The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Compatability Problems?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by tjizzzle, May 3, 2007.

  1. tjizzzle

    tjizzzle Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hey,

    I am seriously considering buying a Mac Book Pro 17" for my next laptop. I am a professional photographer, so i use alot of editing programs like CS2, however, i also own and run my own business. So i hope a MAC can both fulfill my artistic and business side.

    I have been a PC owner forever. My main concerns with buying a Mac is compatability with the rest of the world. I will going to college this fall and i need the wireless internet to be compatable with whatever is on or around campus. I have read some form post stating that the wireless systems that MBP's use are created to be used with apple products and dont work well with anything else. is this true?

    Also, would you recommend buying Windows vista and using it with boot camp? Im afraid that i will need to use programs that wont be available for mac and only compatable with the PC.

    One more thing, i have been known to game alittle. I love FPS like Americas Army. In your expert opinion how is the 256mb ATI Raeon x1600 that comes with the MBP. I havent been around the gaming block in a little bit so im not familliar with the current ATI mobile graphics cards, im more of an NVIDIA guy.

    Thanks for all of your help and taking your time to answer my questions.
     
    tjizzzle, May 3, 2007
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Connecting to other WiFi networks shouldn't be an issue, but if you purchase a Mac you'll either (1) have to dual boot with XP so you can use your current programs, or (2) purchase/find software that may or may not cost you extra. Just a thought...plus, you need to look into what software is required for your degree program and classes, and check and see how you plan on running that software on the Mac.
     
    Greg, May 3, 2007
    #2
  3. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    787
    Messages:
    2,859
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    We would need to know specifically which programs you will need to run to tell you if there are Mac versions or equivalents. Assuming there aren't, I would recommend Parallels over Boot Camp, unless you will need 3D accelration. Another option is both, use Parallels when you can and Boot Camp when you have to. Parallels will allow you to use your Boot Camp partition now whcih makes it very nice.

    As for gaming, if you are just a casual gamer which it sounds like, the X1600 will be fine.
     
    cashmonee, May 3, 2007
    #3