plannin to switch to mac for the 1st time

hey guys, m plannin to buy the new macbook. jus wanted to know will switch bring any problems or nuisance to me? i mean i have been using windows since i learnt how to use a pc. my regular usage involves word processing, internet and music n movies n downloading random stuff. i m thnking of completely goin on mac n its my 1st time m buying a macbook. so i know ill have some difficulties in the beginning, but apart frm that do i need to know anythn else bout mac or switching(i read the switching guide).? does mac have its own version of microsoft office?

is it sensible to buy macbook wid 1gb ram n then add few more pounds( m buying in london) n upgrading it to 2gb, rather than adding 120 pounds for an upgraded model?

 

Definately dont buy any RAM from Apple. Get it third party from OWC or Crucial. Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 is out and available - some people have issues with it (slow boot in some programs). I have it and it runs fine to me.

 

I think it's great that you're going to make the switch to a Mac.

People here would usually wait until someone actually gets a new Mac to offer these links but since you asked for a guide to switching, these are two links that are "supposed" to be very helpful:
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101

 

had the same thoughts as you before i had my macbook pro.
yes it has microsoft office 2008 for mac, might void the warranty if you add the ram by yourself. the system actually make more sense to me than windows, simple but effective.

 

I use both Windows and OSX on a daily basis. I have likes and dislikes about both. OSX Leopard has some great features that I wish Windows had. Like cover flow, preview images & docs & pdfs using the spacebar, usuable 4+GB Ram and not sure what else ATM. I would recommend getting some kind of "everything Apple Doesn't Tell You" book. They are really handy and you'll learn a lot about OSX quickly. Or you can just Google whatever you can't figure out. But many features are not "advertised" within the OS hence the book(s). The transition really is not too bad I am sure you'll like OSX just fine

 

Adding the RAM will NOT void the warranty on a Macbook as it is "consumer upgradable." There's instructions in the manual and everything, it's real simple. On a Macbook upgrading the hard drive will not void it either.

Definatley do not buy RAM from Apple. They're charging you 5-10 times the price for the SAME RAM.

 

Yup, adding ram does NOT void warranty.

 

thanks for the info guys. so i will go for the base model n jus upgrade the ram from outside.

 

hey guys, also wanted to ask u, as m a study n hardly into gaming, would switching be the best thng for me? coz my friends told me mac is more for ppl for into serious stuff n not for students. is there anything like tht related to mac?

 

If such a thing is true, then a huge percentage of the students at my university are in trouble, me included!

Actually in my Master project team, 8 out of 10 students have a Mac, go figure...

Just switch, you'll be fine I did it last summer and I'm truly happy! My wife is actually getting envious and likes her Dell Inspiron less and less...

 

lol, ok. then ill jus go for it. one more question. wht is this peryn? or sumfin like tht......

 

Penryn is just the codename for Intel's latest processor update. It's a newer core with a few new features such as SSE4 and offers a little more L2 cache on particular models like the T9300 and T9500. It also offers a little better power consumption so battery life is longer. All in all it's a decent enough upgrade but nothing big over the previous Merom processors. Montevina coming around June or after should be a much bigger update.

 

MacBooks are targeted towards people that just want a computer that works and it easy to pick up and learn without some of the hassles you face with Windows PC's. MacBooks are less customizable however compared to a PC so you're more locked in to just what Apple offers you.

 

I like the fact that I've got something DIFFERENT this time. The tech is flawless...it runs perfectly, connects to everything with a hitch, nice and smooth, great interface, its a great change.

 

Naw...Macs are pretty well rounded if you ask me, with the amount of games available being its weakest area.

Sounds like you're set . The only thing I want to note is that the base model MacBook has a Combo Drive, so it cannot burn DVDs (but can read and burn CDs and read DVDs). The more expensive models of the MacBooks have SuperDrives that can burn DVDs.

 

ohh, thanks for informing me bout that. ill keep that in mind,but will c how it works in my budget, coz i might buy it on hire-purchase. my gf is not talking to me now, apparently she n her friends r coming up wid the best explanations to prevent me from buying it. shez using a PINK sony vaio. ewwww....

 

what do you your friends mean by serious stuff exactly? MANY students own entry level macs/macbooks. I personally do not own one, but when it comes to using an office suite, browsing the web or watching movies the mac will do it well.

sounds like you're friends are wannabe techies that think they're computer wizards because they know how to format a hard drive.

Don't listen to them, if you dont play games and want a solid OS and can afford it, I would definitely hop on the band wagon. I am just waiting till the next major update before I jump on!

 

Haha, my girlfriend and I both use MacBooks .

But yeah, of course no notebook is perfect. Macs have their flaws, and so do Sonys and every other notebook out there.

 

If there's one thing that Windows does better than OS X it's gaming. A LOT of students use Macs, me included. I think over half my campus is using Macbooks... If anything, when it comes to "seriousness" and looking professional, that's what Windows PCs look like most of the time

 

I'll share that ewwww...

And add that I saw a site (forgot the name) that is selling pink MBA...