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WSJ' Mossberg: General Tips For Switch to Mac From Windows

online.wsj.com — Sales of Apple's Macintosh computers have been growing much faster than PC sales overall, with many new Mac buyers switching from years of using Windows computers.While the Windows and Mac user interfaces are broadly similar, they do have subtle variations in day-to-day use that require some re-education for switchers.

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  • digits12, on 07/07/2008, -18/+3Help full tips thanx,,,,,,,,,,,,
  • brainnovate, on 07/25/2008, -19/+6I love Walt Mossberg, Apples biggest fan. Dude has serious influence.
  • inetiatic, on 07/07/2008, -27/+34I just switched two-to-three weeks ago, and i will never look back. I can accomplish so much more..in significantly less time.
    • PabloMac, on 07/07/2008, -9/+17As of right now, ten people have buried this comment. What does it matter to them if inetiatic is glad they switched to Mac?

      Hate sucks.

      • Urkel, on 07/08/2008, -3/+2Maybe they're digging down the idea that switching OS's causes you to work faster.

        As a Mac user then I appreciate the differences in the OS, but in no way would I say that working a specific OS would enable me to work slower or faster.
      • utnow, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3How about this...

        Work more creatively: The attention and care paid to the interface that surrounds my work encourages my creativity.

        Work more efficiently: Things tend to just *be* under my mouse when I go to click them. The uniformity of the interface makes it easier and quicker (woo!) to find what I'm looking for even in software I've never seen before.

        Because of a combination of these two effects and many (related) others, I find myself completing my projects much quicker with better, more polished results.
    • bjstiktrix, on 07/07/2008, -3/+5
    • wwwluckyro, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1
    • schneb, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1All my Macs are still running (sold or given away)
      All my PCs have died.
  • dechah, on 07/07/2008, -29/+22I am moving the other way. I have had nothing but issues with Leopard on my two Macs, so I built my own Vista 64 desktop box and installed Vista 32 on my work supplied laptop. Vista has kept me productive both at home and away on business, while my Macs have been relegated to exclusive use by my young children. I have no intention to go back to Mac anytime soon. I at least know for certain that the "no new features" of Snow Leopard are not going to drag me back.
    • coollettuce, on 07/07/2008, -10/+11I just switched from XP to Vista64 and I couldn't be happier. It's so damn fast, I honestly don't know what all the Vista hate was about.
      • mrsteveman1, on 07/07/2008, -2/+6The hate is about the fact that Vista isn't good enough for what Microsoft thinks they deserve to be paid for it.
    • kinesis8, on 07/07/2008, -3/+3What kind of problems did you experience with Leopard?

      When I switched from Windows to Mac, I had issues too... but they were more just difficulties getting used to the way Mac does things and finding similar programs to the ones I used on Windows. Took me a good 6-7 days, but I haven't looked back since...
      • digioi, on 07/08/2008, -2/+2guess you never got the gray screen of death...
  • arvvvs, on 07/07/2008, -19/+12Biased. I don't care what he thinks in private, but really I don't get why people read him if he's so biased, and probably has an idol of Steve Jobs in his house. And lame tips by the way. Provide something more useful, something more than your average mac user would.
    • MacParrot, on 07/07/2008, -4/+24While he certainly is biased toward OS X at the moment, very few remember that in the dark days of System 8-9, he recommended that people leave the Mac platform for Windows. He's been writing about technology since 1991 I believe and a lot of people respect his opinions.

      In this particular article he never said that people should leave Windows, but was pointing out some common differences between the two without coming down on one side or the other.

      It's a fact that some people are either leaving Windows or rediscovering the Mac. Windows isn't going away and the Mac OS isn't going to replace it for the vast majority of users. Microsoft still rules at least 90% (if not more) of desktops and that's not going to change significantly over the next few years. You shouldn't feel threatened just because a few people prefer a platform over what you like.
      • mrsteveman1, on 07/07/2008, -0/+8Dammit, the world is black and white. Someone must lose and someone must win!
      • arvvvs, on 07/08/2008, -1/+1His reputation of a Mac lover doesn't really help
    • gimmeslack12, on 07/07/2008, -3/+5How can you say this is biased? It's not comparing anything (much rather saying anything is better than another). It mentions Windows for analogues of OS X functions.
    • pjpark, on 07/07/2008, -1/+4"In Windows, each program typically has its own menu bar. On the Mac, there's a single menu bar at the top of the screen that changes, depending on which program you are actively using."

