Switch to a Mac and You’ll Never Go Back
So. You’re thinking about buying a Mac, eh? Good decision. Of course, you have some reservations. You’ve been a Windows user for years. Can you really let go and embrace the upheaval the Mac brings? You’ve been reading Apple Matters for a while and the writers there have made the Mac sound so appealing, but you have a few more questions.
Will I cut myself off from the rest of civilization?
Despite Apple’s latest advertising campaign for Macs, gently titled “Get a Mac”, you might still be a little reticent. Sure the ads point out things you already knew, and sure they don’t shout it in your face unlike some of your Mac wielding friends, but you’re still saying, “Whoa. A Mac? Won’t it cut me off from the rest of civilization?”
The short answer is yes. But that’s a good thing. You cut yourself off from a plethora of viruses, spyware and other malware. The longer answer is no, no you won’t cut yourself off from the rest of civilization. (Some Mac enthusiasts will argue you will actually be joining the civilized world. And who am I to argue?). And the reasons are to do with compatibilty and usabilty.
What about compatibility?
Compatibility covers three areas. The one that is most important to you as a potential switcher, is not hardware, not software but data. Will my existing files be compatible? Partly that is linked to software, because if the same application is available on both platforms, there’s no compatibility issue.
Do you use Microsoft Office? Good news –- it’s available on the Mac.
Do you use Adobe Photoshop Elements? Good news it’s on the Mac
Do you use iTunes? Good news –- it’s on the Mac.
Do you use MSN Messenger? Yahoo Messenger? Skype? Good news -– they’re on the Mac.
And that’s just the beginning. There is a plethora of applications available that run both on PCs and Macs – including many top line games. Check out CrossOSS which specializes in listing applications that run on both platforms. Otherwise search MacUpdate or Version Tracker for applications that are the same or similar. Mac Game Files is a good starting point for games.
Files or data that don’t have an application available on a Mac, can usually be exported to a common format and then imported into a Mac application.
But what if you are using some rogue application (like MS Publisher) whose files you can’t convert to the Mac? Good news –- the new Intel based Macs can boot up Windows. Consequently you can make a steady transition to a similar Mac application (such as Pages or The Print Shop)
There is not anywhere near the amount of software available for Macs as for Windows. But does that matter? No. Not at all. Windows might have hundreds of thousands of applications, as opposed to the Macs tens of thousands, but how many applications do you need to do a certain task? One. One word processor, one photo editor, one email application, and so on.
Hardware-wise, virtually all digital cameras and video cameras talk to Macs. Likewise most modern printers. USB memory sticks and other portable storage are also no problem. In almost all cases (except printers) you don’t even have to install a driver. And that covers the majority of peripherals most people use nowadays.
How easy is the Mac to learn?
Another question you’ll be thinking is: “Ok, will I have to re-learn everything?” Reasonable question. And the truth is there is a learning curve but at least 80% is the same or very similar.
Buying a Mac is like moving to another country that speaks the same language as you do. Like moving from USA to Australia. We all speak the same basic language but if you move here from the USA, you are going to have to learn the art of swearing; to drive on the right side of the road, which is the left here (yep, left is right here); to write your dates the the right way around; to eat a cold Christmas lunch; to learn to spell all those “z” words with an “s”; and put a “u” between “o” and “r”. And the hardest thing—you have to learn to walk upside down.
It doesn’t take long to familiarize yourself though.
And so it is switching from Windows to Mac. There are some programs you will be familiar with, such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, iTunes and Photoshop Elements, others that will be familiar enough, like Safari, Mail and Address Book; others that might take some a little time to learn, like iMovie, Garageband; and others that will make you glad you switched like iPhoto and iCal. And the operating system itself, OS X, is even easier to learn.
As an example of how easy learning to use the Mac can be, my brother switched 18 months ago. I’ve had two calls for help since then. Previously, when he had a PC, he’d ring me probably once a month for help (I used to work in PC support roles and therefore I am the family’s support guy). So the platform he’d been using for years he needed significantly more assistance with than the one he was new to. And neither of those calls were about security.
Is the Mac really more secure?
Okay. So Mac users brag about the security record of the Mac’s operating system, OS X. Some debate it’s a case of its small market-share not attracting the miscreants. If large market-share means more problems, where are all the viruses attacking iPods? And why were there so many more viruses for Apple’s previous operating system (Mac OS) when Apple’s market-share wasn’t significantly higher?
The Mac is inherently more secure, and that cannot be argued. As a result, the chances of a virus infection (which is a fully automatic infection, no or absolutely minimal user-assistance required) is quite low. There are possibly security holes in OS X that could be exploited by a virus or a trojan (trojans require some help from the user to infiltrate a computer, and so are usually disguised as friendly programs), but these would be few and so much easier to address and patch. Windows on the other hand, is like a sieve – there seems to be too many holes to patch. As soon as one is, another is found.
