considering one for home use. Will be coming out soon with an available 2008 MS Office, and a new OS. Is there any reason to stay away from one of these for everyday use such as word/processing, but mainly internet surfing/banking/stock buying-selling????
I-Mac
- Thread starter whitewaterguy
- Start date
Only prob ever was Windows-based software that you needed and which didn't exist for Macs. The new OS build incorporates BootCamp which will allow whatever you still need from the dark side to run on your new Mac. Just make sure your iMac runs it.
Y'know Macsnobs have been "…internet surfing/banking/stock buying-selling" for decades w/Mac-based software—like Office™—don't you? Fear not.
Y'know Macsnobs have been "…internet surfing/banking/stock buying-selling" for decades w/Mac-based software—like Office™—don't you? Fear not.
Use an i-mac and love it. The bottom line is that it is great for everything, and I would strongly recommend it. I should be getting the new OS today actually. There are a number of observations I have made that you may find helpful, none of which should prevent you from purchasing the i-Mac in any way:
- I can run any piece of Microsoft software natively using a program called Parallels, which you need to purchase for about $99. Bootcamp is also an option. It is free (it comes with the new OS), and there are differences in how they work, but I'm not sure of the details. With Parallels, it's just like opening another program in the Mac environment. I can drag-and-drop files created in Windows right into the Mac environment no problem. For some reason, I can't get the Mac's graphic capabilities over into Parallels, so ask someone for help if you want to play graphic intensive MS games on the Mac. Chances are someone in the store has the answer. I can print from both environments.
- I run Parallels to use my accounting software (Quickbooks) as it did not have a Canadian version for Macs when I bought it. I have never had an issue in transferring files or using Quickbooks at all. I also use Parallels to surf Terb. My SO knows how to surf using the Mac environment, but has no idea how to use Parallels, so along with clearing everything, it is an extra level of security on my computer.
- Running Parallels does tend to gum-up the system a bit and it does slow-down the Mac environment. Despite what people say about Macs being fully stable, running Parallels has crashed my system a few times. No big deal though.
- You will need your own legitimate copy of Windows to run on the system, meaning you may have to buy a copy of it if your PC does not come with the original disks, or if the Windows license was only for your machine.
- In terms of word processing, the MS Office suite is very similar to what is on PC's. I have had no problems word processing and doing spreadsheets. I have had no problems opening and using natively produced MS documents on my computer. The only difficulty I have had transferring my Word files to a PC environment is that Macs have more font choices than PC's built-in. If you ever choose a fancy or stylish font on the Mac that is not on the PC, when you transfer the file, it will appear in typewriter font or basic Helvetica. This is only if you transfer the file itself, and it is the only problem my clients and associates have had with my transfered files. Macs allow you to create PDF's from any application so if your readers require a non-editable copy, you can overcome this by sending-out a PDF.
- As for surfing and browsing, I use Safari, Mac's built-in browser. There are some issues with it. It does not display all websites properly. Sometimes text is mis-sized, and there are various interactive sites like banks and airlines that will not allow you to use them with Safari. What I've done is I've got a copy of Firefox for Mac as well as a backup. Between the two, I've had no problem surfing, and if you want to use Firefox as your default, then there will be less issues. Remember too, you can surf directly from Windows using Parallels or Bootcamp to avoid further issues. I need Firefox for online banking.
Well, there you have it. I think Mac's are fantastic. They look great have a very stable and easy-to-use operating system, and I will never go back.
- I can run any piece of Microsoft software natively using a program called Parallels, which you need to purchase for about $99. Bootcamp is also an option. It is free (it comes with the new OS), and there are differences in how they work, but I'm not sure of the details. With Parallels, it's just like opening another program in the Mac environment. I can drag-and-drop files created in Windows right into the Mac environment no problem. For some reason, I can't get the Mac's graphic capabilities over into Parallels, so ask someone for help if you want to play graphic intensive MS games on the Mac. Chances are someone in the store has the answer. I can print from both environments.
- I run Parallels to use my accounting software (Quickbooks) as it did not have a Canadian version for Macs when I bought it. I have never had an issue in transferring files or using Quickbooks at all. I also use Parallels to surf Terb. My SO knows how to surf using the Mac environment, but has no idea how to use Parallels, so along with clearing everything, it is an extra level of security on my computer.
- Running Parallels does tend to gum-up the system a bit and it does slow-down the Mac environment. Despite what people say about Macs being fully stable, running Parallels has crashed my system a few times. No big deal though.
- You will need your own legitimate copy of Windows to run on the system, meaning you may have to buy a copy of it if your PC does not come with the original disks, or if the Windows license was only for your machine.
