Official Luthiers Forum!

I am considering switching to a Mac. In particular the MA610LL/a Macbook Pro. I heard that you can still use windows based programs ( like my tax Software). Can anyone give me some sound advice. Everyone says Mac is better...why?

Thanks!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Dave, not everyone says Macs are better.

If you want to use Windows based software on a Mac, you'll need two things: A liscensed copy of Windows (not the one that came with your old computer), and a program such as Bootcamp (which is free) or Parallels (which you pay for...but you get some customer support for that money). These will allow you to use your windows programs on a Mac. Know that Windows will cost you $200 extra.

I won't get into why some people think a Mac is better than a windows based PC...there are valid points to both sides of that coin. I personally use a Windows PC and have never had a problem with it. As another disclaimer, I have both a Mac and a Windows PC at work and prefer the PC there too.

JBreault39069.9738888889

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

[QUOTE=Dave-SKG] I am considering switching to a Mac.[/QUOTE] Mind if I ask why? Is it because of what you said, "Everyone says Mac is better"?

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Dave,

I support both Macs and Windows in the the department lab at our
university. Support time and expense on the Macs is a fraction of that for
Windows. I just don't have to mess with the Macs as much to get stuff
configured. Also, I've noticed that the Macs in our lab are in much more
demand over the last year or so. Macs are still below the radar for nearly
all viruses, malware, etc., but that may change as they become more
popular. You do get a lot more choices in hardware and software with
Windows.

If I were buying a new laptop for home, photo/video editing, music, etc.
I'd go Mac. For business tasks in a work environment, I'd buy Windows for
the sake of uniformity.

You may notice that I'm biased. Having worked at Apple, I started
using Macs in 1982, and have several at home and use Windows on a
daily basis at work.

my two cents

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I used Macs for about ten years or so, I switched to a pc 'cause I could build one a lot cheaper than buying a new Mac. I've been on the pc now for five or six years. If I had the cash to spare I'd switch back in a second. Macs work better, there's a lot less of this crashing nonsense I get on the PC. The people who designed the computer provide the OS, stands to reason that it'd be more stable.

Thinking of switching to Linux. Maybe its just windoze that I don't like.

I run tax software on my Mac. I'll never, ever, go back to a PC.

Thanks Everyone for your great advice!
Cameron may I ask what "brand" tax software you run and how do you run it on your MAc?

You guys are great! THANK YOU!

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"