My Mac brethren, come here!

[lastmagi]

This is for all you Mac-using big boys (and girls). I couldn't think of one unifying topic to discuss the all-encompassing greatness that is the Mac, so I figured some questions about your experiences with it might start us off for now.

1. What kind of Mac do you have?

2. What did you name your computer? (That is, what name you see when you go to Network>Servers, or when you log onto Terminal)

3. What do you like to do most on your Mac? or, What's your favorite feature on the Mac?

4. Did you switch over from a PC? If so, why, and how was the transition?

5. What do you wish you could do with your Mac? or, what do you wish your Mac could have?

6. Anything else?!

----

1. I've a G4 iBook running Panther. At the time of buying my mac (and now still), I couldn't really afford anything more than that.

2. Leviathan

3. Going through my folders and not having the thing crash on me unexpectedly is always a plus.

4. Yeah, I just found the PC environment too unstable, so I switched over to my current Mac. Haven't stopped loving it ever since.

5. I have very little RAM, so I need to upgrade that eventually. Other than that, I'm really looking forward to seeing GuitarPro for the Mac. GuitarPro, if you didn't know, is a tabbing/tab viewing program for Windows that's really good. I've made a few successful tabs on it, too. I guess I could use Finale, but I don't have that much money, and I haven't seen anyplace like mysongbook.com, but geared for Finale. I suppose I could use a program like VirtualPC, but I really don't know how good it is. I'd rather know more about it before I invest that much money for a product.

 

[Flashjeff]

Cool! A few Mac user! Outstanding! And I like your questions too! Here's my answers:

1. What kind of Mac do you have?
A: A 1 GhZ iMac with 256MB of memory, a combo drive and a mere 60GB hard drive

2. What did you name your computer? (That is, what name you see when you go to Network>Servers, or when you log onto Terminal)
A: It's funny, but I've never named my machine! Heh!

3. What do you like to do most on your Mac? or, What's your favorite feature on the Mac?
A: I enjoy it's incredible ease of use. I power it up and it's there for me. I use my machine most for digital imaging work (Adobe Photoshop Elements) and my webpage program (Freeway Express) for my Pink Lady website

4. Did you switch over from a PC? If so, why, and how was the transition?
A: I switched over in April of 1994 after getting fed up with autoexec.bac, config.sys and all the other nonsense inherent with PC's, not to mention the hoops I had to always jump through just to add peripheals. For me, the switchover was absolutely seemless, took all of a day.

5. What do you wish you could do with your Mac? or, what do you wish your Mac could have?
A: My machine does everything I want it to do. I'm happy and satisfied.

6. Anything else?!
A: Well, I'll admit I've got a serious jones for the new Intel iMac. I've seen it in action at the Apple Store (King of Prussia Mall) and it rocks the house! I'm saving my pennies for one!

Glad to meet a fellow Mac user!

 

[acquiredtarget]

1. G3 PowerBook 500MHz, 640mb running Tiger (yes, I turn it on and go brew myself some coffee or tea)

2. Gunhead (from a William Gibson book)

3. I use it for email, some surfing, writing some documents

4. I still use largely use Windows (Hey, with Tiger running on a 500mhz Powerbook, can ya blame me) because I use some special applications for school and Linux, though I'm playing more and moe with FreeBSD.

5. Well, for what I use it for, its fine.

6. I'll upgrade to a Intel PowerBook, probably later this year. I really wish that Half-Life 2 and Battlefield 2

 

[lastmagi]

It's funny, but I've never named my machine! Heh!

Go! Now! System Preferences > Sharing (Took me some time to figure it out, heh)!

A: I enjoy it's incredible ease of use. I power it up and it's there for me. I use my machine most for digital imaging work (Adobe Photoshop Elements) and my webpage program (Freeway Express) for my Pink Lady website

I've been looking for a freeware image editing application for a while, as I don't have the money to invest (and I probably only need to edit an image once in a big while anyway). Any suggestions?

