a zero if there was any indication that it was done on Windows. The course required you to know how to use standard Unix OS commands and some of the development tools along with the directory structure.</p>
<p>My option was to install Linux on one of our current computers or get a MacBook [Pro]. He has a PowerMac but it weighs 50 pounds and isn't very portable.</p>
<p>try linux. you'll be pretty surprised by it's usability.</p>
<p>and save your money</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
That actually made no sense...buying a mac just so one can install windows and root through the system files?
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Agreed. Worst idea ever to buy a mac just to install windows</p>
<p>Ever since Apple switched to Intel processors, the issue of "PC vs. Mac" has really become a moot one. It used to be that switching to Mac meant giving up the ability to natively run Windows. (Games, anyone?) This is no longer true. It is incredibly easy to dual boot OS X and Windows on Intel-based Macs. You lose nothing.</p>
<p>For full disclosure, the only Apple product I own is an iPod. I have an IBM ThinkPad that dual boots XP and OpenBSD. I don't hate Windows. I just love UNIX.</p>
<p>^ I completely agree, with the option of dual booting now widely available in Macs, switching from a PC to a Mac is just like switching software.</p>
<p>Look at it this way... Apple is so confident in their product that they're perfectly happy for you to take one of their machines in a turn it into their competition (a PC)... they give you all the tools and instructions for free on their website. </p>
<p>Of course they know that nobody in their right mind would do this since the Mac OS is vastly superior to anything Microsoft has every pushed out (look at Vista... it's a botched up attempt to copy OS X). As an avid user of both (I'm writing this on my Vista PC right now) I feel somewhat qualified to make that assessment;-).</p>
<p>As for the transition... it's really easy. Of course for the first few days you it might take some getting used to (eg remembering to use the 'open apple' key instead of the ctrl key) but the system is so intuitive that you just need to play around with it for a bit and you'll pick it up very easily.</p>