Anyone switch from Windows to Mac?

[coachgns]

My Hp Desktop, only two years old, has been slow as molasses for a very long time, but now it has gotten to the stage where it is is almost unusable. Every day something new happens. The past few days it has been taking 45 minutes to Boot. I've done all the cleanups, been on with HP cleaning up startup menu, defragged, virus scans, spyware removal, bootvis - the Tech people I've spoken with have aid I've doen pretty much anything that can be done & they are stumped.

So looking at a Mac, 1 GB 20" monitor, Intel Core 2 processor.

Has anyone gone this route? My main concern is getting all my photos uploaded (the DVD drive on my desktop is not being recognized so I have to put all my pics on many many CD's), and getting Photoshop CS2 on the machine. I only put CS2 on the machine a few months ago. I've heard that "all i need to do is call adobe" and they can send me the Mac edition. Does that entail hours on hold? I haven't been able to find info on the adobe site about cost.
And I have an Education edition - can I get the Mac OS changeover for that?

Does CS2 run any better on Mac or worse on Mac than on Windows? I understand WIndows programs can run on Mac, so am I better off just laoding my Windows CS2 onto the Mac? Do I need to buy Windows to put on the Mac, or is the software already built in?

So in other words - is it worthwhile to switch to Mac & just how much trouble is it to do so?

Thanks

[mwfanelli]

My Hp Desktop, only two years old, has been slow as molasses for a very long time, but now it has gotten to the stage where it is is almost unusable. Every day something new happens. The past few days it has been taking 45 minutes to Boot. I've done all the cleanups, been on with HP cleaning up startup menu, defragged, virus scans, spyware removal, bootvis - the Tech people I've spoken with have aid I've doen pretty much anything that can be done & they are stumped.

So looking at a Mac, 1 GB 20" monitor, Intel Core 2 processor.

Has anyone gone this route? My main concern is getting all my photos uploaded (the DVD drive on my desktop is not being recognized so I have to put all my pics on many many CD's), and getting Photoshop CS2 on the machine. I only put CS2 on the machine a few months ago. I've heard that "all i need to do is call adobe" and they can send me the Mac edition. Does that entail hours on hold? I haven't been able to find info on the adobe site about cost.
And I have an Education edition - can I get the Mac OS changeover for that?

Does CS2 run any better on Mac or worse on Mac than on Windows? I understand WIndows programs can run on Mac, so am I better off just laoding my Windows CS2 onto the Mac? Do I need to buy Windows to put on the Mac, or is the software already built in?

So in other words - is it worthwhile to switch to Mac & just how much trouble is it to do so?

Thanks

First, if it is truly taking 45 minutes to boot, you have a hardware problem somewhere. It has nothing to do with Windows. Windows XP is a solid and dependable OS regardless of what some people try to say. Second, HP quality is not very high, I know, I had one. My HP laptop died after a year and a half.

Look, if you are buying a Mac to run Windows... I just don't get it. Either MacOS is a solution for you or its not. You'll pay lots of money for a Mac and then pay again for Windows. An expensive "solution" by any angle. Mac is not a panacea and has problems of its own.

Whatever choice you make, do it with your eyes open!

[coachgns]

No - pretty certain it is not a wondows problem - most likely a hardware problem, and thei HP has been going to over 2 years. need to replace - and need something that will work well with photoshop. I initially assumed I could just get the Mac version of CS2 & it would work well. Now that I'm hearing that is not the case with the new Intel Macs, I'm not so sure.
Mac does have some advantages over Windows, but if my software is not going to run, that isn't much of an advantage, is it?
Then again, if I go with a new Windows computer now, they're all coming with Vista - and i don't want Vista yet. Am I looking at the lesser of two evils?

Will CS3 solve my problem though?

[Asylum Steve]

Then again, if I go with a new Windows computer now, they're all coming with Vista - and i don't want Vista yet. Am I looking at the lesser of two evils?

Will CS3 solve my problem though?

Coach, you're asking questions that simply cannot be answered. The only thing you're going to get are opinions, and probably start another PC - Mac war which breaks out here from time to time.

I disagree with Michael's HP comments. I've had an HP notebook for two years now with no problems whatsoever. I do agree that your main problem is not with the Windows OS. Something may have happened to affect your processing speeds, or it could be a HD issue...

I also agree that what you originally describe is in itself not enough of a reason to switch to Mac. Seems to me you should still be able to find WinXP PCs for the time being. Probably at a reduced price.

In general, Photoshop runs perfectly well on both PCs and Macs. As for C3, it is still in beta, so who's to say if it's eventually public release will solve anything for anyone?

[mwfanelli]

No - pretty certain it is not a wondows problem - most likely a hardware problem, and thei HP has been going to over 2 years. need to replace - and need something that will work well with photoshop. I initially assumed I could just get the Mac version of CS2 & it would work well. Now that I'm hearing that is not the case with the new Intel Macs, I'm not so sure.
Mac does have some advantages over Windows, but if my software is not going to run, that isn't much of an advantage, is it?
Then again, if I go with a new Windows computer now, they're all coming with Vista - and i don't want Vista yet. Am I looking at the lesser of two evils?

Will CS3 solve my problem though?

Photoshop and other major packages will run equally well on either platform.

[coachgns]

I think I AM actually getting an answer, albeit "opinions."

I like the Mac over the WIndows machines generally, but would not go there if it cannot run Photoshop CS2 properly. Now two of you are telling me it WILL run it as well as with WIndows XP. I'm still not clear if I merely load my Windows disks, and Adobe will give me an activation code, or if I have to go buy a new Mac version. IF I have to buy the Mac version of CS2, then I don't think I'll go Mac just yet. But if the WIndows will load ok (Maybe even run with Parallel?), then I think I'll switch toMac.

