Probably a dumb question to most of you, but here it goes: I've never used any Apple products (save for Safari on my Win pc), how big of a learning curve does one face in making the switch from Windows to Macs?
Most of it is a pretty straight forward carry over, but there are certain major differences. I'd recommend playing with one at the Apple store and seeing how well the style suits you. I think you'll find the vast majority pretty easy to pick up, since it's really not too much different from your experience with windows. There are some quirks with copying files and downloading ones that work a bit differently from windows so I'd give that a shot at the Apple store. If you're a really hardcore power user and are going to be doing command line you can practice at home with a linux installation, since they are amazingly similar environments(you probably won't see much command line in OSX that isn't exactly the same in linux). Just be aware of the differences going in(what software works with what, prices, ease of use, etc)
What window have you used? I like OSX a lot but I have been hooked on Windows 7 for a month now. OSX is nice to casually use but I don't think I can go without my Win 7. It really just depends on what you do i guess.
Considering that Windows was pretty much everything taken from the Mac, (ever see Pirates of Silicon Valley?) Everyone I know that has converted from Windows to PC (cept for one person) has embraced the Mac experience. The biggest problem with switchers is that they are so used to the computer telling you how to do things, they have trouble with the concept of telling their computer to work the way "They tell it to work." I see people struggle with Mac's every day, I walk up push one button and they kinda feel stupid. I use Mac's mainly because of FCP and MobileMe.
Not a ton. The hardest thing to get used to is probably the concept that an app can be running even if it has no windows open (think of how word documents can be separate windows inside of one copy of the app.. this is how it is on a Mac, even after you close the last window.. if you want to quit the app, you quit it, rather than just closing the window. no more work, but conceptually different).
The control panels and stuff of course are done in a totally different manner, but they're centralized and more intuitive than the way many settings are spread out all over in Windows. Only a few things are tricky to find.
Most userland stuff is pretty dead simple to figure out.
You could probably pick up OsX easily enough, the real question will be which one you prefer after you've learned both. I personal don't like the look & feel of OsX Snow Leopard, so I generally live in Windows 7 and boot to OsX on rare occasions. Go with what you like!
Why is Mark ranked down. I have had plenty of battles with him over plenty of crap but nothing he wrote is incorrect. I guess thats the environment the winbots have created, seething unbridled hatred.
It's very easy to switch. I told my wife I got a new desktop on Monday (that was three months ago), showed her the 24 iMac on our desk, spent 5 mins with her showing her just a few basic things and that's it. By Friday she had it all figured out. She's been a windows user all her life and isn't very technical, and she hasn't got stuck on anything so far and she does a lot of multimedia work (photos, video, music etc...).
For someone who's heavily stuck in their windows ways, the learning curve isn't much but it'll take a good week or two before you become somewhat comfortable. It'll help if you look at a switchers' guide (there are many out there), one that I liked is on the OSX Forum at Notebookreview.com.
Sorry Common Man, No. So far Apple copied more on Microsoft than anything else. While you praise on you Time Machine, instant search, and all that thinking it's Apple who invented it, Microsoft announced it wall back in 2001, and presented in 2003 for the delayed OS (Vista). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ifQvQCO7Y
Putting larger icons at the bottom of the screen doesn't immediately means Microosft copied Mac OS. If you used Win7, you would know that they work completely differently.
I don't use a Mac OS, but I don't go around saying junk, bash and lie about it, I just the facts and allow the user decide for himself which OS and xWindows (for Linux) with he person needs best. Every OS (and xWindows UI layout for Linux) has it's strength and weekness. They are no such thing as ideal, or perfect environment for all.
I appreciate all of the feedback. Here are my stats: I currently run Vista Home Premium on a Dell Studio Hybrid 140G - Intel Dual CPU T2390 1.86 GHz, 3G RAM, 32-bit OS, etc.
With the new toys from Apple and Win 7 machines, I'm simply looking for a change. I'm not anti-Apple or anti-Microsoft. Haven't had any major issues with Vista, but also don't see a huge difference with Win 7 (don't hate me for that comment), so I'm keeping my options open.
Tsing Tao, I agree, seems odd that Mark's comments were ranked down.
Anyway, thanks to everybody for all of the comments.
To be honest with you, if you buy a PC with the same specs as a Mac, you are not going to go wrong with either OSX or Windows 7. They are both awesome OS's and easy to use with plenty of options. If you want something different try out OSX. its not a hard change.
