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Making the switch from PC to iMac

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$ailor

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 5, 2008
12
0
Today is the day I will purchase the iMac 24. I have been a PC user since the early 1970's starting out with a Kpro which was before the 8088 IBM. Did not make the move up to Vista and I am so tired of the Windows crashes. Currently using a Dell with XP. I use the computer for work and need Word and Excel which from what I understand I can purchase the Mac office and be fine. My concern is that I have other Window based programs that I have to run for my business that is not supported by Mac and I plan to purchase VM Fusion to run those applications. I still need to be able to network and I am hoping with the 24 I will not have problems. Biggest thing is to get rid of the rats nest of wires under my desk. Will keep the Dell as backup.

Can't wait for Best Buy to open so I can come over to the other side :)
 
Very cool! You will love having a Mac. There's a small bit of "culture shock" at first especially since you have been using Windows for so long. Once you settle in though, you won't like firing up VMFusion very much. :)
 
$ailor said:
My concern is that I have other Window based programs that I have to run for my business that is not supported by Mac and I plan to purchase VM Fusion to run those applications.
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you dont "need" vmfusion to use your windows programs. just load windows onto your imac using bootcamp and choose which os you would like to use at startup. it will save you some $$$. you probably already knew that though.
 
I made the switch a week ago, from a PC to a Mac. And wow, the Mac is amazing. You're going to love it. I do. The best machine ever.
 
andrewline6 said:
you dont "need" vmfusion to use your windows programs. just load windows onto your imac using bootcamp and choose which os you would like to use at startup. it will save you some $$$. you probably already knew that though.
Click to expand...
I agree that it would save money but VMWare Fusion and Parallels have advantages you don't get with bootcamp (like moving files and such).
 
Wait... you use mainly Windows based programs, haven't tried Vista and believe that switching to an iMac may solve some of your issues?

Have you thought this through?
 
BongoBanger said:
Wait... you use mainly Windows based programs, haven't tried Vista and believe that switching to an iMac may solve some of your issues?

Have you thought this through?
Click to expand...

Um....hasn't ALL switchers from PCs to Macs mainly only used Windows software?
I can, with some confidnence, also say that had he tried Vista, it would only push him harder to switch.
How wouldn't it be beneficial for him to switch?
And since he has the options of Parallels, VMware Fusion and bootcamp, what is the problem?
 
BongoBanger said:
Wait... you use mainly Windows based programs, haven't tried Vista and believe that switching to an iMac may solve some of your issues?

Have you thought this through?
Click to expand...

Yep thought about it for a long time. Used Vista and hated it. So far I love the iMac however it does have a learning curve. I have loaded VMware Fusion and loaded some of the software that I have to use and not a problem so far. Time will tell but so far I am happy with my purchase.
 
I'll be making the switch on Tuesday, when my iMac 24" arrives! I've been a PC user for eleven years now, and I'm actually quite excited.
 
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How ever you choose to install Windows you are going to need a full version not the recovery CD from your Dell. You should be able to find XP for under a 100$ on the net.

You could google Code Weavers; they allow you to install something like Office without using Windows at all. I find them iffy and personally use Parallels and VMWare. There is always OpenOffice which is free... I use that a lot also. And do not forget Apple's iWork 08.

Have fun... and good luck...

You might try this link for free software... http://www.opensourcemac.org/

Enjoy.
 
Congrats on the move.

If you have a decent monitor I'd recommend hooking it up as a secondary. I love having windows in my secondary monitor and mac programs on the main monitor when I need Windows for school.

You'll definitely be shocked at some little differences in using the system, but once you're used to it you'll never want to go back.
 
