Making the switch this week (PC-Mac)! A couple ??

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/26/2007 10:32:47 AM · #1

Hey all,
Well, after reading (and hearing) a TRUCKLOAD of advice, discussions, arguments, and general marketing hype, I'm switching from PC to MAC this week. My 2.5 year-old Sony Vaio got a wicked virus a couple weeks ago, and that was the last straw. My 24" Imac should be arriving this Friday or Saturday, and I can't wait (standard config, but I added another gig of RAM for a total of 2GB). Anyway, I have two questions for you all.
1) Although everyone says Macs are easy to use, how big will the learning curve be coming from a PC background for the last 15+ years? The last time I used a Mac was in college, and I had to load the OS from a 5 1/4" floppy disc back then (yeah, I know--I'm dating myself big time!).
2) Biggest question here--I'd like to get a .mac account and build a small website for my photography. All the articles on apple.com talk about how easy this is to do (one-click web publishing?), but I wanted to hear from anyone here who has done this. If you have, can you post a link to your site? I'd love to see an example of a photography site built with iWeb and a .mac account.
Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated as well.
Thanks!

-Don

PS--Oh yeah, I'm actually going to wait for CS3 to be officially released before I upgrade (or crossgrade) from CS2 on my PC to CS3 on the Mac. So it may be a month or two before I start using the Mac for photo editing. But if you are using CS3 beta on a Mac right now and recommend I don't wait, please chime in. Thanks!

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

03/26/2007 11:30:30 AM · #2

I tried it out when I first got OSX with my old G3 laptop...cuz it was free! Now it is an overly expensive (non)solution for anything I can think of to get done cheaper and better somewhere else. Especially since the new Leopard has automatic backup.
Speaking of...better keep a good watch for the new OS when it comes out, so you can get it for free. Read somewhere it was due this last weekend...maybe yours will be shipped with it and be one of the first! :)

Message edited by author 2007-03-26 11:30:59.

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

03/26/2007 11:38:30 AM · #3

In my opinion, the learning curve is relatively small. If you get stuck on something, try to think about the shortest way to fix it/find it/solve it. It always seems to me that when I'm on a PC they require 8 more steps to do something than my Mac. So just think simple!!

As for the web stuff: SUPER EASY if you get the iLife software, which I think is coming with the new computers, right? I JUST put it on my computer last night and in less than two hours I had : //www.abbottimages.com pretty much up and running. Not quite finished with it yet, but not bad for two hours work! That software is incredibly easy to use, very intuitive, and especially if you get a .mac account very easy to publish.

I don't have a .mac account because I can get really cheap hosting from my family :-) But I can attest to the fact that it's very simple to ftp to a different server. Though the software is set up with a one-click publishing feature to your .mac account.

Hope the switch goes well and you love your new machine!!!

Cutter

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

03/26/2007 11:43:59 AM · #4

I made the switch 18 months ago to a 20'' iMac. I promise you will not have any regrets. I only wish I bought more RAM but you are sitting pretty there. Enjoy.

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

03/26/2007 11:44:17 AM · #5

Hi, I have a mac account but dont use the .mac website feature anymore since I have my own site now. But when I did use it, it was very very easy to use. When ever I wanted my pictures up on my mac site I would load them into iPhoto and its very simple from their just click the homepage button and your pretty much set from their and just follow the simple screens from their. They even have various templates setup for you.

Also the change from pc to mac wont be hard at all. If you are use to using keyboard shortcuts thats only thing you will have to remember that they are different. Trust me you will be very happy how easy everything is, especially with the iMAC

Message edited by author 2007-03-26 11:45:29.

get04rit

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/26/2007 11:47:22 AM · #6

I am making the switch as well, but waiting until they release Leopard. Please let me know if your mac comes with Leopard. I plan on getting the 24" as well.

Also did you purchase Apeture? If so I would like to know how easy it is to use for editing. Or if anyone else knows for that matter.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

03/26/2007 11:50:17 AM · #7

Originally posted by get04rit:

I am making the switch as well, but waiting until they release Leopard. Please let me know if your mac comes with Leopard.

It won't. :-/

One interesting thing about Leopard is that Photoshop CS3 will supposedly run MUCH faster on it. It's already very fast under Tiger, but somewhat hobbled due to an issue with paged memory.

Message edited by author 2007-03-26 11:53:18.

Cutter

Nikon D700

03/26/2007 11:58:57 AM · #8

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by get04rit:
I am making the switch as well, but waiting until they release Leopard. Please let me know if your mac comes with Leopard.

It won't. :-/

One interesting thing about Leopard is that Photoshop CS3 will supposedly run MUCH faster on it. It's already very fast under Tiger, but somewhat hobbled due to an issue with paged memory.

Did you read the rumor it might get pushed back until the fall? Ahem.....Scalvert....ahem....true?