      Yep, sounds pretty biased to me. I'll never read WSJ again.
  • coollettuce, on 07/07/2008, -16/+4Here are my own tips:
    1. Forget about building your own computers.
    2. Although some games are for the Mac, most are for Windows.
    • Me1000, on 07/07/2008, -5/+111. How many regular people build their own computer?
      2. What if you dont care about games?
    • gregharmon, on 07/07/2008, -4/+5People who buy Macs, are usually able to afford another computer for gaming. ( A very solid gaming machine via Newegg is around $500 ) For instance, I have an iMac and I just ordered a microATX gaming computer from Newegg. ( The parts...I'll assemble it when it arrives. ) I'll hook the small windows machine to my TV and use that as the monitor for gaming.

      Also, my iMac has a gorgeous 24in screen and a GeForce 8800 video card, which runs pretty much anything besides Crysis at high levels. I just have to reboot. So if I and my fiancee decide to do some gaming together, I just have to reboot and she'll use the small windows machine that I'm building.

      But I'll continue to use my iMac for work.

      So I'm still getting to build my own computers AND do gaming just as well as most people.
  • ajkdajkd, on 07/07/2008, -7/+10A nice site for switchers and tips is Switch To A Mac. Be sure to check out the Guides section

    http://switchtoamac.com/guides/
  • yosserhughes, on 07/07/2008, -19/+10Not again.

    Welcome to iDigg.
    • Me1000, on 07/07/2008, -2/+16You realize you can hide all the Apple stories on Digg right?
  • rootsm3, on 07/07/2008, -19/+18Digg sucks today. Just sayin'.
    • robdazomba, on 07/07/2008, -0/+2Your posts are boring. Just sayin'.
  • Rudegar, on 07/07/2008, -13/+4if i were to switch i would have to use bootcamp as option every once in awhile
    but the real deal is that macs cost more compared to spc's sure they have better design
    but still much more pricy then a dell or hp pc
    • kelly, on 07/07/2008, -6/+9That is simply not true. You pay more because you get more, but when you spec a PC with the same equipment, a PC will either cost the same at best or cost more... and that is not even when you consider bundled software.

      The better design is just icing on the cake.
      • Rudegar, on 07/07/2008, -3/+1well apples prices are higher here in europe
        1687us $ for the cheapest imac 20-inch: 2.4GHz
        about the same for the cheapest macbook
        2740$ for cheapest macbook air


        632$ is what i payed for my appletv

        sure our very high sales tax takes it's toll but and the low rate of $ these days
        but still apple always had higher prices over here

        which i guess is part of the reason mac have a much much lesser market %
        here

        maybe in the future the ipod and iphone effect will change that
    • Tahiri, on 07/07/2008, -2/+6Um, I don't know where you shop but ALL PCs cost less than a Mac with similar/equal specs
      • Rudegar, on 07/07/2008, -1/+1yeah i know i just stated known brands so people would not say that the quality was lacking like with acer stuff and noname stuff
      • Pippers, on 07/07/2008, -3/+3False. It's been shown time and time again, that you can spec out a machine anywhere. Be it Dell, HP, whoever with the *exact same* set up as the Mac and the Mac will always be LESS.

        Every time someone comes up with a machine that is "cheaper" than the Mac they are comparing it to, they always leave something out. Part for part, the Mac will always be cheaper.
      • HolyChimp, on 07/07/2008, -0/+3It all depends on when you compare the prices. Compare them just after Apple does a refresh and the Mac will come out equally priced or even cheaper. Dell and co. refresh their product line a lot more frequently than apple does.
      • schneb, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1There's more to a unit than the sum of its parts. One need only compare the design and construction of a MacPro with your average PC box, and you will see a world of difference. Especially in regard to noise and cooling.
  • scottzeitz, on 07/07/2008, -9/+0As Walter declares, so shall the masses follow.
  • thetanman, on 07/07/2008, -3/+16I built my own pc (XP) but bought a macbook pro when they switched to intel chips. My experience with Tiger (and CS2) was so so. I liked the eye-candy, but didn't really use the laptop much. Six months later (!) I discovered Expose, which was the beginning of the end for me using windows. Later I did a clean install of Leopard and CS3 and haven't looked back. I'm still using the same old 1.83 GHz core duo but it does everything I ask it to, at times to my bewilderment. The new preview feature in Finder (OSX's windows explorer equivalent) gets used constantly, and the search actually works.

    I miss picasa the most, but the new iphoto isn't so bad.
    • bjstiktrix, on 07/07/2008, -0/+5Agreed! Expose and preview are features I can no longer live without.
    • reformation, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Same here - I have expose set up in my bottom left corner, a quick flick of the wrist to that corner and I can see every open window.
      Quicklook is brilliant.
      Even on my G5 everything is still faster enough to 'wow' me with how easy it is.
    • EdwardsNH, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Last I heard, a mac version of Picasa was due by the end of '08. Hope this is still true, 'cause I'll be buying a Macbook as soon as they switch to Montevina.
    • schneb, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I hear it lacks features, but Google has given you something to work with for the time being...
      http://picasa.google.com/web/mac_tools.html
  • Greer70, on 07/07/2008, -13/+7Does Apple have to pay for these advertorials from this dude? Like the annoying flash ads on the WSJ site aren't annoying enough? Now he's re-printing FAQs?

