06.22.07
I’m a switcher!
Yes I’ve moved from Windows to Mac and what a revelation. I have lived and breathed a Microsft environment for 20 years. However, in a moment of weakness, having spotted a gorgeous white Macbook which not only reminded me of my other great love - my iPod, but would also run XP, I succumbed. Confident that I had merely bought a partiuclarly stylish laptop and would install bootcamp and run XP, I thought “Ah what the hell, I’ll play with the Mac OS for a while” … 8 months later and I am still enthralled. I LOVE my macbook though i am aware of it’s flaws. I am used to expressing my relationship to my computer in emotional terms though previously they had all been negative and expletives were prevalent. What do i like about it:
I have never had a blue screen
I have never reinstalled the OS
It does not hang on me (when not running Parallels - XP!)
I do not worry about viruses or networking issues.
Installing software is a breeze
Much more intuitve approach to software.
Some fantastic basic features - pdf printer standard, expose is great, no compatability issues and Mac versions available for all my needs EXCEPT Microsoft Visio (and I have always hated that anyway but clients use it hence my parallels install) and Dragon - the Mac equivalent iListen is just not as good in my opinion.
The hardware is gorgeous and has a magnetic power attachment which has saved my machine at least once a week as it just falls off if i walk between the machine and the cable rather than dragging the machine to the floor.
Some negatives - only 2 USB, no SD card slot, need a miniDVI connector for VGA output to projector, no decent mic input but i use a USB adaptor anyway. I love the Dock.
Have i mentioned the hardware is gorgeous? But seriouly, I LIKE using my mac, because the experience is focussed on the task not fighting the damn machine or software all the time.
I have had speed issues but only since i upgraded Parallels and installed Office 2007. The amount of time I spend stuffing around with the technology is always in the Windows environment. I have had issues where on a Windows network the only machine that can print to a network printer is the Mac! How crazy is that!
My speed issues will be put right (I am assured) when i get more memory as I am trying to run a VM with XP and Office 2007 alongside some pretty serious Mac software as well. We shall see.