IMac 2.8

I switched about a month ago and really love the Mac system. Why, Why, would you want to put windows (PC) on your Mac, that in my eyes would be defeating the reason of moving up to a Mac system. Just my two cents.
 
papa85mx8 said:
I switched about a month ago and really love the Mac system. Why, Why, would you want to put windows (PC) on your Mac, that in my eyes would be defeating the reason of moving up to a Mac system. Just my two cents.
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Several reasons. The brokerage firms I trade stocks with only have windows based platforms meaning if I want to use their platforms I have to run them in Windows. I work from home and some of the work that I do have in house programs that only run on windows.

There are just some programs that have to be ran on Windows and there is no way around it.
 
$ailor said:
Several reasons. The brokerage firms I trade stocks with only have windows based platforms meaning if I want to use their platforms I have to run them in Windows. I work from home and some of the work that I do have in house programs that only run on windows.

There are just some programs that have to be ran on Windows and there is no way around it.
Click to expand...

Well congratz, I switched about maybe 2 months ago and I got rid of the rats nest of cables as well. I went all out, time machine, APE etc....only thing missing is the mac mini but I am waiting for a refresh or apple to finally officially pronounce the mac mini dead.

I haven't regretted the switch either but I will say that "it just works" is "wishful thinking", while I have fewer issue's then I did with my pc, I still have them.

I am still sad to see the mac penetration so low, its still hovering around +-10%.
 
$ailor said:
Several reasons. The brokerage firms I trade stocks with only have windows based platforms meaning if I want to use their platforms I have to run them in Windows. I work from home and some of the work that I do have in house programs that only run on windows.

There are just some programs that have to be ran on Windows and there is no way around it.
Click to expand...


I have the same situation and have found that VMware Fusion solved all my problems. I am able to run my bootcamp install from vmware and all without booting to the windows. I am able to run all my windows programs this way with very few issues. And best of all I don't have to boot to windows to do it. If you haven't already I highly recommend you try it, you won't be disappointed. :D
 
Carressa said:
I have the same situation and have found that VMware Fusion solved all my problems. I am able to run my bootcamp install from vmware and all without booting to the windows. I am able to run all my windows programs this way with very few issues. And best of all I don't have to boot to windows to do it. If you haven't already I highly recommend you try it, you won't be disappointed. :D
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VMware Fusion was the 1st program I bought and installed on the iMac. It is wonderful. I purchased the Mac Office 2008 because I do tons of work in word and excel. I use the windows platform to run my stock programs and version on QuickBooks and everything else is on the iMac. I don't think I will ever be able to get away from Windows because there are just too many PC's and developers out there.:D
 
leopard...my best pet yet

well all i can say is i switched recently about a month or so. being a windows user for about 6 yrs but wow apple outdid it self cause the switch was awesome. vista kinda sucks "thats my opinion" xp used to be cool but thats that. anyway the osX is very stable though and i run so many things on it. all i did was upgrade the ram and hasnt crashed one single time. which wild compared to the many many many times my xp did. (had 95, 98, Me, Me Se, 2000 pro, 2003 server, linux, xp home, xp pro and vista for a lil) none as good as mr leopard. :apple:
 
Vista truly drove a good part of my decision to switch last year and I've not regretted it one moment. I've been a PC user since 1994, many many gaming rigs home built etc. I'm actually spending WAY WAY less on my computer now that I don't have the constant 'need' to upgrade this video card or that CPU etc. :D
 
Tom Sawyer said:
Vista truly drove a good part of my decision to switch last year and I've not regretted it one moment. I've been a PC user since 1994, many many gaming rigs home built etc. I'm actually spending WAY WAY less on my computer now that I don't have the constant 'need' to upgrade this video card or that CPU etc. :D
Click to expand...

Mainly because you can't with an iMac. False comparison I think.
 
running bootcamp is smae as runnning pc?

andrewline6 said:
you dont "need" vmfusion to use your windows programs. just load windows onto your imac using bootcamp and choose which os you would like to use at startup. it will save you some $$$. you probably already knew that though.
Click to expand...

what is the point of changing back to a pc platform using bootcamp? does this not reintroduce all the PC problems?
 
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