I'm considering buying a mac pro notebook, coming from windows platform. What are the pros and cons?

Question

Will I be able to communicate with others users who are using MSN Messenger..., play all kind of movies (not just .mov), bittorrent clients, using vnc (or remote desktop or PCAnywhere to control other windows computers). other abilities or restrictions?
Any help or suggestions are really appreciated.

Answer 1

I've owned a Mac since the original (1984) and a PC since 1983. I own both now - a Mac Mini and Dell laptop w/ XP on it. I use them both daily. They network to each other just fine via SAMBA/SMB. I like my Mac better.



You can use MSN Messenger on the Mac. You can play .mov and .mpeg and .avi movies in QT player. To play .wmv files you'll need a plugin from MS called Flip4Mac which isn't the best.



You can download Remote Desktop from MS to log into a Windows account from your Mac.



If you buy a Mac with the Intel processor (most new ones except the PowerMac) you can install XP on a second partition and dual boot using BootCamp free from Apple.



You can also run Windows virtually using various programs such as CrossOver and VirtualPC.



Addendum:

WOW, obviously there are people commenting on Macs who have like haven't used one in like a decade. The two Macs that ship with a mouse (PowerMac and iMac, the others are laptops and the Mini) ship with a 4 button roller-ball mouse (not just a 1D wheel).



Also, since most all UNIX software is usually recompiled for OS X, well, that pretty much blows the Windows has more software argument out of the water. Sure, Access isn't available on the Mac but MySQL is ;-)



Hum, and I take a Mac laptop to places where I have to hook it up to a VGA projector all the time. Gee, just plug it in and it automatically switches to extended display mode where as my Dell Insperion you have to press a button and change the monitor settings - what a joke.

Answer 2

If you are going to buy a MAC, so you can run PC... that is really dumb. You will be taking a good computer and putting it at risk.



The whole idea of getting a MAC is to have a MAC for what it is good for. I would not use the PC end of it on the internet. I would only use that for Quickbooks and other business applications that are not on the MAC platform.



MAC Pros: better graphics, better movie editing and sound editing



MAC Cons:

1. Web development sometimes produces websites that don't look right on IE. Just remember to TEST with a Windows IE.

2. Some Windows software will not work correctly. (I simply don't know all of the Microsoft GOT-CHAs yet).

3. More expensive

4. Add-ons cost more

5. Highly desired as a stolen item. (Notebooks, especially high end ones are the must sought after item to steal)

6. You have to retrain yourself... Windows FLUKES and problems differ from Mac problems.

7. RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON IS NON STANDARD - good luck remembering how that stupid APPLE button works.



Compatibility issues:

Movies - HEY, this will be a major improvement, sure some formats won't work with the software that you get.

VPN? Sure, you will figure it out. But I doubt that you will be sucessful in rebooting it into Windows from a remote computer. Good luck with thinking that.

Answer 3

Depends on the computer's primary use. If it's for everyday functions like surfing the internet, wp, and multimedia switching to a mac won't present any problems.



A pro notebook would be good for graphics applications.



As long as you don't expect all software to be compatible, which is generally games. But dual core pro notebooks can run virtual Windows these days, the latest version of OSX makes pretty much anything compatible from a PC.

Answer 4

Well, Mac are well known for their stability and the looks. But there are severe limitations to its spectrum as compared to windows platform. I really dont know if there's some software in Mac that allows u to communicate with MSN messenger contacts. Playing movies will be possible...but bit-torrents is again a problem..and forget about PCAnywhere if u wanna go for mac. But if u wanna perform routine office jobs, some mulitmedia processing & editng, u should definately consider a MAC, but you will definately miss the wide spectrum of applications available for windows platform(a lot of them are free). Bye...

Answer 5

Sure you can chat and use all kinds of internet and multimedia functions that your used to. However a major drawback is the availability of software and games that are made for Mac vs. PC. There is alot of software that is unavailable for Mac. The gap is getting better, but still not to a level I would call convenient. Additionally, you are limited to your choice of hardware upgrades. With a laptop you don't have to worry about this as much as you would with a desktop where your more prone to replace/upgrade hardware components. However Mac hardware is still more pricey than PC parts and not as widely available.



Personally, I'm completely pro PC. Compatability is getting better, but the supposed stability of Mac's is way overrated in my opinion. I've used/encountered all kinds of Mac's that crash just as often, if not more than PCs. Additionally, many Mac laptops had trouble connecting to plug n' play external devices like projectors and such. I know they are supposed to interface just as well as PCs, they often do not as many devices are made specifically for PCs and are Mac compatible as an after-thought.

Answer 6

I'm considering doing this as well, now that it's feasible to run both xp and os/x natively.