Finally moving back to Mac!

[Tom Sawyer]

I'm stoked... finally pulled the trigger and have ordered an iMac 2.4ghz, standard config. I've used macs off and on since 1990, first machine was an SE (after that I became an Amiga head). But as my career in software engineering had me working on PC's in M$ based platforms and being a gamer for many years, I've lived in PC/M$ land most all of the time. Most of the coding I do these days is Linux based web apps (LAMP) and my gaming "needs" are minimal. So for at least the home front, I'm switching over. Going to sack off my Dell Inspiron E1705 to fund the move (currently on ebay). I've got 2gb of ram waiting for the iMac when it gets here as well as a 500gb 7200.10 Seagate. Should make for a sweet machine I think. Tracking tells me it will be here Friday. I've recently picked up an iPhone and that had a lot to do with my decision; just being reminded of what a elegant UI and hardware platform Apple develops makes me want to experience it every day.

Anyway... just joined the forum, looks like a great group of people with tons of helpful posts, so I look forward to contributing soon as well.

Will post a pic or two of my baby when she arrives.....

 

[downingp]

Welcome to the forum. There is a great group of members on the forum.

I too switched from PC to Apple a little over a year ago. As soon as I got familiar with the OS, I kept asking myself why I didn't switch earlier. Now whenever I have to use windows I cringe.

 

[iCanuck]

I'm a switcher as well! Or at least I will be once my iMac arrives...

Welcome to the forums, I just joined today as well

 

[Macked]

I'm stoked... finally pulled the trigger and have ordered an iMac 2.4ghz, standard config. I've used macs off and on since 1990, first machine was an SE (after that I became an Amiga head). But as my career in software engineering had me working on PC's in M$ based platforms and being a gamer for many years, I've lived in PC/M$ land most all of the time. Most of the coding I do these days is Linux based web apps (LAMP) and my gaming "needs" are minimal. So for at least the home front, I'm switching over. Going to sack off my Dell Inspiron E1705 to fund the move (currently on ebay). I've got 2gb of ram waiting for the iMac when it gets here as well as a 500gb 7200.10 Seagate. Should make for a sweet machine I think. Tracking tells me it will be here Friday. I've recently picked up an iPhone and that had a lot to do with my decision; just being reminded of what a elegant UI and hardware platform Apple develops makes me want to experience it every day.

Anyway... just joined the forum, looks like a great group of people with tons of helpful posts, so I look forward to contributing soon as well.

Will post a pic or two of my baby when she arrives.....

Welcome TS and congrats on your new purchase! My 2.4 arrived today and I'm having a blast!
I have always thought the mac's UI was more elegant and natural to use.

Good Luck with your new toy er, I mean productive workstation!

 

[Italchef]

Welcome indeed. I switched back about 4 years ago. My first computer was an LC475 back in '96 I think. Had a Dell after that and had nothing but troubles with the OS. Now that I'm back on a Mac I would never, ever go back to windows. I've probably converted a dozen people or so as well. You have fun and let us know how you get on. I've never seen such great support available between these forums and Apple's own discussion boards in their support section. Enjoy!

Mick

 

[-brian-]

I'd love to switch. If only money grew on trees. But my wife's laptop and my own are finally on the fritz. So it looks like its a necessity for work and play.

 

[JSmoove05]

I know how you change the ram on the Imac but how hard is it to upgrade the HD on the machine?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Thanks all, appreciate the kind words of welcome. The other two "IT guys" where I work are giving me a little doo doo over it but I think they are just jealous.

I've strategically had the machine delivered to my office so I can you know...set it up to make sure it's ok, generate a little machine envy... etc etc..

 

[pungohboy]

Thanks all, appreciate the kind words of welcome. The other two "IT guys" where I work are giving me a little doo doo over it but I think they are just jealous.

Congrats on your purchase. I bought my wife a macbook last week and Bought another this morning since she didnt want to share.

Dont let them give you grief It is because they are jealous! I know I am a Windows network admin and one of my users started telling me she had a mac and I gave her the same greif. Im glad I was finally able to try a mac out. Now to convert the rest of my it dept.

 

[mBurns]

Congrats! The 2.4 ghz iMac is a great machine.

 

[swordfish5736]

Thanks all, appreciate the kind words of welcome. The other two "IT guys" where I work are giving me a little doo doo over it but I think they are just jealous.

I've strategically had the machine delivered to my office so I can you know...set it up to make sure it's ok, generate a little machine envy... etc etc..

good thinking on the checking it at the office

jsmoove05: i think upgrading the HD is acutally not a very fun experience. You'll need a special tool to remove the glass panel. Maybe you'd be better off finding a external enclosure with FW800

 

[SmileyDude]

jsmoove05: i think upgrading the HD is acutally not a very fun experience. You'll need a special tool to remove the glass panel. Maybe you'd be better off finding a external enclosure with FW800

The glass is actually held in with magnets -- so, the only thing you need is some kind of suction cup to pull the glass off the iMac. And, putting it back on is even easier.

