iMac

[Caradoc]

Sorry, what I meant by software was OEM reload media, to take it back to factory specs. Those I have found here and there for sale, and of course, the local Apple store tried to sell me the new version for $129, but I don't want to shell out that much for what amounts to a test machine.

So grab the OpenDarwin ISOs, and you've got a working machine. Or any of the Linux variants that run on PowerPC.

Or hit Froogle, and find the Mac OS X 10.4 install media for under $75.

If someone gave you a PC, how much would it cost you to get a license for Windows to install to use it, if you weren't going to Linux or some other free OS?

[Caradoc]

I'm looking for good contact management software before I cross over. I currently use ACT6. I'm trialing Filemaker, but first glance it's nowhere near as good.

Any ideas?

Now Up To Date and Contact is supposed to be pretty good.

I generally just use the Mac OS Address Book as my contact manager, though.

For pretty much any flavor of software, go to VersionTracker and search. You'll likely find something you can use, and there are reviews of the software attached to the findings... most of the time.

[Mechamaniac]

If someone gave you a PC, how much would it cost you to get a license for Windows to install to use it, if you weren't going to Linux or some other free OS?

Pay? for Winblows?

[mddock58]

I'm looking for good contact management software before I cross over. I currently use ACT6. I'm trialing Filemaker, but first glance it's nowhere near as good.

Any ideas?

Filemaker is as good as you want to make it! But if you want it ONLY for a contact manager, it's overkill (It's a Database program!).

Now Up to Date is good, or you can just use the pieces that come with Mac OS, iCal, Address Book, etc.


BTW - ACT first started on a Mac!

[auld argonian]

One of the issues that has always dogged the issue of switching back and forht between a Mac and a PC has been the compatibility or transferability of existing files. Having always been a Mac person I've had plenty of luck "translating" files form various PC applications for use on the Mac. Appleworks is provided with every Mac and it's toughly equivalent to Microsoft Works...word processor, spreadsheet, data base, drawing, painting and presentation modules...I have only rarely had a situation where I couldn't import a file into Appleworks and I expect that iCal and Adress Book would be able to convert existing files as well. We have the iWorks package now and that has a presentation module that is certainly at least the equivalent of Powerpoint and a Word Processor/Graphic Layout module that is more like the direct descendant of Pagemaker than anything that I've ever seen.

Yeah...cost....that's always one of the arguments about both Mac hardware and Mac software. I look at it this way: I have rarely ever had a system crash, I have very rarely ever lost any data...I haven't had to take any classes on how to use the software because it's so simple and intuitive yet it returns results that cannot be distinguished from software with a steeper learning curve...I have never blown a power supply or screwed up a hard drive past the point where it could be remounted within a half an hour. Granted, I've been (like P1M) using Macs since day one and can play them like the proverbial recorder (Hamlet)...but what's that worth? Very little downtime...what's that worth? I feel that people often confuse expense with value...we talk about that a lot in this forum. If I had to get an office set up and running quickly and efficiently, I'd use Macs because I wouldn't have so many computer problems that I'd have to hire a full time tech guy...they'd pay for themselves quickly in that regard.

Right now I'm using an eMac that's about four years old and hasn't needed any hardware upgrades since we bought it. Updating the operating system when it's needed is actually a relatively cheap proposition...there are five Macs here and a family pack of the new os's usually runs about $179-ish...but remember...no hardware upgrades and I can easily wring six plus years out of a machine before we start thinking about getting a new one.

Sorry to rant but it's just a pro's/con's thing with me.

Best

AA

[mddock58]

Agreed!

People always complain about the cost, but I've always found that you get what you pay for, and it's very true with a Mac!

I've been using one for 20+ years, and supporting both platforms for almost as long!

[starbkjrus]

I Think I may go for the 20"(Still a huge screen) with
2.16 GHz
2GB RAM
256 Graphic Card
500GB HD
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

I think the basic Mac software will surfice for now. I only use Photshop for basics (On my PC)anyway I might spash out on Apeture at a later date.

I think Openoffice works well with MAC any thoughts on that software ?
what about iWorks ?

I only do basic stuff with the software I have now anyway. It's mostlly pictures and Internet not to mention Music

David,

A wireless keyboard and mouse are handy but make sure you have at least an apple compatible wired keyboard tucked away somewhere. There will come a time when you want to boot your MAC from a CD / DVD. You'll need a wired keyboard to do that. To boot to a disk on a MAC you hold down the "C" key on the keyboard at startup. Wireless keyboard drivers load AFTER initial startup so you would "miss" the disk startup window.

Don't know much about iWork other than what has been said already. I'm a spreadsheet junky and iWork doesn't have that . I use MS Office for the MAC and Appleworks. Appleworks used to come with every MAC but no more. To me it's worth the $79.00 American to add that to the package. (Oh, and I get Office through my company for $20.00. I would not pay $489.00 for it.)

Have fun!

[mddock58]

Great point Dee!

[Freelander Sporrano]

Great tip thanks I didn't think about that

[morrison]

.... ....Still she'll have our New Dell 9400 laptop for herself :rolleyes:

keep the peace brother. Get two Macs. and watch the windows rot in dell