Moving to an Apple

[Caesar]

Okay, so I've been against this for years but I'm coming to the conclusion that it makes sense. My laptop is dying and I'm sick of dealing with problems with it.

I thought about buying a top-of-the-line brand new laptop but then I realised that all I really need it for is word processing and surfing the net. I am seriously considering buying an AirBook and spending the rest of my budget on building a halfdecent desktop to store everything on (movies, music, etc).

I have a few questions though:

a) I have never used an Apple computer in my life. How difficult is it to get used to the changeover?

b) How well will an AirBook talk to a desktop PC? Keeping a PC is pretty much non-negotiable because I need it for work.

c) Can I use MS Office programs with it (especially Outlook) and how well will it talk to my BlackBerry device?

d) Are there any other problems with the AirBook that I should be aware of? I know there are nowhere near enough USB inputs and the processor won't handle anything too heavy, but I figure if I have a desktop for everything else then it'll do for portable web surfing / word processing / etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hodges 153!]

a) Easy. I transferred to a MBP about 6 months ago pretty much cold, and had no troubles basically mucking my way through.

b) Havent thought about getting a MBP rather than an Air, and dual booting?

 

[yogogorilla41]

hey,

A. As a long time PC user and 18ths ago the store i managed decided the best way was to get on board the Apple Train. I switched cold and within weeks had it pretty much down pat. Easiest and simplist OS out there. It will do everything your PC will do and more. Not to mention with battery life.

B. Best thing you could do is purchase Parallels and install a virtual copy of windows on your MAC. The new Macbook airs are awesome, but lack HDD space if you require it. Look into it and buy what best suites you. For me the Macbook Pro 15" $2499 model was best with 8GB upgrade... why? i use it for everything from gaming to all my work and video editing. I run windows in virtual mode for quick access to business software thats Windows enviroment only. Dont be afraid to spend a few $ extra, as it will pay for itself in the long run. Send me a private email if you want some advise or any questions you have. Always happy to help. Buy / or get Office for Mac as well... far more powerful than / easier than iWorks thuogh. And as Apple technician... buy the applecare.. out of warranty the pricing is absolutely bankruptcy material.

*edit forgot question C

C. Yes, buy office for mac home and business and your PST from outlook will be able to be converted swiftly and easily.

 

[Caesar]

b) Havent thought about getting a MBP rather than an Air, and dual booting?

Not really. The main reason I'm thinking about switching is not because I really want a Mac, but more because I like the Air and I haven't seen a PC equivalent. The idea of a completely bare-bones laptop that is light and small and easily transported is really, really attractive. I'm sick of lugging around my laptop when all I really use it for is surfing and writing emails / Word documents. I hate tablets so that's not really an option.

I looked at the prices and worked out that I can probably buy an Air + build a decent desktop PC for not much more than what it was going to cost me to buy a bells-and-whistles laptop that would suit all my needs. Given the flexibility it'd give me, it seems like a bit of a no-brainer.

As I said, my main worries are how easily I can convert, and the compatability of all my devices. The first couple of posts have allayed my fears somewhat.

I guess one downside of running an Air and a PC is that the days of using one software license for all my devices is over.

hey,

A. As a long time PC user and 18ths ago the store i managed decided the best way was to get on board the Apple Train. I switched cold and within weeks had it pretty much down pat. Easiest and simplist OS out there. It will do everything your PC will do and more. Not to mention with battery life.

B. Best thing you could do is purchase Parallels and install a virtual copy of windows on your MAC. The new Macbook airs are awesome, but lack HDD space if you require it. Look into it and buy what best suites you. For me the Macbook Pro 15" $2499 model was best with 8GB upgrade... why? i use it for everything from gaming to all my work and video editing. I run windows in virtual mode for quick access to business software thats Windows enviroment only. Dont be afraid to spend a few $ extra, as it will pay for itself in the long run. Send me a private email if you want some advise or any questions you have. Always happy to help. Buy / or get Office for Mac as well... far more powerful than / easier than iWorks thuogh. And as Apple technician... buy the applecare.. out of warranty the pricing is absolutely bankruptcy material.

*edit forgot question C

C. Yes, buy office for mac home and business and your PST from outlook will be able to be converted swiftly and easily.

Awesome info, thanks a ton. I will probably shoot you a PM when I get closer to buying.

 

[drd23]

Not really. The main reason I'm thinking about switching is not because I really want a Mac, but more because I like the Air and I haven't seen a PC equivalent. The idea of a completely bare-bones laptop that is light and small and easily transported is really, really attractive. I'm sick of lugging around my laptop when all I really use it for is surfing and writing emails / Word documents. I hate tablets so that's not really an option.

Sounds like you havent really been looking then considering you can buy ultraportable laptops for less than a MacBook Air if all you want is a small, portable laptop with a good battery life.

 

[sblack]

The PC equivalent would be the new Asus U36 range. Incredibly thin, light and portable.

Weighs about the same as a MBA (Asus 1.44kg v 1.34 MBA). Height (Asus 19mm v MBA 17mm).

 

[2Sewell4School]

Just do it, man.

And update this thread in 6 months to confirm that it was a brilliant decision.

 

[Caesar]

Sounds like you havent really been looking then considering you can buy ultraportable laptops for less than a MacBook Air if all you want is a small, portable laptop with a good battery life.

Do they match up in terms of processing power/price though?