Security could be more of an issue in the future for Macs, but you can bet your booty that you won’t be siting around the tearoom discussing all the types of security measures you’ve had to implement, and how really, you’ve got no idea and are living more in hope than anything.
Come on in, the water’s fine
Most people at home use their computers for word processing, email, browsing the web, playing games and storing their digital pictures. Macs do all this with no effort at all. Most of what you do on a PC, you’ll be happily doing less than an hour after plugging your Mac in.
The Mac is a legitimate option nowadays and with its ability to run Windows, you can always go back if you need to.
On my blog QwertyRash, I have started a page with links to articles to assist people in switching. There’s articles on software, getting to know OS X, tips and tricks, and more. It will grow over time, so keep an eye on it.
So why should you switch? Because Macs require less maintenance? Because you don’t have to have a guru on speed-dial? Because they have infinitely less security issues? Yes, all those reasons and more, but most of all:
Because you can.
(Image courtesy Michael Mahoney.)
This article is the fourth part in a series for switchers:
Three Ways to Run Windows on Your Mac
Top 4 Ways to Keep Your Mac Humming
Finding Cross Platform Software for Mac OS X and Windows
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Comments
Hardware-wise, virtually all…[deleted]...And that covers the majority of peripherals most people use nowadays. -CH
This is very TRUE even on printers. Most printers that come out of HP, Canon, Epson, or Lexmark, now fully suport Bonjour networking protocol. If that is not enough, OSX printer utility (wizard for ya Mac wannabes) can even connect to a Windows-centric printer sharing. Another is it can connect directly to an IP (networked) printers -i.e. JetDirect. Lastly, it supports ALL Unix/Linux printers out-of-the-box.
As for HW support, do not fear my potential Mac enthusiasts for Apple has mastered the art of “coexistence” with Windows.
I have to warn ya’ll…Chris is right when he says, “Switch to a Mac and You’ll Never Go Back”.
Nice article, Chris. Keep churning these smart topics for ye Mac faithfuls.
...if you move here from the USA, you are going to have to learn the art of swearing…CH
I lived there for 2 yrs when I was in the service (Northwest Cape off W.A. State to be exact) and learning how to swear, “That…bloody…Yankee bloke…I’ll get the pi*$...out of him!” was not so difficult. That “bad” habit can be learned with only a couple of bitter Foster’s yah?.
Same with getting a Mac. I bet it is a lot smoother for a PC guy to trek the Mac wilderness than the other way.
And no, you won’t need two bitter Foster’s beer to appreciate the beauty of the Mac…;)
If large market-share means more problems, where are all the viruses attacking iPods? -CH
Although the iPod commands a huge percentage of the portable media/content player segment, it is not open to malcreants as it is on either Windows or Mac OSX.
You can install minimal Linux OS (it has been done) but that memory space is not the “protected” space that the iPod OS occupies. This scenario is much like the BootCamp partitioning. Malwares can attack the Windows partition much like garden-variety PCs running Windows but those same malwares are unaware of the existence of the OSX partition. This goes with the iPod OS partitioning of main memory and storage.
Apple is so secretive of any info regarding the iPod’s OS design and architectural mapping that casual malcreants will be virtually locked-out for now…a good thing I must say.
Agree with everything but one thing: “you might still be a little reticent” ... you mean reluctant.
Reticent means you don’t say much.
Other than that, well said.
It’s a reasonable article but I wouldn’t necessarily agree that once you have switched you won’t go back. I’ve been a Mac user now for the past 3-years and, with the current state of computing, my next laptop will be a MacBook Pro. However, since I’ve made a switch once I would be prepared to switch again if Apple manages to drop the ball again like they did in the 90s. At the moment, however, I will certainly concede that Windows is no competition once you know how good the Mac platform currently is.
I have to say that I would never have recommended switching or adding (as in my case) until the Intel Mac. As a more objective observer, XP has its advantages and uses. It’s why I continue to use XP despite owning two Macs and my deep, deep desire for a Macbook or Macbook Pro.
But the ability to run XP on a Mac (even though I haven’t done this yet) as either a dual system or a transitional one is compelling and offers a nice safety net for those with the financial ability and who are fed up enough to make that change.
... and if in the end everything goes run, you will still have bootcamp.
There’s something you can do before acctually purchasing a mac, you can install OSX on your current setup and see if you like it. :D
I heartily agree. I have switched two friends to Macs this past few months. I have had two calls from one, and none from the other. I allowed a weekend to install, and move stuff for one friend (but was done, including basic training in just a couple of hours - and this included setting up the wireless network and connecting the Mac to the stereo via an Airport Express device).