6. I'll upgrade to a Intel PowerBook, probably later this year. I really wish that Half-Life 2 and Battlefield 2

Man, is it me, or are Mac games really expensive? Sigh... I've been daydreaming about some FPS games before I realized I should probably save.

 

[Flashjeff]

I've been looking for a freeware image editing application for a while, as I don't have the money to invest (and I probably only need to edit an image once in a big while anyway). Any suggestions?

Well, you could check out the download section on the Apple website and see what's available. There might be a freeware program there.

 

[RockLee]

I've been looking for a freeware image editing application for a while, as I don't have the money to invest (and I probably only need to edit an image once in a big while anyway). Any suggestions?

Ofcourse !! www.inkscape.org !!!! Free Free Free !!!

 

[acquiredtarget]

Man, is it me, or are Mac games really expensive? Sigh... I've been daydreaming about some FPS games before I realized I should probably save.

Wonder what the cost would be if Apple put out their own next-gen gaming console. All I can think of is "Ouch"

 

[sabro]

We have a lot of Macs and my one PC for work. The Gateway is broken...power cord input fell inside the box, so it can't be charged...

My wife is a graphic artist so Macs are a necessity. I am on a 17" PowerBook G4. We also have a dual G4 tower and a couple of G3 iMacs... (One is dead right now.) My son is going off to college so for graduation he's getting one of the new generation Powerbooks...possibly the 15"

 

[Flashjeff]

Wonder what the cost would be if Apple put out their own next-gen gaming console. All I can think of is "Ouch"

I'm afraid it wouldn't be worth it for Steve Jobs to go into gaming. Between XBox 360 and Playstation and all the other consoles out there, Apple would be so far behind the curve, they'd never be able to find a niche in the gaming world. I'm no businessman, but to even try would be a disaster I think.

 

[MajideSaiaku]

Me and Macs dont agree, i had to chuck a college course because the Macs at the college just refused to work well enough to get any work done.

PC's are teh wuv.

 

[acquiredtarget]

I'm afraid it wouldn't be worth it for Steve Jobs to go into gaming. Between XBox 360 and Playstation and all the other consoles out there, Apple would be so far behind the curve, they'd never be able to find a niche in the gaming world. I'm no businessman, but to even try would be a disaster I think.

Oh I agree. Plus, I highly doubt that developers would want to make any more investments for another gaming platform. But it would be fun to think about what Jobs would do for a new platform. Meh, it'd probably only play Disney games

 

[Flashjeff]

Oh I agree. Plus, I highly doubt that developers would want to make any more investments for another gaming platform. But it would be fun to think about what Jobs would do for a new platform. Meh, it'd probably only play Disney games

On top of that, there's still lots of people out there laboring under the uninformed, narrowminded opinion that Macs are nothing more than toys instead of serious computers that can be used for serious applications. Of course, we know that's grossly untrue, but such a prejudiced viewpoint would only be reinforced by the PC crowd if Apple were to go into gaming. Jobs is better off avoiding the oversaturated gaming market.

 

[crip]

1. What kind of Mac do you have?

iMac 400dv. iBook 500 (Dual USB). iMac DualCore (20")

2. What did you name your computer? (That is, what name you see when you go to Network>Servers, or when you log onto Terminal)

Office, Livingroom, On the road. (Airport Express named Bedroom)

3. What do you like to do most on your Mac? or, What's your favorite feature on the Mac?

Not having to think about stuff that isn't directly linked to the job in hand.

4. Did you switch over from a PC? If so, why, and how was the transition?

Science of Cambridge Mk14 > Nascom 2 > Sinclair zx80/81/Spectrum > Mac 128k >Performa 588 > PPC 8600 > present systems. Not a PC to be seen (except in a couple of jobs where I've been unable to convince employers that my Mac can do the job as well as their boxes...)

5. What do you wish you could do with your Mac? or, what do you wish your Mac could have?

Umm, they do everything I need.

6. Anything else?!

Truly impressed by the new iMac.