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

03/26/2007 12:06:06 PM · #9

Originally posted by scalvert:

Mine will definitely ship with Tiger, but I ordered the Applecare warranty, which includes free OS upgrades. So once Leopard comes out, I'll probably wait about a month and then jump to it. I have also heard that CS3 screams on Leopard, so I'm looking forward to this combo. I don't plan on getting Aperture, as the new bridge along with the included iphoto looks like it'll have all I need (along with Photoshop CS3, of course). Thanks for all the replies so far. I'm big on keyboard shortcuts, so that will probably take a little time. Keep the comments coming--I appreciate it! And ladyhawk22--I'm off to check out your site now (and yes, my iMac will ship with iLife). Thanks!

sudhi

Canon EOS-7D

03/26/2007 12:09:10 PM · #10

I work on a 20" iMAC at work and I don't think the learning cuve will be much. OS X is super easy. As it was already mentioned I would have waited for Lepord release. If not you will have to shell out about $150 for an upgrade later ( assuming you will totally love Tiger).

get04rit

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/26/2007 12:09:38 PM · #11

There are way too many speculations flying around on all the mac sites. It is getting very hard for me to wait. I was in a mac store this weekend drewling on the 24" iMac and I fighting with myself....buy it....no wait....buy it....no wait.
Having to wait is killing me! Espescially when I went out this weekend and shot some of the best photos I have ever taken, and then had to come home and edit them on my piece of #*!@ $300.00 lap top. LOL

03/26/2007 12:27:51 PM · #12

Originally posted by Cutter:

Did you read the rumor it might get pushed back until the fall?

I read it, but I don't believe it. I would expect a May-June timeframe for Leopard. They should also have new hardware out within the next few weeks.

03/26/2007 12:28:31 PM · #13

Ladyhawk--nice site, but you may want to put real text in the "Portrait" page LOL! I'm laughing with you on this, since that is TOTALLY something I would do too!
And like I mentioned, if you buy Applecare you won't need to wait for Leopard. It will be free once it becomes available.

03/26/2007 12:38:12 PM · #14

Originally posted by Pixlmaker:

I ordered the Applecare warranty, which includes free OS upgrades.

I'm fairly certain that OS Upgrades are NOT included with AppleCare!

asimchoudhri

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/26/2007 12:52:21 PM · #15

Originally posted by Pixlmaker:

1- the learning curve will be minimal... honestly. especially if you get .mac, there are some really good online video tutorials. while i've been using macs since 1984, and have been using os-x for 6 years and 2 days, i have helped numerous friends switch and even those who are not the most computer literate have very little problem getting a lot out of their computer

2a- I use .mac for photography and blogging... you can get see it here (asimchoudhri.com reroutes to the site). it is very easy to publish and update. Nearly the entire site is made in iWeb. A few portions I added on using free aperture export plugins (the flash page of Seattle pics linked off the front page). If this is at all what you are interested in producing, you'll love your mac (and .mac)

2b- you can get a year of .mac for $79 from amazon... this will work for first-time registrations or for renewals.

please post a link to your site once you have it online! good luck!

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

03/26/2007 01:04:26 PM · #16

Hmmm, I was told by a co-worker who works on the Apple team here where I work (computer distributor--we sell millions in Apple every year) that the Applecare includes OS upgrades. However, I don't see that mentioned on their site. I'll have to look into that...
A .mac account is $69 for your first year if you get it with your new Mac. However, I just noticed it is a promotion that you add on WHEN you purchase your mac. I hope I'm not hosed on this because I ordered mine through a friend of a friend that works at Apple (15% discount!). Again, I'll have to look into it.
And thanks for your link asimchourdhri--I'll check it out!

annasense

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

03/26/2007 01:42:25 PM · #17

Message edited by author 2007-03-28 22:05:20.

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

03/26/2007 02:17:31 PM · #18

Originally posted by Pixlmaker:

Hahahaha, oooops! Yeah, I knew I'd forget something! It was late at night, and like I said--put together in a little less than two hours :-)

Thanks for the reminder though!

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

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

03/26/2007 02:31:32 PM · #19

I always purchase Applecare on my Macs and no, OS upgrades are NOT included.

annasense

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

03/26/2007 02:32:33 PM · #20

Originally posted by strangeghost:

I always purchase Applecare on my Macs and no, OS upgrades are NOT included.

I believe this is right. I've always had Applecare, and unless I'm just a sucker, I've always had to buy the OS updates.

03/26/2007 03:39:17 PM · #21

Yeah, I looked into it and you're all definitely right. I'm not too worried about it, as Tiger looks to have everything I'll need.
One other thing I've noticed with Mac users is that they tend to keep and use their Macs for a LONG time--MUCH longer than people tend to keep their PCs. I have a co-worker who just gave a 12-year-old Mac to his grandfather for email and basic word processing. It still works just fine. You don't hear of too many 12-year-old PCs doing much more than sitting on the floor propping a door open. But the one thing I am a little concerned about is the integrated system / monitor combo. The system looks amazing, but if you have a problem with the monitor, it would appear that you are in for one expensive repair bill!

03/26/2007 03:51:07 PM · #22

Originally posted by Pixlmaker:

if you have a problem with the monitor, it would appear that you are in for one expensive repair bill!

LCDs tend to last a LOT longer than CRTs.

bigalpha

Sony DSC-S60

03/26/2007 04:40:47 PM · #23

Originally posted by Pixlmaker:

The system looks amazing, but if you have a problem with the monitor, it would appear that you are in for one expensive repair bill!

Isn't that what AppleCare is for?