Making the Switch / Mac vs. PC
I’m now working with a MacBook laptop and am happy with many of the changes. I wish the Leopard OS was already released. Oh well.
Having been using a PC for years, there are a number of adjustments to make. Also, there are some things I’m still trying to figure out. I’ll try to add to the list as things come up.
Adjustments:
1. Google Talk doesn’t seem to download directly to the MacBook. Instead, I had to use Jabber (a program I still don’t fully understand) to get my Google Talk contacts to show up in iChat. (thanks to Connor Boyack, who helped push me in the right direction with this).
2. I was searching for an “add file” option until I figured out that I could just drag a folder of mp3 files directly into iTunes.
3. I was surprised that the MacBook comes with GarageBand but not with a proper WordProcessing software. Yes, there is a 30-day trial option available - but for some reason I had expected a permanent program would have been included (after plopping down my hard-earned cash for the hardware). Instead of paying for either the Mac or Microsoft 30-day options offered - I’ve decided to download Open Office. Hopefully it will do what I need it to do.
Things I am still figuring out:
1. I can’t seem to be able to open more than one browser window in Firefox.
2. I want to be able to double-tap the keypad and right-click like I did with the PC. The MacBook keypad works a little differently. I have to use the CTRL key with the single click button to get my former right-click options.
3. I hear there is no genealogy PAF program for the Mac. I’m barely beginning to take an interest in doing genealogy but this is something I’m going to have to figure out over time. I’m sure there is a genealogy program for Macintosh - the question is how well it will work with whatever system(s) the Church uses.
4. I’m not sure how well Google Desktop works with MacBook. I’ve downloaded the option, but it doesn’t seem to look or work the same way that it does on the PC.
I may add more notes to this post as adjustments/questions arise … and would also be interested in hearing about experiences others have had in making adjustments from PC-use to a Macintosh.
About The Author
My wife has the same frustration with the lack of genaeology programs for Mac. I think I overheard her saying to someone that PAF for Mac OSX was in the works. I’ll ask her about it.
Tom, I just was googling around a little bit and found that there is a Mac genealogy program called Reunion.
I don’t know much yet about this program or whether it will be useful for getting temple work done - but it looks interesting. Unfortunately, it ain’t free. $99 is the price I saw.
I think PAF for Macs would be great. If you wife has information about that, definitely let us know.
danithew,
glad you switched over to Macs.
Yes, it is a bit disappointing that Mac doesn’t come with a free word processing program. Pages is a pretty good program, but maybe not worth the money, especially when Open Office is available. I advise you to also look at Neo-Office, just slightly different than Open Office in that it is designed specifically for Mac’s Cocoa based system, so it looks and works like it is on a Mac. That’s what I use. Just google Neo Office.
Not sure what the problem is there. I can open multiple windows.
You will have to purchase a separate mouse. This is definitely one thing I wish Apple would finally let go of and get on with the three button mouse!
PAF is not available for Mac, unfortunately, but there are some programs out there.
Dan, thanks for the Neo Office suggestion. I’ll check that out. I might as well try out two new word processing systems and not just one.
I’m going to have to learn more about Cocoa. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard of this programming language (is that what it is?).
Bah - use a mouse with a laptop? Argh.
The Reunion program is actually looking better and better to me, after reading many reviews. It looks like it has been made very adaptable to LDS use. I just wish it was free, like PAF. I suppose if it is for a good cause …
Someone told me I could get multiple browser windows if I hit CTRL-T … I’ll have to give that a try once I’m at home.
Congrats on your move to the other side. I believe you can put 2 fingers on your trackpad (think scrolling) and then click. There may be a setting you need to change. Check your prefs menu.
I don’t use google desktop on my Mac only because spotlight seems to work like a champ!
Good luck!
SB, I’ll try tapping it with two fingers. I hadn’t thought of that previously. Thanks for the tip.
danithew,
you should know, Neo Office is basically the same as Open Office, just that it doesn’t need to use X11 to work. Currently Open Office has to rely on X11 program to work in OSX. Practically speaking that doesn’t mean much; the program works just fine. But that’s really the difference I’ve seen between the two programs.
Command+N should open up a new browser window in Firefox.
Command+T opens up a new tab in the current browser window, if I recall.
I’ve been using OpenOffice and it works just fine, but it has to run under another ‘windowing’ program called X11. I really like their document standards, and OpenOffice is also on the Linux machines at school.
I’ll give NeoOffice a try.
Dan,
I think I might try NeoOFfice because it can stand alone.
Mistaben,
command+N does the trick! I knew about command+T opening a new tab - but I really wanted to be able to open other windows. That little piece of information will take one small irritation/limitation out of the mix.
I am wondering - how do I change the settings so that when I click on a link, it automatically opens in a new tab? I want to be able to do this with a single mouse click (without having to hit a command button). That’s my next miniature feature quest. I’m a little surprised sometimes at how useless default settings can be. [Update: this Tab Mix extension has helped me resolve the issue]
Cocoa is Apple’s application environment for OS X - actually one of them - but the preferred one for current OS X applications. It is basically a set of object libraries and a runtime engine. The main languages supported are Objective C and C++.
You can run many programs written for Unix or Linux under X11, but all of the graphic goodness and interface standards are lacking (it looks as hideous as most Linux programs). These days cocoa is implied by programs written for OS X as well as quality ports.. A quick and dirty port (many of the free offices for example) usually doesn’t go that way.
The OS X ecosystem is very different from Windows. It is easier to survive as a niche developer in OS X if you get past the profitability threshold and there are a group of craftsmen who turn out wonderful code. Most of my hard core CS friends (many of the original Unix gods) have moved over to OS X and all are impressed by this.
I dislike the clutter and and general interface of Office. My technical work is in LaTeX, which is arcane, but necessary in my world. The other 95% is split between Pages (it costs $, but is clean and comes with probably the best presentation program going) and an obscure little program called Scrivener - which turns out to be perfect for the book I’m working on.
also …
http://www.versiontracker.com
is your friend
Steve, thanks for dropping by and leaving those comments.
Now I’m wondering what book it is you are working on …
You can use Adium to handle all of your chats- I have google, jabber, iChat, yahoo & MSN in there.
Yeah ctrl-t is the Firefox method for getting new tabs.
I moved to mac a few months ago and can now switch inbetween both O/S’s!
I, too, haven’t found a good document editor. MS Word is too expensive!
You can double click on the trackpad. Change the mouse settings in system prefrences, so when you tap two fingers you do the ctrl+click function and the menu pops up.
Infact i find the trackpad the most versatile i have used. Better than any PC alternative that often sticks and feels difficult to glide. I can scroll verticle and horizontal, double click and moce very fast form different applications.
Hint: ctrl+tap function on Mac, you can hold down ctrl tab then keep hold of ctrl but release tab and use the trackpad to choose app, rather then flicking through each one and missing the one you want.
Have fun!
Me, thanks for the heads-up! I thought I had checked the system preferences options for mouse but apparently I missed some of the options I was hoping for.