Comments on: 14 Days with a Mac http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/ Thoughts on social applications, usability, search, mobile, music and sports Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bethany K Ford http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-20497 Bethany K Ford Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:01:54 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-20497 nice article! nice site. you're in my rss feed now ;-)<br>keep it up nice article! nice site. you're in my rss feed now ;-)
keep it up

]]> By: jay http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-14057 jay Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:55:36 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-14057 Tony, On the virtual machine I have only Windows XP, Office 2008, X1, Windows Live Writer and Maxthon (IE 7 on steroids). I did not install on the Parallels drive many of the Windows apps I used to. Instead I found Mac utils that could do the work. As you can tell, the only thing I could not find was a desktop blogging client for Mac that is as good as Live Writer. Since I use Outlook I copied the old PST files from my old machine to the new one and I access them using Outlook and X1. The rest of the data - documents, photos, videos, music is now on the Mac OS disk and I access it using software for Mac. I also have iWorks and I try to use it whenever I can but for Office documents I usually use Office 2008 via Parallels. VersionTracker is a great source to find apps & utils, and the nice thing about Mac is that it is very easy to install, test and then completely uninstall software you don't like without the risk of messing up the registry (in Win). For that, make sure you install a util like AppTrap which automatically deletes associated preference files when you drag an app to the trash bin. I am very happy and do not regret the migration at all. Tony,

On the virtual machine I have only Windows XP, Office 2008, X1, Windows Live Writer and Maxthon (IE 7 on steroids). I did not install on the Parallels drive many of the Windows apps I used to. Instead I found Mac utils that could do the work. As you can tell, the only thing I could not find was a desktop blogging client for Mac that is as good as Live Writer.

Since I use Outlook I copied the old PST files from my old machine to the new one and I access them using Outlook and X1.

The rest of the data – documents, photos, videos, music is now on the Mac OS disk and I access it using software for Mac. I also have iWorks and I try to use it whenever I can but for Office documents I usually use Office 2008 via Parallels.

VersionTracker is a great source to find apps & utils, and the nice thing about Mac is that it is very easy to install, test and then completely uninstall software you don’t like without the risk of messing up the registry (in Win). For that, make sure you install a util like AppTrap which automatically deletes associated preference files when you drag an app to the trash bin.

I am very happy and do not regret the migration at all.

]]> By: Troy Austin http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-14000 Troy Austin Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:42:14 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-14000 Jay, I am reading your blog as I am in the midst of the same dilemma. I am willing to learn what is necessary to make the change, but I MUST have the microsoft apps to support my business. When installing parallel, can you simply migrate all your windows apps and files directly into your mac? Was the migration easy? Do you have to reinstall the windows apps such that you have to locate all your software disks? Thanks Jay,
I am reading your blog as I am in the midst of the same dilemma. I am willing to learn what is necessary to make the change, but I MUST have the microsoft apps to support my business.

When installing parallel, can you simply migrate all your windows apps and files directly into your mac? Was the migration easy? Do you have to reinstall the windows apps such that you have to locate all your software disks?

Thanks

]]> By: jay http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-12232 jay Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:07:25 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-12232 Great feedback all--notes have been taken and implemented. Installed Parallels, found some great utils that make the migration easy and increase my productivity. But the most obvious thing so far - I have not rebooted my machine for 3 days (I used to do it 2-3 times with my PC) and was able to install and uninstall plenty of apps without thinking too much about the registry getting blown up, etc. It is already paying off. Great feedback all–notes have been taken and implemented.

Installed Parallels, found some great utils that make the migration easy and increase my productivity.

But the most obvious thing so far – I have not rebooted my machine for 3 days (I used to do it 2-3 times with my PC) and was able to install and uninstall plenty of apps without thinking too much about the registry getting blown up, etc.

It is already paying off.

]]> By: Byron http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11810 Byron Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:34:13 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-11810 Even Apple commercials agree if you want to run a spreadsheet, use a PC. Apple computers are for enjoying your computing experience, not making spreadsheets, which is never a joy. I have never experienced joy inside a Microsoft program. In fact, I doubt there is any joy in even one of those millions of lines of windows code. I'll take a slightly less feature rich spreadsheet as my trade off for a computer that doesn't suck. Even Apple commercials agree if you want to run a spreadsheet, use a PC.

Apple computers are for enjoying your computing experience, not making spreadsheets, which is never a joy. I have never experienced joy inside a Microsoft program. In fact, I doubt there is any joy in even one of those millions of lines of windows code.

I’ll take a slightly less feature rich spreadsheet as my trade off for a computer that doesn’t suck.

]]> By: Partners in Grime http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11803 Partners in Grime Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:14:52 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-11803 Good luck! I run a Microsoft-free machine and it's wonderful! Good luck! I run a Microsoft-free machine and it’s wonderful!

