Just ordered a new iMac

[Scallops]

Very excited!

Having begun using Macs when I was still at Uni, at that time an SE 30, I have decided to dump my virus / malware riddled box and return to the fold.

I have placed an order for a 24 inch 3.06GHz iMac - along with some selected software.

This might allow me to catch up with Mrs Ho har's post count. :D

They cost a bit - but you only live once! :)

[Mick-Kelly]

Congratulations and welcome to the enlightened side :p:p

[Outlaw]

Ooooh nice :D

[Scallops]

Guys - did you have a PC with stuff you needed to transfer to your Macs? I'm sure I'll figure it out - but was wondering if there is some easy way (such as a built in utility) to do this?

I'd like to transfer....

1) Emails and addresses - from PC (Mozilla Thunderbird) to Mac
2) All my PC documents (Word, Excel, PDF etc) from PC to Mac
3) All our digital photos (jpeg, raw).

I have an external Maxtor drive, used for PC backup - but I guess I can't read that from the Mac unless it's reformatted which would erase all the data anyway.

As I said, I'll have fun reacquainting myself and transferring my stuff - but I bought the extended Apple care too in case I struggle!

Its good to be back in Apple land - or it will be when it arrives. :)

[juddy]

95% of the world as PC, so nice to be different....

[Scallops]

From what I can gather looking at the Oz Apple site - I might be able to plug my Maxtor external drive right into the iMac and simply copy the stuff in directly. :cool:

[Outlaw]

Yep some built in apps for transferring straight over as far as i know.. plus your pc disks etc will run on it anyway

[Mick-Kelly]

95% of the world as PC, so nice to be different....
Must be the same people who drive toyotas because they're "better", Ah well gotta be different from the mindless drones. :p:p

[solmanic]

PM sent.

Files should be easy, but email and calendar stuff can be a bit tricky.

BTW, I hope you ordered from the Apple education website. You save a couple of hundred dollars there.;)

[Scallops]

PM sent.

Files should be easy, but email and calendar stuff can be a bit tricky.

BTW, I hope you ordered from the Apple education website. You save a couple of hundred dollars there.;)

No - it says you need to be a student or employed by an educational institution. I guess I need not have been so honest? :(

[Mulgo]

Guys - did you have a PC with stuff you needed to transfer to your Macs? I'm sure I'll figure it out - but was wondering if there is some easy way (such as a built in utility) to do this?

I'd like to transfer....

1) Emails and addresses - from PC (Mozilla Thunderbird) to Mac
2) All my PC documents (Word, Excel, PDF etc) from PC to Mac
3) All our digital photos (jpeg, raw).

I have an external Maxtor drive, used for PC backup - but I guess I can't read that from the Mac unless it's reformatted which would erase all the data anyway.

As I said, I'll have fun reacquainting myself and transferring my stuff - but I bought the extended Apple care too in case I struggle!

Its good to be back in Apple land - or it will be when it arrives. :)

Congratulations - I have done the move a few months ago, would not go back to PC anymore.

To your queries:
First of all, your external drive. Assuming that it is formatted in the NTSF Windows file format, you will need to put the data on this harddisk somewhere and format it for the FAT32 file format. Then put all back onto the HD and plug it into your MAC.
From a Mac you cannot save onto a NTSF formated disk, only a FAT32.

1-addresses) export your addresses to a .CSV file and import the .CSV file on mac.
1-emails) the easiest would be to create on the PC and MAC an Imap email account and transfer the emails via the emailserver.

2 and 3) put all your files on your Maxtor and transfer that way.

[dmdigital]

Guys - did you have a PC with stuff you needed to transfer to your Macs? I'm sure I'll figure it out - but was wondering if there is some easy way (such as a built in utility) to do this?

I'd like to transfer....

1) Emails and addresses - from PC (Mozilla Thunderbird) to Mac
2) All my PC documents (Word, Excel, PDF etc) from PC to Mac
3) All our digital photos (jpeg, raw).

I have an external Maxtor drive, used for PC backup - but I guess I can't read that from the Mac unless it's reformatted which would erase all the data anyway.

As I said, I'll have fun reacquainting myself and transferring my stuff - but I bought the extended Apple care too in case I struggle!

