i want to change from a pc to a mac but.....?

Question

i want to change from a pc to a mac but.....?

Answer 1

The only way you'd be able to have your windows stuff on your mac is if you got windows installed on the mac. which will give you the option to use mac or windows.

I think mac will convert any windows file you put on the computer in to a mac office file.

I got a mac for christmas and found it quite easy to use a lot easier that windows and also found the mac protection plan very helpful for any problems i had all i have to ring them and they give me steep by steep on any problems i have.



I think it's great because it's so quite you can even tell it's switch on and it's all so great cuz every things built into the screen so you don't have to have a tower and loads of cables ever where.

Answer 2

You can transfer files through many ways. A USB flash drive would probably by the easiest. The files will only work if the mac has applications which will support the files. Most video/audio files should work unless they are in WMA format. The applications won't work on a mac, macs work in a different way. All your games, apps, etc. won't work unless you buy the copy of it for the mac. PCs have much more applications for them than a Mac. You can adjust to a Mac pretty easily, they were made for understandability and style. Macs are much more expensive thought, but they look cooler. To use Word, Powerpoint, etc. you have to buy OfficeMac. And the Mac only has like 2 games for it. If your a games, you'll still want a PC.

Answer 3

Do you know that there are equivalent software for the PC? And even free? Buying a mac is throwing away money... also read below before you do..

Ichat alt: http://www.noambizman.com/2008/04/how-to-get-free-ichat-alternative-for.html http://www.sightspeed.com/ http://techlogg.blogspot.com/2007/08/seenly-online-photo-booth.html etc...



PhotoBooth Alt: http://photoboof.com/ http://snapstrip.com/ http://www.sigost.com/ http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_125.html&lang=ENU etc..



PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support

Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..



Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think.. Look below.



WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:



Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. Most PCs include windows already pre-installed.

1) A number of websites still require Internet Explorer to view and IE for Mac Stinks (it is really ies4osx which is the Windows IE version running really buggy on OS X and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows, too many problems with it).

2) More supported peripherals (printers and other things you hook into the computer) on Windows.

3) Many more games

4) Like the Dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.



Install at least Free Versions of Avira AntiVir, Avast, Comodo Firewall on the Vista.



LINUX ADVANTAGES:



1) Install Linux, and then get tons of software for free.Update software easily and automatically. (Checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (Add/Remove or Synaptic Package Manager), search for something you want, check a box and click apply)

2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)

3) Like the Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0hzi22g2DE



4) It is faster/MORE SECURE. Surf the internet and even run some windows programs with Wnehq/Crossover..



LINUX OS

If you are worried about viruses, spyware, security, Try Linux (it is free), I have included some information about Linux and links so you are not lost if you decide to try it.



Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)



Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and free.

Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...

UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.

All you have to do is..

A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website

B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO or get InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.org/ )

C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive

D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu

E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.



Click on this link and follow instructions up to the point of "Once the system has started up...", (the rest is how to backup windows) for an easy picture guide for steps A-E above http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

For easy instructions on setting up Dual Boot http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. This is not legal and I would not recommend it for security and legal reasons, the purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.



A)Price...

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



*****************(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799

15" Screen

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks



Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224

13" Screen (SMALLER)

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)

Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)

Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)

Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)



**(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: I'm comparing Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don't think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.



PS: Apple knows that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.



Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809

CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: 3GB Ram

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer

GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup... IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1400)

CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)

HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



**END OF DESKTOP



B) SECURITY:



Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.

All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.



C) VIRUSES



The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses (which is significantly on the rise), a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".

Viruses on Mac are rising significantly.



Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses





D) WINDOWS LICENSE is discounted with PCs



You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.





E) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR...



Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.