]]> By: Michael http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11782 Michael Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:02:34 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-11782 I also find it quite amusing that you state that the Mac version of Powerpoint is "bad, really bad.". Interestingly enough, the exact opposite is true. Microsoft's Windows does not render fonts correctly, as this has been a problem for years, and the general speed, feel and productivity of the Windows versio is years behind the Mac version. I have problems everytime I use the Windows version. I have to turn off many options, because the Windows one doesn't have it. Sorry, but the Powerpoint Windows needs a fix to bring it up to the Mac version, and Windows has needed a font fix since, well the inception of Windows! I also find it quite amusing that you state that the Mac version of Powerpoint is “bad, really bad.”. Interestingly enough, the exact opposite is true. Microsoft’s Windows does not render fonts correctly, as this has been a problem for years, and the general speed, feel and productivity of the Windows versio is years behind the Mac version. I have problems everytime I use the Windows version. I have to turn off many options, because the Windows one doesn’t have it. Sorry, but the Powerpoint Windows needs a fix to bring it up to the Mac version, and Windows has needed a font fix since, well the inception of Windows!

]]> By: david r. http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11761 david r. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:34:59 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-11761 there was a great quote from macworld a few years ago: "mac users have a love/hate relationship with microsoft...where love is defined as "resigned tolerance" and hate is defined as the lava fuel rancor of a thousand burning suns" my advice is this...you obviously need your suite of microsoft products, but you'll never unleash the full power of your mac while staying on the microsoft reservation. run XP under parallels in cohesion mode for your core apps. in the meantime, do some investigating into the mac side of things. i bet you'll find some apps that you never expected that can raise your productivity and give you some real choice, which is what switching is supposed to be about in the first place. best of luck! there was a great quote from macworld a few years ago:

“mac users have a love/hate relationship with microsoft…where love is defined as “resigned tolerance” and hate is defined as the lava fuel rancor of a thousand burning suns”

my advice is this…you obviously need your suite of microsoft products, but you’ll never unleash the full power of your mac while staying on the microsoft reservation. run XP under parallels in cohesion mode for your core apps. in the meantime, do some investigating into the mac side of things. i bet you’ll find some apps that you never expected that can raise your productivity and give you some real choice, which is what switching is supposed to be about in the first place.

best of luck!

]]> By: Reidar Olav Meling http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11760 Reidar Olav Meling Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:24:38 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-11760 Latz says "If you’re willing to open your mind, experiment, and look at your computing needs as a task based or output based activity, there are plenty of solutions native to the Mac,.." My comment to this: As a teacher I have been using spreadsheet for more than 5 years, and the best program is Excel for PC. My models made in Excel include a lot of macros and macros function very bad in Excel for Mac, so bad that it is hopeless to use Excel for Mac. And why must my iMac 2.4Ghz use 10-12 seconds to open Excel in Mac-modus, while Excel for PC on the same machine (via Boot Camp) opens in 1-2 seconds?? Latz says “If you’re willing to open your mind, experiment, and look at your computing needs as a task based or output based activity, there are plenty of solutions native to the Mac,..”
My comment to this: As a teacher I have been using spreadsheet for more than 5 years, and the best program is Excel for PC. My models made in Excel include a lot of macros and macros function very bad in Excel for Mac, so bad that it is hopeless to use Excel for Mac. And why must my iMac 2.4Ghz use 10-12 seconds to open Excel in Mac-modus, while Excel for PC on the same machine (via Boot Camp) opens in 1-2 seconds??

]]> By: stwf http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11751 stwf Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:02:26 +0000 http://www.meydad.com/2008/03/17/14-days-with-a-mac/#comment-11751 well, it seems to me you are not complaining about the Mac at all, but instead complaining about Microsoft's terrible support for the Mac. Which is perfectly valid and true. Theres very little Apple could possibly do to solve any of the problems you noted, even if they were motivated to. Especially since the web sites you say are broken in Safari AND Firefox are probably spitting out broken web pages in order to work with MSIE. Running Parallels is not the same as sticking an Apple sticker on your thinkpad though. The idea would be to use and enjoy the Mac most of the time, and yet have the MS apps there when you do need them. Thats not possible with a dressed up ThinkPad... well, it seems to me you are not complaining about the Mac at all, but instead complaining about Microsoft’s terrible support for the Mac. Which is perfectly valid and true.

Theres very little Apple could possibly do to solve any of the problems you noted, even if they were motivated to. Especially since the web sites you say are broken in Safari AND Firefox are probably spitting out broken web pages in order to work with MSIE.

Running Parallels is not the same as sticking an Apple sticker on your thinkpad though. The idea would be to use and enjoy the Mac most of the time, and yet have the MS apps there when you do need them. Thats not possible with a dressed up ThinkPad…

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