(no subject)

[exsequar]

Okay, flist, I need your help/advice.

My little brother has nearly convinced me to get a MacBook for my new laptop. With the student discount and an upgrade to an 80 gig hard drive, the price comes to just under $1100. Plus, they're having a really cool offer right now that if you buy a Mac laptop, you get a huge rebate on an iPod. The 2GB Nano would be free, but the 30GB IPod would be only 90 BUCKS. That's right, $90 for a plenty big enough iPod. That's so many kinds of awesome.

The thing that was really making me hesitate was the small screen - it's a 13-inch widescreen. However, the resolution is 1280x800, the same as the 15.4 inch Gateway I have right now. And Pete (my brother) pointed out that Mac screens are unusually bright and clear, so the size wouldn't really matter so much, even when watching DVDs or downloaded shows. Plus, it's nice and lightweight and portable, which is one of the biggest reasons I'm getting a new one.

But I'm still a bit nervous about it - mostly, about transferring from PC to Mac. I'm afraid of what issues would come up in that. For example, would my copies of Photoshop and Premiere transfer over? Are they compatible? And I don't know, would there be any other issues?

Hm, this just occurred to me - I'd like to use my external hard drive to transfer all my stuff over, but I'm not sure where the software CD is *muses* And also I'm not sure if it's compatible with a Mac. That could be a possible snag.

So, um, help? Anyone with MacBooks want to wax poetic about its virtues? Has anyone survived a PC-to-Mac switch, and do you have any tips?

Gah, this is such a huge decisision, and I'm totally not decisive -_-

ETA: OH! What should I get engraved on the back of my iPod, if I get one? My brother said name and phone number, which is sensible, but I want SOME kind of quirky touch! I was thinking of naming it "Peanut" (that's what Rube calls George in Dead Like Me, it's so CUTE) and so having the engraving be "Anne's Peanut" and then phone number under it? I dunno! Suggestions welcome!

Comments

[nebulein.livejournal.com]

i dunno about the mac thing, though they usually are pretty reliable computers and getting something lightweight is definitely a huge plus.

about the ipod, if i could get mine engraved i'd totally choose a quote. (like probably "talking about music is like dancing about architecture" - whilst crap movie, great quote.) name and number is sensible, but i never even thought of that. you definitely need some quirky component. i like "anne's peanut" *g*

[ellieptical.livejournal.com]

What is the quote from? I totally recognise it.

[nebulein.livejournal.com]

the quote has been around a long time, at least according to this site (whose green on black actually gave me a headache so i'll quit my google search here), and hit me over the head i do not remember the name of that movie. the quote stuck, though.

[raelala.livejournal.com]

I got my Mac laptop ummm... about 4 years ago and I loff it a lot. I still have a PC however, so I didn't FULLY switch. Programs like Photoshop and Premiere and most other graphic based things will NOT transfer over, as far as I know. You can look into it and check the versions. They didn't used to, but maybe they've changed things. They also have excellent tech support. :)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. That is very worrisome. So you do your graphics on your PC? I just got Premiere and I don't want to lose it! *woe* I won't have my PC anymore (it's going to my sister) once I get my new laptop, so that's a big concern for me. Hmm...

[raelala.livejournal.com]

I do, but only because I don't like high res screens. My PC is still set to 800x600 so... yeah. I have Photoshop on both, but I had to get it for both systems.

[darksylvia.livejournal.com]

I've had my ibook for 2 years and it is still going strong. I got a illegal version of photoshop, so I really had no problems there. And you can find software to do most things for free or very little. Plus, Macs come with lots of software for which you'd have to buy the counterpart if you got a PC. If your external hard drive is like a lacey disk, I think you should have no problems transfering stuff over. PC software won't work on the ibook, however.

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

There is a Mac version of Photoshop (you'd have to track that down), but no Mac version of Premiere. Apple's big non-linear editing platform is Final Cut Pro. Though there are some simliarities at least between Premiere Pro an the most recent FCP. I've never actually used FCP (have played with IMovie...eh--Apple's version of WMM), but I've watched several tutorials that use it and it's similar enough that if you're comfortable with Premiere it shouldn't be completely alien.

All the other software though, for converting source, ripping it, which codecs you can use--that's all completely different. VDub, for example, doesn't have a Mac counterpart.

I wouldn't mind one of each, but for now I'm quite happy with my PC. :)

[ellieptical.livejournal.com]

Firstly: OMG DLM! I LOVES!

I don't think I'd ever be able to make the jump to a Mac. I'm certainly never going the way of the ipod, too many of my friends have had ones that died horrible horrible deaths. But then I thought I'd never get hooked on itunes sooo...

basically I was of no help whatsoever. Although changing screen sizes is easier than you expect it to be, so if that's the only thing putting you off, I say go for it.

[jamesinclair.livejournal.com]

Look into BootCamp. Its the official Apple program to instal windows on a mac. Itll be able to run all your software if you load the mac as windows. That is, when you power up, you can chose Mac OS or Windows XP.

However, Im not sure if all Macbooks can run this, they need to be based on intel and I dont know which of the apple lines have made thw switch yet.

Im a PC person though...

[darkhecatemoon.livejournal.com]

Oh. See, I have like....issues with Macs, so I personally would rather die than get one (to put it mildly). I'm probably not the right person to give advice on that.

I do know that Adobe Premiere will not work on it (and, yeah, that's a good program because I just got it too). But the equivalent program would be Final Cut Pro, which is basically what the professionals use. And it's surprisingly similar (on a basic level...I haven't gotten very fancy with my editing).

The iPod deal is pretty cool, but then again, I'm also one of those "I don't need no stinkin' iPod" people. I like my CD player ::hugs it::

As for the external drive issue...I think it depends what kind you have. But most should work on both (mine does).

[crystal-lily.livejournal.com]

Oooh, 'Anne's Peanut' is adorable! :D

Can't really help you though... I don't know the first thing about Macs. :/

[theamyrlin.livejournal.com]

Don't get a Mac. Not only are they the epitome of all that is evil, but their batteries have been known to spontaneously explode. And, no, I'm not making that up.

In addition to engraving your phone number on your iPod, I would maybe engrave your e-mail address.

[the5thmarauder.livejournal.com]

I'm am very amused that I'm thinking EXACTLY the same thing for this year. The I-pods are RIDICULOUSLY cheap with the powerbooks *gets excitable*

Anne's peanut is the best name ever. Do a poll. See what everyone says. I'd like a Beatles lyric; "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see," but I'm not sure that'll fit :P I saw a nifty phrase on the website this morning. "I spy, my little I." OH, how I laughted XD

*SMOOGLES YOU*

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Haha, that is funny!! Do you have a PC laptop right now? Will we be doing the switching over together? Because omg I want someone to go through the angst and drama with me! *clings*

Hee, Anne's Peanut does have a kind of ring to it, don't it? Hmmmmm. I'm trying to think of good quotes though. We'll see.

*LICK*