Its good to be back in Apple land - or it will be when it arrives. :)

If you run into trouble's give me a yell. I went through all this 12 months back.
1. Email etc - no problem, would have been messy if you had Outlook but the others are fine
2. Documents etc - Are you getting iWorks or MS Office? PDF on a Mac is a breeze, iWorks will read and convert all the others
3. iPhoto will do all you pic's including RAW.

Maxtor drive will read/write OK, but if you want to use it for TimeCapsule then it will need to be reformated. You do want to use TimeCapsule, best home backup system I've seen:cool:

Welcome to the Dark Side!!!!!!!!

[Scallops]

If you run into trouble's give me a yell. I went through all this 12 months back.
1. Email etc - no problem, would have been messy if you had Outlook but the others are fine
2. Documents etc - Are you getting iWorks or MS Office? PDF on a Mac is a breeze, iWorks will read and convert all the others
3. iPhoto will do all you pic's including RAW.

Maxtor drive will read/write OK, but if you want to use it for TimeCapsule then it will need to be reformated. You do want to use TimeCapsule, best home backup system I've seen:cool:

Welcome to the Dark Side!!!!!!!!

I have ordered Microsoft Office for Mac and Aperture 2 for Kat! :p The one thing I remember from my first Mac all those years ago now was that doing anything with it and other devices was always easy - I reckon I'll be fine but be prepared to be quizzed from a distance on this - that goes for you too, Mulgo. :)

[vnx205]

My commiserations. :p

I have taken a different route to avoid problems like viruses and the need to pay for updates to virus scanners and other software and then update the hardware to run the latest OS or software.

I am in the fortunate position of not wanting to play computers games so a pretty basic computer is good enough. So I have someone's discarded 8 year old PC (free) running Xubuntu (free).

All I need to do is wordprocessing, spreadsheets, database, photo manipulation (including things like HDR) and storage, design wooden kayaks. access the web and emails, some basic webpage design, play music, edit audio files, convert some of my old LPs to CD, watch video files, use genealogical software, create presentations, and open, edit and save MS Office files, and a few things like that.

So as my needs are pretty simple I can do all that at no cost whatsoever.

That leaves me with more to spend on the Defender or fuel to take the Defender to interesting places. :p

[Grover-98]

Sounds great!

I have the New i-mac and love it! is really great to use takes up little space and the keyboard it sooo thin.

Mine has just one wire and thats to the wall :), usb drive internet so i can go anywhere, wireless keyboard and mouse... oh but i do have a 5.1 sound system so there are a couple of wires there.

You have made a great choice! :D

[Scallops]

My commiserations. :p

I have taken a different route to avoid problems like viruses and the need to pay for updates to virus scanners and other software and then update the hardware to run the latest OS or software.

I am in the fortunate position of not wanting to play computers games so a pretty basic computer is good enough. So I have someone's discarded 8 year old PC (free) running Xubuntu (free).

All I need to do is wordprocessing, spreadsheets, database, photo manipulation (including things like HDR) and storage, design wooden kayaks. access the web and emails, some basic webpage design, play music, edit audio files, convert some of my old LPs to CD, watch video files, use genealogical software, create presentations, and open, edit and save MS Office files, and a few things like that.

So as my needs are pretty simple I can do all that at no cost whatsoever.

That leaves me with more to spend on the Defender or fuel to take the Defender to interesting places. :p

That's true :) Good point - you don't need to spend much to escape Windows - you can also run linux and open office etc and get to the same point. ;)

In regard to getting an iMac though, we'll no doubt expand what we do on our "PC" through having this new Mac - and even get to know some people on this website better as a result I suspect (iChat etc).

I guess we all have priorities - I rarely watch TV or "go out" - I don't drink (health reasons) or smoke - so I felt I could indulge myself somewhat and go ahead and buy this machine. (Sounds kind of boring but I try to get out camping as often as possible too!)

Thing is - I'll bet I keep this Mac for longer than most people keep their cars! I tend to hold onto things until they are absolutely obsolete to the point of not working, which is why I went for a higher end machine.

As long as I come out of the study occasionally and get to see the sun I'll be OK. :p

[Armadillo]

Scallops, good call. If my applications didn't need windoze, I would have done the same. Alas, just bought another microsoft machine :(.

