Switching from Microsoft PC to iMac: Advise please

[David]

Hi guys,

I'm quite convinced to switch to iMac. However I have a few newbie questions to ask. Had intended to go down to an Apple store to inquire more but work has kept me real busy lately. Pls bear with my questions:embrass: Thanks.

1. Once I get an Apple, what are some of the main softwares that I have to buy new? For example, if I have been using Photoshop CS3, does that mean I have to fork out more $ to get one for Apple? Can the Photoshop plug-ins still be used on the iMac?

2. What about my other applications such as MS Office and Windows Media player files... will I still be able to open them on the iMac?

3. IS it a steep learning curve going from PC to Apple? Any website, courses or books you can kindly recommend to get me up to speed for the conversion?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Ninja23XX]

Hi guys,

I'm quite convinced to switch to iMac. However I have a few newbie questions to ask. Had intended to go down to an Apple store to inquire more but work has kept me real busy lately. Pls bear with my questions:embrass: Thanks.

1. Once I get an Apple, what are some of the main softwares that I have to buy new? For example, if I have been using Photoshop CS3, does that mean I have to fork out more $ to get one for Apple? Can the Photoshop plug-ins still be used on the iMac?

2. What about my other applications such as MS Office and Windows Media player files... will I still be able to open them on the iMac?

3. IS it a steep learning curve going from PC to Apple? Any website, courses or books you can kindly recommend to get me up to speed for the conversion?

Thanks so much!!

I did the same transition as you in June. It's very fun and easy. Plug ins can still be used, but the PS CS3 software has to be mac compatible. So you might need to get a new one. As for Microsoft Office, you can get the Mac edition. This willa allow you to use microsoft office on your imac, plus read files in that format. Basically, there's not much of a learning curve. Just look at the website and see the starting tips for switching to a mac. And when you get a mac, and you encounter some trouble in settings or other issues, just give Apple a call, be it hardware of software, they'd help you with their friendly service.

 

[cqprime]

I did consider a IMAC but in the end i got a mac mini which is much cheaper and can use back my LCD and Keyboard and mouse.

Plus mac mini is powerful too

Hi guys,

I'm quite convinced to switch to iMac. However I have a few newbie questions to ask. Had intended to go down to an Apple store to inquire more but work has kept me real busy lately. Pls bear with my questions:embrass: Thanks.

1. Once I get an Apple, what are some of the main softwares that I have to buy new? For example, if I have been using Photoshop CS3, does that mean I have to fork out more $ to get one for Apple? Can the Photoshop plug-ins still be used on the iMac?

2. What about my other applications such as MS Office and Windows Media player files... will I still be able to open them on the iMac?

3. IS it a steep learning curve going from PC to Apple? Any website, courses or books you can kindly recommend to get me up to speed for the conversion?

Thanks so much!!

 

[ortega]

try this

http://www.apple.com/sg/mac/


btw only volume license can be used on any platform, if your software is retail boxed version then you will need to purchase another one for the mac
read the EULA

 

[contaxable]

Its good to get original softwares as they allow free updates. Once detected pirated, it can get locked.
If you are a student or if you have a kid/nephew/niece/grandchild... get a student version to save some money. This is assuming you wont be using it commercially.

 

[nostagia]

You can download OpenOffice for your words, excel, powerpint etc.

 

[RedSuns85]

I did consider a IMAC but in the end i got a mac mini which is much cheaper and can use back my LCD and Keyboard and mouse.

Plus mac mini is powerful too

any difference between the MAC monitor and our normal monitor ?

 

[alvinlovesu]

Hi guys,

I'm quite convinced to switch to iMac. However I have a few newbie questions to ask. Had intended to go down to an Apple store to inquire more but work has kept me real busy lately. Pls bear with my questions:embrass: Thanks.

1. Once I get an Apple, what are some of the main softwares that I have to buy new? For example, if I have been using Photoshop CS3, does that mean I have to fork out more $ to get one for Apple? Can the Photoshop plug-ins still be used on the iMac?

2. What about my other applications such as MS Office and Windows Media player files... will I still be able to open them on the iMac?

3. IS it a steep learning curve going from PC to Apple? Any website, courses or books you can kindly recommend to get me up to speed for the conversion?

Thanks so much!!

1) almost all commercial softwares have to be repurchased. of course, like some mentioned, you can always get opensource programmes (think GIMP and Openoffice), plug-ins can still be used.
2) Yep, provided the softwares are present.
3) Mac OS are incredibly easy to learn. for starters, programmes will still run in the background when u click the red x button unlike on a pc. Installation of applications are mostly drag n drop affairs

 

[dykat2009]

I simply love the Mac monitor. Images looks great on them.

Thread starter, first thing you have to forgo is the right click mouse button. The Apple mouse only has one button.

 

[RedSuns85]

yeah, I am wondering why pictures looks great on a MAC monitor or Macbook.. whats the reason ? issit the Operating System, Iphoto application or the Monitor hardware spec?

