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notorious426 · Dec 13, 2004, 10:31 AM

How's it goin' guys I'm dropping by for the first time because shortly I too will be a mac owner. I've been using PCs for well over 9 years but I opted out now that I'm old enough to purchase something for myself. I just ordered a 14" iBook with a Superdrive. 512 MB RAM and an 80 GB hard drive. I'm real excited about getting it but I'm nervous because of all the weird looks I have gotten when I speak to people that own PCs. I'm sure everything will work out for the best and I'll love my mac but its a big deal for me switching.

My question is just what should I start to burn onto cds so I can put them on my mac. I know I'll have to save my entire music library which will take a while and also my photos. Anything else that I might be missing?

jaimzedup · Dec 13, 2004, 10:39 AM

Nice purchase...but you didn't upgrade the ram through apple did you? Memory upgrades are far cheaper if you buy and install it yourself from some other vendor.

Have you had some experience with a Mac before? It's good to have some knowledge about Macs instead of making a blind purchase never having used a Mac. Well, even if it is a blind purchase, I'm sure you'll be fine. Just out of curiousity, what made you leave PCs?

notorious426 · Dec 13, 2004, 10:43 AM

Yes I did upgrade the memory through Apple with my student discount it wasn't a huge deal to me. I do have some experience with Macs as I use them in school a lot. I'm a Communications major so I'm very much into film and photography. I look forward to really diving into the iLife apps and working it out. I want to try Garageband so bad.

This definitely isn't a blind purchase, I've been reading all about Macs for about a year now since I've been thinking about switching and just now is the time.

historylme · Dec 13, 2004, 11:11 AM

congratulations and welcome to the fold. Look into all free software to enhance the mac emperience.

And don't worry about the 'weird' looks, they simply don't know... and since you dropped some cash on your choice, I'm guessing it didn't bother you enough.

edit: As for importing, if your other computer has a firewire cable, import emails, photos, documents, etc.

notorious426 · Dec 13, 2004, 11:27 AM

Well my school has a lisence with Microsoft so I'll be getting MS Office for Free which is a plus but I'm curious as to what other free stuff I can get my hands on.

Unfortunately my computer doesn't have firewire.

Hi I'm Ben · Dec 13, 2004, 11:37 AM

You won't need firewire just connect them using a crossover cable. Otherwise you could also broadcast your IP through the iBook and have the PC connect to it wirelessly, if your pc has a wireless card. There is a lot of ways to connect the two.

macaddict0001 · Dec 13, 2004, 11:37 AM

You get what you pay for, and apples ram has better power usage than other ram which is important in a laptop.

D'Espice · Dec 13, 2004, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
You get what you pay for, and apples ram has better power usage than other ram which is important in a laptop.

Sorry, but that's BS, first time I ever heard that. Apple overcharges big time for RAM but let's give you the benefit of the doubt, got any reliable sources?

notorious426 · Dec 13, 2004, 08:14 PM

I'm not quite sure what a crossover cable is and my computer doesn't have a wireless card.

MARINEOSX · Dec 13, 2004, 11:50 PM

If it has an ethernet cable just plug it in to the pc and the iBook and then go to finder, then select go in the menu bar go to the bottom of the tab and select connect to server. Type in the IP adress of your pc and then you should be able to access the music files and pictures and then just drag them into your iBook. This is easy fast and works great. Make sure firewalls are off and apple talk is on and you will have no problems.

notorious426 · Dec 14, 2004, 07:44 AM

I just got an email saying I'll have it in 5 days. I can't wait. Thanks for the tip that sounds much easier than burning everything to disc. Thanks for saving me time and money.

MARINEOSX · Dec 14, 2004, 11:00 PM

Anytime. If you have any questions about it just ask. By the way you are going to love your iBook. They do however have a way of seducing you into playing and working on them even if you don't need to. But this is not always a bad thing.

macaddict0001 · Dec 15, 2004, 01:33 AM

Originally posted by D'Espice:
Sorry, but that's BS, first time I ever heard that. Apple overcharges big time for RAM but let's give you the benefit of the doubt, got any reliable sources?

No I don't have sources, but lets face it cheep ram sucks, and its not as if apple makes its own ram. Most of the reason that apple ram is so expensive is because it goes through two middlemen. I was mostly just trying to help justify his purchase.

notorious426 · Dec 15, 2004, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by MARINEOSX:
Anytime. If you have any questions about it just ask. By the way you are going to love your iBook. They do however have a way of seducing you into playing and working on them even if you don't need to. But this is not always a bad thing.

hehe I don't even have the iBook but the past few days I've been looking for software and stuff that I can do with my iBook.

hanzo · Dec 15, 2004, 08:28 PM

Hey notorious,

I hear ya. I used to be one of those PC guys that used to harp on mac friends. Of course it was due to having a borked expensive powerbook that was biasing me... Technology has progressed and I gave mac another shot, glad I did.

The iBook I got is exactly what I need for personal use(word processing, internet usage, media handling). One doesn't need a "jigghertz" computer to do those things.

