Switching to iMac: Misc Q's - DPChallenge Forums

08/08/2008 02:09:20 PM · #1

I've been thinking about switching to Mac for my main home computer for a few months now. I finally tried one out in an Apple resellers today, and I thought it was beautiful. I'm looking at the following spec;

20-inch iMac
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB

A few questions;

1) I'm getting Aperture 2.0, will it perform well with the above spec? (Does Aperture utilise the GPU?)

2) When I plug a memory card into an attached reader, will iPhoto pop up and give me an easy option to import photos from the card? (My wife really likes Picasa on the PC, so I want to make sure she'll find iPhoto as easy to use for importing, sorting and uploading photos)

3) Is the wireless keyboard the same as the normal keyboard, just without wires? (Thinking about the wireless keyboard and mouse option)

4) Can you setup multiple user profiles, or does everyone boot into the same desktop?

TIA.

08/08/2008 02:25:53 PM · #2

1) I'm getting Aperture 2.0, will it perform well with the above spec? (Does Aperture utilise the GPU?)
Yes and yes (although not all the 3D hardware that GPUs tout)

2) When I plug a memory card into an attached reader, will iPhoto pop up and give me an easy option to import photos from the card?
Yes, or Aperture. Your choice.

3) Is the wireless keyboard the same as the normal keyboard, just without wires? (Thinking about the wireless keyboard and mouse option)
Mostly. I think it lacks the number keypad and a few other buttons found on the right side of a normal keyboard.

4) Can you setup multiple user profiles, or does everyone boot into the same desktop?
Yes. It's easy to do, and the implementation is great: choose a user from the menu, enter the password, and your whole screen instantly "rotates" like a 3D cube to reveal the workspace and preferences of the new user.

08/08/2008 03:20:09 PM · #3

Thanks Shannon.

Spork99

Canon EOS R8

Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM

08/08/2008 03:22:23 PM · #4

You won't regret the switch.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/08/2008 04:17:16 PM · #5

It would be a really good idea to max out the RAM and ditch the lousy Apple mouse, though. Logitech makes some good ones.

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

08/08/2008 05:14:08 PM · #6

Originally posted by scalvert:

It would be a really good idea to max out the RAM and ditch the lousy Apple mouse, though. Logitech makes some good ones.

I agree with the above...but do not get the memory through Apple. TOOO EXPENSIVE! This is easily changed and upgraded by taking old out and clicking in new.
Logitech makes great Micesesesseseesess

See now the link is for NON APPLE memory. :)

Message edited by author 2008-08-08 21:14:44.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

08/08/2008 07:03:03 PM · #7

2) iPhoto, Aperture or Image Capture (useful if archive your images in user-created folders outside of iPhoto or Aperture libraries). iPhoto Preferences provides this choice.

08/08/2008 07:05:08 PM · #8

Originally posted by zeuszen:

2) iPhoto, Aperture or Image Capture (useful if archive your images in user-created folders outside of iPhoto or Aperture libraries). iPhoto Preferences provides this choice.

True. The only reason I didn't mention Image Capture is because the OP talked about sorting and uploading photos. For that, you want iPhoto or Aperture.

silverscreen

08/09/2008 12:17:45 AM · #9

As others have said - you will never look back if you make the switch :)

And I agree about the mouse: Don't even think about using the apple mouse - it's impossible to work with. (I've always wondered why Apple stick to that impossible mouse design when everything else they make is so user friendly)

hanneke

08/09/2008 12:21:47 AM · #10

The Apple Mouse dies within one month when you use it regular because the dirt gets in the small scrollball.. Stupid mouse. I use the trackball from Logitech for a couple of years now, and it works best for me. Once you know how to use it, you don't want another mouse.

The wireless keyboard indeed misses the numeral keys and some others. My experience is that the batteries die very fast. The wired keyboard is just as cool ;)

Message edited by author 2008-08-09 04:22:28.

08/09/2008 06:44:11 AM · #11

Then I think I'll stick with the wired keyboard.

Will a normal 2-button mouse work with a Mac? - I already use a wireless 2-button Logitech with a scroll-wheel on my WinXP PC; would that work?

hanneke

08/09/2008 06:46:20 AM · #12

Originally posted by JH:

Then I think I'll stick with the wired keyboard.

Will a normal 2-button mouse work with a Mac? - I already use a wireless 2-button Logitech with a scroll-wheel on my WinXP PC; would that work?

It probably will :)

brownsm

Canon EOS-5D

08/09/2008 06:49:53 AM · #13

My iMac came with the wireless keyboard and mouse. the keyboard does have the number keypad on the right, and the batteries last a long time. I've replaced them once in a little over a year. I replaced that mouse with a logitech USB wireless scrollwheel one. It just feels better and more familiar than the mighty mouse.

silverscreen

08/09/2008 06:52:09 AM · #14

Originally posted by JH:

Then I think I'll stick with the wired keyboard.

Will a normal 2-button mouse work with a Mac? - I already use a wireless 2-button Logitech with a scroll-wheel on my WinXP PC; would that work?

