MacBook Pro - a PC switcher's perspective

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,576
Location
Leamington Spa / Oxford
Ok I had the opportunity to get a Macbook instead of a PC laptop through work (I love the end of the financial year!), and on Monday my MacBook Pro arrived. I got the following spec:

15.4" MacBook Pro
2.3Ghz Core 2 Duo
2Gb DDR2
256Mb ATI X1600
160Gb HDD

I've had a couple of days to play, in which time i've been gradually getting all the basics sorted, e.g. Finding printers on the windows network, SSH access, finding something to edit images etc.. Anyway I thought I'd give a few thoughts on my first few days as a Mac user:

1) Overall OS X seems to be an excellent operating system. It's easy to use, and everything, well, just works! The application dock is especially nice. I was expecting a few things to be a complete nightmare (especially wrt windows networking), but once I found the solutions they were very simple.

2) Everything runs very smoothly. I've been working today with Entourage, Firefox, iTunes, Excel, ImageJ, Canvas X, Messenger and a few other bits all open, and I haven't seen one single instance of judder or delay when working or moving between windows.

3) One button mouse isn't a problem. My external mighty mouse has a right button anyway, but I hardly use it!

4) I've already had plenty of complements from fellow office people on how swish it all is. Plenty of jealous comments ("I thought we weren't allowed Macs?!". I can definitely reply that it doesn't only look swish.

Overall i'm very impressed. I can't believe I've swapped operating systems in just under 48 hours and I have everything working that I normally use on the PC. I can't imagine a Mac user finding it that easy switching to XP / Vista. If you're looking to get a laptop and you have the option of getting a Mac, DO IT. I can't imagine any PC laptop coming close to this (unless you want something for PC gaming).

And to wrap it all off, I've just download Doomsday, which runs superbly, even though I think it was made for PowerPC Macs. So i'm off to start working through "Knee Deep in the Dead" again :D
 
Raider said:
1) Overall OS X seems to be an excellent operating system. It's easy to use, and everything, well, just works! The application dock is especially nice. I was expecting a few things to be a complete nightmare (especially wrt windows networking), but once I found the solutions they were very simple.

OSX is a very nice operating system. Naturally , like everything - there are certain things that could be done a whole lot better. But after a year of using OSX at home (and nearly 4 years at work) , I can definately say that using OSX is a hell of a lot cleaner. I find Windows fumbly, unorganised - even Vista which I use on my PC now - nothing compared to OSX

3) One button mouse isn't a problem. My external mighty mouse has a right button anyway, but I hardly use it!
I have owned serveral PC laptops - all with poor-average touch pads which I have hated using. However, when I am away from my desk with my MBP i can use the touchpad for extended periods of time. Its the best touchpad by far on any Laptop. 2 Finger scrolling = excellent, 2 finger + button for right click = genius.
 
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