[inside]

Good man, Macs are the way. They may cost more upfront but you get more life out of them, my Powermac from 2005 is still powering along.

[samuelclarke]

Welcome to the fold! It's akin to buying a Land Rover in its affect on your life...except it has less problems than a Land Rover... :wasntme: :angel:

Here's a a couple of links that you might find helpful with switching:
Apple - Support - Switch 101 (http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/)
How to Switch to the Mac - Tao of Mac (http://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/Switch%20To%20The%20Mac)

I made the switch about five or so years ago and have never looked back! BTW, on my last trip to the USA in December I visited the mothership - Apple's headquarters. :D

[Searover]

[QUOTE=Scallops;972181]Very excited!

Having begun using Macs when I was still at Uni, at that time an SE 30, I have decided to dump my virus / malware riddled box and return to the fold.


I too have change to a MAC PRO15" laptop for the same reasons,but surprised to read some where now that MAC has 10 to 15% of the PC market and growing at a rapid rate that virus / malware are soon on there way?

[Mulgo]

Scallops, good call. If my applications didn't need windoze, I would have done the same. Alas, just bought another microsoft machine :(.


I also have an application which requires Windows. Installed Parallels on my MacBook - works perfect. The interesting thing is that it works a lot faster on my Mac than on the Windows machine. :D

[solmanic]

Couldn't resist posting this new Mac advert...

YouTube - Apple "Get a Mac" ad: Legal Copy

[Scallops]

Love it, Andrew! :D

First post on the iMac!

I'm up and running - 24 hours and I have Safari and Mail working for 2 users, with all bookmarks and addresses imported too. :BigThumb:

I have also managed to bring over all my data files from the PC - Yay! I'm PC free! :banana:

[dmdigital]

Have you got Time Machine up and running? If not get a 500GB USB drive and do so for backups.

[Scallops]

Have you got Time Machine up and running? If not get a 500GB USB drive and do so for backups.

Jeez mate - give it a rest! :p I thought that from ZERO knowledge of how to drive the thing - to get to a point within a day of ownership where I have the internet and mail configured - with all my PC Bookmarks and addresses etc - was a pretty good start! :D

The next step is to connect the Maxtor EHD and transfer all Kat's photos over - then I'll format it for the Mac and use it for backups. I'm aware of the Time machine app but haven't checked it out yet.

It's an amazing thing - love it already. I love the way you can view files on a scroll with just their front page - brilliant way to view a series of photos.

[dmdigital]

Didn't mean to come across as pushy, just that backing up from the beginning is a good start as you can rollback on anything that gets confusing or that you mess up.

Just to keep the Windooze users' happy tell them how many megabytes of updates you had to download - when I got mine last year the first thing it wanted was 375MB of updates. But a least it tells you which ones require a reboot:)

[Scallops]

Didn't mean to come across as pushy, just that backing up from the beginning is a good start as you can rollback on anything that gets confusing or that you mess up.

Just to keep the Windooze users' happy tell them how many megabytes of updates you had to download - when I got mine last year the first thing it wanted was 375MB of updates. But a least it tells you which ones require a reboot:)

You didn't come across as pushy at all - only kidding. :D

But yeah - the update thing was a bit of a shock - I blew most of this month's bandwidth when it did these on mine! Still - if I run out of fast internet I'll just spend the rest of the month working out how to get the most out of the machine offline.

Keep the help suggestions coming, Derek - I'm on a steep learning curve over here but the thing is - the iMac OS is so much fun to learn on I don't really care! :)

[sashadidi]

Guys - did you have a PC with stuff you needed to transfer to your Macs? I'm sure I'll figure it out - but was wondering if there is some easy way (such as a built in utility) to do this?

I'd like to transfer....

1) Emails and addresses - from PC (Mozilla Thunderbird) to Mac
2) All my PC documents (Word, Excel, PDF etc) from PC to Mac
3) All our digital photos (jpeg, raw).

I have an external Maxtor drive, used for PC backup - but I guess I can't read that from the Mac unless it's reformatted which would erase all the data anyway.

As I said, I'll have fun reacquainting myself and transferring my stuff - but I bought the extended Apple care too in case I struggle!

