Fed up - Seeking New Computer Advice

[dryadsdad]

Originally Posted by Athena

I've been having problems with my desktop PC lately - one right after the other. If I manage to actually type this message without it crashing it will be a record tonight. sigh.

If you were going to get a new computer what would you get? Suggestions can be either Apple of PC. I have not ruled out changing platforms, but it's not really my dream as I would then need to replace software too.

I didn't go Mac when in your situation because none of my licenses would transfer over. That is, AFAIK, I'd have to REBUY CS, Office and others. Yes, I could run them on the Windows side using BootCamp but why bother? If I'm going to run Windows, I may as well run Windows.

Personally speaking, I'm fed up with Microsoft and Windows but I'm married to the *#&#& things. If I am wrong about the licenses, then I'd recommend a new Mac.

[Philtography]

Apple all the way! I have both pc and apple. Go to an Apple store and a least check them out before you buy anything. You can swap formats from windows to apple with their software. Apples have no viruses, no popups, they run faster. I-photo is cool.The laptops don't run hot. Warranty is great.
Easy to learn. You won't be sorry.

[TonyK]

Adobe has a transfer program for a lot less than a full license. I was able to transfer from Windows to OS x and upgrade from CS to CS3

Office can be replaced with either OpenOffice or NeoOffice. Both are workable and can save to Office formats as needed.

Originally Posted by dryadsdad

I didn't go Mac when in your situation because none of my licenses would transfer over. That is, AFAIK, I'd have to REBUY CS, Office and others. Yes, I could run them on the Windows side using BootCamp but why bother? If I'm going to run Windows, I may as well run Windows.

Personally speaking, I'm fed up with Microsoft and Windows but I'm married to the *#&#& things. If I am wrong about the licenses, then I'd recommend a new Mac.

[TonyK]

PS: Don't buy in to all the hype though about Macs not needing A/V. I protect my system with ClamX. It protects my download and email folders. Aside from that I practice safe computing which prevents a lot of issues.

But there are nasties out in the world but most require user action. Just don't be the "dumb" user and you should be okay with a Mac and ClamX.

[Athena]

Honestly on my desktop computer (the dying one) I use mainly only an internet browser (and would be happy to have the color management in Safari) and photoshop. The rest I can do on my Acer laptop (what I am using right now).

I had a small look last night and I like the macbook pro. Will need to look into it more to figure out what questions to have answered because at this point I don't even know what the questions all are let alone the answers to them.

I have three external hard drives and would likely pull out and box the harddrives in my dying pc. Would I be able to use those with a Mac? Do Macs also use external HDs?

[TonyK]

Hi,

I have 5 external HDs right now connected via USB. Mac should be able to read the drives without issue but writing, depending on the format, might be an issue. If you are using NTFS I would check Google or some source to make sure that won't cause a problem.

My Spyder2Pro's software worked just fine with OS X without any issues. Downloaded updates from the Spyder site to get the latest versions.

I use FireFox on OS X mostly but sometimes Safari has a use or two. LOL

If what you want is something to do browsing on I could suggest the Mac Mini then with a memory upgrade to 4GB.

Take care,

[Athena]

no, the Mac would be for photography. That little mini is cute, but not nearly enough for me.

off to google what NTFS is...

[TonyK]

How-to: Read and Write NTFS Windows Partition on Mac OS X:

How-to: Read and Write NTFS Windows Partition on Mac OS X - Stepcase Lifehack

[TonyK]

also this: Download NTFS for Mac OS X for Mac - Provides full read/write access to NTFS volumes. MacUpdate Mac Network Software Downloads

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by Athena

...the Mac would be for photography.

Really? A MacBook for photography? A 13" screen? It IS a brilliant screen, to be sure. But it is only 13"! Nice for on location, and for tethered shooting, but not for editing! It is simply too small for that.

[dryadsdad]

Originally Posted by TonyK

Adobe has a transfer program for a lot less than a full license. I was able to transfer from Windows to OS x and upgrade from CS to CS3

Office can be replaced with either OpenOffice or NeoOffice. Both are workable and can save to Office formats as needed.