    "All things D"-bag.
    • robdazomba, on 07/07/2008, -1/+5Possibly, but wouldn't it be nice to have some counter-balance to the nonstop felating of all-things-Windows we see at ZDNet?
  • chesscat, on 07/07/2008, -1/+5Goatbergggggg!!!!!!
  • whysteriastar, on 07/07/2008, -1/+6Pandora should have been higher. A music site that evaluates your tastes and finds new bands and songs you'll like is the ultimate in cool.
    • robdazomba, on 07/07/2008, -2/+1As your girlfriend and/or wife will confirm, your aim sucks.
      • whysteriastar, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1WTF you talkin bout Willis?
      • robdazomba, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0Ooooo-kay. That was posted to an entirely different discussion and comment. I read it afterward as well as the comment above so I know I didn't mis-post it. Appears that Digg had a case of the hiccups. Weird.
    • HolyChimp, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1I still hate them/whoever's responsible for locking out the UK.
  • knute5, on 07/07/2008, -1/+10Think of it this way. Windows has 90% market share. Mac, around 7%. No other company has sustained this kind of margin forever, and chances are things are going to balance out a bit in a Coke/Pepsi way. Maybe, once the MS lock on computing is fully picked, some new, cool platform will see an opportunity to come in and blow both Apple and MS away. It's competition. It's good. We all win...
    • Greer70, on 07/07/2008, -2/+2I agree competition is good (although not everyone wins in a competition). But people have been saying that Apple is just one step away from getting 10%+ market share of the OS for like 2 decades now.

      And it hasn't happened yet. The macs are hugely profitable for St. Steve and Co. but it's clear that most people don't want them. Especially when you can go out and get an e-machine that costs about 1/5 and does about 70 percent of what a Mac does, and 100 percent of what you need it to do (not "want" it to do).
      • knute5, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0I'd challenge you that most (but not all) people who "don't want" a Mac haven't used one. Yes, you're right that upfront cost is a factor, but long-term reliability, service quality and resale value tip the scales back on many models. And for laptops, Apple's arguably got a lower TCO.

        I agree there's a missing link for towers though. $2300 is too high an entry point. Hey, nobody said Apple would go Intel, but they did. I think they'll offer a reasonable tower alternative or license out to another vendor when it makes financial sense to do so. In the mean time, the adventuresome can go to psystar.com today (Apple has been mysteriously quiet with its lawyers on these guys) and get in for about $500.
    • phantom_mullet, on 07/07/2008, -1/+3I agree, Greer. If Apple introduced an entry-level machine for the masses, people would migrate in droves. I really don't know why they refuse to do so. It has already been shown (thanks to OSX86) that OS X is fully capable of running on less-than-stellar hardware.
      • knute5, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0I think Apple will open things up when it makes sense. Most of the moves they've made (iPod, iTunes, iPhone, increased software/services/etc.), including the move to Intel, make this more likely down the road.
  • Andrwmorph, on 07/07/2008, -13/+7I've considered switching to Mac several times, but then I remember that I have balls.
    • OpaqueMurdock, on 07/07/2008, -0/+2Well, sounds to me like maybe you are fearful and therefore... you may need to check again. : )
    • chesscat, on 07/07/2008, -0/+2That must be an unattractive feature for a woman.
    • pauliusuza, on 07/07/2008, -0/+2Three of them
  • zedebsky, on 07/07/2008, -12/+7Surprise surprise, everyones favorite hack is shilling for Apple once again!
  • Tahiri, on 07/07/2008, -13/+6Tip 1: Don't.
    Tip 2: Don't.
    ...
    Tip 26: Don't.
  • eliteblast, on 07/07/2008, -15/+5Here are my general tips for switching from OS X, to windows vista.

    #1, Invest the money you saved by purchasing, or building your own PC.
    #2. Now that you have a PC, go directly to www.thepiratebay.org, or your favorite alt.binaries newsgroup, and enjoy the freedom of free software.
    #3. Now that you computer can run games, it's time to frag, and call everyone a fag, we'll call this frag and fag for short!, so repeat after me, IT'S TIME TO FRAG AND FAG!
    #4. If you get bored of vista, you can always run os x leopard in vmware, and lul at how overpriced apple ***** is.
    #5. If you're the given kind of person, then you should feel happy you payed 1000$, for a q6600 4 gig ram 8800 gt sli pc, or better, donate the other 2000-3000 you would have wasted on a mac, to a charity.
    #6. Brag about how you built your own computer, and say ***** like, apple is where pc games come to die out loud in an apple retail store.
    #7. Go to 4chan, and fap fap fap.

