OT: Another appeal to my Australian friends.

Posted by Nickname unavailable on July 14, 2009, 8:25 pm

Hi Trish. Great to see you online. Actually I tried to ring you
yesterday, as I hadn't seen any sign of you for ages, but the phone
went straight to message bank. I was going to call again later, but
forgot. Well, I got into a long discussion with a visitor about Mac
computers. I'm wanting to get a new laptop, and I'm wondering if Mac
is a good way for me to go.

As for climate change, it's a natural phenomenon, and it's happened
many times. However, I would find it difficult to believe that human
activity over the last couple of hundred years has had no effect on
this natural process. I'm coming to believe that in fact we're a
couple of hundred years into a new period of mass extinction. I
suspect that over the next few thousand years, perhaps less than that,
the vast majority of current life forms will become extinct. Of
course the world will survive, and new life forms will evolve, as has
happened after the earlier mass extinction episodes.

It bothers me that when forecasts are made about temperatures or sea
levels in a hundred years' time, people just say "Who cares? I won't
be here." We can't afford to be that uncaring about those who'll
follow us.

Johnno

Posted by ellice on July 14, 2009, 10:54 pm

show/hide quoted text

Also, as someone who uses both Macs and PCs I'd suggest you go to a Mac
store, and also check out PCs. The Macs definitely set up more
straightforwardly, they're pretty plug and play. Albeit, the basics may be
a bit more expensive than a basic PC - however, you can do some research on
comparisons with PCs, speed, etc - on Consumer Reports.

I've had little reason to replace my Macs, essentially, none - for long
periods of time, and had great reliability with the Operating systems,
support, etc. Never had a virus.

For whatever reason, Karen has repeatedly in discussions brought up her
specialty software not running on some colleagues' Macs. However, when
questioned as to it it's an older machine (not on the current Intel chip) -
she doesn't answer. The older machines required a PC emulation program to
run Windows for programs requiring a Windows OS. The current machines (for
a couple of years now) are all on Intel chips that will run Windows,
natively. The Macs default is to come with the Mac OS. But you can install
Windows (whatever recent version you have/need) if you must run Windows only
software. And the software will run seamlessly. I know many people,
colleagues, and friends, with newer Macs who also run Windows on their
machines, with specialized software. The options are good - you can run in
Mac OS, Windows, or split a screen and run in parallel (which could be a bit
slower).

I have Office for the Mac, which lets me save files so they're compatible
with Windows versions. And a lot of graphics software. DH has a Dell
laptop for work - we swap a USB hard drive from one to the other - it's
pretty seamless.

So, me- if you want something that's close to take it out of the box and run
- I'd go for the Mac. They come with some really nice software for calendar
stuff (iCal - which even the computer guys on NPR rated on top), mail,
iPhoto- good basic photo program - and a bunch of other stuff. Plus if
you're local to an Apple store, then you can bring in your existing computer
and they'll transfer all your files to the new machine at no charge.

It's a fun thing to shop for - we have a bunch of friends that have both
types of machines. The iMacs are really nice for a one piece kind of
desktop machine, and of course the laptops are lovely. Do some shopping
around - as to what you need for the money - don't be deceived by the ads on
either side. Personally, I really don't know anyone who has switched back
to a PC from a Mac - but I think you need to buy what suits you.

Ellice

Posted by Nickname unavailable on July 15, 2009, 12:10 am

Many thanks for the comments on Macs. The person I was talking to is
an IT professional, and also a mad keen Mac user, and he said that
people who change to Macs usually wonder why they didn't change
earlier. I'll give it some more thought.

Johnno

Posted by ellice on July 15, 2009, 1:38 pm

show/hide quoted text

LOL - that's what most of us say - or that they won't go back....

Ellice

Posted by ellice on July 28, 2009, 11:37 am

show/hide quoted text
Understand that you don't know. However, the actual declaration, given the
Macs having the 2 different chip configurations is generally "it won't run
on a Mac" meaning it won't run on Mac OS. Not it won't run on Windows on a
newer Intel Mac. Since people could still get some Mac models on the RISC
(not Intel) chip until fairly recently, it's a good thing to be clear.
Particularly as it would be an easy question to ask of said software company
or geek - do they mean doesn't run on a Mac OS - the likely answer. Seems
very odd that if it's Windows software it won't run when Windows is running
as the OS. Would be extremely unique situation. Given the Mac dual OS
possibilities, that's why the "specific" question which goes further than
"on a Mac."

ellice

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OT: Another appeal to my Australian friends. - Page 3