After about a month of use, here are my thoughts:
- The Mac is very hot on my lap. I quickly learned about the need to stick something between me and my laptop after scalding my thighs!
- The Mac makes a very strange bubble noise that I cannot figure out how to turn off. I have figured out that the noise is probably due to using Skype, and the noises may occur when people on my contact list log on and off. I've tried switching every settting, but I'm still dealing with that annoying noise. Yes, I could turn Skype off, but I like to use it.
- Microsoft Office on a Mac = Microsoft Office on a PC
- Camtasia does not work on Mac
- Photobucket is fun. This is a program that does not have a PC equivalent (at least I don't think so)
- iChat is also very cool. I love the computer-sharing function. I use Yugma to do this on a PC, but need to use Skype for audio.
- iMovie = MovieMaker
- I love the ease of using keyboard shortcut to snag images on the Mac - Vista now does the same thing.
- Less software updates on the Mac
- Garageband lets you do "enhanced" podcasts. I use Audacity on my PC, but there is no ability to add images. I'm not all that keen on the enhanced podcasts, because I am unable to use them on my video mp3 player (I have a Creative Zen... didn't go with Apple's ipod. My Creative has a built in voice recorder that Apple did not have.... Apple requires an additional piece of equipment that you have to buy).
- The ease of zooming in when presenting with a Mac is an awesome feature!
Pam,
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous. I am PC with MAC envy. I mostly want a MAC for the creative end...podcasts, movies, etc. I know there are PC equivalents but I guess I have always heard positive things about the MAC end. We have given all our kids a laptop when they graduate...I graduate in May, I wonder if I qualify? hmmmm;-)
i work for a tech company and work remotely a lot (with the help of products like yugma and skype...good coices!) my most frequent remote place is a coffee shop in my small home town where my little sisters friends often ask me what they should have for college. mostly regarding a computer. especially since i started using my shiny new laptop. ....it has vista and it hasn't really been my friend since day one. loads of updates and even telling me that my copy isn't legit (although it most definitely IS). quite frankly, it's been a pain in the.......
ReplyDeletetherefore, i've been pointing all of these cute little soon-to-be-college-freshmen toward the mac. yes, schools are highly PC driven, but i think that if microsoft keeps giving people computer sized headaches, apple will be flourishing. and they're quite easy to use once you play with them for a bit!
i hope you really start enjoying your mac more! i miss my old one!
Hot, yes true,
ReplyDeleteOffice is Office, but, I like open source Neo Office best and it is FREE,
Bubble noise is likely from Skype, very annoying, I agree,
Camtasia is about to come out with a version for Mac, or so they keep saying... but give iShowYou (www.shinywhitebox.com/home/home.html) or SnapsProX (www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/snapzprox/) or Jing (www.jingproject.com/) a try pretty slick for screen capture and screen capture movies.
Photobucket, are you referring to iPhoto?
iChat is absolute best and you can have a video chat with 4 people all in the same conversation, so cool!!
iMovie = MovieMaker. Well that may be true in theory, but MovieMaker sucks!
Audacity is great on a Mac to for down & dirty quick audio podcast, but GarageBand and iMovie rock for enhanced podcasts and getting them up on YouTube fast and easy.
Guess you have discovered, everything is better on a Mac.
A couple of great resources-
Best Mac Newsletter(s) is from Small Dog www.smalldog.com/
MacUpdatePromos: www.mupromo.com/ Everyday and email comes with a deal on a little piece of software. Only purchase occasionally, but sure do learn a bunch about what is available.
Enjoy your Mac....