One thing I didn't mention in my post and it was a thing that I did before I switched that helped me a lot is this: Make a list of all the programs you use in windows, including apps that are built-into windows itself. And then from that list, research (or post questions on mac forums etc...) to see if there are viable Mac alternatives and/or equivalent. I found all that I needed before the switch (found a Mac equivalent for everything we used) and it really smoothed it out.
I have a nephew who is a recent switcher to an iMac from a Windows PC and he said he didn't find OSX any easier to use but he's pretty much the exception to most admittedly non-tech people I spoke to. My cousin who has a Windows PC at work and comes to my house to use my Mac finds it somewhat awkward to use OSX because he's just not used to it. The keys are different and stuff. I told him that all that can be customized, but it really just takes getting used to if that's the case. Still he has found things he does like about OSX.
I use both Windows XP and Mac OSX on my computers so I'm used to both. One is just about as good as the other if you're going to spend more time in your applications than the Finder or Desktop or whatever you call it. I'm a diehard Mac user, but I still think Windows XP is more than OK to work with. I have Windows XP in BootCamp and VMWare Fusion, so it's not like I'm a hater of Windows by any means. I'm curious to try Windows 7 for sure. But I only buy Macs and mostly use OSX and that's my preference.
Not a lot to be honest, they're both pretty intuitive.
That said, I bought a Macbook and after six months am switching to W7 on it. It's noting to do with OS X - it's a fine operating system - it's just that after using Windows as my primary OS for years I just find it to be more familiar. The good thing about the Mac is it gives you that choice - if you get one and OS X isn't for you then you can easily switch back to Windows or go to Linux if you so choose.
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Probably a dumb question to most of you, but here it goes: I've never used any Apple products (save for Safari on my Win pc), how big of a learning curve does one face in making the switch from Windows to Macs?
Thanks for your time and consideration
Very little. You will enjoy it for sure. Especially if you are a power user, once you get into the automator and apple script its just pure awesome.
Go for it. You'll love it. It should not take you long to love the difference.
Most of it is a pretty straight forward carry over, but there are certain major differences. I'd recommend playing with one at the Apple store and seeing how well the style suits you. I think you'll find the vast majority pretty easy to pick up, since it's really not too much different from your experience with windows. There are some quirks with copying files and downloading ones that work a bit differently from windows so I'd give that a shot at the Apple store. If you're a really hardcore power user and are going to be doing command line you can practice at home with a linux installation, since they are amazingly similar environments(you probably won't see much command line in OSX that isn't exactly the same in linux). Just be aware of the differences going in(what software works with what, prices, ease of use, etc)
There is a transition, complete with head scratching moments. However, the basics are more or less the same, and OS X is pretty simple to use.
What window have you used? I like OSX a lot but I have been hooked on Windows 7 for a month now. OSX is nice to casually use but I don't think I can go without my Win 7. It really just depends on what you do i guess.
Considering that Windows was pretty much everything taken from the Mac, (ever see Pirates of Silicon Valley?) Everyone I know that has converted from Windows to PC (cept for one person) has embraced the Mac experience. The biggest problem with switchers is that they are so used to the computer telling you how to do things, they have trouble with the concept of telling their computer to work the way "They tell it to work." I see people struggle with Mac's every day, I walk up push one button and they kinda feel stupid. I use Mac's mainly because of FCP and MobileMe.
Not a ton. The hardest thing to get used to is probably the concept that an app can be running even if it has no windows open (think of how word documents can be separate windows inside of one copy of the app.. this is how it is on a Mac, even after you close the last window.. if you want to quit the app, you quit it, rather than just closing the window. no more work, but conceptually different).
The control panels and stuff of course are done in a totally different manner, but they're centralized and more intuitive than the way many settings are spread out all over in Windows. Only a few things are tricky to find.
Most userland stuff is pretty dead simple to figure out.
You could probably pick up OsX easily enough, the real question will be which one you prefer after you've learned both. I personal don't like the look & feel of OsX Snow Leopard, so I generally live in Windows 7 and boot to OsX on rare occasions. Go with what you like!
Why is Mark ranked down. I have had plenty of battles with him over plenty of crap but nothing he wrote is incorrect. I guess thats the environment the winbots have created, seething unbridled hatred.
