Need Mac Advice: Help Scotty to the dark side...

[Mike S]

Scott

Welcome in from the cold. I LOVE my Mac, and I have been using Intel/MS stuff since Microsoft began in business. After six months using the MacBook Pro there is no way I would go back.

If you have Windows specific software that is mission critical, install Parallels Desktop and load Win XT to run as a virtual process on the Mac. Works great, and the NAT function will keep you safe when not using WIndows on line.

Here is a little secret - YOU DON"T NEED WINDOWS!! There is a free ware product - Open Office - that will execute and create Microsoft Office application files. It's FREE.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

The last Overland Journal holdout has come to the dark side

Welcome Jedi!

 

[bj70_guy]

Order Details

The last Overland Journal holdout has come to the dark side

No you haven't - you've stepped into the light! :26_7_2:

 

[grahamfitter]

Order Details

MBP 15/2.2 CTO

With the following configuration:
Processor 065-7017 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 065-7020 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
Hard Drive 065-7445 200GB 7200RPM HDD
Optical Drive 065-7025 SuperDrive 8x
Display 065-7037 15" Widescreen Display
Modem 065-7026 No Modem
Apple Software - iWork 065-7672 No iWork Preinstalled
Apple Software - Final Cut Exp 065-7674 No Final Cut Exp Preinstalled
Apple Software - Aperture 065-7673 No Aperture Preinstalled
Apple Software - Logic Express 065-7675 No Logic Exp Preinstalled
Keyboard/Mac OS Language 065-7033 BkLit Keyboard/Mac OS
Country Kit/AEX 065-7036 Country Kit

Ships by:
Jan 22 - Jan 24

Delivers by:
Jan 24 - Jan 30

I am actually feeling a little paranoid about the switch, as I have been a technologist for a decade, and PCs have been my tool. I just hope the .pst email transfer works as promised, as that is my biggest concern.

Should be a beautiful machine though, and will allow Stephanie and I to both accomplish work from the field.

I will most likely buy a cheap (used) MacBook for word processing and email work for the trip too. It is highly likely that Stephanie will be doing design work and I will need to be writing at the same time.

The last Overland Journal holdout has come to the dark side

Welcome to the Mac Ivory Tower, Scott!

One thing you should look into is how you will back up all the computers you take on the road - losing all the data would be a real bummer.

You could backup each laptop to each other. Or both to an external HDD or the new 1TB Apple Time Capsule. That way if you sleep walk and use both laptops as wheel chocks and drive over them all the data is safe. Or if you both get robbed at fru-fru point in Starbucks.

As far as MSOffice goes, iLife reads modern MSWord docs just fine. I only have a problem if I receive a document from an old version of MSWord. If you find you really need that much MSOffice compatibility, just buy it for Mac - its better than the PC version too. Chances are at that point OpenOffice won't work for you anyway.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[Scott Brady]

That way if you sleep walk and use both laptops as wheel chocks and drive over them all the data is safe. Or if you both get robbed at fru-fru point in Starbucks.

LOL, that was really funny

I am a back-up obsessive from my tech days. I have over 6TB of back-up capacity right now.

I just bought another TB a few weeks ago for our design station (to have redundancy)

I like the time machine concept, and will look into it more for the laptop. It is actually a reasonable solution.

I bought MS office for mac. I really do not see any need to run XP in parallel. I will just use MAC GPS PRO.

 

[Desertdude]

What are you going to do with all that free time now that you switched to Apple?

Well done Scott :wings:

 

[alvarorb]

Scott,

I spoke to the Garmin people at MacWorld.
They told me that they had discontinued the development of MapSource. On the Mac they have released a mapping program much more versatile than MapSource ever was. Besides uploading/downloading Maps, it's got some very cool search capabilities.

They've also have released a new Topo 2008 program. With lots of POIs already built in.

MacGPS Pro works very well. I've have it for years and their tech support is awesome.

In the future they will be porting this program to the PC.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I am reading this from our brand new Imac...I have to say I am really impressed with Apple so far. I just got it tonight and was laughing at the setup and go process of it. :wings: Now if I could figure out this mouse???

 

[Desertdude]

/hyjack on/

You will find that mighty mouse is unassuming but powerful - on your desktop (head to the upper left top) to the blue apple/system prefs/keyboard mouse - you will find many options there.

/hyjack off/

 

[MaddBaggins]

Welcome to mac Scott! We've had 3 computers since 2000. The first was a pc and we had so many issues with it that I really just wanted to shoot it. Lived with it for 2 years then got an eMac desktop computer. fell in love with Mac after that. We did, however, have some bad ram which reared its ugly head soon after we got it. That sucked, but we got it fixed. Now that machine is having ram troubles again. we haven't fixed it yet.
Right now I'm using our new Macbook. Got it a couple months ago. Finally have wifi now also. I love it!!
I haven't used the programs your talking about, but iPhoto has allowed me to do some cool stuff with my photos. I need to get some mapping software and a GPS for my rig and join the new age. (I'm still a map, compass and memory kinda guy)

My Macbook
2.16 intel duo core
1GB ram
120GB HD
Picked that up for 1k (I have a source )

I also have a 500GB external HD for storage and backup plus I use .mac and have some backup on the net.

 

[Bad Voodoo]

Do not buy extra memory and bigger harddrive from Apple. Take a regular MBP and upgrade those yourself for less.

Yup. Agreed.

And Scott, I'm running CS2 and Lightroom very effectively on a Powerbook G4 w/ 2GB RAM. Take that for what it's worth if it saves you a few bucks not having to max the specs on any of the newer beauties.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

/hyjack on/

You will find that mighty mouse is unassuming but powerful - on your desktop (head to the upper left top) to the blue apple/system prefs/keyboard mouse - you will find many options there.

/hyjack off/

Thanks Pasquale

 

[Scott Brady]

GEEEEEEZ... They are fast. Ordered Friday morning, here today.

Now comes the exciting task of switching over :yikes:

I just had a terrifying thought though. Does anyone know how to port IE favorites to safari or firefox? I have ten years of expedition and adventure links saved up.

 

[TeleScooby]

Just export your favorites, they'll be in an html file...then import that file into Safari or Firefox...if all else fails, you can open the favorites on the Mac, and the html file, and drag and drop the links...remember, Macs love drag and drop!

 

[Desertdude]

You'll find its a few button clicks, a bit of drag and drop, or import export.

If you look under the file menu in Safari (when this browser is open) import favorites... You can direct that right to where IE saves the favorites.

Also... any question/answer can be found here in a few seconds;