I think Macs are generally better (than PC's w. XP) in most respects
except except for one... ironically, the desktop / user interface.
Although my first computer was a Mac in the early 90's, for work reasons
Windows has been my personal computer since 1995. Now when I use OS X
Macs ... especially when multi-asking, the interface drives me crazy
because things like the Dock's peculiarities, OS X's tools for handling
multiple windows and creating new folder etc etc seems so clumsy
compared to Windows Task Bar and the ability to create new folders
exactly where you want them etc. Not sure you will find that to be true
but I do.
I'd switch to OS X in a heartbeat if it had a better taskbar/ menu /
multitasking tools interface etc .
Unfortunately I find Vista to be a large step backwards from XP in these
respects also.
db
Michael Wosnick wrote:
Hi all,
I am posting this with great reluctance. While I am truly wanting legitimate
information, I know I am risking a lot of posturing in the PC vs. Mac, MS
vs. the world camps, etc and would prefer to just get the straight info
without all the politics, posturing, name-calling etc.
I have been a dedicated PC user since they came out. So has my wife. Both of
our workplaces are fully and 100% PC and it is imperative that we are able
to connect from home (VPNs etc) and more importantly to have our work
products at home be fully compatible with the products that are coming out
of the hundreds of PCs that inhabit our professional careers and workplaces.
And so our desktops and laptops at home are all PC and windows-based (some
Vista, some XP pro).
Like many, I have always wanted a Mac. In fact when I was a young 'un in
academia I would have preferred my first computer to be a Mac but I couldn't
afford it. I recognize that price differentials are not what they used to be
so price per se is no longer an issue. Communicating with and being
compatible with 2 workplaces is however of utmost criticality.
So my questions relate to what is the real-world experience of Mac users in
what is still a predominantly PC-world. I cannot afford an expensive
experiment of buying my first Mac and finding out that, while I may love
what I can do with it at home, it causes me grief when trying to be fully
and transparently compatible with work. Main applications that need to be
seamlessly integrated are all of the MS office suite (esp. Outlook, Word,
Excel and PowerPoint). Are the Mac versions of these REALLY interchangeable
with the PC versions? Or do I need to run the a Mac in some sort of
PC-emulation mode? And if so, why bother, as in, do the benefits of a Mac
disappear if you are not running it in some "native" mode.
In short, if I bit the bullet and went Mac, what will be the advantages and
what will be the hurdles I will face in needing to stay fully compatible and
connected to my PC-based world out there? And, while I am pretty technically
savvy, I am not really in the mood for a long learning curve either - how
truly "intuitive" and easy will it be to re-transfer what I do with
proficiency on my PCs and learn to do it on a Mac instead?
Many thanks for all constructive and impartial advice.
Michael
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