My G4 Powerbook is a bit slow when I have lots of Java windows open in Safari, but other than that I cannot fault it.
Now here is a clue to the potential success of the Intel Macs… On my Powerbook I have had Virtual PC installed since day one. Looking around yesterday to see how I could create extra disk space I realised that VPC was chewing up a lot of space - and I couldn’t remember the last time I used it. So I got rid of it. I now have a “pure” Mac. I suspect that Intel Mac users who install boot-camp will inevitably make the decision to delete it to free up disk space…
I have never liked XP. In my office every machine (except mine)runs XP or Win2000. What do I hate about XP? I hate the way it is always making decisions for me - they are invariably wrong and I spend a lot of time undoing stuff. And I hate the slow menus (some groovy “fade-in” effect which i know you can get rid of somewhere but can’t remember where), and menus which only show me what XP decides i need to see - again i know i can change that somewhere, but this is the default and every machine in the office does this. And, of course, all the security nonsense…
I not only switched to Mac after 30 years of mainstream IBM/Windows computing (yes I know windows is not that old - i started on IBM System/3, not long after the great flood!) but I am definitely NOT going back any time soon…
My only bugbear with switching to the Mac was having to backspace to delete text rather than delete forward from the cursor position… Until someone told me about Func/delete.
I have 8 Windows servers and about 10 Windows desktops in my business. Even though I have 30 years experience, am an HP ASE and a Microsoft MCSE, I have to say that I find it almost impossible to keep my small network running properly.
And therein lies the nub of it. Microsoft makes everything complex, Apple makes everything easy. It took two weeks to get my D-Link wireless network to work properly on my Compaq notebook. And event then it used to drop out inexplicably from time to time. Taking my new Powerbook home was a bit scary - I was dreading the call to D-Link to ask for support (“Oh dear, a Mac. Sorry we don’t support Mac.” to get my wireless network happening… But the Mac just found it all by itself “Found Stephen_wireless. Would you like me to joint his network?”. Yep. That was it. To say I was gobsmacked is an understatement.
But to really understand why this is important you have to realise that for an Apple user this is entirely unremarkable.
Oh, and Chris. Nice analogy about Americans adapting to Australia. Same, but different… It reminded me that when I worked for Wang years ago, we used to do a hot trade in copying a beer ad onto NTSC videotape for visiting Americans. The ad was for a Queensland brand called XXXX (Four Ex).
The ad went… “I can feel a XXXX coming on. I can feel a XXXX coming on. Got the taste for it, just can’t wait for it. I can feel a XXXX coming on.”
XXXX is pronounced Four Ex. Which apparently was the name of a well known brand of American rubbers (condoms)...
Apple makes everything easy.
Not right-clicking it doen’t…
Therein my point with the one-button trackpad…it is not very easy for me to “right-click” with only a left-button, yah? Solution has already been suggested many times in this thread.
Thanks terwise! I didn’t realize I’d been misusing that word (reticent) for years. Tha is going to be a hard habit to get out of.
And now - since they say you learn something new everyday and I just have - I reckon I should be allowed to go back to bed.
you are both correct about the usage of “reticent”. It was used properly in the article by Chris, and it also means what terwise said it means. From dictionary.com:
ret·i·cent adj.
- Inclined to keep one’s thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself. See Synonyms at “silent“.
- Restrained or reserved in style.
- Reluctant; unwilling.
you wrote:
“If large market-share means more problems, where are all the viruses attacking iPods?”
This statement is wrong. The reason there are no problems with itunes and the ipod especially is that all the ipod does is read data ( an mp3). Viruses being executables (.exe or whatever apple uses) cannot be executed on an ipod. The ipod software tries to read the file and assumes its corrupted
“There is not anywhere near the amount of software available for Macs as for Windows. But does that matter? No. Not at all. Windows might have hundreds of thousands of applications, as opposed to the Macs tens of thousands, but how many applications do you need to do a certain task? One.”
Here’s the problem I have with that statement… how many do I need to use? One. How many do I want to choose from before I pick what I’ll use? As many as humanly possible. Software clicks with different people in different ways. Take MS Office for example - I’ve hated it since day one. Open Office works more like I think, so I tend to use it. Doesn’t mean it’s inheriently better, just that it works better for me. I don’t want Steve Jobs or Bill Gates or Linus Trivol or anyone telling me, “This is the software we have picked for you to do this function.” That’s the biggest beef I have with a Mac.
