Moving to a MacBook?

[The_Swede]

Evening all,

Laptop giving up, most other things in house appear to now be apple, on cloud etc so think it's possibly MacBook time.

In plain English what are the practical implications of changing over from a Microsoft system?

I have my old files backed up in MS office format plus a few PDF docs etc on a portable hard drive, can I just plug this in and open them on the Mac somehow?

Secondly I use a program that is only available in Microsoft version, I'm told I would need to 'parallel' to download and use this on a Mac [emoji848][emoji51] help!?

Assuming both of the above are possible will it remain the user friendly and reliable system it's described as being?

Anything else I need to know before taking the plunge (or not perhaps)?

Thanks

 

[JP1]

You'll never regret it

Most MS Office have an emulation.

Intuitive , reliable, simple and with an Apple ID everything is backed up to the Cloud anyhow

 

[Philip Watkins]

PDF not a problem. M$ Office, most can be opened with the Apple equivalent (some not so well). (Free) Open Office is a good alternative or pay the M$ dollar and get the Mac version of Office.
For the second point, I presume you mean a program that only has a windows version. Yes, Parallels (or VMware Fusion) but you need a copy of Windows OS as well.

Above all else forget what you do on a PC, a Mac is not a PC.

 

[yorkie]

You Carnot fix them yourself like windows

 

[Storeman]

You Carnot fix them yourself like windows

Hardware problems, like most laptop type devices can be difficult to fix.
Operating system problems are no biggy, as ios is derived from Linux. Plenty of info available online for that, should any problems arise.
What puts me of Apple, is being locked into their system with things like iTunes and so on. With Windows, there are many free versions of most pieces of software and I can get them from various sources.

The belief that Apple are immune to viruses and the like is no longer true, a large user base now means it can be pretty lucrative to target Apple based systems as well as Windows.

Another reason I stay with Windows is I like to build my own machines.

Having said that, I know of many people who have made the switch and are very happy with their choice.

 

[PSQ]

Eldest son uses an MacBook Pro, but I don't think I could live with the small screen size.

I've been using a 27" iMac i5 for the last 7 years, with an iPad for surfing on the sofa.
I have to say I hate 'Parallels' with a vengeance. Up until this spring I was running Sage on a Windows hard drive partition (boots into either Windows OR Mac at startup, Mac call it 'Bootcamp') but a move to a new 2TB drive meant I had to run the old drive in an external caddy via Parallels to use Sage.

OSX makes Windows look incredibly sh!t.

 

[Dry Rot]

If you spend a lot of time on a computer and are good at learning new things, go for the Mac. I have the desk top pro version which I got for editing videos. It is brilliant for that. But it was expensive and the operating system is now obsolete. That's how Apple make their money, by focing you to regularly upgrade. I keep a PC (off line) for the accounts and I think my version of Quicken must be 20 years old.

But for a long time, my mantra was, "Macs are not meant to work". Macs have annoying litle quirks which, several years down the line, still have me reaching for the 14lb hammer -- though I have not used it yet.

The little mouse pointer or cursor is one example. Only a Mac would have one angled so it obscures the label that pops up on an icon. And can you change it from right to left? Of course not! Don't be silly! It's a Mac!

 

[warksfarmer]

Evening all,

Laptop giving up, most other things in house appear to now be apple, on cloud etc so think it's possibly MacBook time.

In plain English what are the practical implications of changing over from a Microsoft system?

I have my old files backed up in MS office format plus a few PDF docs etc on a portable hard drive, can I just plug this in and open them on the Mac somehow?

Secondly I use a program that is only available in Microsoft version, I'm told I would need to 'parallel' to download and use this on a Mac

help!?

Assuming both of the above are possible will it remain the user friendly and reliable system it's described as being?

Anything else I need to know before taking the plunge (or not perhaps)?

Thanks

I've not used a MacBook but I do use a 27'' iMac in the office. I use Parallels for running a cropping package called Fieldman Farmer and a Mapping package and whilst it works it's like going back in time as when parallels is launched you are in windows on a mac.

Then we have a Windows 7 desktop running a weighbridge and being honest it's horrible in comparison, slow, old fashioned and always has issues of some description. It's got to go for another overhaul anytime soon as it keeps crashing. The iMac hasn't crashed once in 7 years.

I bought Office 2011 and it opens all my old Microsoft files without issue.

The only issue I seem to have is with iCloud as trying to get it to sync across iMac, iPhone and 3 iPads does cause problems. I just need to take them all into a store but that's hassle.

Make the change!

