Mac Users

Any interest in a seperate area for those diehard macusers out there? Questions, thoughts, rumors, etc. Our own area might keep mac related questions and thoughts from being lost in the clutter of the general group.

[Atticus Grinch]

I'm interested. But at this point, my iMac is so old I'd have little to add on new stuff. Doesn't even have [gasp] FireWire.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

I'm game, but we could just as easily take over the moribund computers thread, which hasn't seen a post in some time. That would also let us exert our subtle powers of persuasion to move people away from the dark side.

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
I'm interested. But at this point, my iMac is so old I'd have little to add on new stuff. Doesn't even have [gasp] FireWire.

No firewire? Maybe time to upgrade and donate the old machine for a tax break (or convert it into a music server). With the constant upgrading of models and machines, you can get a relatively new iMac for cheap if you are willing to purchase used.

Without even looking at ebay, there are sites like Mac of all Trades and Low End Mac.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by law2day
No firewire? Maybe time to upgrade and donate the old machine for a tax break (or convert it into a music server). With the constant upgrading of models and machines, you can get a relatively new iMac for cheap if you are willing to purchase used.

I just got a new iMac, and I'm really pleased. What to do with my old one? A music server sounds like a decent idea, or some other type of server. Are there any good sites for setting this up? Since it's a pretty slow, ol' beast, won't using it as a server slow me down? Especially since I'd have to get an external HD to have any storage capacity worth using.

(I'll hook it up to my home-network-in-progress . . .

[Alex_de_Large]

wooo-hoooo! A Mac forum!

[evenodds]

Apple may buy Universal Music.

Here's an excerpt from Motley Fool:

The answer to "why" may be, at its core, Apple's CEO and chairman, Steve Jobs, who has displayed strong personal interest in the entertainment industry for years. This is evidenced by his chairmanship of Pixar Animation Studios (Nasdaq: PIXR), his candid desire for Apple to better emulate Sony (NYSE: SNE) -- the music and entertainment giant -- the launch of Apple's iPod digital music player, and Mac's vigorous content applications. Word is that Vivendi approached Apple, but Jobs was probably all ears.

Since the late 1990s, the halls of Apple HQ have echoed with the notion that computer makers must become media owners if they're going to differentiate themselves. Plus, Apple is far more than a computer maker. Unlike Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), Gateway (NYSE: GTW), and others, it, of course, has the guts to write software. To compete with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), content and media applications are key.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
I'm game, but we could just as easily take over the moribund computers thread, which hasn't seen a post in some time. That would also let us exert our subtle powers of persuasion to move people away from the dark side.

Hadn't you already done that? I posted on that thread looking for advice about buying a PC, and got a bunch of people with monotonous tones and an odd look in their eyes telling me to get a Mac instead. Creepy.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Hadn't you already done that? I posted on that thread looking for advice about buying a PC, and got a bunch of people with monotonous tones and an odd look in their eyes telling me to get a Mac instead. Creepy.

Go ahead. Be a conformist. Tool for the Man.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Go ahead. Be a conformist. Tool for the Man.

I would buy a PC if I could get on my employer's network from home. Unclear whether that's the case. If not, I'm open to getting a Mac instead, but y'all will have to talk me into it. My impression is that there is less software, and that you pay more for less, except that the user interface is far superior. And you get to stick it to the Man, which I'm sure he doesn't like.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
I would buy a PC if I could get on my employer's network from home. Unclear whether that's the case. If not, I'm open to getting a Mac instead, but y'all will have to talk me into it. My impression is that there is less software, and that you pay more for less, except that the user interface is far superior. And you get to stick it to the Man, which I'm sure he doesn't like.

I've been able to get access with my employers. Usually the Mac client is a hidden secret that no one knows about, except for one person. But once you get your hands on it, it sets up very easily. Maybe I've been lucky, but my employers have both had head IT guys who actually use Macs at home, so they were sympathetic.

As for software, the "less software" claim, while true, is generally irrelevant. You can get Office for Mac, which is entirely compatible, and it comes with an email program. Apple offers its own mail, web browser, music, photo, and movie apps, included in the price. Games are the biggest weakness, but my view is get a playstation if you want games.

Here's what you might do:

1) Talk to your IT folks to find out if they have a mac client for the external access. If they say no, don't believe them, and find out who makes the client software. THen go on the web to find the mac version, adn tell them to go get it from the producer.

2) Make a list of the things you want to be able to do with your home computer (and what software you would need). Then, post here, a mac group, or go to the Apple store, and ask the relevant questions.

In the end, it may be that a Mac's not right for you. Just don't dismiss it out of hand.

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
As for software, the "less software" claim, while true, is generally irrelevant. You can get Office for Mac, which is entirely compatible, and it comes with an email program. Apple offers its own mail, web browser, music, photo, and movie apps, included in the price. Games are the biggest weakness, but my view is get a playstation if you want games.

I couldn't agree more. Much of the software available only in PC format is simply not relevant for the home user. A Mac, out of the box, is fully set up for internet browsing, email, digital photos, multimedia, sound etc. (and it looks cool too). For other software, you add Microsoft Office and Quicken, and you pretty much have what 99% of the home users will need.

As for work access, one growing trend (at least at Biglaw) it to allow web access to almost everything -- at a bare minium, email and the document management system. If that is the case at your shop, then the home platform is irrelevant (as long as you have web access).

As for other apps, many firms are encouraging that those apps stay on firm owed and maintained laptops (which can then be taken home or on the road and access the firm network via a VPN configuration) -- and many firms are not installing firm-specific software on folks home computers anymore (too hard to maintain). The short answer is, talk to your IT folks, but don't be so sure that a PC at home will give you any greater access to your office.

[Alex_de_Large]

For all interested, this is a great review of the new 17 inch PowerBook. It's a bit large for my tastes, but it looks terrific.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by law2day
. . . For other software, you add Microsoft Office and Quicken, and you pretty much have what 99% of the home users will need.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my iMac came with Quicken 2003.

As for work access, one growing trend (at least at Biglaw) it to allow web access to almost everything -- at a bare minium, email and the document management system. If that is the case at your shop, then the home platform is irrelevant (as long as you have web access).

Funny you say that. I was complaining just last week about having to use outlook by web, rather than through entourage or outlook for mac. They told me that it created too many problems to allow software on home machines (even if purchased by the employee) because people expected support.

Using only my Mac, I edited hours of film into a feature last year and dumped in music tracks, titles, and special effects. One of my assistants attempted to do a three minute test piece on the PCs using similar programs and had none of the functionality that came automatically with my Mac.

Still, I am jealous I did not get quicken 2003 loaded.

Anon for obvious reasons.