Any Mac users out there?

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Wed, 05/11/2011 - 21:35

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Any Mac users out there?

Ok... I just got a MacBook Pro today and ive been a PC users since I was a kid. So this is new to me. I know how to use it and having an iPad and iPhone have helped, but what im wondering is this... Are there any must have programs for the Mac? I have iLife. It came with it, and got Office 2008. Also got FaceTime on here! Excited about that one! lol

But what other things do I need? Any accessories? Anything specific I should be doing?

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Wed, 05/11/2011 - 21:37

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I am a Mac analyst/trainer

It's all about what you want and need

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 18:59

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Mase wrote:

Ok... I just got a MacBook Pro today and ive been a PC users since I was a kid. So this is new to me. I know how to use it and having an iPad and iPhone have helped, but what im wondering is this... Are there any must have programs for the Mac? I have iLife. It came with it, and got Office 2008. Also got FaceTime on here! Excited about that one! lol

But what other things do I need? Any accessories? Anything specific I should be doing?

Hey Mase, just curious, why did you decide to get a Mac? I've always thought about getting one, but no ones every given me a good enough reason to though.

Thu, 05/12/2011 - 19:15

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mrhub wrote:

Mase wrote:
Ok... I just got a MacBook Pro today and ive been a PC users since I was a kid. So this is new to me. I know how to use it and having an iPad and iPhone have helped, but what im wondering is this... Are there any must have programs for the Mac? I have iLife. It came with it, and got Office 2008. Also got FaceTime on here! Excited about that one! lol

But what other things do I need? Any accessories? Anything specific I should be doing?

Hey Mase, just curious, why did you decide to get a Mac? I've always thought about getting one, but no ones every given me a good enough reason to though.

About a year ago my Mom wanted a new laptop, and her nail person told her she got a Mac and loved it. Said the simplicity of it is what drew her to get one. Well... my Mom asked me questions and I told her for what she wanted to do, a Mac would be perfect. Its very pleasing to the eye, and just simple to use. So my Mom bought a MacBook Pro. Well... she has loved it since then, and recently her nail lady wanted to get a smaller MacBook, so she asked my Mom if she was interested. My Mom said no, but let me ask my son. My Mom asked me, and I was hesitant. I had just bought a new PC, and wasnt sure if I wanted to sit down and learn a new OS. Well... after a minute of thinking I told my Mom sure. Why not. My Mom basically bought this for me because she wants me to learn it for her sake, and some of the programs I use for Web Design originated from the Mac and its more powerful. Soooooooooooooooo... I have this new MacBook! lol

Im loving it so far, but its kinda like my iPad... its not going to replace my PC. There are certain things I do on my PC that I can do on this... but my PC does it better. Plus... this only has like a 250 gig hdd. Not a lot compared to my PC with close to 3,000 gigs. My music alone took up 50 gigs on here... lol

But this is replacing my other laptop that I have. I hooked my Windows Laptop up to my TV to surf the net if I wanted and watch Youtube videos and such. So this MacBook will just take the role of my Windows Laptop now...

But its the simplicity of the Mac OS that im loving. Really... go to a Mac Store and try it. Its one of those things you just need to try for yourself and see for yourself. And oh... I havent used a cooling fan on this sucker. Its rock solid cool and LOVE IT!

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 19:19

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Look into apple tv....I think its amazing.

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 20:05

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CarJust wrote:

Look into apple tv....I think its amazing.

Actually I have... but im going to wait till after June or so to see whats going on with it. I would like it to be 1080p and not just 720p with 1080i. I like the idea of AirPlay. Much better than using my cords to hook up the iPad and iPhone to the tv's... lol

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 22:55

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Mrhub, a mac is really dependent on your needs, if you are looking just to have a mac for simple webrowsing and whatnot I would not recommend to put the money into it, a pc would be a better choice.
If you want to do graphics work or musical work then I would recommend a mac. A compact and extemely stable OS sure get a mac.

I support both mac and pc networks and both have pros and cons. If you don't feel that you are lacking anything in your pc then you really aren't.

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 23:25

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JustCar wrote:

Mrhub, a mac is really dependent on your needs, if you are looking just to have a mac for simple webrowsing and whatnot I would not recommend to put the money into it, a pc would be a better choice.
If you want to do graphics work or musical work then I would recommend a mac. A compact and extemely stable OS sure get a mac.

I support both mac and pc networks and both have pros and cons. If you don't feel that you are lacking anything in your pc then you really aren't.

I agree with JustCar...In my previous life I was a graphic designer. I had to support both systems in my line of work, but the MACs were super nice for graphics work. But I would say for the average user a PC would be sufficient. MACs tend to be expensive for sure.

The other advantage is not as many issues with viruses and such...I mean they exist, but I don't feel they're as prevalent as they are on a PC.

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 23:33

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LOL 3 virus exist for Mac and only had a toehold when the Intel's came out but that got sewn up pretty fast. I mean everyone can get into trouble but.......
You just need to learn the setup properly

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Thu, 05/12/2011 - 23:46

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I wouldnt just say if your only going to web browse a PC is better. I know with this MacBook Pro I have... I have not needed a cooling fan or anything. Plus the battery last 2-3 times longer than my Windows 7 laptop. I would almost say if you want portability, battery life, and dont want to worry about your laptop getting hot... get a MacBook. Im in love with this thing! Ive been using it more than my desktop and putting this thing through the ringer, and not putting a dent in it.

The only thing I wish this thing had was a bigger hard drive. I may have to invest into a larger hard drive because 250 is no where near enough for me. I dont even have my movies on it and im already down to 130 gigs... lol

Is it easy to upgrade?

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 00:15

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Most of those things mentioned would be best used with a desktop as the lappy is really for the mobility and not for being worked out constantly.

