sell me on the MacBook Pro?

Hi,
I am a Software engineer and a geek/technologist. I predominantly use OS X / Linux, though occasionally I get stuck using Windows:

The only products that require Windows:
- RC Simulator
- some controllers require a Windows GUI to configure
- TurboTax Business edition

Everything else I'm able to do on the Mac
- Microsoft Office is available for MAC and runs fine, though I find myself using Google Drive more often
- Adobe runs fine (though I hate them and they suck).
- Dreamweaver alternative: look at Jetbrains, or TextMate for simplicity
- I use "transmit" from panic software for file transfer

PM me if you have any questions or need some help.

 

Photoshop was initially a Mac app. Arguably still runs best under MacOS....

Not sure on Dreamweaver, but there's many many similar (often free) comparable apps.

Premiere; iMovie. Included. Or if you're 'serious' (need more, which is doubtful) check out Final Cut. The Pro version is the tool of choice in pretty much every pro editing suite in the world.

Excel; 'Numbers', included.
Word; If Write (?) doesn't cut it, check out Neooffice. It's a fabulous port of OpenOffice that does all the Word/Excel/PowerPoint etc stuff you'll ever need. Is also a pretty good HTML editor/environment in my admittedly limited experience. (Ie, Dreamweaver replacement if needed.)

Outlook!? **** Outlook!..... You need a real mail program! Apple Mail is just as capable IMO.

FTP; many free ones.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Anything Adobe will work seamlessly on a Mac. MS Office will also work perfectly well -- Office for Mac just has a slightly different feel and a different release schedule.

You can run Outlook, too -- most folks tend to go with Apple's Mail.

WS FTP won't work on a Mac, but there are other FTP programs that'll do the trick. (FileZilla is the one I use most, but CyberDuck works well, too)


I think you'll find that the transition really isn't bad at all -- everything you want to do you can do on a Mac: it's just a little different.


You'll quickly learn the differences, and enjoy having a computer that simply works.

 

Yes you can. My work laptop is a 13" MacBook Air. I am you using parallels to run Windows 7 Pro. I don't need Windows for much. I use it to access Active Directory and Visio. It runs better in a VM than it did on my last Windows PC.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Just want to add that I am running Parallels with Windows 7 on my MBP. Installed an SSD as well and it's really the perfect laptop.

 

If you travel, I would recommend the Air over the Pro. I have both and prefer the Air. Choots is probably more knowledgable than I am but I believe the performance is similar but the decrease in weight is very nice.

 

Air is the first laptop I like traveling with. Sleek and light. Love it. Mac OS is fine, works well, but shortcut keys are often missing and you have to use the mouse/trackpad to click on the button. It really slows you down if you are a power user, otherwise Mac is better in almost every respect. Some things are not intuitive in the settings/control panel area--but you get used to them, and you really don't need to go digging down there much, unlike Windows. Buy the best machine you can, and get the 3 year extended warranty.

All the software in your list is available for Mac OS, or there are better alternatives. For WS FTP, use CyberDuck. MS Office and Adobe apps are available for Mac platform.

 

I use a dell for work because we are pc based but if I had my choice its apple all the way

1) Devices never go out, and I have had 0 problems with drivers. I have used my MacBook air 13 for 2 years now after liking ipods, iphones, and ipads and they're all very similiar

2) I haven't had to reboot MacBook air ever, other than after the occasional software update.

3) I also use Outlook and had no issues importing or using my emails on mac. IE is probably the worst

I don't have to keep McAfee or any virus protection because macs are virus free

Yes macs used to look goofy and they still have some quirks in the interface but if you can get over that you will be greatly impressed with the reliability. mine still works as fast as the day I bought it

 

i just bought my 3rd macbook pro.
it has a 15 inch retina display and a 1tb ssd.

 

I went the other way after seeing windows phone and how well it integrates with outlook. It won't be long until platforms are almost the same.

 

Installed Windows 7 via bootcamp to my 13" macbook pro to be able play Dayz SA. Haven't had as much head ache with any mac product in last 8 years that I've had with the windows 7, refreshing to remember that grass on other side of the fence is full of booting, finding drivers, trying and error method. On one point I wanted actually to throw the computer to the floor...

 

Rob, what did you end up doing? Did you try the MacBook?

 

Troll.

 

I recently bought a Mac air and Mac mini after hearing all the supposed good things said . Now I feel like someone played a cruel joke on me.
Mac is supposed to easier ...NOT! Plug & play NoT!. I find it to be harder and more confusing. Nor does it recognise my Android phone.

I don't see what's better about it .

 

I recently bought a Mac air and Mac mini after hearing all the supposed good things said . Now I feel like someone played a cruel joke on me.
Mac is supposed to easier ...NOT! Plug & play NoT!. I find it to be harder and more confusing. Nor does it recognise my Android phone.

I don't see what's better about it . Plus it's extremely annoying have to enter a password every time I want to do something.

 

rob, I use an imac at home and have a macbook air for travel ...

I've setup a NAS at home with strict VPN access only ... that way i get all the HDD space I need, with adequate security, in addition to being able to access it from just about anywhere I go ...

fwiw, we used (as a family) use only windows computers ... switched over to the fruit machine 8-9 years ago and never looked back ...

 

Is this your first Mac?

GT

 

find a friend who is experienced with osX.
after a short tutorial you will be up and running in no time.

 

Agreed. I was a PC user for a very long time and had a struggle for a while but it's worth it.

GT

 

This tutorial is useful for a PC to Mac person..

Mac Basics - Switching PC Habits - Apple Support

 

Thanks for link . I will study link. All my friends use PC ...I'm ready to install Windows and scrap osX and use that only

 

I sold my MacBook Pro in the end as I tried to convert, but never ever got the windows side to work, and job wise I have to have internet explorer which does not work in Mac, and with opening a window in the virtual windows environment taking 15 minutes or more, was a waste of money

 

First mac ... Hate it! Things are simple in windows .

I wish I could find someone to answer my questions and help me make sense .


I will review like to see if it help