OSX Book for Windows Users? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/17/2005 11:24:11 AM · #1

Sorry if this is a repost. I searched and found nothing.

I have been a MS Windows user for 15 years (currently using XP-Pro), so I know nothing about OSX. But my 4-year-old motherboard just died, so I am thinking of going with a 20" iMac (they are so freakin' cool). Is there a good OSX book geared toward Windows users who are making the switch? Thanks.

I am trying to decide if I should just replace the motherboard/CPU with a AMD Athlon 64 solution ($400-500) or jump to the iMac (refurb for $1400).

-Chad

Edit: Typo

Message edited by author 2005-05-17 12:04:43.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/17/2005 11:42:19 AM · #2

Throw a AMD64 3200+ (better yet go 3400+) on this guy ASUS K8N Socket 754 nVidia nForce 3 250Gb @ Newegg move your ram and video and you have a sweet machine for under $300. 8 channel sound is killer for those with tons of speakers. 800Mhz FSB, Hyper Transport If you need Serial Raid they have an enhanced version of the board (also has Gbit lan). Randod300 pointed this one out so I threw on together for fun, and this is a great board.

Andy

Message edited by author 2005-05-17 11:49:09.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

05/17/2005 11:43:20 AM · #3

From where you're coming from, David Pogue may be a good author to look for. He writes about all things Mac, especially operating systems, in a casual and simple style while maintaining a thorough approach.

You may want to wait a few weeks (or days) though, as his latest book todate "Mac OS X (version 10.3) - The Missing Manual" does not address 'Tiger' (v. 10.4) yet which was just released.

PS: you probably know this already, but the iMac G5 architecture will run 64bit apps.

Message edited by author 2005-05-17 11:48:51.

05/17/2005 12:03:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by awpollard:

Thanks for the MB link. I was thinking of THIS MB and THIS CPU. I would also need new RAM, since i currently have old PC133 memory. I would also need a new power supply (old one is 300W). I would want quality hardware, so I am looking at around $500. What stinks is that I just bought a NEC DVD burner and Seagate 200GB Barracuda for now-dead system.

-Chad

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/17/2005 12:07:13 PM · #5

Thanks zeuszen.

-Chad

Tom_Robbrecht

05/17/2005 12:34:59 PM · #6

Go for the iMac dude.
As a recent convert myself I can tell you that there really is no need to buy a book on OSX straightaway.
Depends on what you want to do of course.
I just "felt" my way through the first days and found OSX to be plenty intuitive.
Later on I bought the OSX bible by Samuel A. Litt et al. which clarifies every detail.

Edit : Oh yeah, you'll need to get a two-button mouse. Beats me why Apple haven't acknowledged the advantages of one.

Message edited by author 2005-05-17 13:13:51.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

05/17/2005 01:05:18 PM · #7

Microsoft and Apple have cross-copied each other so much that if you've used pretty much any version of Windows since '95, you'll feel right at home in OSX, and you'll quickly gain an appreciation for an OS that is very well thought-out and "just works."

Disclaimer: my opinions only, not meant to disparage Windows, Linux, DOS, ProDOS, or any other operating systems. No flame wars please.

05/17/2005 01:35:12 PM · #8

Originally posted by strangeghost:

Microsoft and Apple have cross-copied each other so much

Don't you really mean that Microsoft has had a few really rather poor attempts at copying from Apple? ( hee hee hee)

05/17/2005 01:36:58 PM · #9

Originally posted by zeuszen:

I'll second this. I bought a copy of this when we went from OS9 to X and found a lot of useful titbits.

05/17/2005 01:44:50 PM · #10

Originally posted by cpurser:

Just a heads-up, but I recently changed the PC I had at home for a 20" iMac. Lots of things I didn't really consider in my rush to change over (we use Macs at work and have done so since about '88). I had to get a new copy of Capture One (changing the licence to Mac version costs, too), Rawshooter Essentials does not run on a Mac, unless you get virtual PC. You'll also need to splash out on other new software (MS Office for Mac, for example)

On the up side, however, if you use Image Capture to transfer your RAW files from you card, they all end up with preview icons (I know it can be done on a PC as well, though).

Good luck, whatever you choose.

05/17/2005 02:14:59 PM · #11

Originally posted by AJAger:

Yes, I have thought of this. Sucks, don't it? My wife is a teacher, so I can get Office for Mac for $150, and if I can find a cheap old version of Photoshop for Mac, the upgrade to CS2 is only $150. But I see your point. That's $300 that would almost pay to fix my Windows box.

No matter how bad I want the iMac, upgrading seems the most logical choice. But man, I want to say, SCREW LOGIC!

-Chad

05/17/2005 02:16:02 PM · #12

BTW Alan,

Are you glad you made the switch, other than the software costs?

-Chad

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/17/2005 02:55:53 PM · #13

Originally posted by cpurser:

BTW Alan,

Are you glad you made the switch, other than the software costs?

-Chad

I only had to pay for the Capture One myself, the company provided me with Office, as I do plenty of work from home, so costs were not too serious in my case (I now need to get them to pay for more RAM and for AirPort, but that's another matter).

Yes, I'm glad I made the switch. I've been an Apple user since the Apple II and even had a Lisa at one point. The only reason we had a PC at home before was so that our daughter could use it for school work. Now that she's got her own laptop, that doesn't matter anymore.

The best thing, however, is the elegance of the machine IMO. I love the look of it.

Back to the down side though; I can't seem to find a USB2.0 card reader that works on a Mac, maybe someone can put me straight- might just have to buy a FireWire one.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

05/17/2005 03:28:49 PM · #14

Originally posted by AJAger:

... Back to the down side though; I can't seem to find a USB2.0 card reader that works on a Mac, maybe someone can put me straight- might just have to buy a FireWire one.

I have a Sandisk 4-in-1 USB 2 card reader works great with my G5

Message edited by author 2005-05-17 15:29:17.