For a laptop like this I would recommend an external just so you don't run the guts out of it or slow it down permanently but you can upgrade, do you have the unibody model or the snap?

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 01:01

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CarJust wrote:

Look into apple tv....I think its amazing.

Is Apple TV really that great? We have thought about this for awhile now and I am hesitant because I can pretty much get any show online that I want to watch. I can easily hook up my laptop to my computer as well. We have an iPad and I used that to watch some shows on their but mainly for Netflix streaming.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 01:03

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We ADORE AppleTV, everything streams through iTunes, it controls your NetFlix, rents movies, photo streams. Small, compact and just so damn easy.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 02:01

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JustCar wrote:

Most of those things mentioned would be best used with a desktop as the lappy is really for the mobility and not for being worked out constantly.

For a laptop like this I would recommend an external just so you don't run the guts out of it or slow it down permanently but you can upgrade, do you have the unibody model or the snap?

screws on the bottom... thats about it.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:48

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Thanks for playing out this conversation for the rest of us. When I recently had to replace my laptop, we looked at a Mac because we have friends/family that insist they are infinitely superior, but we just couldn't see it for the price. When I would try and discuss this, I couldn't get anywhere with Mac advocates; they were just so anti PC. I'm glad to see this balanced approach with objective reasons why you might favor one over the other.

Ultimately, we went with another PC. It may be a case of not knowing what I don't have, and therefore, I don't miss it, but we've always been happy with our PC (no artists or musicians here.)

But I heart my iPhone with a white hot passion. Still not sold on my need for an iPad (tho it would be nice for the kids when we're out...if I'd ever let them touch it, which is doubtful!)

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 13:07

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Lizzy_B wrote:

Thanks for playing out this conversation for the rest of us. When I recently had to replace my laptop, we looked at a Mac because we have friends/family that insist they are infinitely superior, but we just couldn't see it for the price. When I would try and discuss this, I couldn't get anywhere with Mac advocates; they were just so anti PC. I'm glad to see this balanced approach with objective reasons why you might favor one over the other.

Ultimately, we went with another PC. It may be a case of not knowing what I don't have, and therefore, I don't miss it, but we've always been happy with our PC (no artists or musicians here.)

But I heart my iPhone with a white hot passion. Still not sold on my need for an iPad (tho it would be nice for the kids when we're out...if I'd ever let them touch it, which is doubtful!)

I told my Mom when she bought her MacBook that this needs to be considered as "Fun". Not that PC's arent... but they require so much care compared to Macs. Especially the past couple days ive spent with mine. But like I said... I cant just solely depend on the Mac. I need PC's in the house. The reason being... I use Windows Media Center on our TV. I know there is Apple TV... but Media Center is awesome. Theres also other things I do that I could do on a Mac, but prefer on PC.

So to me... a Mac is good for a PC user when you can have it as an extra if that makes sense.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 13:24

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Believe me I am not fond of microsoft in anyway shape or form and there is nothing that I do that can't be done on a mac. The pc's in our house are because I can't justify ditching them as they still work. I tease my family that they should all switch but honestly there is no reason for them to have one unless they have the extra money kicking around then sure.

Lizzy, we are a mac based family with pcs thrown in iphones and I am actually setting up an iPad for a friend who is was in an accident in November and was in a coma until about 2 months and needs a way to communicate and relearn most things which I think this is fantastic. But in this venture I have learned that I don't need an iPad, a 13 inch mac is perfect for me, I mean it would be fun but again for the money I couldn't justify having the computers that I have and the iPhone and the iPad. So I wouldn't worry about it really.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 13:36

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But a 64 gig iPad is much cheaper than a 13 inch Mac. To me that justifies it a lot. It may not do everything a 13 inch Mac can... but for the casual person it would be perfect.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 14:25

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Actually
they are the exact same price, to have the same stuff. (iPad with camera connectors, AppleCare and sim card)

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 14:41

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But don't you still need a computer of some sort if you have an iPad? Which means that it can't really replace a computer? Which would be the only real justification I would ever have for it.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 14:48

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Lizzy_B wrote:

But don't you still need a computer of some sort if you have an iPad? Which means that it can't really replace a computer? Which would be the only real justification I would ever have for it.

Yeah

Pretty much. You have to connect it to get updates and transfer what you want. But you can access the App Store and iTunes without it.

Here is this coming from a PC user and our use of the iPad.

Last year a couple months before we were going to Disney, I wanted to get an iPad to be able to be mobile on the go. For my children to be able to watch movies, Netflix, and our TV at home using our Slingbox. Yes... a PC or a Mac can do those things... but the portability of an iPad is the key. We were in line for Toy Story Mania with a 1 and a half year old. The line... one hour long. So I got the iPad out. Put Toy Story 3 on. Connected it to the back of my Bookbag, and Brooke and Evan watched Toy Story 3 while we waited.

At home it gets multiple different uses. Say I want to watch the TV, but Brooke wants to watch her shows. Ill load up Netflix, she will hold it on the couch while watching Blues Clues while I can watch NCIS:LA on my TV. Its little things like that, that to me make the iPad a special tool either out and about or even at home that a laptop either Mac of PC just cant do.

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 14:56

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A portable DVD player could do the same with the twist top.

I guess I just deal with people everyday that have equipment that they were oversold on that I don't see the point in it (Both mac and pc). Sure it's snazzy but I guess I don't recognize it as a need, as everything I do when I travel is on a 13 inch macbook and it works beautifully.

Again it comes down to if you have the extra money to play with sure...

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Fri, 05/13/2011 - 15:01

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But the only problem with a DVD player is if your walking it can ruin the dvd. Plus... with the dvd player, you have to carry some dvd's whether its in the original case, or in a folder. With the iPad its just hit play. Guess I just like the digital format I guess.

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