I was told no side grade. That is, I could u/g if it were CS 3 to CS 4, but not CS 4 Windows to CS 4 Mac. If I was misinformed, then I was.

Open Office does not contain Access and I make money as a developer for Access and integrated MSFT apps (sideline). I have been allied with MSFT for years now once finding it a pleasant relationship but it hasn't been for many years now. However, I'm pretty much married to it.

I may have given it up because the MSFT Office biz now is very slow if I could just swap a license for Windows for OS X. I have no idea why I'd have to pay even a penny to swap these licenses, but Adobe was firm.

[TonyK]

One of the two has some form of a DB. Myself I would move from Access to MySQL and create PHP forms to manage things. Then again, I'm a web developer by my day job.

Regarding Adobe, there is, or was, a platform switch program just over a year ago. I know because that is what I used to move from Windows to OS X and it was directly through Adobe.

[dryadsdad]

I said I make money as an Access Developer. I can't very well tell someone who wants an Access project developed to use MySQL, now can I?

Well, I guess Adobe likes you more than it does me or policies change.

[TonyK]

Sorry. You did and I missed that. My bad.

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by dryadsdad

I have been allied with MSFT for years now once finding it a pleasant relationship but it hasn't been for many years now.

Huh? Has it been "for years now", or hasn't it?

[Athena]

Originally Posted by Athena

Also, I think my SyncMaster (Samsung) monitor can be used with a Mac
...

Originally Posted by Athena

I had a small look last night and I like the macbook pro. ...

Originally Posted by Stercus Vultus

Really? A MacBook for photography? A 13" screen? It IS a brilliant screen, to be sure. But it is only 13"! Nice for on location, and for tethered shooting, but not for editing! It is simply too small for that.

The Macbook Pro is available in 17" and (I think) can support my syncmaster 226BW. That's probably enough for me for now.

[Stercus Vultus]

Originally Posted by Athena

The Macbook Pro is available in 17" and (I think) can support my syncmaster 226BW. That's probably enough for me for now.

Agreed. That's a lot different than a 'normal' MacBook's 13" is, of course. I've got 2x 17" MBPs too, a 20" iMac, and a 24" iMac. The MBP is a great mobile machine*, and it's what I use for practically everything (like this). But I vastly prefer to do editing on the 24" screen.

* I like to describe the 17" MBP as the BMW 328i convertible among personal computers. And the 24" iMac as a BMW X5 xDrive30i. Not as nimble as the convertible perhaps, but at least as powerful, and extremely utilitarian.

BTW: any Mac(Book) with DVI out can drive any screen up to 30" with DVI in.

[Athena]

awesome - the syncmaster is in then. That'll save me some cash.

[dryadsdad]

Originally Posted by Stercus Vultus

Huh? Has it been "for years now", or hasn't it?

Initially I enjoyed my relations with MSFT being a favored developer, etc. I attended (at MSFT expense) seminars and other meetings where we collaborated with MSFT on the basis that we were a partnership. That is, MSFT needed us to show our customers how great their businesses could be if they hired us and we used MSFT product.

That fell apart badly about 10 years ago - maybe more. My take is that as soon as MSFT realized it didn't have any competition then it didn't need us (I guess that's right). Within a few years, MSFT started dictating and then coming up with onerous license agreements, etc instead of listening. The cooperation ended and hasn't recurred.

One other item which I didn't mention earlier is that despite it all, I can still build a much better box for much less to run Linux or Windows than I can Mac OS. Well, I have to buy the Mac of course which is the rub. I screwed together the equivalent of a medium end Mac Pro for the cost of a low end iMac - including a much better display. My heart wanted to go Mac, but my mind kept me in Windows. Then there was the license issue too.

[TonyK]

The MBP can drive a 30" monitor.

Originally Posted by Athena

The Macbook Pro is available in 17" and (I think) can support my syncmaster 226BW. That's probably enough for me for now.