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stirrell · Jul 31, 2007, 02:30 PM

After a four year absence from the Macintosh (sorry, I switch to Windows XP when I thought I needed to do lots of .NET development), I have just ordered a Mac Book Pro from MacMall (one of the closeout models). I am very excited to get back on Mac OS. I will be running Parallels to keep Windows compatibility and slowly moving over to, hopefully, being Mac full-time except for when I need to test sites in IE.

I should mention that part of the impetus to going back to Mac was some horrible Vista upgrade experiences and, also, just remembering how much more fun I had on the Mac and how comparatively hassle-free it is.

peeb · Jul 31, 2007, 02:52 PM

Welcome - you're going to love being back home.

EndlessMac · Jul 31, 2007, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by stirrell

I will be running Parallels to keep Windows compatibility and slowly moving over to, hopefully, being Mac full-time except for when I need to test sites in IE.

Yes, with the Intel Macs it definitely allows Windows users to migrate over more slowly instead of having the mad scramble to find Windows equivalent programs for Macs like I did. It also allows us Mac users to have some Windows only programs and browse some of those Windows IE only websites. I know some people didn't like the switch to Intel but I thought it was a good idea. More of my friends are considering Macs because they know they can go back to Windows if they wanted to and not be mad at wasting all their money on buying a Mac. Basically it's less of a risk to try Macs now that you can install Windows also.

One day the world will finally realize their mistake in choosing Windows

but until then the option to use Windows on a few occasions makes life a lot easier for use Mac users.

Lastly welcome back to Macs.

stirrell · Jul 31, 2007, 09:41 PM

Yes, with the Intel Macs it definitely allows Windows users to migrate over more slowly instead of having the mad scramble to find Windows equivalent programs for Macs like I did. It also allows us Mac users to have some Windows only programs and browse some of those Windows IE only websites. I know some people didn't like the switch to Intel but I thought it was a good idea. More of my friends are considering Macs because they know they can go back to Windows if they wanted to and not be mad at wasting all their money on buying a Mac. Basically it's less of a risk to try Macs now that you can install Windows also.

It was a big plus for switching back. If I had to replace all my software, I may not have. As it is, I will probably be running Photoshop CS2 in Parallels until I can afford the upgrade to CS3. Hopefully Dreamweaver (I have the Studio MX suite which is a hybrid Mac/Windows disc) won't run too badly emulated (non-Intel native). And I think that I won't need Office 2007 too much... I can probably get by with Pages and Keynote and keep Office 2007 for when I need to open/convert files from clients.

I also have perfected a method for re-authoring Rifftrax with my suite of cheap Windows software (DVD Decrypter, Goldwave and DVD Shrink) so I am glad I will be able to keep using that system. There is probably an equivalent method on the Mac but it took me a while to get a good system down. I know, probably not a big deal for most switchers ;-).

I'm hoping that switching back and forth between environments won't be too much of a headache. I plan on keeping a shared folder that will contain all my web files (including PSDs and such). The hierarchy will be Client name -> Files -> site -> actual site files. I hope there will not be a problem with pointing Apache to that folder and using Bonjour to be able to view the Mac's Apache server with IE locally. This is the theory anyway. Probably more information than anyone needed to know. I'm excited - what can I say? I've been debating the decision for quite some time now.

sc_markt · Jul 31, 2007, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by stirrell

After a four year absence from the Macintosh (sorry, I switch to Windows XP when I thought I needed to do lots of .NET development), I have just ordered a Mac Book Pro from MacMall (one of the closeout models). I am very excited to get back on Mac OS. I will be running Parallels to keep Windows compatibility and slowly moving over to, hopefully, being Mac full-time except for when I need to test sites in IE.

I should mention that part of the impetus to going back to Mac was some horrible Vista upgrade experiences and, also, just remembering how much more fun I had on the Mac and how comparatively hassle-free it is.

I also just got a closeout model but from Macconnection. Got the 2.16GHz and it's my first new mac in about 9 years. So far, so good...

- Mark

stirrell · Aug 7, 2007, 07:45 AM

I have my Mac Book Pro (arrived yesterday). I love it so far. Interesting story, though... when trying to install Windows XP under Parallels, I kept getting a Session_3 error and a quit out from the Windows Setup. I did some searching and, apparently, this can be caused by a problem with the XP media. The solution recommended was to make a copy of the XP CD and use that for the install. Worked great. But even after leaving the platform, Windows is giving me headaches *sigh*. I am excited to migrate everything over. And once up and running, my impression of Parallels is very positive.