[Sudogenic]

Well, I'm not one of those people who likes to post questions or problems on a forum - I prefere to read other people's posts and hope that I find my answers somewhere in them.

However, I have had a few questions, which you guys were great in answering, by the way.

So the day has come that I have to decide: If I don't order this Powerbook today or tomorrow, then it will most likely arrive too late.

It's such a lot of money, though. I'm hoping that I might be able to get some kind of deal through Apple, but I'm not sure yet.

My fears are that using the same programs that I currently use on PC, will be completely different on a Mac, or that I'll have some other problems migrating over to a new operating system.

I've waited three years to buy a Powerbook and now I finally have a reason to get one and I'm stalling. I have to buy a laptop, PC or Mac, within the next 24 hours and I'm still unsure.

My computer is my livelyhood and it's what I use for work and communication every single day - I just want to make sure I do the right thing.

I hate to ask this, since I know you guys can't make the decision for me, but: Any advice/encouragement?

Thanks guys.

[jfobart]

Do it!!

I've been a PC guy since I was about 12 years old (around 13 years)- since pre-Windows!

But this spring I bought my 12" PB and LOVE IT! I've always enjoyed the look and the idea of a Powerbook, but I couldn't convince myself to switch- I was too familiar with Windows and my programs, new software purchases, etc...

But, after living with OS X & Apple for nearly 6 months, I'm a VERY happy camper. I love the PB. So much that I'm looking forward to replacing my PC & dual-monitor setup next year with a G5 & LCD. Yeah, I could build a new or upgrade my PC for a lot less- but I like the OS, I like the power a G5 will offer, and what can I say, as a creative, I enjoy the aesthetic appeal of Apple products as well.

I'm a "in-the-process of switching" guy who's very happy to own a Powerbook and to be on the road to complet Macdom.

[Timo]

I'm pretty happy with my PowerBook, and even though I must run AutoCad for work (not ported to OS X), I'm happy enough running it in Virtual PC.

My favorite thing about macs and OS X is that even though I'm a non-specialist, I can fix my own computer. I never worry about spyware or viruses or other crap. I don't have to master complicated set-ups. There are always hic-ups -- some networking issues, airport -- but I've been able to solve all of the problems to my satisfaction.

So get yourself a PB and keep these pages bookmarked -- plenty of helpful folk around. Just stay out of the political lounge.

[MrForgetable]

Get it. Are you a student or teacher of any kind? Then click "education" on the Apple Store and you can get a deal on there. or if you have a retail store near you, you can show them an ID card and a drivers license and they'll give you the discount there and you get instant gratification.

once you get used to the OS, the programs will be much easier and you will be able to multitask much more efficiently with Expose.

But make sure the programs you need are available on Mac though. there may be another program that does the same thing so just look around. but definitely, if you need a program that is not remotely available for the Mac, I'd get a PC.
VirtualPC = slow.

[Sudogenic]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Well, I plucked up the courage to at least call and ask about the order and unfortunately I was stumped at the first hurdle: I wanted to split the order between two credit cards, since I don't have enough of a limit on my main card (by just �300), and the guy said they can't do that.

I'm not sure exactly why they can't do that, since it seems that in cafes and restaurants, you can split orders between cards, in other electronics stores, you can split orders between cards... So why not with Apple?

Ah well... I may have to go for the PC laptop after all (which I really don't particularly want to do - I had made my decision to go for Apple).

Hmmm onto plan C.

Is there any way to get in touch with someone at Apple via email, to ask this same question? It would be very helpful to me to be able to split this payment.

[OMGWTFBBQ]

You can also order through other vendors, such as Mac Warehouse, Amazon, etc.

It is likely not necessarily an issue that Apple won't allow it, but that whatever software that the person on the phone is sitting in front of, it doesn't have the ability to process multiple cards (or they don't know how to).
Likewise for the online order.

I am a network admin/programmer on a Windows network and even though I have been using computers since I was 3 (hard to call myself a user back then, but my first memory is sitting at the computer with my dad - an Apple ][ incidentally) and have hated Macs for about as long... I have come to despise Windows so much (Microsoft in general) now that I am a network admin - I went out and got a Powerbook (15") when my HP laptop died.

I am now very much pro-Apple and highly recommend it.

There are plenty of cases where having a Mac makes a problem out of something easy on Windows (if you want to use a Polar HRM that has an IR interface, they only work on Windows and refuse to bother with Macs; various software packages as people have mentioned; some website/apps are only designed for Windows - these are rare, but exist).

Another option on the CC would be to call the CC company and explain what you are intending to do. They will very likely either allow the extra purchase, or just raise your limit.
Especially in today's economy, the CC companies are all about encouraging more spending (especially if the difference is that small).

[mangotango]

Make the switch... I did and I am loving it.
Re. credit card. A few years ago I had the same problem so I overpaid my credit card bill to give me a credit. Worked for me. If you don't have the cash, pull a cash advance from the other card. Best of luck...

