I switched a while back and am using the 17" Powerbook. I absolutely love it and think that you should do it hands down. Plus the praises you get from random girls is always nice too. It really isn't that hard to get used to. The macs have their mac button vs. the windows button of the pc. The only real difference is that macs use a one button mouse. But if you really like the two button mouse, then just buy a two button mouse and program it so that it is the same. There is nothing to it. The down side to macs is that there may be a smaller amount of programs...depending on what you are looking for. The upside though is that viruses don't usually affect you since you are running a different operating system. And the big thing is that the system doesn't crash on you the way PCs do. So go for it!!!!
Oh, and the Mac support is amazing too.

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Lemans Blue X5 4.8is
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CJ,

I have a Mac, and I am sure you will love it. As a matter of fact, I have a PowerBook -- what a GREAT machine that is. I have "switched" my entire family to Macs (including the CEO), and now we have three Macs and four iPods!

To answer your questions:

1. Just copy all your files onto a CD and copy them onto your Mac. If you buy your PC at an Apple store (which I recommend you do, by the way), they will actually transfer any files from your PC to your Mac at no charge. The pride themselves in their customer service, and they will gladly help you switch.

2. The Mac OS (OS X -- pronounced OS ten) is elegant, secure, and very easy to use. It will take you a whopping two minutes to learn it. The ONLY thing I recommend is to buy a two-button mouse, which is fully suppored by OS X; Apple, however, only gives you a one-button mouse. Again, your local Apple store will gladly teach you how to do anything you need to do.

3. You will have to buy Mac versions of whatever software you use (MS Office, for example). Tell them you're a student, and you can buy it all at a discount.

MacTeens.com is a great web site for, well... teens who use Macs. Both my sons visit that site often, and I often hear, "hey, dad, I was reading in Mac Teens..."

By the way, ensure that you get AT LEAST 512MB of RAM with your PB. OS X is a wonderful OS, but it likes memory. 1GB would even be better.

If you have any problems, or questions, feel free to PM me or email me. I can help you out.

Juan

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Whenever I text "Barack," my phone suggests the word "Capable." I guess my my phone IS pretty smart.

Small amount of programs?! What? come on. :P Almost everything that is released nowadays, the mac versions are usually right behind it within a few months. Also now that Apple is going with the Intel architecture, I am hoping that software manufactures go with a Binary Deployment. Then the same app will run on Apple, Linux or Winblows.

I agree with Echoi17, seriously go for it. I have been running OS X since it's beta conception and it seriously kicks azz over anything that Microshaft has or ever will have. Solid OS, heavy OS integration with Bluetooth, crash-free OS(or at least for me so far), viruii/spam/malware-free OS, topnotch voice control, fast OS and the strength of a Linux server under the slick front-end. Yes, I am one of those Apple fan's and wouldn't trade my 15" Powerbook for anything.

Make the switch from PC to Apple even easier. Go and pick up an app called: Move2Mac (http://www.apple.com/switch/howto/move2mac/) and the transition will be effortless and painless.

If you need any other questions or want to know more feel free to hit me up.

This only really applies if you are a gamer. Just about EVERY program available for the PC is available for the Mac. Including:

- The entire MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook - which is called "Entourage" on the Mac. There is no Access DB).
- The entire Adobe suite (Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, Go Live)
- The entire Macromedia suite (Flash, Dreamweaver)

Plus, every Mac comes with the iLife suite, which just ROCKS: iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD. They all work together and seamlessly.

If you're an IT geek, you won't be disappointed, either. OS X is actually UNIX back-end with an Apple GUI. You can program, set up networks, talk to Windows networks, everthing! I often joke that OS X is more compatible with Windows than Windows itself.

I have only encountered ONE (well, two) occasions where an application is not made for the Mac: Visio (flowcharting application) and MS Project. I doubt you would need either one, though, CJ.

You won't regret it. Go for it.

Juan

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Whenever I text "Barack," my phone suggests the word "Capable." I guess my my phone IS pretty smart.

If you really need Visio, go and get Concept Draw V Professional( http://www.conceptdraw.com/), it stomps all over Visio. And the Concept Draw Project suite will most likely work or use the PMX toolset (http://www.jtechsoftworks.com/PMXprojectplan.htm), both very slick apps

Thanks, man!

Juan

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Whenever I text "Barack," my phone suggests the word "Capable." I guess my my phone IS pretty smart.

Thanks, everyone! I'm probably going to do it within the next few weeks. There is an Apple store in Salem, NH, so I guess I'll go there. Unfortunately, my laptop seems to have lost everything... All my songs, photographs from trips, etc. On the bright side, there isn't anything to transfer anymore! Thanks again for the quick advice!

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If you haven't re-formatted it, it still might be recoverable. If you have firewire on your laptop and another machine with firewire, just slave the laptop drive and take a look at it from the other firewire machine. This might work on USB2.0 but don't quote me on that one.

I think I'll wait to see what happens when Apple comes out with your Apple/Intel system.....In a few years, the current Macs will not be supported by Apple....but that is a few years away and by then, everyone will get newer computers anyhow, etc.

So don't worry about getting a "lame-duck" Mac because it will be awhile before the newer Apple/Intel machines be out.

Also, next summer, MS will release Windows Vista operating system.

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