Comments on: Time To Leave The Mac?

By: dogooder

dogooder — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 06:51:46 +0000

I won’t say too much Danny since I have already replied to your comments on that other page. Just suffice to say, both MacOS and Windows 7 are great. Despite being a long-time Mac user (and before that an Apple user from the days of the Lisa and Apple I), I find that Windows 7 rocks as good as Snow Leopard, and I don’t regret switching from Mac to PC tablet for most of my work. But it sure is nice knowing that my “new” Powerbook is still available when I miss MacOS.

By: Jackson Miller

Jackson Miller — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:00:18 +0000

I understand what you are feeling. I have been tempted to return to linux from Mac a couple of times in the past year (and Windows 7 seems pretty nice too).

However, one thing that I don’t think anyone has mentioned yet.

Since you have been a Mac user, the TSA rules have changed. You are no longer allowed to carry on a spare laptop battery.

Oh, and my unibody MBP does have a user replaceable battery (buy it here: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB772LL/A). I think the ones they are selling now do too.

By: Sam L

Sam L — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:51:27 +0000

Sounds like a tough choice!

I attempted to change from PC to Mac a while ago and had similar issues with wanting to run PC stuff on the Mac.

Regarding the nice 27″ monitor, i don’t think its worth it. I’d rather have 3 22″ than a 27″. So convenient and you’re not forever resizing windows.

By: Alexander Fakeri

Alexander Fakeri — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:50:45 +0000

I was a PC user for 11 years and I managed and worked in a web design shop and for years we fought the transition. After landing at a client site with three hours before a presentation, my third (in two years) 17 HP notebook died. I drove straight over to the local Apple store and after $3,500 (Macbook Pro, MS office and VM software) I was up and running before my meeting started; that was three years ago.

I hardly ever use my VM software (primarily for Visio) and since then I’ve bought a 27′inch iMac for my home and we’ve equipped the office with Macs. My team used for email either Entourage or Thunderbird. Heat can be a problem on the Macbooks, but it beats hearing a 17 dell with 7 fans loaded into the lap top that I have to blast the dust out of every weekend.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:28:06 +0000

I went from using 2 20″ LCDs to 1 24″ and can say that I don’t miss having two monitors. Once you get above 22″, the urge to maximize windows to happen as much. I like having multiple smaller windows open and don’t feel any less productive. I think the 27″ i7 Mac is just for you.

By: Melissa- SEO Aware

Melissa- SEO Aware — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:13:22 +0000

Danny, I was almost ready to move to a mac because I had so many computer issues, but I realized it was the systems I was buying, HP, Dell, Toshiba…I could go on. I recently bought (and reviewed) my new Lenovo and I cannot tell you how absolutely thrilled I am. I am one of those that reads and reads before I buy. What I realized is IBM has been around sense the beginning and they know how to build a computer, while some of the other companies build to sell and they don’t build for people like me that will use it day in and out. I am IN LOVE with it! It is so light and doesn’t get hot and I have 7 hours of battery life with a 14 inch screen and an optical drive. After reading everything for 3 solid weeks I chose this computer and I am looking forward to owning more of them. Obviously you can find my review, so I won’t post the link. I guess one way to look at it is, what could it hurt to just get a PC and see how it goes? You aren’t broke If you don’t like it you could give it to a soldier or a needy teen. Good luck, from a forever PC girl.

By: Brian Gerry

Brian Gerry — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:49:55 +0000

I switched a little over a year ago to a Macbook pro and my experience has been very similar although a few things have helped a lot.

I’ve ditched spaces. Yes, it’s sexy cool the way it gives you multiple desktops and I like to maximize my apps also but instead I find using command-tab much faster.

I went from multiple monitors to a 27″ but found I still missed the extra space so I use my Macbook as a spare and keeping the top open helps cool it. The other thing that helps is accepting there’s no one perfect solution (or it would if I could).

One final note: Entourage is to Outlook as lightning bug is to lightning.

By: Danny Sullivan

Danny Sullivan — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:28:47 +0000

Tom, Spaces is cool, but it’s no match for multiple screens. Let me give you a typical scenario.

I get an email from someone raising an issue on Google. I need to read the email, then also run a search on Google to examine the problem. Toggling via Spaces between the email and the Google results isn’t productive. It’s easier to scan them both at the same time, just like a trader might.

Further, I might want to open another window to examine some related issues, while still looking at the original Google results. Add to that, I may want to have an editing window open, so I can start writing notes or an article.

I want all of these things in front of me at once. Maybe I’m weird, but having used three monitors this way before, I also know how efficient it is.

This is turning out to be the common decision for me. I looked at the new iMac 27″ today, and the screen is wonderful, big and huge resolution. I could easily have multiple windows open on it. Yet, I’d still not be able to position a second monitor easily on my desk. It’s so big there’s no room to position it but off to one side, barely. And one thing I learned is that if you have one monitor off to the side, rather than side-by-side or three monitors, you start to hurt your neck. Three monitors causes you to be looking all around.

Still pondering, though. The Mac Pro would be ideal. All Mac, lots of power. But at $2500, that’s easily double what I’d pay for a Windows 7 machine. And I just don’t know that the Mac is THAT worth it.

By: Ged Carroll

Ged Carroll — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:10:16 +0000

Hi Danny, I hope that you find this of use. Realisticlly if you want to drive three monitors you need a Pro Model mac or a decent PC desktop. I am running a new model after having had an 06 MB Pro. I have found it runs cooler than the old machine and has a better build quality. Re housekeeping there are a couple of things that can help: MacJanitor is my personal favourite Outlook - Microsoft have recognised that Entourage doesn't quite cut it and are releasing a Mac native version of Outlook in their next version of Office. However to be honest with you, you are probably better migrating from Exchange server to Google calendar synching to iCal, addressbook.app and mail.app with mail connected to an IMAP4 account

By: Corey Creed

Corey Creed — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:00:34 +0000

Three monitors is ideal. I dare say that any high-power user that says it is unnecessary has clearly not tried it yet. I too am addicted to Outlook. Those two reasons keep me in Windows and probably always will.

I’ve tried Mac. I only lasted six months.

But to each his own. (Another thing I’ve learned is that this is a very sensitive issue. Some people will really go nuts if you say one is better than the other.)