[d.fine]

Get a PowerBook, you won't regret it. You can get that payment issue sorted, just keep asking till you get the right person, but above all get the PB

I made the switch 6 months ago, and I've never been more satisfied with a computer that I am with this Powerbook, it's rock solid OS, and great performance. If you need a machine you can rely on, be sure it won't let you down, then i absolutely recommend a powerbook ! Go for it !

[Sudogenic]

Thanks guys.

Well, I've left an email message via the UK Apple Store and I got an email saying that they have received the message and will reply within the next 48 hours. Which may well be too late for me, but we'll see.

I've got to go into the city tomorrow, and I won't be back till Friday, too, so if they start calling my phone address to help me out with the order, they'll just get no reply. :-/

As far as overpaying my credit card - that's not an option.

[warpedten]

Hey, don't let this credit card thing stop you from buying a Mac. As someone else said, I would first call the credit card company and ask if making a larger purchase was okay....

If that doesn't work, I would call Apple, and if the sales rep doesn't want to let you pay with two cards, ask to talk to the supervisor. Heck, even ask to talk to *his* supervisor if you're not satisfied. Explain your situation, and let them know that this is the ONLY way you can buy your computer. With any luck the supervisor will be able to work something out to avoid losing the sale. If not, don't hang up until you've gotten a damn good reason they won't let you do this.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

[8minute]

There's alternative forms of payment available here from the Apple Store in Australia: bank cheque or money order, so you don't have to take it out on credit (of course that means you have to have funds available already ...).

As for software compatability ... it would be best to check what programs you need and whether they are available on Mac, and if not are there equivalents that you can use instead. I have had no issues sharing/using MS Office documents, media files (there's Windows Media Player for Mac, and there's other video players such as VLC), ICQ and MSN are available (but I recommend using Adium) etc etc

The only piece of software that I can't get is 3ds max ... I guess I should start learning Maya anyways!

Also Virtual PC 7 is coming out soon, and hopefully it will run like a champ ...

PS. Don't let little credit card issue stop you from getting a PB!! I'd rather do what it takes to get a PB, than to give up and rush in and just buy a PC

[wuzup101]

Just wanted to say that I hope you like you're new Powerbook as much as I like my new 15". I've been a PC user since I was a little kid, and though I'm only a college student now, it's still been a while. I have a pretty extensive knowledge of hardware and PC software, and I must say that OSX blows pretty much everyhing windows XP has to offer away... it's hands down better. I love this new machine and I'm very much pro apple now. I didn't even bother bringing my custom built PC to school this year because there was little to no need for it.

Hope your experiences are just as good as mine!

[Marid]

About the CC problem: Have you thought about going with an Apple Loan? You'd probably want to pay it off as fast as possible, but you would want to do the same with a CC anyway.

[romeosc]

Originally posted by Marid:
About the CC problem: Have you thought about going with an Apple Loan? You'd probably want to pay it off as fast as possible, but you would want to do the same with a CC anyway.

You can also make a prepayment to the credit card company to have a positive balance before purchase.

However..... I never buy anything I can't AFFORD! Having no debt is a great feeling. If you use ccredit cards to finance life...... you'll live in slavery!

[Gee4orce]

My advice is to ring Gordon Harwood (www.ghc.co.uk) or Computer Warehouse. These guys are so efficient and friendly that you'll have your Powerbook with a day or two.

Apple always seems to use the most hopeless courier companies (like, the one time they rang me up and asked me where I lived because they couldn't find it on the map ?!). The nice thing about the independent Apple vendors is that their main cusomters are designers and newspaper editors, who need their kit delivered yesterday !, no excuses,so they are geared up to be very quick at deliving your order.

Second piece of advice is to order your extra memory (you are ordering extra memory, aren't you ?) from someone like Crucial (www.crucial.com/uk) - it's cheaper, and just as good. Be sure to get the correct type though.

Most of all, don't get a PC for the wrong reasons (credit card). Get a Mac - you will have a much simpler, happier and stress-free computing experience.

Be sure to think 'outside the box' when it comes to software too - there are plenty of really excellent shareware apps on the Mac (www.macupdate.com). You might be able to get away without using MS office even.

[Gee4orce]

have you thought of giving the Credit Card company a ring ? They are falling over themselves to get people to borrow, and in my experience, so long as you've been good about repayments, they'll up the limit to whatever you want (within reason).

[iREZ]

Why not check out the Marketplace for people selling their PB for new iMacs. You could save yourself a couple hundred bux, even more if you don't want the latest and greatest. I remember when I was worried about spending all that cash, completely forgotten in 24hours.

[Sudogenic]

Hey all,

So I couldn't do anything yesterday, as I had to go into the city for some work - I got back today at 6pm and the first thing I do is check my email - I recieved the confirmation that they received my message, but I didn't recieve a reply from them. So I think "no problem" and, having spoken to my CC company on the way back and got the extension to buy this with just one card, decide to call the Apple store.

"Thank you for calling the Apple store. We are currently closed. Our openning hours are from Monday to Friday, 9am to 10pm"

lol What is that? I called the other day at 8pm and they were closed then, too. This doesn't make Apples service look good at all in my book.

So, the UK Apple Store website says that it's open on Saturday from 9am to 5pm... Do I believe that and call early in the morning? Or just forget the whole thing of getting a Mac Powerbook? Which I still don't want to do - but may have to if I can't order, by the latest, tomorrow morning.