I use a 4 button/2 wheel logitech wireless USB mouse - and works perfectly with right click and everything.

hanneke

08/09/2008 06:53:33 AM · #15

Originally posted by brownsm:

My iMac came with the wireless keyboard and mouse. the keyboard does have the number keypad on the right, and the batteries last a long time. I've replaced them once in a little over a year.

I think I wasn't so lucky then. I had to replace them once in Â± one month.

JCDean

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/09/2008 07:07:59 AM · #16

Just for giggles I use a Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 with both my iMac and MacBook. No problems at all.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

08/09/2008 08:29:31 AM · #17

I've used Apple's Mighty Mouse for years without any issues, but then... I wash my hands before I touch the computer and clean the mouse ball about once a month. The Logitech and other alternates would afflict my aesthetic well-being. :-(

Patrick_R

Canon EOS-60D

08/09/2008 08:42:27 AM · #18

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

You won't regret the switch.

Yeah ya will! PC FOR THE WIN!!!!!!! (runs and hides) lol I build my own PC's I'd never buy one from a retailer though.

08/09/2008 02:57:13 PM · #19

Originally posted by Patrick_R:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
You won't regret the switch.

Yeah ya will! PC FOR THE WIN!!!!!!! (runs and hides) lol I build my own PC's I'd never buy one from a retailer though.

And that's great too! If you enjoy building PCs, and if you prefer Vista or XP or Linux, then fair play to you. Run whatever system you're happiest with.

I've been a Windows user for 18 years, since v3.0 in 1990. Before that it was DOS, going back to the IBM XT. I made a career out of Windows programming, for the past 7 years I've been running a software company designing and selling Windows-based business applications. I also worked in Microsoft intermittently on internal projects, including the months leading to the launch of Vista (in MS the employees are the first beta-testers) So I have given Vista a fair chance, but I have absolutely no intention of using it as my main OS.

What do I want from a computer? :

- Up and running out-of-the-box. I've wasted too much of my life installing service packs, updates, and drivers. I want to just switch it on, and start doing stuff

- No noise! - The fan on my PC is driving me nuts

- Fast boot-up and shut-down. My PC takes about 5 minutes from switch-on to starting Firefox. (I dual-boot Mandriva on it, so I know this is an OS issue, not a hardware one)

- Easy/transparent backups. Time machine. Say no more.

- A year down the line I want to still boot up quickly and runs apps smoothly. Having to clean up the Windows registry and temp files and run defrag every 6 months just to keep the performance up, is a PITA. Install a rogue app, and whammo! format and re-install time. DLL Hell, I've been there.

Right now I'm using my eeePC for most things (see how many boxes that little laptop ticks?) But I need a desktop replacement. I'm not saying OSX is the perfect operating system but I do have certain expectations based mainly on what I've read. I might find it difficult to get used to, but I'm willing to give it a good chance to impress me.

silverscreen

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/09/2008 03:02:22 PM · #20

Originally posted by zeuszen:

I agree that the mighty mouse is very good looking and fits the iMac design perfectly - but it's not build for the human hand. (not my hand anyway)

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

08/09/2008 03:10:27 PM · #21

Well, I switched about a year and half ago--have not regretted it for a single moment, and wished I had done it sooner. I planned on getting parallels so I could run windows apps, but found that Office for Mac is way better than the windows version, so never bothered.

If you like fooling with the computer, tweaking and such, a pc is a good deal--but if you want to open the box, be powered up and online in 5 minutes, mac is the way to go. If you just want your computer to WORK so that you can do OTHER things with it, mac is the way to go.

So far, the only negative from owning a mac is simply that each day when I go to work and have to wait 5+ minutes for the Dell/Windows POS to boot, my day starts with expletives :-) But, I got an iphone, now, so during that 5 minutes I can check email, stocks, news, weather....

It sounds like I am anti-pc or anti-window: not really, but I just like things that work without tinkering to arrange it. Simple things like getting a scanner or printer to plug and play on pcs can turn into nightmares, but with macs it usually takes longer just to unpack the things than it does to have them up and running. Took a long hassle process, choosing settings, and such to get a linksys wireless router up, the pc to see it, and then for both to "see" the cable-modem internet connection. Bought an Airport Extreme--again, took longer to unpack it than it did to be up and running with it.

You won't regret it (and Aperture is great, too!)

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/09/2008 03:17:18 PM · #22

The mighty mouse is good, does have right click, plus the expose' feature, and the 360-degree scrolling mouse is sweet. It is somewhat sensitive to particulates, so avoid eating powdered sugar donuts, etc. and you should be okay.

I have the older "white" bluetooth keyboard and mouse--the keyboard does have a full number pad on the right. The new low profile version oddly has the numeric pad on the wired version, but not on the wireless. Alternatives are available (example )

JCDean

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

08/09/2008 03:58:50 PM · #23

My wife still uses the mighty mouse mainly for the sideways scrolling.

08/19/2008 10:56:30 AM · #24

I did it!

Just booted up my new 24" iMac (2.8GHz, 2Mb ram etc.) and on offer was an 8Gb iPod Touch for â�¬99, so I couldn't resist buying that as well.

I've been playing with it for a couple of hours. And I've realised that this is the way computers and operating systems should be designed. It's a work of art.