Thinking of getting a MAC BOOK PRO - from PC... Anyone have thoughts???

[multiple*choices]

I am thinking of getting a MAC - I have an HP laptop now - and it gets super hot and turns itself off. I cannot take it anymore. Does anyone know how hard it is to switch to a MAC from PC? I do a lot of photoshop - and I know I can upgrade PS to MAC version. But what about the rest???

I am worried about the transition, but I thinking it may be worth the trouble to relearn using a computer... Plus some software will not work on a mac - that is my other concern. How hard is parallels to use?

[Airon]

I am about to go through the same thing. I have a PC at home but since I'm going to be working with alot of creative programs, I'm going to purchase a macbook pro. Even though I only have a PC at home and haven't really used a Mac much, the transition shouldn't be that bumpy.. My school basically only run Macs, but I didnt have much trouble using/learning the keys and controls

15inch or 17inch, that is the question!

[multiple*choices]

I want 17" for editing :)

[bacchanal]

If you have a bunch of MS Office documents and you don't want to shell out for MS Office for MAC, you can try openoffice.org (or NeoOffice). I use the windows version on my pc at home, and I like it a lot.

[Saauce]

i think you will be happy with the move. I have been a PC user for years and made the move to a 15 inch Mac Book Pro and can truely say i dont miss the PC at all

[multiple*choices]

Thank you Drew.

Good to hear Saauce.

[Victoria Bampton]

Yep, I'd second that. I switched just over a year ago, and there's no way I'm ever going back to Windows.

[Clearlight]

I've been a cross platform user for over 20 years and my experience is that there are some things that each OS does that I prefer over the other, but for photography I prefer the Mac OS. Primarily because most of the photography software tutorials that you'll find are for the Mac interface.

I do recommend that if you intend to travel much that you reconsider your choice of a 17" display. While not too heavy, it is a fairly large machine to lug around and the 15" should do just as well for you.

[Victoria Bampton]

I've got the 17" and if I'm sat at a desk it's fantastic, but I wouldn't want to carry it much further than the car and back.

Next time I upgrade, I'll go with the 15" plus my external monitor at home.

[René Damkot]

Next time I upgrade, I'll go with the 15" plus my external monitor at home.

That would be the better choice...

[Michael1116]

Made the switch about 6 mos ago from Dell PC to 15" MacBook Pro. Wonder why I did not do it sooner. I am not the most adept at computers, but I picked up on the Mac right away. In fact, I also bought my wife an iMac. She was (is) totally computer illiterate, buy very rarely does she ask me simple questions anymore. She mainly uses it to buy/sell ebay, MS Word and Excel, and view my photos.

I agree with the 15" MacBok and a home monitor. Since my business bought this for me, I could have gotten the 17", and it was tempting, but it is big and cumbersome to lug around.

Good Luck

[tiktaalik]

I recently switched from a PC to a Macbook Pro 15" and 23" Cinema Display and I couldn't be happier. I should have done it much sooner.

I use Macs at work so I didn't have any difficulty in changing to the 'new' system but I really don't think most folks would have many problems anyway. Macs are pretty intuitive.

[dagwell]

In case you aren't aware, a new version of the Mac OS will be released in the next few weeks. I know that I would strongly prefer to have a new OS preloaded by the factory rather than doing an upgrade myself. Thus, you might want to wait a short while longer.

[yarga]

There is a way of running windows on a mac anyway if you need windows for some software. I would get the the 17", for photos it makes a huge difference.

[Obey]

i love my 15" macbook pro, the thing is amazing. running dual monitors is awesome

On sturday night i spilt a full glass of chocolate milk all over the keyboard, and when i tipped it to the side milk was coming out of the input slots. Well after two days of drying, it still works lol

[August 15 Photography]

Owner of a 15" MacBook Pro and a new Mac Pro and could not be happier. Best purchases I have made.

Also Dagwell, the new OS will install right over the existing, you dont have to backup your entire system and install new OS like you do with Windows. It is a seamless upgrade. The only difference would be getting it from the store with it installed or paying the $129.00 to upgrade later.

[gparvan]

List your software that you use and perhaps we can put your mind at ease with regard to what will migrate easily and what will be problematic.
Also, many of the software vendors will transfer your license to Mac for a small fee ~ $10 - $15 or so.

[MetalRain]

I use a dual core G5 at school, and a custom built PC at home. I honestly have no problems switching between the two.

[EOS MAN1]

Get it. I bought the bas 15" MacBook Pro. I moved from a PC and I swear I will never o back to a PC in my lifetime. Best purchase I've ever made. I would definitely get it.

[Photodawg1]

..."and it gets super hot and turns itself off. The MAC is super hot and will turn you on!!! Go MAC...you won't regret. I have used both. Went from lifetime of PC Desktop use to Laptop MAC for 2 years at NASA. Went back to different environment and PC and sorely missed the MAC, especially the more I was getting into photography. I just went back to MAC and only thing that I miss is the Monitor (fixed that bought a Dell) and being able to click and copy/save and finally the one thing I don't know how to circumvent...being able to use Napster on the MAC. Little worries in big picture.

