Calling all mac users!

Posted by: Paul Hutchings on 28 September 2004

That'd be you gary Wink

I think I'm going to be visiting the local dealers today or Friday to order my first mac, a G5 imac.

Ordinarily I'd go via the apple online store but the chap at the dealers spent a good hour and a bit showing me the thing so fair is fair.

I'm thinking 20" G5 imac, bluetooth mouse & keyboard, airport card, 2x512mb ram + applecare (may get that later as I belive it's any time within the 1st year?).

I've never had a mac before, I'd class myself as a "professional" PC user as my job is looking after a Windows PC/server network - part of the reason for getting a mac is to reduce clutter, and a big part is that I'm getting pissed off with coming home wanting to chill out and having it turn into a continuation of work!

Guess I just want a little reassurance.. christ that sounds soft of me.. that I'm doing the right thing!

I think I've done sufficient homework to know that I can do what I want to do on the mac, maybe haven't worked out specific apps yet but that's tricky until you try them.

cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by Hawk
quote:
Originally posted by JonR:
'Tis true, Hawk.

I'm already drooling after one of those new G5 iMacs! Eek

Regards,

JonR


and im waiting for a new G5 powerbook to be launched Eek must only be a matter of time Wink

I just hope it will work ok with the old style power supply and that i can update that at a later date Roll Eyes
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by Paul Hutchings
Well I just ordered the thing online from Apple.

I feel a little guilty as the dealer did do a lengthy demo, but I'm going to be waiting a month as it is, let alone having to wait a week or more until I can make it to the shop.. plus I never was quite happy with having to pay at the moment of order (as in having my card debited).

cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by Hawk
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Hutchings:
Well I just ordered the thing online from Apple.

I feel a little guilty as the dealer did do a lengthy demo, but I'm going to be waiting a month as it is, let alone having to wait a week or more until I can make it to the shop.. plus I never was quite happy with having to pay at the moment of order (as in having my card debited).

cheers,
Paul


Congratulations! im sure you wont look back...
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by JonR
quote:
Originally posted by AlexG:
_G5 iMacs_

Even I have been drooling over these, until I realised they'd be useless for me.

Bugger.

ag


Why?

JR
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by Simon Perry
I would dearly like one too but I want a games machine as well so I am sticking with my PC. But I don't doubt for a minute that they are better than PCs in almost all other areas.
Simon
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by matthewr
You know Xboxes are down to £90 now....

Matthew
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by garyi
There is an issue with Doom3, its not avialable for mac LOL.

As for freeware, I think mac users are spoilt because of the Open source network, It means you can have open office and GIMP both free, so that covers tret, excel, presentations and graphics.

If you want an idea of freeware/shareware avialable check out www.macupdate.com and www.versiontracker.com (Click on the OSX tab)

Just about everything you need or want is available.
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by JonR
Yes come on Alex - how about becoming an IFA? Big Grin Wink

Seriously though, I had a (very) brief 'career' selling accounts software for the Mac several years ago, and IIRC even then the major players were reducing their support for the Mac platform and concentrating on the more lucrative Windows-based market.

So yeah, I can well understand that if you want a Mac and you are an accountant, then you are stuffed! Frown

Regards,

JonR
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by Hawk
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
There is an issue with Doom3, its not avialable for mac LOL.


Yet... but it supposed to be comming soon.. something to do with saving the best til last!!
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by garyi
I hope so Hawk just installed my 9800 Pro Mac Special Addition graphics card.

Man this computer is flying!
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by JonR
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
I hope so Hawk just installed my 9800 Pro Mac Special Addition graphics card.

Man this computer is flying!


Really?

I shall have to inspect this for myself during my next visit! Smile

Regards,

JonR
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by garyi
Your welcome any time jon, except this weekend, have a weeding to go to.
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by JonR
Or a 'wedding' even.... Big Grin
Posted on: 30 September 2004 by garyi
Ha ha, yea nice one.

The weeding might be more fun
Posted on: 01 October 2004 by JonR
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
Ha ha, yea nice one.

The weeding might be more fun


It's how they do it in Wilts., innit? Wink
Posted on: 01 October 2004 by Alex S.
Paul, a straw to clutch at: Apple have always quoted me 4-6 weeks but goods have always arrived in a week. BTW I asked if they charged at point of order and they said no, at point of shipping.
Posted on: 01 October 2004 by Top Cat
Paul, let us know when the iMac arrives. I'm very keen to get one next year (gen 2 or 3?) but obviously want to hear any tales, good and bad, well in advance of parting with the folding...

John
Posted on: 04 October 2004 by Derek Wright
Paul

I was in the Phoenix Apple Shop a couple of weeks ago and I was recommended to get the book "Mastering OSX" it is supposed to get you into the UNIX side of the business.

The "Missing Manual for OSX" is a very useful starter book to get you into the Mac way of doing things.

If you are into digital photography I would suggest that you do not get sucked into IPhoto if you take lots of pictures, I think QPict is a more flexible product in that it does not take over your pictures but just reads them in the directories of your choice.

Also when adding a Mac to your computers you can always network them to your Intel/AMD machines to get the best of both worlds.

If you search back a couple of months to a thread on Buying a Mac secondhand where I got some good help on getting the machines to co-habit.

Derek

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Posted on: 08 October 2004 by Neill S
I've always had a mac... They just work. You can't go wrong with them!
Posted on: 08 October 2004 by Joe Petrik
Derek,

quote:
The "Missing Manual for OSX" is a very useful starter book to get you into the Mac way of doing things.


Thanks for the tip. I ordered the book today.

Joe
Posted on: 09 October 2004 by Paul Hutchings
Delivery data is down as approx Oct 28th and I don't think it will be much sooner.

This might be worth a read, I found it most interesting, and, fortunately, it's made me think I've made the right decision -

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2232

Paul
Posted on: 11 October 2004 by Derek Wright
Books

I spent a bit of time last evening browsing thru the Mac section at the nearby Barnes and Noble Bookstore (their selection being more interesting than the section in the Borders shop I visited last week)

I saw three potentially very useful books (based on an assesssment of 2.5 k worths of pages in 15 minutes ie ie do not take my word for it, check them out for yourself

They were

Special Edition Using Mac OS1 Panther published by Que

Mastering 3rd Edition Mac OSx published by Sybex (and also reccomended by the Apple shop guy in Phoenix)

And

Mac Switchers Guide - published by Wordware

This could be useful for any one switching from a DOS derived OS to Mac

I suggest that anyone seeking information take a trip to the local big bookstore and determine which style of book they like before using the big S American River to obtain the books

and of course YMMV

Derek

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