F) PROBLEMS



Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.



http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html

http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html

http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://www.kubuntu.org/

http://www.freespire.org/

http://www.pclinuxos.com/

http://distrowatch.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

http://xwinman.org/gnome.php

http://xwinman.org/kde.php

http://www.linuxalt.com/

http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/

http://www.avast.com/

http://www.free-av.com/

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

Google/Yahoo OS X on PC

Answer 4

The mac world is just like a pc except for you hardly have control over its errors and malfunctions, just like the buy a sony over a jvc, cause its a sony. Mac's suck! Literally speaking, if your looking for transferring files all that works and its not like you can't put windows xp on a mac and have that work just fine. Your wanting to change from a pc to a mac is like comparing a Your huge house to a small efficiency. It breaks, good luck. You obviously don't know the gain of having really nice pc, it can do just as much if not more then a mac can, and you can also install mac's software or OS X on your pc as well, so if its the SW your looking for just buy the SW the whole machine which costs are twice as much as it other leading comparison. Why do it to yourself, microsoft is just fine, if you ask me its better! I worked at a mac, and it always comes up that you need to reset safari, and save all you bookmarks and what not, its not better then a pc, its made by apple who not only doesn't care about their product working with other products, they limit its use with other products. Good luck! I hope you spend that well earned money on something else and not a mac.

Answer 5

I agree with the Mac Sucks comment although I don't think you're an idiot. Pc's have much more advantages, don't take the switch. Macs are overrated, overpriced, and just not worth it.

Answer 6

I would go to a mac store. The "Genuis" there will do the transfer for you there. They are very user friendly. you also have the availability to run XP or Vista in a window on a Mac. Windows runs much better on a mac and also is possible to not loose some of your favorite applications. When Leopard gives you a little problem you always have windows a click away.



Good Luck from WCS. You can always contact us here, thank you.



Chance Smith

IT Consultant

Wolfgang Computer Service

Jackson, TN

wolfgangcomputer.com

Answer 7

If I were you I would stick with a PC. I think macs are really inconvenient. It's annoying to have to change all your programs just to fit a mac. Its difficult to find software for macs and Office for Macs just isn't as great as it is with PC.

Answer 8

I don't think it's worth buying a mac to begin with, but that's my personal opinion.



More objectively, here's what's going to happen. You're going to have to re-buy all your software that's not Mac compatible. Not all software that works on a pc is compatible with a Mac, you usually have to buy specific software for it, and on top of that, some of your favorite programs may not even be written for a Mac, therefore you'd have to find some different software to use. Hardware wise Macs are becoming the same as any other PC, so basically you're paying more for the name, and the fact that it's a Mac Operating System.



To answer about your school work, there could be compatibility problems there as well.

Answer 9

one answer: it's easy to adjust to

Answer 10

"Cdabe" tells you that he is beng objective, but about the only time he has a clue is when he tells you that his dislike for the Mac is personal opinion. There will be zero compatibility problems with any Word or Powerpoint file you create using a Mac. Zero. The files are completely cross-platform formats. Yes. The Mac does require "specific software" (to use Mr. Clueless' words). But if that is a reason to not buy a Mac, then let me point out that Windows also requires "specific software". I guess you can't buy a PC either if you take his advice. As for his assertion that the Mac is becoming more like Windows, he is putting the cart before the house. It is Windows that is becoming (or trying to become) more like the Mac. If you take his advise, you should leave Windows, because it is not quite like what it is copying.



Here are a few good reasons to get a Mac.



1) Since they have a useful life about twice as long as a PC, Macs cost less than PCs because that need replace half as often.

2) Instructions to fix a Macintosh 99% of the time can be typed - in detail - on one side of a normal sized piece of paper. The same for Windows can fill a book.

3) No known viruses.

4) No known spyware.

5) The OS is designed with the user in mind. A task that would take 10 steps to complete on Windows, would take 5 or less on the Mac.

6) Things that can be done by the computer automatically are often done so automatically on a Mac. For example, if I unplug my cable modem for the wireless router and then plug it into my Mac, the Mac will automatically start using ethernet for it's access to the Internet. If it was a Windows system, I would have to take several steps to tell the computer that I have made the change. I might even need to reboot.

7) Macs are more stable than Windows. Well, that's not completely true. In actually, as I experience as work, Windows can be just as stable as the Mac. All you need to do is severely limit all users to privileges that stops them for installing any software (even mouse drivers), give them limited access to changing setting in the Control Panel (I can't even change the time), don't use the Internet except for work related activities, install software that forces the user to download and install all patches for all software that is installed, and install software and use proxy servers to maintain this stance. Oh yeah, and a high paid IT guy to maintain it all.

Answer 11

when u buy your mac. u can bring in your mac an PC to the mac store than they will do it for u