    Also, I'm tired of all these "pc" "mac" fags, and I'm also tired of these technical guru's telling you to buy software, and other ***** you don't need. Most of these tech guys steal there software just like the rest of the world, the only people who can afford software, are ***** large companies, or lawyers, buying software is for ***** retards.

    And before you call me a thief, no I am not a thief just a communist, and that is not a bad thing, go read karl marx, you ignorant capitalist pigs.
  • miquonranger031, on 07/07/2008, -5/+4well...i used mac system 8 on a quadra, which i had to rebuild every other week because it was a horrible mess, then i used windows from 2000 to XP, then when that stopped booting suddenly, i switched to ubuntu, but i used OS X panther. recently, i switched to vista ultimate because i got it for free (legally) and i'm pretty happy with it. visually, very nice. windows defender actually does a really good job and catches things spybot s&d don't. The only negative is the device compability, which is still a big problem. i don't get the hate about it....after the service pack, it's fantastic. i really wouldn't return to OS X since i'm a big gamer, but it's different for everyone. depends on what you'll use the OS for. And about Walt Mossberg...he is kind of an Apple fanboy, but their products, at least the iPod line, are the best in their class, despite being somewhat overpriced.
    • eliteblast, on 07/07/2008, -5/+3Ipods are good, but only until you hack them. Being forced to use itunes, is utter bs.
      • miquonranger031, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1yep, definitely...that's why i use gtkpod :)
  • gimmeslack12, on 07/07/2008, -2/+4Anyone else realize that this article is talking about Macs, not bashing anything? Just pointing that out.
    • Kosher1947, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1You can't mention Mac/Linux/Windows on Digg without hurting someones feelings. Mention you have all three for a free digg down by all the fanboys.
  • vinnieT, on 07/07/2008, -5/+2Just another pro-Mac article by Walt "I want to have Steve Jobs' baby" Mossberg.
  • BebopBlues, on 07/07/2008, -2/+2It can also be a guide for people switch from Mac to Windows. :)
  • deralte, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1that was pretty noob. what about a mouse acceleration curve for controllermate so don't stop 2 pixels from those hot dang buttons all the time.
  • spacebuddy, on 07/07/2008, -4/+4Only noobs use Windows these days.
    • Kosher1947, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Now. To be fair Windows has its uses. For me it is 3ds, but I am sure it can be used for other stuff. I do most of my stuff on a Mac or my Fedora partition, but I am sure there is plenty of things Windows can do well.
  • wwwonka, on 07/07/2008, -1/+2having always been weary of the switch, I finally did recently and now Windows feels clunky and bloated. This article is pretty basic, but I did find out about the two finger trackpad alt click, the alt-click being the number one gotcha in the switch. Great tip!
  • YodaJones, on 07/07/2008, -4/+1You know how you can tell that Digg sucks? When the windows pussies outnumber the Linux gods.
  • ThatsNotPudding, on 07/07/2008, -2/+4Nothing more boring than a bearded whore.
    • kajoob, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Hey now, leave your mother out of this.
  • antdude, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Does anyone have experience with asian characters with Mac OS X? Using and sharing documents with asian characters?
    • brisance, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Yes what about it? What Asian languages are you interested in?
    • Balanced, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Never used it personally but it's been described as well supported. I know the fonts are included by default and support for non-roman scripts is considered a core feature.
  • plokij909, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4"Sales of Apple's Macintosh computers have been growing much faster than PC sales overall, "
    I'd be interested to see the figures he's basing this off.
  • Kosher1947, on 07/08/2008, -1/+0digioi> No I actually never got the Gray Screen of Death. I moved three Macs over to Leopard, one of which was a few years old PowerPC model with no difficulties. Vista is just...not XP. Besides that I am fine with it. I use mine for 3ds Max, and as a switch sever for my two workstation Macs.

    Alot of complants about Vista delt with bad hardware, but majority of the complaints about Leopard are just *****.
  • TheWonderLlama, on 07/08/2008, -1/+2I switched in January because of how good an OS Leopard is. My first computer was an IBM XT vintage 1983, and I can safely say I won't miss WIndows after 20 years of using PCs. Even my parents and grandfather, all IBM vets, concur that the iMac is very impressive.

    I can't cite the source because its hearsay, but the percentage of Mac users in the computing population has increased tenfold in the last 10 years. Macbooks are the most popular laptops on college campuses, a situation not unaffected by the current collegiate generations experience with the prevalence of Apple computers in schools in the early nineties. Vista's attempts at emulating OSX's graphically intensive interface are evidence of Apple's success, and the criticisms of VIsta largely have to do with the memory demands such designs require (something Mac users are keenly familiar with).
  • yosserhughes, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1No I didn't but now I do.

    Thanks a lot.,
  •  

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