First day of Mac ownership - regrets already.

RoleyBirkin

RoleyBirkin

RoleyBirkin

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After one day I'm wondering if I've made a wrong decision.

Admittedly, many of my problems can prob be solved.

This is what has dented my faith:


1. Apple can be bothered to ship up to date software - upon installation, OSX needed to download updates amounting to 90hrs.

2. Safari doesn't seem particularly fast.

3. Can't transfer my info from Outlook into Entourage(doesn't support)

4. Can't get TB/Mail/Entourage to retrieve my hotmail

5. XP Word files DON'T transfer directly over to Mac Word.

6. Computer crashed within 4hrs.

7. Keyboard arrived snapped in half - ok, so prob the courier, but still annoying.


These maybe over lookable, but things need to get a lot rosier first!
 
90hrs? You on 56k!? There's 500mb maximum to download.

My Mac word seems to be fine, but don't forget, it's not the same people that make it. There will be differences somewhere. What problems are you having with it?
 
Seraph said:
After one day I'm wondering if I've made a wrong decision.

Admittedly, many of my problems can prob be solved.

This is what has dented my faith:


1. Apple can be bothered to ship up to date software - upon installation, OSX needed to download updates amounting to 90hrs.

-90hours? It shouldnt take that long, what internet connnection do you have?

2. Safari doesn't seem particularly fast.

-Change your homepage (the default apple startpage has always been a bit slow).

3. Can't transfer my info from Outlook into Entourage(doesn't support)

Should be able by following this guide

4. Can't get TB/Mail/Entourage to retrieve my hotmail

-Try the HTTPMail Plugin. It allows Mail to download Hotmail emails, although this is reported to only work on older hotmail accounts.

5. XP Word files DON'T transfer directly over to Mac Word.

6. Computer crashed within 4hrs.

7. Keyboard arrived snapped in half - ok, so prob the courier, but still annoying.

-Thats quite unlucky, i alwasy thought the keyboards were quite sturdy things, wonder what happened?!

These maybe over lookable, but things need to get a lot rosier first!

Perservere with it, once you get into the mac way of doing things youll never look back!
Click to expand...
 
Seraph said:
After one day I'm wondering if I've made a wrong decision.

Admittedly, many of my problems can prob be solved.

This is what has dented my faith:


1. Apple can be bothered to ship up to date software - upon installation, OSX needed to download updates amounting to 90hrs.

2. Safari doesn't seem particularly fast.

3. Can't transfer my info from Outlook into Entourage(doesn't support)

4. Can't get TB/Mail/Entourage to retrieve my hotmail

5. XP Word files DON'T transfer directly over to Mac Word.

6. Computer crashed within 4hrs.

7. Keyboard arrived snapped in half - ok, so prob the courier, but still annoying.


These maybe over lookable, but things need to get a lot rosier first!
Click to expand...

Couple of question for you

What speed Internet Connection are you running?
What version of Outlook are you coming from?
What version of Office are you using on the Mac?

And have you tried Updating Vista lately? If you include updates to all its apps etc its wel into the 200+MB worth of download as well...
 
Sorry to hear your having troubles with it, if you have any questions, you can always ask here, and remeber theres a 90 day technical support with all new computers, and if you bought AppleCare that becomes a 3 year service. Seems like you have had a bad start, trust me when I say things will get better, and try not to judge your Mac based on slow internet connection, Microsoft Office or mistreatment by the courier. In defense of OS X its normal for the shipped os to need updates, just the same as Windows, I installed the CD I got of Windows XP, and not including the SP2 I still had a good hour of downloads to do and multiple reboots before I was up to date, its better that there are a whole bunch of updates than having none, you know your safe and secure when you get there.
 
Ok.

I'm on a 8mb line, which seems to run near 4mb mostly. The duration started on 24hrs, but then went up to 40hrs and then 90! I stopped it in the end, but it had downloaded a fair few bits.

As far as the word processors concerned, I'm running Office2003 and MacOffice2008. This was important to me, as I need access to all my '03 files. I know I can use bootcamp, but then there prob wasn't much point getting Mac Office.
 
what doesn't work in the word documents?

I work in a mac/windows workplace and we spend half the time editing word documents on macs and then on windows and vice versa. NEVER had a problem, other than the incorrect error messages when trying to open a document that someone else has opened.

And as for the download taking 90 hours... thats your connection at fault. I setup an iMac at work yesterday and it took me about an hour to get what I needed on an 8mb line. It may have been even less than that.
 
The line's fine. I run an XP laptop form it too (not simultaneously this time). Perhaps it was just the timer being over zealous or confused. Either way, it's only a minor gripe.

Loading 'some' 03 word files into 08 word doesn't work. On a particular file I'm using, this error pops up:

Incorrect document syntax- location1

Yet other files do 'seem' to transfer over in some sort of 'compatibility mode' which leaves bits out?. All my files are saved as .doc

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious here?
 
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Seraph said:
The line's fine. I run an XP laptop form it too (not simultaneously this time). Perhaps it was just the timer being over zealous or confused. Either way, it's only a minor gripe.

Loading 'some' 03 word files into 08 word doesn't work. On a particular file I'm using, this error pops up:

Incorrect document syntax- location1

Yet other files do 'seem' to transfer over in some sort of 'compatibility mode' which leaves bits out?. All my files are saved as .doc

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious here?
Click to expand...