 

[PSQ]

That's how Apple make their money, by focing you to regularly upgrade.

On phones and iPads you are correct, but not so on the desktop macs. Mine is 7 years old and only owes me a hard drive, and not because it was broken but I wanted to upgrade to a 2tb SSD hybrid drive and try and get at least another 3 years from the hardware.

In those 7 years I haven't had to pay for a single software upgrade either - it's all free and each new OSX version works straight out of the box.

 

[Selectamatic]

Macbook air here.

I use it for emails, word, excel, tinternet, and some general pottering about.

I love it, and it would take something huge for me to go back to the other system now.

It's about 5 years old by now, and has crashed once in those five years I think, it's just ever so slightly starting to show it's age now, but its still quick and smooth.

£1200 odd against £400 odd though, it should be better! About the same time a friend brought a laptop from PC World, he is now on his third since then, but to be fair, perhaps he is just a tightarse that needs to buy a better one?

 

[Suffolk Serf]

I like mine! (a macbook air), bought autumn 2014.
Currently still have an old PC for some jobs, such as the Keyaccounts system that my accountant persuaded me to have.
Over time though, more software will be web based (e.g. Xero accounts) so not being PC will be much less of an issue. I use office 365 for excel, word etc.
I particularly like the way a Mac opens up swiftly, never seems to go on a "go slow" like my PC does frequently. I have never once threatened to throw my macbook through the office window, can't say that for my PC!

 

[Pilgrimmick]

I am no computer nerd. So I love my mac, because if you are not sure what to do just try something and it usually works.
Never have been able to do that with windows.

 

[Clive]

I use both mac book pro laptop and windows PC every day. I moved to mac around windows 7 time as it was utter junk and back then the MBPro and iOS was light years ahead

Today to be fair the gap is much less, windows 10 is very good (mostly because they made in more like iOS !) If you spend MBPro money on a windows laptop like i7 SSD's surface etc then its every bit as good and arguably better than a mac of similar cost

 

[RagnarHairybreeks]

I have to use a Windows laptop for work, but love my iMac (when I can crowbar my daughter off it). As with the OP everything else in the house is Apple (phones, iPads, Apple TV (absolutely brilliant bit of kit that - the remote has SIRI so you can just ask it to find a program you want to watch) and it just all works.

 

[Binc]

Had mine since 2009, got me through uni and it still going strong !! Would EVER consider leaving

 

[Deereone]

Had mine since 2009, got me through uni and it still going strong !! Would EVER consider leaving

I too like the longevity of Macs and my N key still works.

 

[The_Swede]

Great feedback as ever, thanks all

 

[Binc]

I too like the longevity of Macs and my N key still works.

*NEVER haha [emoji23]

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Hardware problems, like most laptop type devices can be difficult to fix.
Operating system problems are no biggy, as ios is derived from Linux. Plenty of info available online for that, should any problems arise.
What puts me of Apple, is being locked into their system with things like iTunes and so on. With Windows, there are many free versions of most pieces of software and I can get them from various sources.

The belief that Apple are immune to viruses and the like is no longer true, a large user base now means it can be pretty lucrative to target Apple based systems as well as Windows.

Another reason I stay with Windows is I like to build my own machines.

Having said that, I know of many people who have made the switch and are very happy with their choice.

Have you ever actually run any Apple computers though (for a substantial period of time, let's say months or years) on which you base your argument / statements?

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Just Do It!

The biggest step is moving your (mindset) after using one platform, like Windows, for a longish period of time. It takes some getting used to a new computer OS and way of doing things in order to be comfortable and efficient. It takes a lot of getting out of old comfortable habits. That is the biggest challenge - well it was for me anyway.

I switched primarily to using macs at home and work around 2007. I'm now (just) onto my third MacBookPro which I bought in March.

My previous MBP was still running strong after 7 years, my initial one I ran for 3 years and sold for a tidy sum on eBay at the time. The only thing I had to replace on the previous MBP was the battery as the capacity had dropped off so I bought a good quality replacement off Amazon for £60. Everything else was perfect including the original factory SSD from 2010. I've killed other SSDs fitted to machines in that time.

The hardware quality of MacBooks is legendary and for good reason - they are still amazing well screwed together bits of gear.

Of all the software that I currently use, honestly I find I spend more time "fixing" Windows than anything else - yes I've broken W10 (several times).

Windows is a lot better than the days of Win 95 of course and it's descendants (all of which I used) but it's (still) a Lada next to a McLaren I'm afraid. MacOS formerly called OSX is a far, far superior OS in every way.

Just Do It!