Thinking of going to the darkside and buying a Mac

[spinaltap]

I've been using Macs since 1988, in local government and at home. They are bulletproof in their reliability. Not one of the models I've owned have failed me.

If Windows is required, my Mac is installed with CrossOver XI (£38). This runs most Windows apps (and all Windows-based games) natively, but without requiring a copy of the Windows OS. I have it because my wife requires MS Publisher for work purposes. It also means that I don't have to install additional Windows anti-virus programs.

CodeWeavers: Windows on Mac and Linux with the easiest and most affordable emulation - CodeWeavers

 

[removed]

I moved to Mac from Linux (and Windows before that), and like many others, never looked back. Quality of hardware is just fantastic - and I've had top of the line Sony and Dell laptops before, some of which were more expensive than my current MBPro - no comparison. I still use Linux (and run a couple of Windows programs), but it's all done via VirtualBox, Parallels or CrossOver. All Mac gadgets work together perfectly, with AppleTV streaming HD movies etc from iTunes on MBPro via TimeCapsule, or from iPad or iPhone.

While I might miss the sense of ownership of Open Source OS (i.e. Linux) and ability to change and tweak literally anything, I do not actually NEED to do it now - everything is really and truly 'just works"

 

[bolide]

everything is really and truly 'just works"

I think this is the hidden advantage that the "haters" miss. For Mac-haters the upfront cost is an insurmountable hurdle. But for the majority of users the lack of hassle is worth the additional £££

In my experience they work particularly well for business users. Too well in some cases - I have IT clients still using six year old kit and eight year old desktops are not that unusual. One has an Xserve RAID where the drives have been up for six years. Total spares & maintenance costs in six years for the server & RAID - zero

Nick Froome

 

[A210AMG]

New ones are out...

but a price rise also...


15" Mac Pro with 256 solid state and 8gb ram, quad core i7, retiner display £1528


big spec though

will have a think

 

[removed]

As soon as MBPro 17" with retina display is out, I'm getting one
Hopefully it'll have an option to get 1TB flash too - my [almost] new 512GB SSD is getting filled up rather quickly

 

[spinaltap]

As soon as MBPro 17" with retina display is out, I'm getting one
Hopefully it'll have an option to get 1TB flash too - my [almost] new 512GB SSD is getting filled up rather quickly

...looks like the 17" has been dropped from the range.

 

[snail]

One thing a friend mentioned who runs both APPLE [at home] and a PC/WINDOWS [at work] is the lack of a true keyboard delete key and no scrolling /2 button mouse on his Apple. He finds this mildly annoying when switching O/S since he finds routine keyboard operations less "intuitive" than he would like. He also warned that folks thinking of buying an APPLE and then running a Windows emulator might find this disconcerting at first. PERHAPS SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF?

Yes, for about 5 minutes. The glass coated MacBook Pro trackpad is superb, tap with one finger for left click or two fingers for right click. Pressing Fn+Delete is not difficult and soon remembered. If you plug in a standard USB mouse it works the same in both versions.

I run Windows in Parallels (mainly for MS Office as the Mac version is clunky IMO) and all the Mac key shortcuts and mouse gestures are replicated so I have no problem in either OS.

 

[removed]

...looks like the 17" has been dropped from the range.

They might need a bit more time to stretch that Retina display to 17"

Can't imagine Apple dropping 17" MBPro completely

 

[Sp!ke]

I run Windows in Parallels (mainly for MS Office as the Mac version is clunky

This is the bit that gets me... We have many Mac users insistent on using a Mac instead of a PC in my workplace.

Then gradually they find various stuff that is clunky or doesnt work so they mostly end up running Windows under parallels.

I see them all over my workplace, spending half their work time trying to get around corporate controls whilst telling me how much more productive they are on the Mac and secretly (they dont like admitting this) they have to resort to running Windows anyway.

I think Macs have now become a bit of a status symbol. Pretty bits of hardware but still consumer grade and overpriced to a point of sillyness.

Having been at the sharp end of trying to make them behave in a global network environment, I think Apple are the devil.

 

[spinaltap]

One thing a friend mentioned who runs both APPLE [at home] and a PC/WINDOWS [at work] is the lack of a true keyboard delete key and no scrolling /2 button mouse on his Apple. He finds this mildly annoying when switching O/S since he finds routine keyboard operations less "intuitive" than he would like. He also warned that folks thinking of buying an APPLE and then running a Windows emulator might find this disconcerting at first. PERHAPS SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF?

I don't care much for the 'solar' aspect of the following keyboard, but Logitech now product a hybrid keyboard that bridges Mac/PC usage.

Logitech.com

 

[Koolvin]

I have a late top of the range 2011 MB PRO 13" that I may be selling if you are interested drop me a pm.

 

[horgantrevor]

great product