Does your windows Office 2003 have the .docx compatability patch installed? Pop over to microsoft website to download it for your PC.
 
what do you mean apple cant be bothered to ship up to date software, im sure if you went out and bought vista you would have fair few updates to download, stop trolling mac osx is far superior
 
Let's not start an os x/windows war here...

Usually the updates download quickly Seraph, I've never had any problems with them - it seems like you were unlucky with that one.

Make sure you have the latest version of Safari which is the fastest as it's based on Webkit, alternatively download one of the nightly builds of Webkit (look it up) or try Firefox.

I'm suprised it crashed, my Macbook will happily run all day coming in and out of sleep when needed and never crashes. Still it does happen, Macs can crash! I would still say OS X crashes less and is more trouble free than Windows, based on my own experience.
 
Seraph said:
After one day I'm wondering if I've made a wrong decision.

Admittedly, many of my problems can prob be solved.

This is what has dented my faith:


1. Apple can be bothered to ship up to date software - upon installation, OSX needed to download updates amounting to 90hrs.

2. Safari doesn't seem particularly fast.

3. Can't transfer my info from Outlook into Entourage(doesn't support)

4. Can't get TB/Mail/Entourage to retrieve my hotmail

5. XP Word files DON'T transfer directly over to Mac Word.

6. Computer crashed within 4hrs.

7. Keyboard arrived snapped in half - ok, so prob the courier, but still annoying.


These maybe over lookable, but things need to get a lot rosier first!
Click to expand...

1. The same as Windows so what is your point? Just be thankful that you don't have any of the Apple Pro Apps installed or CS3! Also what the hell is wrong with your BB connection? We have 2MB here shared between 3 computers and even over WIFI the updates don't take long.

2. Change your homepage as already advised. If you don't get along with Safari (I didn't at first but love it now) then get Firefox.

3. I have done this at work so I cannot see what your problem is. Outlook/Entourage sucks anyway!

4. Can't help here as I use Gmail and that just works with Mail.app

5. What version of Office on the PC? Again I have never come across any real compatibility problems, except between 2007 and 2003 of course (and on a PC as well!) ;)

6. I always do a fresh install of OS X when I get a new Mac. I have to admit I had one crash on my old iMac before I did a re-install. Other than that I have never had OS X crash. Sure I have had plenty of application crashes, normally Freeware or Shareware ones. What actuall crashed on your computer?

7. That's nothing to do with Apple and all to do with crappy couriers and bad luck. Complain and offer a prayer to Ceiling Cat to get a new one ASAP.

I admit the Mac way of doing things can take some getting used to (the location of the @ and " keys for example, and I wish Finder was better) but once you have got used to it I can't see why you'd want to go back. Hang in there kid.
 
I have posted this here before, but will again.
Despite what many here would like you to think, Mac does not automatically equal better!

I agree on not starting an OSX vs. Windows war, but you've got to understand that they're two different operating systems. Unfortunately as you have discovered, there will be instances where things won't work out of the box, or will just be different (Many of these are unable to be changed- Apparantly Apple knows best ;) - See any paralells?!) and this is the way things are.

Ultimately you have to decide what you prefer. This can be OSX, Windows or Linux, there's no right or wrong answer, just what works best for you. I say it again- Mac & OSX is not automatically best.

-Leezer-
 
Seraph said:
1. Apple can be bothered to ship up to date software - upon installation, OSX needed to download updates amounting to 90hrs.
Click to expand...

are you with be there? i know they had issues with downloads from Apple and from Sony a month or so ago.
 
LordSplodge said:
1. The same as Windows so what is your point? Just be thankful that you don't have any of the Apple Pro Apps installed or CS3! Also what the hell is wrong with your BB connection? We have 2MB here shared between 3 computers and even over WIFI the updates don't take long.

When installing XP I had no need for huge downloads. That's the point, if any

2. Change your homepage as already advised. If you don't get along with Safari (I didn't at first but love it now) then get Firefox.
Done.Little difference. Doesn't matter, using FF

3. I have done this at work so I cannot see what your problem is. Outlook/Entourage sucks anyway!
Maybe in your opinion, but I'll be using it

4. Can't help here as I use Gmail and that just works with Mail.app

5. What version of Office on the PC? Again I have never come across any real compatibility problems, except between 2007 and 2003 of course (and on a PC as well!) ;)

Already stated above. But to repeat, Office03 to Mac08

6. What actuall crashed on your computer?

Could not make selections from the dock


7. That's nothing to do with Apple and all to do with crappy couriers and bad luck. Complain and offer a prayer to Ceiling Cat to get a new one ASAP.
Whether it's anything to do with Apple is a matter of debate. They may have used another courier which has a better record. Therefore it IS Apple's choice to continue using a courier with an inferior record. Any way, it'll be replaced

Hang in there kid.
Will do dad!;)
Click to expand...

And for those casting aspersions such as 'trolling', I suggest you get off 'Mac vs Pc debate' high horse. This thread IS NOT about that.

This is about negating the statement everyone keeps using...Macs just work. Well actually, they don't always imo.
 
Seraph said:
A
This is about negating the statement everyone keeps using...Macs just work. Well actually, they don't always imo.
Click to expand...

They don't always work, but it is usual Software rather than the OS.

Just to clarify on one point. If you install XP SP2 "out of the box" and install updates there is around 200MB of updates and if you have SP1 or earlier it is a lot bigger.

Don't forget that the .x updates in OS X are equivalent to Service Packs. ;)

You can always run Windows on it if you can't get on with OS X.
 
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