- In terms of word processing, the MS Office suite is very similar to what is on PC's. I have had no problems word processing and doing spreadsheets. I have had no problems opening and using natively produced MS documents on my computer. The only difficulty I have had transferring my Word files to a PC environment is that Macs have more font choices than PC's built-in. If you ever choose a fancy or stylish font on the Mac that is not on the PC, when you transfer the file, it will appear in typewriter font or basic Helvetica. This is only if you transfer the file itself, and it is the only problem my clients and associates have had with my transfered files. Macs allow you to create PDF's from any application so if your readers require a non-editable copy, you can overcome this by sending-out a PDF.
- As for surfing and browsing, I use Safari, Mac's built-in browser. There are some issues with it. It does not display all websites properly. Sometimes text is mis-sized, and there are various interactive sites like banks and airlines that will not allow you to use them with Safari. What I've done is I've got a copy of Firefox for Mac as well as a backup. Between the two, I've had no problem surfing, and if you want to use Firefox as your default, then there will be less issues. Remember too, you can surf directly from Windows using Parallels or Bootcamp to avoid further issues. I need Firefox for online banking.
Well, there you have it. I think Mac's are fantastic. They look great have a very stable and easy-to-use operating system, and I will never go back.
Nor are they on linux, plus linux is free, while Mac will cost more than Windows....thetree1 said:
FWIW, in the 10 years running Windows I've never had any serious viruses and mallware issues that any decent AV didn't stop.
Just got into linux and love it. It does everything MS & Mac do only linux is FREE.
Actually the Mac OS is much cheaper then Windows.WoodPeckr said:Nor are they on linux, plus linux is free, while Mac will cost more than Windows....
FWIW, in the 10 years running Windows I've never had any serious viruses and mallware issues that any decent AV didn't stop.
Just got into linux and love it. It does everything MS & Mac do only linux is FREE.
It is the cost of the hardware. If you get the exact same hardware on a Windows with all the similar software that comes on the Mac for free the cost is much more then you think for the windows box.
I LOVE Linux but the overall cost of ownership for a standard user for Linux is higher (learning curve and support).
The Vista flavors are cheaper:canucklehead said:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=368&name=Operating-Systems
I could pickup an HP Quad core Q6600, Tower w 3gig DDR2 RAM w 500GB HDD, w Vista Home premium, for $650USD after rebate. When I priced out a Mac Quad Core it costs over double that.canucklehead said:
I'm enjoying Linux to, on a dual boot system with XP and didn't find Ubuntu that hard to pickup. Have found Linux support forums, very similar to this TERB Tech forum, very helpful so far.canucklehead said:
I've had an iMac for almost two years now and couldn't be happier - no virus or spyware problems even though I surf way more porn sites than I care to admit. I have no virus or spyware protection. My old Windows computer lasted less than a year before the hard drive got so infected that I had to replace the drive. The second drive lasted eight months. This was with (some) virus and spyware protection.
If you had 2 HHDs that didn't last a year, there's something else going on there besides virus and spyware. I hit plenty of porn & suspect sites also and my original IBM 10 year old 8GB HDD is still fully functional. I pulled it a few months ago, needed more HDD space, and replaced it with a 120GB HDD. Still use that old drive is as a reinstall disc for XP Pro, it runs great.LateComer said:
McAfee, Norton and now Avast protected it, along with my other HDDs well over them 10 years.
Love my Mac (s)
I have used Apple products for years and for everyday use, my iMac is great. I use a great word processor program called Pages that also provides you with useful and attractive templates. For $79 you can get iWorks that has a database / spreadsheet that I have found easier to use and more versatile than Filemaker Pro which costs $379. The new operating system, Leopard, allows one to run a Windows OS.
Buy a Mac and enjoy.........
I have used Apple products for years and for everyday use, my iMac is great. I use a great word processor program called Pages that also provides you with useful and attractive templates. For $79 you can get iWorks that has a database / spreadsheet that I have found easier to use and more versatile than Filemaker Pro which costs $379. The new operating system, Leopard, allows one to run a Windows OS.
Buy a Mac and enjoy.........
Just a note: While iWork (no 's') has just added a spreadsheet (Numbers) to it's wordprocessor (Pages) and its presentation-maker (Keynote), its package still lacks a database. Sad, considering that its predecessor AppleWorks' easy-to-use database module was one of its principal assets.
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I have been a "macsnob" for many years. I use a Dell PC for work everyday.
Yes the stories are true, I can run Windows on my mac, but why would I? I have all the programs I need on my mac, and the ones I use on my laptop are easily used on my mac.
Macs are for artistic people ( Generality) but for pure user interface and ease of use > Macs Rule!
In the long run Apple is cheaper than Windows and there are way less headaches.
Yes the stories are true, I can run Windows on my mac, but why would I? I have all the programs I need on my mac, and the ones I use on my laptop are easily used on my mac.
Macs are for artistic people ( Generality) but for pure user interface and ease of use > Macs Rule!
In the long run Apple is cheaper than Windows and there are way less headaches.
