I am a lifelong windows user. I've been with it since you had to load it up from DOS. I've been using Alt+TAB since taking a BASIC class and trying to quickly switch back to work from DOOM that we would play on the school network. I am comfortable making changes to the system settings since working in tech support had me making changes to network settings every day. In short, Windows is like my home away from home.
So, when I needed a new computer, why did I buy a mac?
There were loads of concerns that I had about making the switch. Chief among them were as follows:
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Software
- Price
So, what finally got me over the hump? I still am not sure. Like a lot of people, I figured I would just use Windows if I really couldn't take it. Right now, I'm using OS X.
That is definitely not to say that I am completely satisfied with my purchase. I read a LOT of reviews. They were nearly all positive. I must be missing something. OS X is fine, but I don't really see why it is such a major improvement over Windows.
I am getting more comfortable with it. I'll never understand why I had to change the keyboard shortcuts to have a way to get to the menu bar with an easy keystroke (apple+space vs. Ctrl+F2). It will take a few years before I'm as quick with it as I am with Windows. I also don't understand why they make it so annoying to resize a window to use the whole screen.
Software issues have turned out to not be much of an issue, except with Microsoft Office programs. Quicksilver, which helps launch programs, is one of my favorite programs and is keeping me sane.
The Macbook Pro was expensive upfront, but aside from the operating system, I really am a big fan of the design. No fans on the bottom makes it truly a 'laptop' computer and the battery lasts a long time. Plus, its really thin (though the Macbook Air makes it look like an encyclopedia).
My bottom line: I am happy with my purchase, but I think the mac worship is overdone. If anyone out there has some pointers about what you love about your mac, please share it with me. I really want to be wowed.
2 comments:
things i find truly spectacular about my mac:
1. iMovie: make yourself on youtube a reality!
2. the widgets...your new best friend!
3. the short cut that lets you see all your windows...i use like 20 windows at once. it helps :p
4. force quit blows ctrl alt delete out of the water anyday.
5. sherlock!
6. ichat and adium...by far much much better than aim.
yay macs :) i am waiting for macbook touch to buy another one...jan 09!
I don't really use the widgets. What do you have them set up to do?
iMovie is cool, agreed--I did use it for my videos from Costa Rica.
I don't know what Sherlock is, and apparently it was killed in Leopard http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/10/29/apple.kills.sherlock/. (spotlight is pretty good though)
i'm not sure that force quit is better than ctrl alt delete. They seem the same to me.
ichat and Adium are sweet. I am a big fan of both. Though Pidgin for windows is a similarly awesome program.
But, the real aweseomeness of the mac is Quicksilver. If you don't have it, you have to get it.
Here are some links about it:
http://lifehacker.com/software/quicksilver/hack-attack-a-beginners-guide-to-quicksilver-247129.php
http://lifehacker.com/software/top/hack-attack-advanced-quicksilver-guide-+-slashes-appends-and-proxies-oh-my-249085.php
http://lifehacker.com/software/lifehacker-top-10/top-10-quicksilver-plug+ins-322363.php
http://lifehacker.com/software/quicksilver/hack-attack-the-quicksilver-video-extravaganza-250949.php
Seriously, check it out.
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