I've looked around a little bit but I'm struggling to find anything that truly matches up to the latest Air in terms of specs for the dollars available. Bear in mind I don't just want a netbook, I want a proper computer with a bit of grunt.

The PC equivalent would be the new Asus U36 range. Incredibly thin, light and portable.

Weighs about the same as a MBA (Asus 1.44kg v 1.34 MBA). Height (Asus 19mm v MBA 17mm).

The MBA matchup reviews I've seen for the Asus U36 aren't exactly favourable to the PC.

 

[drd23]

Do they match up in terms of processing power/price though?

I've looked around a little bit but I'm struggling to find anything that truly matches up to the latest Air in terms of specs for the dollars available. Bear in mind I don't just want a netbook, I want a proper computer with a bit of grunt.

Well the PC I was thinking of is the U36 (having bought one 6 months ago when they just came out).

If all you are doing is word processing/email/internet, I'm not entirely sure that the extra cost of the MBA is worth the extra power considering it would most likely not be utilised anyway.

The MBA matchup reviews I've seen for the Asus U36 aren't exactly favourable to the PC.

In what way is it superior?

 

[Caesar]

Thinner, lighter, quicker processing.

I will mainly be using it for word processing, email and internet but I'd like the flexibility to do more with it if I desire.

If I was going to buy a U36 I'd probably wait a couple of months for the new Sony Vaio to come out, make it old tech, and get it on sale for $700-800. Cheap lappies seem to hold their value horrendously.

 

[yogogorilla41]

Caesar if you want think light and ultra portable you have two options imo:

Macbook Air or Toshiba Protege'. If i had to pick... the MBA every time... With the SSD & Core i5, better battery life and then the Mac OS X Lion you can't go wrong.

We sell a mixture to business clients, but i demo'd the MBA $1349 model to local business a week ago and they are looking at taking 15 due to the speed, portability and power. Best thing they love... length of life, no virus and easy to use

Just make sure you get the applecare! It will pay for itself i assure you, 3 year full software support + hardware!

 

[red+black]

New Airs have the backlit keyboard which was in an older model, then removed, then brought back because of user demand. New Airs just released when OSX Lion came out. Below are some links for your perusal:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/index-macbook-air.html
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products
http://blog.officeformac.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/remote-desktop-client
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1666349
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://www.virtualbox.org/
http://www.videolan.org/

As a new user, I'd probably recommend you get Apple Care. I did when I bought my iMac last year. But have a read of this: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/29/advice-from-a-genius-should-you-buy-applecare/

 

[King Elvis]

Caesar, if you buy the top of the line Air, it'll do everything you need it to do and more; they're bloody powerful machines now.

I doubt you'd need a desktop PC as well, just get a monitor and a TimeCapsule for storage.

 

[absy]

I was also against it for a long time. Then I started to work day to day on them and for what you say you're going to do, you won't beat the Air. I wouldn't bother with a maxed out Air (unless you are ditching your desktop which I wouldn't recommend), just the base model is more then enough for the 13". I'm getting the 11" this week, great little machine.

 

[King Elvis]

absy, why not ditch the desktop?

Unless he's playing intensive games or doing hardcore 3D work, it wont matter.

I was the same too - all of the things which I used to love about PCs (upgrading whenever, different suppliers/hardware, heaps of flexibility), have now become negatives.

I want something simple and easy I don't have to mess around with; consequently, moving to Mac.

 

[kaysee]

I thought about buying a top-of-the-line brand new laptop but then I realised that all I really need it for is word processing and surfing the net. I am seriously considering buying an AirBook and spending the rest of my budget on building a halfdecent desktop to store everything on (movies, music, etc).
...

Why not just go an iPad?

Seriously, these are light, portable, instant on and great for surfing. Not sure on their Word Processing capabilities, but I'm sure there would be something compatible even if it is a cloud based service like Google Docs.

It syncs up with email accounts (not sure on Outlook though).

 

[Caesar]

Because touchscreen keyboards are shit, and I want the scope to use it for more if I need it. Tablets are too pared back; I already use my BlackBerry for most of the stuff I'd use an iPad for.

Re ditching the desktop; not sure about that. I have a couple of heavy duty programs for work that I'm not sure I want to overload a light laptop with.

 

[King Elvis]

What're the programs mate?

Get the i7 Air, it's not a light laptop by any stretch, it's very powerful.

 

[iDon]

Looking at getting an Air when tax comes back. Been reading up about it and looks like a great machine.

 

[Caesar]

I'm not worried about processing power on an Air, more memory. I don't want to jam up the hard disk with programs, or have to run them off an external drive and deal with lag.

 

[BigKahunaBlue]

I have 3 MBP and two older G5 and for the work i do (post production and broadcast design) they serve me well.

Years ago i used to use Silicon Graphics machines but since i changed over i have had no issues.

 

[FIGJAM]

Don't do it!

There are people around here that will call you a sheep.

Happened to me once. Really hurt my feelings and I'm not sure I've fully recovered.

 

[VicO]

Caesar, made the switch to a macbook a year back, took 10 minutes to figure out all the differences and haven't looked back since. Very easy to get the hang of things and there are some good videos on the apple site from memory.

I use MS word and ppt on it all the time and they work great.

 

[VicO]

And VMWare Fusion is fantastic. Can run a virtual Windows on the Mac in a separate window, whilst still in OSX.

 

[King Elvis]

Vico, used Parallels at all?

Similar concept, was the one I was planning to get..