[iamcanonman]

What about the Macbook? I know the smaller screen isn't as good.

[Photodawg1]

Think it all boils down to what you need. If you like it and you can do all the work on it with whatever space you need to expand to should be good.

[Tony-S]

What about the Macbook? I know the smaller screen isn't as good.

I just migrated from a 2 gHz Core 2 Duo MacBook to a 2.4 gHz MacBook Pro. It is a nice improvement, but I'm not so sure it's worth an extra $900 for photography work. It is noticeably faster and has a matte screen (vs. the MacBook's glossy), but I think you'd be better off spending that extra $900 on lenses or something; unless you're a pro photographer who needs a workhorse computer in the field.

[InfraRed]

i LOVVVEEE my macbook pro. i have the 15" as it was included in tuition price for my school, and i have no complaints from my switch from pc :)

[JohnJ80]

I am thinking of getting a MAC - I have an HP laptop now - and it gets super hot and turns itself off. I cannot take it anymore. Does anyone know how hard it is to switch to a MAC from PC? I do a lot of photoshop - and I know I can upgrade PS to MAC version. But what about the rest???

I am worried about the transition, but I thinking it may be worth the trouble to relearn using a computer... Plus some software will not work on a mac - that is my other concern. How hard is parallels to use?

Piece of cake. You'll find it easier to use. You can always run Parallels and have access to Windows (even simultaneously) if you want.

J

[RAitch]

I switched to the 15" MBP with LED backlight. It was rated as having one of the most accurate displays on a notebook computer (even edge to edge and great colour representation).

Pair that with a colour calibrator and you have correct colour system wide, not just in Photoshop or supporting applications.

The move from Windows wasn't hard at all. Everything on the Mac is easy to use and it's not cluttered with extra options and settings.
I'm well versed in Windows operating systems and love having the control and ability to change how everything works... but something can be said for something working right out of the box without having to screw around with everything.

My time is precious lately, so when I have an hour to spend on the computer, I'd like an hour of productivity, not 50 minutes of problem solving and system tweaking to fit in 10 minutes of work. It seemed like I was always repairing system problems and trying to get new software to work on Windows.

I was worried about switching to a Mac because I figured I was going to need to install Windows on it anyway (either dual boot with boot camp or seamless with Parallels). After playing with the Mac and getting the Photoshop software updated (CS3 and Lightroom) I have no need to use Windows.
I've kept the use of the mac very light.... email, web, photoshop, chat... as the idea was to switch to an uncluttered life and uncluttered computer. So far that's a success.

The hardest thing with the switch was having to hold down the Command key and pressing the arrows to use Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn. Also having to use the Fn key with Delete to actually perform a delete instead of BkSpc. If you get a full keyboard, that probably isn't a problem.

I doubt you'll be disappointed. I used to hate Apple... until I got my MBP that is.

[multiple*choices]

Thank you everyone for your advice.

[pixelprincess]

I would put the money into a huge new monitor (or two) or some new equipment...before dumping it into a Mac. Way more bang for you buck ;) Most of the "propoganda" about why macs are better is completely inaccurate. I still don't understand why everyone acts like working on Photography/Design on a Mac is any different. Photoshop is Photoshop.

[Tony-S]

Oh boy, here we go again.

Similarly equipped Macs and PCs are essentially the same price; so close that it's a wash.

multiple*choices - perhaps it's time to close this thread?

[pixelprincess]

Same price? I'd like to see where you're finding your Macs, or what they're putting in your PC's to make them cost so much.

I didn't mean to go off on the Mac/PC thing- I just see too many people who buy into the claims of the Mac users when so many of them are unfounded. It's the same with Nikons ;) Because you KNOW all REAL photographers shoot w/ Nikon and edit on a Mac </sarcasm>

[Tony-S]

Start here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3253926#post3253926) and here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3120063#post3120063), then get back to us.

Oh, and welcome to the forums. It has a search tool.

[Photodawg1]

Tony-S...I love you!

[multiple*choices]

Tony S. - wow - had no idea this would be so heated. Anyway, I made a decision (which I better keep to myself on) - LOL

But thank you for everyone weighing in on this.

Jodi

[Tony-S]

Go ahead and tell us - nobody knows which computer is best for you better than you do. If it's a PC, that's great. If it's a Mac, that's great, too.

Perhaps you should close this thread before I get any more love letters. :)

[Tony-S]

Tony-S...I love you!

That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today. :o

[Photodawg1]

That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today. :o
Nah...you deserve it. Always good to buffer the MAC/PC war with a little love, especially to someone who puts it down with such good logic!

[jordan.meeter]

I have the Macbook pro 17" anti-glare/hi res. There's no way I ever would have taken the glossy. They're beautiful at night but during the day you can't see anything!

[JohnJ80]

If you are thinking of going mac, but are not sure, then you should get a mac. You can always just install windows if you don't like the Mac OS. The downside risk is any difference in the hardware cost - if there is any.

J.