It's very easy to switch. I told my wife I got a new desktop on Monday (that was three months ago), showed her the 24 iMac on our desk, spent 5 mins with her showing her just a few basic things and that's it. By Friday she had it all figured out. She's been a windows user all her life and isn't very technical, and she hasn't got stuck on anything so far and she does a lot of multimedia work (photos, video, music etc...).
For someone who's heavily stuck in their windows ways, the learning curve isn't much but it'll take a good week or two before you become somewhat comfortable. It'll help if you look at a switchers' guide (there are many out there), one that I liked is on the OSX Forum at Notebookreview.com.
Good luck and chances are you'll love the switch.
Sorry Common Man, No.
So far Apple copied more on Microsoft than anything else. While you praise on you Time Machine, instant search, and all that thinking it's Apple who invented it, Microsoft announced it wall back in 2001, and presented in 2003 for the delayed OS (Vista).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ifQvQCO7Y
Putting larger icons at the bottom of the screen doesn't immediately means Microosft copied Mac OS. If you used Win7, you would know that they work completely differently.
I don't use a Mac OS, but I don't go around saying junk, bash and lie about it, I just the facts and allow the user decide for himself which OS and xWindows (for Linux) with he person needs best. Every OS (and xWindows UI layout for Linux) has it's strength and weekness. They are no such thing as ideal, or perfect environment for all.
I appreciate all of the feedback. Here are my stats: I currently run Vista Home Premium on a Dell Studio Hybrid 140G - Intel Dual CPU T2390 1.86 GHz, 3G RAM, 32-bit OS, etc.
With the new toys from Apple and Win 7 machines, I'm simply looking for a change. I'm not anti-Apple or anti-Microsoft. Haven't had any major issues with Vista, but also don't see a huge difference with Win 7 (don't hate me for that comment), so I'm keeping my options open.
Tsing Tao, I agree, seems odd that Mark's comments were ranked down.
Anyway, thanks to everybody for all of the comments.
Good day.
To be honest with you, if you buy a PC with the same specs as a Mac, you are not going to go wrong with either OSX or Windows 7. They are both awesome OS's and easy to use with plenty of options. If you want something different try out OSX. its not a hard change.
George,
One thing I didn't mention in my post and it was a thing that I did before I switched that helped me a lot is this: Make a list of all the programs you use in windows, including apps that are built-into windows itself. And then from that list, research (or post questions on mac forums etc...) to see if there are viable Mac alternatives and/or equivalent. I found all that I needed before the switch (found a Mac equivalent for everything we used) and it really smoothed it out.
I have a nephew who is a recent switcher to an iMac from a Windows PC and he said he didn't find OSX any easier to use but he's pretty much the exception to most admittedly non-tech people I spoke to. My cousin who has a Windows PC at work and comes to my house to use my Mac finds it somewhat awkward to use OSX because he's just not used to it. The keys are different and stuff. I told him that all that can be customized, but it really just takes getting used to if that's the case. Still he has found things he does like about OSX.
I use both Windows XP and Mac OSX on my computers so I'm used to both. One is just about as good as the other if you're going to spend more time in your applications than the Finder or Desktop or whatever you call it. I'm a diehard Mac user, but I still think Windows XP is more than OK to work with. I have Windows XP in BootCamp and VMWare Fusion, so it's not like I'm a hater of Windows by any means. I'm curious to try Windows 7 for sure. But I only buy Macs and mostly use OSX and that's my preference.
@George
Not a lot to be honest, they're both pretty intuitive.
That said, I bought a Macbook and after six months am switching to W7 on it. It's noting to do with OS X - it's a fine operating system - it's just that after using Windows as my primary OS for years I just find it to be more familiar. The good thing about the Mac is it gives you that choice - if you get one and OS X isn't for you then you can easily switch back to Windows or go to Linux if you so choose.
Here's a noob question - how do you page up - page down in OS X ?
"Here's a noob question - how do you page up - page down in OS X ?"
Ctrl or Alt + Arrow Keys
@GeorgeAnthony BARELY ANY AT ALL.
I switched from Vista to a Mac, and in pretty much a day, I knew how to use OS X like I was using it for years.
1 week of learning how to use OS X = 5 years of how to use Windows
lol now you see why I switched and will never go back. EVER.
not even if Bill Gates pays me money just to use a PC