 

[Glenn]

1. Mac mini G4 1.42 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, and 80 GB hard drive, running OS 10.4.5.

2. 殺人

3. I mostly browse the internet, but almost anything is enjoyable on the Mac.

4. Not really. I got used to using my old roommate's computer, which was a Mac, and found it incredibly easy to use. I've been a fan ever since.

5. The only thing I really wish my Mac could do is play Windows Media files. For some reason I can't view any of them. I don't get it, iTunes works perfectly fine on PCs....

6. I just wish I had the dough for the top dog G5. I get excited when I start thinking about that thing!

 

[Glenn]

By the way, I have a question: does anyone use a two-button mouse with their Mac? I've been thinking about getting the Kensington PilotMouse Optical. Does anybody have any better suggestions, or is this as good as it gets?

 

[RockLee]

I want to get a Mac, but atm I don't have the money to buy one

btw Glenn, that link doesn't work

 

[rdiane1]

1. G5

2. Macintosh HG (yes, very boring -- I've never gotten around to changing the name.

3. Graphic Design. Mostly print design.

4. Actually, I still have a pc at home. My Mac is for my work, and the pc at home is used primarily for games.

5. I wish it were easier to get local tech support for my mac. I hate the one-button mice that come with macs. I always switch to two-button ones.

6.

 

[lastmagi]

Thanks for the link to the image editing software, RockLee. It was just what I needed.

And yeah, coughing up the dough for my mac was probably the hardest part for me. But man, is it worth it in the long run! Although, I really should have gotten more stuff in the process of buying my mac (like more harddrive space, RAM, etc.. ).... but I let it pass by Now I guess my overly frugal side is coming back to bite me in the rear.

Is it easy to upgrade your mac?

PS- Hey Glenn, has your Mac lived up to its name so far? ;-)

PPS- I checked out the Kensington. It doesn't look too bad, and the price is pretty good. I wouldn't trust my opinion, though

 

[acquiredtarget]

By the way, I have a question: does anyone use a two-button mouse with their Mac? I've been thinking about getting the Kensington PilotMouse Optical. Does anybody have any better suggestions, or is this as good as it gets?

Looks good to me. I use some Logitech optical mouse. As long as its not that Might Mouse you hould be fine.

 

[Glenn]

Thanks for the opinions, guys.

btw Glenn, that link doesn't work

Apparently you have to be logged in to see it. I wasn't aware of that.

PS- Hey Glenn, has your Mac lived up to its name so far? ;-)

Well, I'm still alive.

By the way, if anyone knows how to properly view Windows Media files, I'm all eyes.

 

[Flashjeff]

By the way, I have a question: does anyone use a two-button mouse with their Mac? I've been thinking about getting the Kensington PilotMouse Optical. Does anybody have any better suggestions, or is this as good as it gets?

Well, I've been using the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 2.0 for a few months now and it's worked very well for me. It has two buttons, plus a scroll wheel which I've come to really enjoy as it makes scrolling through webpages a great deal easier. Plus it's battery life is also quite good. In my opinion, this is a darn good choice!

 

[acquiredtarget]

You might mosey on over to Microsoft's site and check out the WM Player 9 for OS X. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...57-5031-4ac6-840a-6e07547b6aeb&DisplayLang=en
I think this is the last version that they'll do for the Mac (just in case that the Mac becomes more popular than Windows)

 

[Glenn]

I have already downloaded it, uninstalled it, and downloaded it again, and I still can't see Windows Media files. I always get the same message: "Error creating unique tmp file."

 

[epigene]

How about this?

http://mans.thejonassons.com/2005/howto.php?id=3

My kids are Mac users and don't have problems. They don't have special names for their hard disk volumes, though...

I used to be a Mac user but was forced to switch to Windows for my work and for accessibility software... (I'm a captive user.)

My daughter uses a G4 PowerBook & my son got a brand-new G5 Dual-Core machine to build his digital music studio...

 

[Glenn]

I changed my HD name, but it seems that it only works now when I view the files in the browser, and not in the player itself. There are also cases when it just doesn't play anything -- i.e. it says "playing" but there's no sound or video, and nothing really happens.