[Mr Heliums]

I don't mean to be snippy, but people have given you plenty of good suggestions of alternative suppliers for the Powerbook and you're ignoring them. Why are you still droning on about how poor you find the Apple Store and threatening to abandon the idea of getting a Mac laptop on that basis alone?

Really, you've waited three years to get to the brink of making one of the best lifestyle choices you can make. Don't throw it away with a bout of shortsightedness.

[Sudogenic]

Hi Mr Heliums,

Sorry, I meant to cover that in my last post - The reason I decided not to simply buy from another supplier is because, as Gee4orce suggested, I'm going to upgrade the RAM, GFX chip and HD speed, and therefore, I'm going for a BTO Powerbook.

But you're right, I should have aknowledged the people's contributions - thanks guys.

And I'm not threatening to abandon the idea of owning a Mac - I'd love to own one. I've wanted one for a long time. However, I have a realistic problem/restriction of needing a high-spec laptop to be delivered to where I am very soon.

But I will try and call them tomorrow sometime, and hope that they're open as they say they are.

[mjlukich]

Sudogenic, It sounds like you are looking for reasons not to make the switch. I know you mentioned some kind of deadline for getting a new machine, but maybe you should give it a rest for a few days and just think about your priorities and your budget. There is no sense in rushing in to a purchase when you are that conflicted. Maybe you can make do with your current machine for awhile?

I can tell you this: when and if you do go with an Apple you will never look back. I was a PC user for more years than I care to mention until I bought my first Apple in November of 2002. It was a an 867Mhz Powerbook with a 40gig HD and 512MB of RAM. I am typing on it right now in my home office. We have a Dell desktop in our den that has to be rebooted about 3 times a day, maybe more when our daughters are on it and have 6 or 7 dialog windows open at the same time on AIM. They are always wanting to use my Powerbook because it NEVER freezes up. No matter how new or up to date a PC is, there are just so many everyday tasks that create too great a burden on the system resources; ask anybody with a PC how many times it locks up in a day; how many times a day do they have to reboot it, etc. It's all about the WINDOWS operating environment. MS has made some improvements over the years, sure, but the bottom line is that WINDOWS is an unstable operating system, and it probably always will be.

The Apple operating system, OSX, is WAY ahead of Windows in the stability department, and it's prettier to look at to boot (no pun intended) . There are many more experienced Mac users on this Forum who could explain the whys and the hows, but the most important fact is that OSX just plain WORKS. I'll tell you something else; I realize this is rather subjective, but Macs just don't seem seem to become "obsolete" so quickly in the way that PCs do. People keep Macs much longer and USE them much longer. Other users on the Forum will bear me out on this.

You will hear people say that there is far more software published for PCs than for Macs. This is true; however, when you consider that most of the software on your local retailer's shelves is junk, this point becomes more or less moot. Generally, the PC software that is also published for Macs tends to be the cream of the crop. Also, there is quite a bit of very good software that is available for Macs only. And lets not forget about the iApps. This software, such as iPhoto and IMusic, comes FREE on every new Apple machine and is superior to 99% of the aftermarket software available for PURCHASE for a PC.

As far as compatibility goes, I use MS Office for OSX and am constantly swapping files between PCs and my Powerbook. It's just not a problem at all. I don't know what else to tell you. Think it over and do what you feel is right for you. -Michael in Greenwood, IN

[d.fine]

Originally posted by mjlukich:
The Apple operating system, OSX, is WAY ahead of Windows in the stability department, ...

OSX is WAY ahead of Windows, period ...

[Sudogenic]

Hi again all,

Well, it's been a long morning but I've made my order with a lot of help from a great guy at the Apple store, who seemed to have no problems listening to me "ummm" and "ahhh" for a few minutes while I was deciding. A very nice person, who offered me many alternatives.

I got a very small discount: �50 and a Griffin Powermate, but still, it's better than nothing, right? I don't really need a Powermate, but it was the only thing I could think of to ask for at the time. Still, they look cool.

One thing I did notice though: I also ordered the 'Professional 15 Backpack Case by Brenthaven', and in the Order Aknowledgement email that I recieved, it called it the 'Titanium 2 Backpack for the PowerBoook G4'.

In the description on the Apple Store website for the 15" model, it says:

"The Titanium 2 is a two compartment backpack constructed of military grade ballistic nylon."

In the description on the Apple Store website for the 17" model, it says:

"The Professional 17 Backpack Case is a two-compartment backpack constructed of military grade ballistic nylon."

So... I'm just wondering if I'm going to get the right case for my model of Powerbook, or an older model which was originally designed for the Titanium Powerbook G4s?

Still, that's my only niggle with the whole experience - It was painless and, as I said, the guy was very helpful.

Thanks for your help everyone, now all I've got to do is sit back and wait.

[d.fine]

Cool ! Congrats on the PB ! You're gonna love it

I wouldn't worry too much about that description, those guys know what they're doing, pretty sure you'll get the right case.
I got my 15" six months ago, and I absolutely love it, never gonna get rid of it, ever ...