PC user being seduced by Macbook air

[Pessimistic]

Can anyone comment on whether I should make the move - I really like the "always on' scenario - it will surely take windows notebooks a while to get that working.

I have a funny feeling I will have to buy 'extras' though DVD burners etc - I already have lots of those which work with windows

But i realise will need to buy software - is all mac software more expensive ?
(will pay academic pricing)

Peripherals would be more expensive (PC ones are dirt cheap now)

Will I come to grief on websites optimised for windows?

I must admit Gates has lost me with his expensice 'upgrade' from vista to 7 - it should be astandard upgrade for all who have struggled with it.

Will keep other PCs within the family though

 

[red+black]

I had a mate get an iMac earlier this year and I eventually went the same way in June. I was hesitant about Mac OS but 4 months on I love the computer and am very happy with the OS. Having a UNIX backend was appealing as well. I had actually been considering getting a Macbook Pro, but decided I didn't need the portability.

Re software I try to find cheap/free stuff, although the new MS Office 2011 is supposed to be very good. Don't know much about commercial Mac software to be honest, but check the Apple store for prices.

Re DVDs, I guess over time we'll move away from such a terrible format, but yeah, you may need an external drive. Most peripherals should work on both platforms wouldn't they? Printers, external hard drives, ...

With regards to websites, no problems. Be happy you won't have to use IE any more.

In short, I love my iMac (and the 27" WS), but you can always build a Win7 VM if you need it using Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Virtual Box.

 

[dbcrow]

Have been thinking about this recently too - would appreciate any comments (thanks R+B)

 

[seanoff]

i had a mate get an imac earlier this year and i eventually went the same way in june. I was hesitant about mac os but 4 months on i love the computer and am very happy with the os. Having a unix backend was appealing as well. I had actually been considering getting a macbook pro, but decided i didn't need the portability.

Re software i try to find cheap/free stuff, although the new ms office 2011 is supposed to be very good. Don't know much about commercial mac software to be honest, but check the apple store for prices.

Re dvds, i guess over time we'll move away from such a terrible format, but yeah, you may need an external drive. Most peripherals should work on both platforms wouldn't they? printers, external hard drives, ...
there are a number of printers that rely on the windows print engine and will not work on macs no matter what

with regards to websites, no problems. Be happy you won't have to use ie any more.

In short, i love my imac (and the 27" ws), but you can always build a win7 vm if you need it using parallels, vmware fusion or virtual box.

123456

 

[red+black]

so you buy a new printer if the one you have isn't Mac compatible.

 

[seanoff]

Can anyone comment on whether I should make the move - I really like the "always on' scenario - it will surely take windows notebooks a while to get that working.

I have a funny feeling I will have to buy 'extras' though DVD burners etc - I already have lots of those which work with windows most of those should work when you connect them, except some printers which use the windows print engine

But i realise will need to buy software - is all mac software more expensive ?
(will pay academic pricing) iWork is much cheaper than Office, not as capable but plenty capable none the less and most of the other stuff is either cross platform at the same price or similarly priced

Peripherals would be more expensive (PC ones are dirt cheap now)

Will I come to grief on websites optimised for windows?some experiences are optimised for IE, but not that many. I have no trouble with any of Safari, Chrome or Firefox.

I must admit Gates has lost me with his expensice 'upgrade' from vista to 7 - it should be astandard upgrade for all who have struggled with it.

Will keep other PCs within the family though

My 13" Macbook Pro takes about 20 secs from off to usable. it's not a windows boot sequence which feels like the age of earth by comparison. but if instant is worth that much to you, off you go.

I don't think the MBA has sufficient value proposition to be better than a MBP at the same price level. less storage, less ram, less power for more money. = no for me

 

[red+black]

13" MBP ftw

I use NeoOffice, basically Open Office specifically for Mac.