I think once you're in, as long as you're not afraid to mess around in electronics, the drive will be relatively easy to replace.

Now the iSight G5/Intel iMacs -- those were a pain to work on...

 

[swordfish5736]

The glass is actually held in with magnets -- so, the only thing you need is some kind of suction cup to pull the glass off the iMac. And, putting it back on is even easier.

I think once you're in, as long as you're not afraid to mess around in electronics, the drive will be relatively easy to replace.

Now the iSight G5/Intel iMacs -- those were a pain to work on...

ya apple sells a "special" tool for screen removal that is just to suction cups

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Well, my Inspiron E1705 just sold... WOOT! Bye Bye winders...

Ended up being able to sell it local too, so no shipping woes and ebay/paypal charges.

Of course, I'll probably put XP on the iMac either bootcamp or VM. I do quite a bit of ripping DVD's to my server for watching on XBMC's and have a nice setup for doing that with Shrink and AnyDVD. I'm sure I will find a good Mac alternative as time goes on. I'm so excited... I think one of the things that is so great about owning a Mac is feeling like your "part of" something special. I know I felt that way in the Amiga days... a computer to be really excited about and the feeling like you should tell others about it: evangelize so to speak. It's a great thing!!

 

[Oilbrnr]

I switched back last year to a Mini. I had a 512k Fat Mac and then a IIx back in 'the day.'

I use AnyDVD and CloneDVD in Parallels, then finish up the convert to iTunes in OS X. Works great.

Converted my x-boss (we are both SQL Server DBAs) who bled WinTel.

Now for the MBPro...

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

I'm stoked... finally pulled the trigger and have ordered an iMac 2.4ghz, standard config. I've used macs off and on since 1990, first machine was an SE (after that I became an Amiga head). But as my career in software engineering had me working on PC's in M$ based platforms and being a gamer for many years, I've lived in PC/M$ land most all of the time. Most of the coding I do these days is Linux based web apps (LAMP) and my gaming "needs" are minimal. So for at least the home front, I'm switching over. Going to sack off my Dell Inspiron E1705 to fund the move (currently on ebay). I've got 2gb of ram waiting for the iMac when it gets here as well as a 500gb 7200.10 Seagate. Should make for a sweet machine I think. Tracking tells me it will be here Friday. I've recently picked up an iPhone and that had a lot to do with my decision; just being reminded of what a elegant UI and hardware platform Apple develops makes me want to experience it every day.

Anyway... just joined the forum, looks like a great group of people with tons of helpful posts, so I look forward to contributing soon as well.

Will post a pic or two of my baby when she arrives.....

Congrats & Cool. I have decided on one but still debating 24 vs 20. The 2.4 dual core is so much cpu, and ati's oops rather Amd's 2600 does the job in a little package. 2 Gb is perfect, not to much not to little hope you get a good one. Im trying to wait for 10.5 but I may have talked my wife to going to the nearest Mac store this weekend. See what happens. patience,patience.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I GOT IT!!!

Funny story... one of the guys who works the front desk in our office is a life long mac guy... he was the one who signed for it and he paged me over the company intercom (about 70 people) "Kevin, your iMac has arrived!" It was great!

Only disappointment, the company I ordered it from said they would double box it and alas... it was shipped in it's container. DHL seemed to treat it about as expected, nice hole in the side of the box, etc. Thankfully, nothing touched inside, and it is 100% perfect. I set it up as planned in my office and had a steady stream of people coming by to check it out and EVERYONE (including die hard PC gamer types) were absolutely amazed. It has a presence.

Popped in my 1gb 667 DDR dimm, it never even booted with 1 gb! Had a pretty busy day so didn't get to play much with it, but did get it on our wifi and holy CRAP does this thing have some killer antennas in it.. I've never seen a device get the kind of signal strength on my end of the building. Kudos to apple! Speaking of wireless, how do you tell if you are connected at N speed?

Am home now of course and my wife was very wow'ed by it. I may not sleep at all tonight! This is a beautiful day indeed; new iMac, a cold Sam Adams OctoberFest... who could ask for more?!?!

I have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard ("old style") but I'm liking this new AL keyboard so much, I think I'm going to stick with it and have one cord. The mighty mouse got used for about 1 minute, long enough to set up my BT mouse. LOL

Well, off to explore and learn...

 

[ryannel2003]

I've been back and forth over the years with Mac's. I got my first Mac (eMac G4) in October 2004 and used it up until last year (my brother still uses it and of course it runs great). I decided to get a Dell last year since I really couldn't afford another Mac. I do like my Dell tower, but it's nothing compared to the eMac. Then in April I got an iBook G4 and then sold it in July due to financial issues (needed to fix mirror on my Camry). Now finally, I have a Compaq laptop running Vista (not a bad laptop) and have a Mac mini that should be here on Tuesday. I think I will finally keep this Mac until I get a MacBook or something like that. But yeah I have always loved OS X. Amazing OS to use.