<p>I have a few programs that I usually recommend to help switchers make the transition easier...
firefox or camino - good to have a back up as safari can use a lot of resources or crash (particularly on myspace)
adium for im - similar to trillian
Mac janitor - or learn the maintenance commands
...also, mac rumors forum is the best resource for all mac related questions. </p>
<p>welcome to mac, switchers! next thing you'll know tuesdays will take on a whole new significance... you'll get that joke in about a year. :D</p>
<p>there is almost always a identical if not better alternative app for mac. uclari is right though, most of the problems are a result of what goes on between the chair and the keyboard. i have never gotten a virus or spyware on my pc because i am not a complete retard. have fun with you mac, i love mine.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I ran in DOS mostly until 3.1 and 3.11 for Workgroups.
[/quote]
Ah the good old days. I think I still have a 386 with Windows 3.11 lying around somewhere. 3.11 was a solid OS.</p>
<p>Making the switch to OSX isn't very difficult for the average computer user. The hardest part is getting the mac versions of software you use. Not all of it has been rereleased yet to be optimized for the Intel processor. However, if you only use basic programs such as Word and Firefox you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Don't switch though if you simply have complaints about Windows crashing or getting spyware/viruses. Sure, OSX is less vulnerable to these things because the people that write them focus on their largest constituency - Windows users. That said, by switching you are simply avoiding the problem, not fixing it. You need to learn how to properly use a computer; it's not very difficult.</p>
<p>Windows is the easy choice. Despite slight mac advantages in software, the amount of freeware availeable for windows more than makes up for it. Also, the ease of upgrade just isn't there. I simply cannot stand having to buying spare parts without a choice. I need to buy around. Buy it now if you don't think you will upgrade it. But if you need more RAM or a larger hard drive, good luck, because you will probably get ripped off.</p>
<p>this may be a stupid question, but i'm fairly computer illiterate. i can type, search the web, all that but RAM and hard drive are a foreign language to me. so here's my question: does amount of memory really matter if i have a jump drive (or flash drive, thumb drive, memory card, whatever you call it)? one that's 512 MB?</p>
<p>memory (ram) is very important. try to max it out whenever possible (or at the least have 512mb), as it will make using the computer much more pleasant and faster. the size of your hard drive isn't a big factor if you're storing most of your data on flash drives. however, to install programs such as ms office, itunes, or firefox (examples), you wil need a decent sized hd to store them, at least 20-30gb.</p>
<p>if your school has a computer center or help desk, they should be able to guide you towards the type of system that will fit your needs.</p>
<p>Here's a crash course on the difference between RAM and your hard drive:</p>
<p>Your hard drive is your computer's closet. It's where it stores things. RAM is the amount of things that can be used at once. Sure, a single person can go ahead and change into a new outfit every 10 seconds, but it's inefficient (if your goal is to use everything at the same time.) So, you buy more RAM (more people) and more of what's in your closet (your hard drive) can be used at the same time. </p>
<p>The metaphor is imperfect, but it's a good beginner's lesson in the basic idea.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses.
I am by no means a computer expert, but I'm not an idiot that goes around opening spam and visiting trojan-infested porno sites, either. But our Dell has had some random "blue screen of death" type problems over the years...I'm sure Mac has its own problems too, though.</p>
<p>haven't you seen the commercial? windows has lots of cool applications like clock.</p>
<p>I have managed to crash OSX maybe 5 times since it came out. It's kinda cool, the screen goes gray and you get an error box in like 6 different languages, haha. I've probably crashed PCs more than that in the same time period and I don't even own one. Rarely things do "unexpectedly quit", but then you just open them up again. It's really not an issue.</p>
<p>One more thing I forgot to mention--the Dock is much easier to use than the Start Menu. Instead of going through multiple menus to find the program you want, one click does it.</p>
<p>Oh, nonono, gloaming. If a Mac is the Volvo of computers, a Dell is the Yugo of computers. Growing up my family always had Dells. They were pieces of excrement that would crash within a week. The first major purchase I made was a used Mac, and I couldn't be happier.</p>
<p>UCLAri, you got it all wrong -- i wasn't trying to inform you about glitches, i was simply trying to explain to you why you should not assume the "all burn in hell because all deserve it" attitude when people might not actually deserve it -- as far as i know you can just leave your computer connected to the net and on, and then just sit and stare at it without touching anything, and it will be possible to get infected in this scenario -- most people i know who complain about problems with their windows are not the ones using Kazaa or browsing the net for hours each day, downloading tons of stuff -- they are the casual users who did not like totally barricade their windows -- i was trying to demonstrate this advantage mac owners have over those who use windows</p>
<p>Gotcha. But I find that if most users would just turn on their damn firewall and install proper anti-virus software (or just turn on their damn firewall), then they'd have far fewer problems.</p>
<p>On the Mac, there is a clock and calculator on the dashboard. You also get a calendar. Plus, you can download a widget that tracks gas prices in your area!</p>
<p>My D was relatively adept at getting around on the PC although she sees herself as a technophobe. She was worried about getting a Mac laptop for college. But she researched it, did the demos in-store and fell in love with a G4 powerbook.</p>
<p>She absolutely LOVES her computer...similar to the poster above who commented on loving a machine. It's a definite first for my non-technical D. My S, on the other hand, is much more adept. He too made the switch and has joined the Mac fanatics.</p>
<p>I am now looking forward to the day I can afford to get my own Mac laptop. Maybe when they're both out of college....lol.</p>
<p>UCLAri, I worked off a friend's Toshiba before I could swing my Mac. It ate all of my fundraising/marketing writing samples and press clippings. Everytime I go in for a job now, it's a scramble to find something relevant on an archive or hard copy and re-tyoe it. Grr...</p>