I need advice on switching

I've finally decided to switch from a PC to a Macbook, and I have a question. Will it be essential to have the leopard operating system, or will the current one be adequate for awhile? I'm going to be using it for normal college stuff(papers, slideshows, etc), but I also enjoy making/editing videos. It's just a hobby, however, so I don't need anything fancy. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Don't do it !


(just kidding... )

 

get this book

 

Is the macbook pro REALLY necessary, or will I be okay with the regular macbook? The pro is probably out of my price range.

 

MacBook would be fine for video editing. It doesn't have a dedicated video card, so anything 3D-related is out of the question.

You'll get 10.4 (Tiger) since that's what is out now.

You could try to get a refurbished MacBook Pro for a good price, actually.

 

The current Apple MacBooks are very powerful and at a good price. The MacBook will handle college tasks and video editing perfectly fine. The main advantage of a MacBook Pro is the graphics card and Expresscard slot. If you don't plan to game or do 3D-related tasks the MacBook is more than enough to handle the tasks you plan to do.

Mac OS X Leopard is going to be cool, but Tiger is already very powerful and nice. You'll be fine on Tiger for quite a while unless you really want the new features of Leopard. But even if you do plan to upgrade to Leopard when its released, it won't be really expensive either: $129 US. Just one version, a complete install (not an upgrade price), $129 US. Cheaper than Microsoft Office!

 

What frustration during the first few days should I be anticipating? I've always been a PC person, so I'm sure I'll have to adjust.

 

Probably the biggest frustration would be getting used to the way OS X works. But it is quite easy to get used to. I found that these two articles really helped me understand how to switch from Windows to Mac and understand where something is on OS X where it used to be in Windows.

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101

Enjoy!

 

The current OS should be fine for a while and like Sam said, Leopard will be relatively inexpensive. I'm brand new to macs, I just receviced mine today from FedEx (thank you for delivering it a day early ) and I'm not having too much trouble at all. The one thing I keep trying to do is tap the touchpad for a mouse click, but I've already gotten over it after an hours use. Also, maximizing windows is a different process...if you double click the the top it minimizes insatead of max as it would in windows. But again, just little suff that you adjust to in a very short time.

 

This is exactly what stopped me from switching -- and I was really, really close.

I know where pretty much everything is on Windows, as well as how to do pretty much whatever I need to. But after playing with a Mac for a while in an Apple store (several times) I realized that I don't know where anything is on a Mac, and don't know how to do anything I need to (besides the obvious bascs). Scared the crap outta me.

That ended my desire to buy a Mac.

 

Aww, its really quite easy to learn, SoundsGood. Find everything with Spotlight, install applications by dragging an icon into the Applications folder. As I said, reading the two articles I suggested above really helps you understand where everything is.

 

you can enable tapping in system preferences

 

Thanks! I only glanced over the prefrences and must have missed that one.

 

This might be a stupid question, but are there any financing options? I don't have 1200+ just sitting around.

 

I don't believe Apple has these options...you might consider buying a refurbished MacBook then. They are still very good quality but much cheaper. All defectives parts are replaced, everything is cleaned and stuff and it comes with warranty, even for a refurbished product.

There's no refurbished MacBooks available on the Apple Store right now, but just to show how the prices are much lower than new MacBooks: there's a 17-inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo, original price $2799, they're selling it refurbished for $2299.

 

Thanks. I actually talked to my dad, and he said we could still afford a new Macbook. He actually said I could get the pro if I really wanted it.

 

Well as I recently ordered the 2.4 MBPro I would recommend getting any MDPro over a Macbook. They use the latest notebook technology available. My wife ordered the 2.2 version. She's a switcher and I have and will use both. I just haven't bought Mac since the first iMac with with the half circle base and free floatinf LCD. Also still own an old iBook 14" G3. Both still run fine even after about 7 or 8 years.

 

I went to the stores too and had the same thoughts and it took me a month to take the plunge. My thought was I could buy it now and if I did like it I would know in the first two weeks and return it...but I figured the basics out in a couple of days and love it. week three.:wink: :smile: :wink:

 

You need to learn the art of "Change". If you don't you will be keeping Bill Gates rich for the rest of your life. When you buy a new car you have to get used to how it operates vs. your old one. Does that mean you will keep the same old car? This is JUST a computer. It's not a major life change.

 

I do understand that the Macbook pro is the best machine. My parents are being generous enough to buy it for me, so I don't want to make them spend too much money.

 

Can anyone articulate why the "Change" is really that much better than Windows? I'm being serious.

Agreed. It's just a computer. So what's the problem with using Windows? Again, I'm being serious -- not trying to be sarcastic here.

 

Bill Gates will be rich for the rest of his life even if M$ declared bankruptcy tomorrow. Although I did read that he is now only the 2nd richest man behind that Slim guy from Mexico.

 

Past 10 billion everyone stops counting.

 

What are any problems/defects that affect the current macbooks?

I've heard a lot of complaints about the MBP.

Thanks so much for your help, everyone.

 

I never said there's a problem using Windows, I just said people should learn the art of "change". Alight, here's an example, the world is hell bent on using MS Office as if it's the ONLY option when there are actually free alternatives but people are afraid of change. Sometimes the free alternatives offer more.

Too many times my Windows friends complain that either their iPod won't connect or something else about their PC is driving them mad and yet when I recommend that they look into Macs they start making excuses for their PC's actions although the problems have not been solved.
Change is good. I don't need to tell you what's better about the Macintosh. It's just about "change".

 

Have y'all used iMovie? Do you like it?

 

I just want to point out that Bill Gates has donated roughly 30 billion dollars to charity.

 

It's not like Steve Jobs is exactly hurting for cash either....

 

That's true, but he's not as rich as Bill Gates. LOL

 

Steve Jobs has about $5.7 billion US. Not too shabby, but less than Gates, Ballmer and Eric Schmidt.

To Sara2009, I use iMovie and its a great app. The effects are wonderful, everything is easy to use yet powerful.

 

Is it better than Windows Movie Maker? I made 4 videos with that, but it was a piece of crap.

 

Haha, it is way better than Windows Movie Maker. Windows Movie Maker is inferior compared to iMovie. With iMovie you can make some very nice videos easily.

 

Does this mean it won't make the computer freeze up all the time? LOL

 

Haha, depends what Mac you're running. It might be slow on a PowerPC, but the new Intel Macs will run iMovie without a glitch.

 

Are the random shutdown and sleep issues still occurring? Or have they been fixed for the most part?

 

Is that a condom?

 

I believe it is! Maybe it comes with the book.

 

Weren't the random shutdown issues only on the MacBook? Well, anyhow, Apple released a firmware update that fixed that problem. Sleep issues I haven't heard about.

And to the other two posters, I think he was using it as a bookmark for the guide .

 

I don't know. I could've easily gotten confused.

 

That's what I thought also. I have been a PC user full time since 97. Before that it was minimum use in High School/Work/etc. Then came my recent quest to buy a new computer since my year 3 desktop was begging to show its wear and tear. I looked at many different PC's and ended up choosing the MBP (pre-Santa Rose) but in the end I took it back. I didn't take it back because it was Mac or due to the OS X but because unfortunately I bought a lemon and it was a blessing since the upgraded version came out 2 weeks later.

Because of that I decided to build a gaming desktop and then revisit purchasing a new MBP later on this summer. I think OS X is very beautify designed and I am looking forward to learning its true potential.