 

[+evenstar]

yeah, I am wondering why pictures looks great on a MAC monitor or Macbook.. whats the reason ? issit the Operating System, Iphoto application or the Monitor hardware spec?

the screen i reckon.

 

[+evenstar]

2. What about my other applications such as MS Office and Windows Media player files... will I still be able to open them on the iMac?

one thing i found out about mac's TextEdit (windows equiv of Notepad). it can open and save .docx files. ;P

also, all your wma files will not be readable by itunes

 

[azul123]

Is iMac fast enough for CS4 and Video editing? or Mac Pro required? someone in my workplace briefly showed me a feature on his Macbook that could recognised a face and can collate all photos of that person together. Say, if I want to put all photos that has my eldest daughter from the day she was 2years old till 24years is it true I can do this on a Mac easily? was thinking of doing that for all my kids and suprised them as one of our wedding gift to them.

I was browsing the Apple website and thinking about switching but I remembered 10years ago I tried and it was too difficult to switch, seems like it is easier now reading from this thread from those who had switched.

../azul123

 

[nightwolf75]

Is iMac fast enough for CS4 and Video editing? or Mac Pro required? someone in my workplace briefly showed me a feature on his Macbook that could recognised a face and can collate all photos of that person together. Say, if I want to put all photos that has my eldest daughter from the day she was 2years old till 24years is it true I can do this on a Mac easily? was thinking of doing that for all my kids and suprised them as one of our wedding gift to them.

I was browsing the Apple website and thinking about switching but I remembered 10years ago I tried and it was too difficult to switch, seems like it is easier now reading from this thread from those who had switched.

../azul123

tuan, how heavy is the video editing you are most likely to do? for CS4, not a biggie. even my macbook white (with 4GB RAM) can handle it. but if you want heavy video editing, you might need to bump up the RAM.

the face recognition function is part of iPhoto09. cool feature, especially if you need to tag a lot of photos.

 

[azul123]

tuan, how heavy is the video editing you are most likely to do? for CS4, not a biggie. even my macbook white (with 4GB RAM) can handle it. but if you want heavy video editing, you might need to bump up the RAM.

the face recognition function is part of iPhoto09. cool feature, especially if you need to tag a lot of photos.

Thanks for the info Sam, was browsing the Apple website since this morning and saw that a new i7 Processor is due to released year end so that would make it faster. Also, I think I prefer iMac slim slick design and save on desktop space as well.

This feature in iPhoto09 is going to be time saver for me especially need to sort so many photos (over more than 20years of collection). I need to research more and see if really no Win apps can do this, then I guess got to get an iMac during IT/PC exhibition, lucky for me one of my sons uses the Wacom tablet heavily on Illustrator (think so, definitely not PS) needs a heavy duty machine, so not really a waste I can pass him my current desktop.

../azul123

 

[azul123]

Just viewed the guided tour, damn this is a wonderful software... is it bundled with iMac? iPhoto09

../azul123

 

[nightwolf75]

Thanks for the info Sam, was browsing the Apple website since this morning and saw that a new i7 Processor is due to released year end so that would make it faster. Also, I think I prefer iMac slim slick design and save on desktop space as well.

This feature in iPhoto09 is going to be time saver for me especially need to sort so many photos (over more than 20years of collection). I need to research more and see if really no Win apps can do this, then I guess got to get an iMac during IT/PC exhibition, lucky for me one of my sons uses the Wacom tablet heavily on Illustrator (think so, definitely not PS) needs a heavy duty machine, so not really a waste I can pass him my current desktop.

../azul123

the closest i know for PC is using picasa.
http://photo.blorge.com/2008/09/02/...ers-face-recognition-and-new-tagging-options/

yeah. me too... waiting for the computer fair in nov @ expo and see if the new iMacs are up for offers. ;p

 

[azul123]

it gets even better, there's iMovie09 for video editing.

../azul123

 

[nightwolf75]

Just viewed the guided tour, damn this is a wonderful software... is it bundled with iMac? iPhoto09

../azul123

iLife09 (iPhoto09 etc..) comes bundled with all the macs. it is iWorks09 that you need to buy.

 

[askquek]

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING.....

Do not use MAC......

Once you switch to MAC platform, there is no turning back.... you will discover the wonderful world of MAC's stability, free of virus, etc...

I had been using MAC since 2003, after my PC notebook turn BLUE on me....I have a colleague start using MAC after my recommendation and there is no turning back for him either, btw, he was already 50+ when he switch. It is easy to pick up and there is laterally no learning curve...

As for software, the MS Office for Teachers and Students (no student pass require to prove when purchase) cost less then SGD300 and the CS4 Web Premium version cost only SGD99 (goto www.mine.com.sg to register and purchase-need to show student pass).

Documents prepared in Windows version of Office can be read by MAC version. No worries.

Regards,

Just viewed the guided tour, damn this is a wonderful software... is it bundled with iMac? iPhoto09

../azul123