From what I've read though, it seems there was some kind of disconnect between Adobe & Apple when Apple switched to the Intel OS. Apple really was geared to photographers, and to then put out a system that the premier photo program couldn't run properly on without using other applications that slowed it down (Rosetta?) doesn't seem right. I guess the debate continues over fault - but no need to go there - It Is What It Is. Hopefully there is a reasonable remedy.

THANKS

[mwfanelli]

I think I AM actually getting an answer, albeit "opinions."

I like the Mac over the WIndows machines generally, but would not go there if it cannot run Photoshop CS2 properly. Now two of you are telling me it WILL run it as well as with WIndows XP. I'm still not clear if I merely load my Windows disks, and Adobe will give me an activation code, or if I have to go buy a new Mac version. IF I have to buy the Mac version of CS2, then I don't think I'll go Mac just yet. But if the WIndows will load ok (Maybe even run with Parallel?), then I think I'll switch toMac.

From what I've read though, it seems there was some kind of disconnect between Adobe & Apple when Apple switched to the Intel OS. Apple really was geared to photographers, and to then put out a system that the premier photo program couldn't run properly on without using other applications that slowed it down (Rosetta?) doesn't seem right. I guess the debate continues over fault - but no need to go there - It Is What It Is. Hopefully there is a reasonable remedy.

THANKS

Yes, you will have to buy a Mac version, the license doesn't transfer. If you want to use your Windows copy on Mac, you'll have to buy a full copy of Windows XP to do it (Parallel and other apps don't come with a Windows license).

[Medley]

I converted from PC to Mac several years ago and have basically never looked back.

Some points to consider:

Photoshop CS3 is being written specifically to be compatable with the Dual core machines.

The biggest problems with the new intel chip stem more from a Mac users standpoint than a Windows user standpoint. Because the chip is new to Mac, most older Mac software has compatability problems. Apple has done some work in reducing this problem, but most of the older software that is compatable runs slower than it normally would (I assume that it's going through some sort of 'translation' process). Photoshop CS2 for Mac is no exception to this rule.

I'm really not that knowlegable on the Windows compatablity side of the Duocore, as Windows problems have not concerned me for quite awhile.

Internet security is going to be an issue with the DuoCore chips. Apple has never had to worry much about internet secuity, as most viruses were written for the Intel chips running Windows. Now that Apple has placed itself into that arena, I would want to speak with an Apple rep before buying the new machine.

That said, my next machine will be a dual core, though I think I'm still a ways off from that.

I would recommend talking to your local Apple Store/ Mac Store. They're going to be the most knowlegable people regarding your questions. Just keep in mind that theirs is a biased viewpoint. They are, after all, trying to sell you their product.

-Joe U.

[Lionheart]

Don't buy a Mac unless the Mac OS is why you're switching. It's different enough that you'll get a few gray hairs getting used to the differences. That being said, I prefer the Mac OS. Photoshop runs better on a Mac, always has, but that's the Mac version. Yes, windblows actually runs better on a Mac machine in dual boot, at least from everything I've read, but why spend that much for a Mac to run windows. Just build a windows machine from scratch and you'll probably be break even or a be little bit ahead financially. If you're going to stick with windblows, I recommend building your own machines rather than buying ready made boxes, they're easier to upgrade and dismantle, and if the machine acts up, it's easier to diagnose which part isn't working. Just my two bits of course, since I've built my own pc's for 14 years, but my next machine is going to be a Mac. I'm tired of tweaking, I just want a computer that works, and works, and works....just like my wife's Macbook Pro :-)

[coachgns]

The comment about tweaking seems to be a major reason for going with a Mac - so much less tweaking than using Windows.

I've been on phone with Adobe, and been to Mac store. Still not 100% sure, but leaning to Mac.

Adobe: They said that because I have the CS2 Premium, I can get the Mac disks for cost of shipping. But they will deactivate my Windows version upon my requesting the new disks, and it can be 7 - 21 days until the new disks arrive, ths 1 - 3 weeks without Photoshop.
HOWEVER - with the Mac I can download a trial edition for 30 adys, so I could use the trial while waiting for Mac disks to arrive.
BUT - I am a bit leery about what she told me because one of the things she said was that Bridge was not a part of Photoshop CS2. Hmmmm
She also said that I would not be able to buy an Upgrade to CS3 because I have the WIndows version. But if they are going to deactivate the WIndows version & give me the Mac version, then I will in fact have a Mac version & it seems I should be able to upgrade to CS3 rather than buy a new CS3.

Apple Store: They had PS loaded on machine so I got to play with it for a while (I think annoying others who wanted to try out the machine). it seemed to sail right along- certainly better than it is doing now on my home computer. The salesman recommended against putting Windows on the machine because while it might work fine for most windows programs, PS is so memory intensive that it really doesn't work as well ofr that particular application. But he did suggest 2 GB instead fof the 1 it comes with - again because of CS2.

If I can get confirmation tthat Adobe will in fact ship a Mac version AND I can use a trial version in the interim on my Mac, then I think I'll go to the Mac. Outside of CS2, it seems to beat the windows machines.

[mwfanelli]

The comment about tweaking seems to be a major reason for going with a Mac - so much less tweaking than using Windows.

LOL! Windows allows you to twaek the system in more ways than one can count. That doesn't mean you have to!

The fact that Windiows Vista runs faster on MacIntel than MacOS says something. I won't say what.

Many people find that Macs are a good match for them regardless of reason. Most people find that Windows is an excellent match. Others still prefer some version of Linux (# 2, Apple is #3). Whatever one chooses it should be a solution that fits most, if not all, needs without resorting to modern-day emulators or dual boots.