My second problem is cost - the Mac costs more, period, if you’re capable of building your own computers. Yes, it IS cheaper if you compare Apples to Dells, as it were. But Apples to building it yourself? You can do it better at home.
There’s a lot to like about OS X. I’d like it better if they’d open it up more and encourage more vendors to write more software.
“Okay. So Mac users brag about the security record of the Mac’s operating system, OS X. Some debate it’s a case of its small market-share not attracting the miscreants. If large market-share means more problems, where are all the viruses attacking iPods?”
Maybe because:
- there’s no way for them to spread easily
- there’s no real advantage to anyone to do so (so you can’t get to your music, so what, you’ll have to go watch TV?)
- there’s no reason to do so other than hacker pride ... in something that’s not seen as the enemy like MS.
“And why were there so many more viruses for Apple’s previous operating system (Mac OS) when Apple’s market-share wasn’t significantly higher?”
Because it *was* insecure perhaps? I don’t know, I’m not well informed on that myself.
“The Mac is inherently more secure, and that cannot be argued.”
Yes it can. It is. Show me proof that the design choices of Mac OS X are more secure than that made by Windows. Don’t just say “Macs are more secure, and that’s proven because there are less than five.”
“As a result, the chances of a virus infection (which is a fully automatic infection, no or absolutely minimal user-assistance required) is quite low.”
You apparently display a lack of knowledge as to how viruses work. They need to be opened. I believe you are talking about security problems in browsers and programs, in which case you need to start the title of this post “Switch to firefox/opera and you’ll never go back.”
I’m 21. I’ve had a computer since I was 13. I have not once had a virus on Windows. That is because I practise skeptical computing - don’t open anything stupid (or are all Mac users idiots?), and keep an anti-virus around for when you do (I’m human, contrary to the stories I tell).
“There are possibly security holes in OS X that could be exploited by a virus or a trojan (trojans require some help from the user to infiltrate a computer, and so are usually disguised as friendly programs), but these would be few and so much easier to address and patch. Windows on the other hand, is like a sieve – there seems to be too many holes to patch. As soon as one is, another is found.”
Nice spin. Windows also serves a hell of a lot more people on the desktop, and has a lot more eyes trying to find problems with it. You bet you’d find more problems. I sometimes wonder how many problems would be found with the Mac operating system were it to have the same market share as Windows currently has.
I’ve never touched a Mac for one good reason - I don’t have to. This is the Qwerty effect in full: Windows does what it wants, I know that virtually every program I find will have a version that works on windows, it’s *not* slower, it’s *not* clogged with viruses (aside from PEBKAC errors
), and it does what I want it to. Macs may even be slightly better, but they aren’t better enough.
sydneystephen complained about windows “making decisions for me”. Honestly, if you spend so much time looking at windows servers and cannot find the visual configuration options, I have to say you may need to find a new job. Hint: Control Panel, System Properties, Advanced Tab, Performance Settings. You can get there in one keystroke, and two clicks of the mouse.
Hell, I’ve even gone looking at linux several times. Secure (supposedly), does what I want, huge platform stability, and learning how to do things only takes a little work with google. I have an installation of Ubuntu fully working… which I never use. Because it is not in any way better than windows for what I want it to do. This is why people don’t switch. Because they aren’t limited by windows as much as people make out.
-Mole
Show me proof that the design choices of Mac OS X are more secure than that made by Windows. -mole
Attend next month’s Apple Developer’s Conference. There, you should have ALL the answers you need for your “proof”.
I have not once had a virus on Windows. -mole
Really? What planet do you live in Mole? I swear to practice your same IT religion but despite my attempts at being immaculately clean I find now-and-then the occasional virus and/or spyware. I would tend to believe you more if you are sworn net virgin, ok? So, no netizen will ever believe your claim whatever OS you may have.
Windows also serves a hell of a lot more people on the desktop, and has a lot more eyes trying to find problems with it.-mole
Although there is some slight truth with your claim I disagree. Do you think having 100 million more “eyes” compared to 50 million [I just fabricated this number for I don’t know the exact one] really increase the manner in which the OS is scrutinized? Just how many malcreants are there needed to spawn destructive codes? ONE, maybe TWO?
All is needed is one very intelligent, crafty, sneaky, young mind. No self-rewarding results are needed there. It is merely their pastime and a way to exhaust their restlesness and creative passion.
So, no your premise that a larger audience somehow is the cause of the primary Windows problem of malware is flawed. The “root cause” of that problem is poor coding practices that are being exploited by these crafty kids - young and old - that have (obviously) too much time on their hands. Not because of Windows larger user base.
Therefore, the Mac having less audience than Windows is not the primary reason for its security robustness. Yep, you got it! OSX overall design and coding methods were obviously more secure than Windows will ever be.