IMHO, there are both benefits and faults for both wintel and mac systems. It all comes down to personal taste. Don't let the hype try to persuade you. Best thing to know for sure is to go to an Apple Store or reseller and futz with the interested device for a good bit (30 mins or so). I think I spent 2 hours in my local Apple Store playing with the Albooks, iBooks, and even the desktops.

notorious426 · Dec 15, 2004, 08:58 PM

thank you much sir. I don't ask for much when it comes to computers I just want one that will do them well and reliably. That's why I went with a Mac.

historylme · Dec 15, 2004, 09:30 PM

Stated like a pro

And yes, a cross over cable is the cheapest/easiest solution. I just have gotten spoiled by firewire.

notorious426 · Dec 15, 2004, 09:35 PM

I already have a router and a friend of mine told me that I can do it through that.

I just checked the shipping status and FedEx tried to deliver twice but no one was home so I'm a little upset. But I guess it's all good because I won't be able to use it until the 25th. Why couldn't Christ be born sooner?

I kid, I kid.

MARINEOSX · Dec 15, 2004, 10:54 PM

When/if you do it through the router it will be the same way as I described above. Just in case you didn't know.

Hi I'm Ben · Dec 16, 2004, 04:46 AM

Originally posted by macaddict0001:
No I don't have sources, but lets face it cheep ram sucks, and its not as if apple makes its own ram. Most of the reason that apple ram is so expensive is because it goes through two middlemen. I was mostly just trying to help justify his purchase.

You're also talking out your ass. I'm pretty sure "Apple RAM" Is mostly made by samsung. How is buying some Curcial or Kingston RAM "Cheap RAM"?

notorious426 · Dec 16, 2004, 07:12 PM

Ahhh it came today!!! w00t. hehe I got to at least hold the box but I couldn't open it. I have to wait until Christmas.

Thanks for the tip Marine. I'll probably be back for help regarding that anyway.

wataru · Dec 16, 2004, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by history1me:
And yes, a cross over cable is the cheapest/easiest solution. I just have gotten spoiled by firewire.

You don't need a crossover cable, as all recent Macs have auto-sensing ethernet ports.

f1000 · 03:03 PM

Originally posted by D'Espice:
Sorry, but that's BS, first time I ever heard that. Apple overcharges big time for RAM but let's give you the benefit of the doubt, got any reliable sources?

Apple overcharges for hard drives as well. They tried to charge me $250 for a 4200 RPM 2.5" 40GB HD (and no, that didn't include the labor). I bought myself a 5400 RPM 100GB HD for $179.99 instead.

Jasoco · Dec 19, 2004, 12:32 AM

Originally posted by notorious426:
Ahhh it came today!!! w00t. hehe I got to at least hold the box but I couldn't open it. I have to wait until Christmas.

Thanks for the tip Marine. I'll probably be back for help regarding that anyway.

Congratulations! I hope you love your Mac life as much as I've loved mine.

I converted back in 2000 on a "Blind purchase". The most Mac I'd used was System 7 and System 6 for very little time. That was enough to tell me that a modern Mac would still be better than what I'd been using. 10 years of Windows was enough. So I held my breath and made the switch.

Now, I've been a Mac user for over 4 years and have converted a few Windows users of my own. (Who in turn converted some of their friends too.)

notorious426 · Dec 24, 2004, 10:26 PM

Thanks man I appreciate it. I'm so excited my Mac life starts tomorrow!! I can finally unwrap my laptop, open the box and check it out!! I cannot wait. Still worried about transferring files and what not. Hopefully that works out.

Happy Holidays to All.

notorious426 · Dec 25, 2004, 01:30 PM

So I finally got to open my iBook this morning. It rocks, I'm so happy. I'm having some difficulties getting an internet connection however. I took the cable from my PC and just tried to plug it into the iBook, that didn't work. Then I tried to do it through the router and nothing worked. So I'm kinda bummed out right about now.

How can I transfer the files again. Please be clear in what you say because I'm a moron.

Hi I'm Ben · Dec 25, 2004, 02:52 PM

Are you trying to transfer files or get on the internet? I'm confused. If you have a router plug both devices into the router (you'll need 2 cables) and setup windows sharing on your Laptop
System Preferences - Sharing - Windows Sharing
Also make sure your PC is setup to be part of a network.
Once you do that go into your main finder window (That's the window that shows Network and your Harddrive, Click on the network item. Wait for about 30 seconds. you should see your PC appear. Click on the name of your PC and enter in your password and user name. You will only be able to access folders you've listed as shareable.

As far as internet goes... I'd think just plugging in the cable from your router should do the trick. I've never had a problem getting on a network from a direct line.

Hi I'm Ben · Dec 25, 2004, 02:54 PM

and one more thing. Don't be surprised if you hate your mac at first. It's frustrating but once you get the hang of it you'll learn to love it.

MARINEOSX · Dec 25, 2004, 03:49 PM

well I hope that you get it going if you are having troubles let me know and I will be more than happy to help. As far as hating your Mac..... I have never hated it just loved it! I find it much easier to network things setup users and tranfer files. I don't know but the way that it is setup just seems like common sense would tell someone that is the way it should be done, and I mean that with every aspect of the OS.