Its good to be back in Apple land - or it will be when it arrives. :)Welcome to the easy simple computer life
I have imac also, ok back up all word excel etc as you had them eg documents etc and save to your external drive
Use open office for mac and they will all open or I can help you with office for mac if you PM me
You can get them to "see " each other ie windows and mac
Link here or google it Mac Connect - networking Mac and PC (http://www.mac-connect.com/)
Save your photos and load into I photo etc
Mozilla firefox, I used password export-import from here on windows and firefox on mac
and they uploaded no problem :https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2848
and for bookmarks
Transfer Firefox bookmars from PC to Mac? - Mac Forums
Cannot help with thunderbird Most people Use entourage here (inside mac office Pm Me) instead of mail
can help with toast etc if you want
Maybe you will then need a extra backup drive for the mac althugh my friends have a drive half in half mac and windows, I am not sure how to do that

[solmanic]

... Yay! I'm PC free! :banana:

Bull****! Mr Gates & co have spent too much time and money to let you off that easily :p

[drivesafe]

Hay, folks, don’t forget that there is a guy on this site who sells Macs.

For the life of me, I don’t know why he doesn’t advertise the fact because he also has a loads of info about them.

Incisor is the man to see next time any of you want any Apple gear.

[Scallops]

Just wanted to tell you all - I'm loving this new iMac! Don't tell the PC crowd, but you're missing out if you're not using Mac OS X Leopard - it rocks! :D

I'm spending each evening learning my way around and trying out new apps that it came with.... I have to - as dm_TD5 hinted - the first software update smashed my monthly online bandwidth quota somewhat. :(

Not to worry - So far I've set up my iPhoto app with many folders, most of them of Rovers - maybe they should develop grill recognition instead. ;) Then I transfered absolutely everything from my old PC via my Maxtor drive, so I then set it up as my Time Machine. All my bookmarks and addresses are in Safari and Address book now too.

I've also worked out how to assign access privileges and share files and folders between users. I then made a screen saver from my Oz trip pics - freaked me right out when Mr & Mrs ho har appeared in full 24 inch glory here on my screen! :eek:

I then graduated to sending Kat a wacky email containing a vid of me sitting right here at this desk!

Even if this is all possible from a PC - I never bothered before. Now I can waste even more time being "productive". :D

(All without Spybot and Nortons)

[dmdigital]

Face recognition's pretty neat isn't it:)

[Scallops]

Face recognition's pretty neat isn't it:)

I really like that way of organising my photos - brilliant technology.

[Armadillo]

I also have an application which requires Windows. Installed Parallels on my MacBook - works perfect. The interesting thing is that it works a lot faster on my Mac than on the Windows machine. :D

Yep, heard the same for some apps. Unfortunately, for the stuff I run, the performance penalty apparently can be significant. :(

[stooged]

You won't go wrong with an imac. I have had one of the aluminium ones since they first came out. Nice and fast machine, they are so much easier to use. It will take a while to get used to it, once you are you will wonder why you put up with a pc. I would compare mac ownership to landrover ownership. You are one of the rare few who has one but can appreciate the benefits.

Now if I had a landrover I would fit in.

[Grover-98]

You won't go wrong with an imac. I have had one of the aluminium ones since they first came out. Nice and fast machine, they are so much easier to use. It will take a while to get used to it, once you are you will wonder why you put up with a pc. I would compare mac ownership to landrover ownership. You are one of the rare few who has one but can appreciate the benefits.

Now if I had a landrover I would fit in.

You couldnt be more right! i have the same model have had for just over a year with no dramas and it is an amazing machine, and the land rover comment is what i tell my mate all the time who own Toyotas and Mitbitys :)

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I just found this thread. Good call mate :D :D

What more can I say? (http://movies.apple.com/media/us/mac/getamac/2009/apple-mvp-elimination-us-20090512_480x272.mov)

[Mulgo]

Yep, heard the same for some apps. Unfortunately, for the stuff I run, the performance penalty apparently can be significant. :(

Heard the same - but it's actually faster than on the windows machine ....

I use a GPS mapping software which loads big maps/img works perfect.

[Armadillo]

Heard the same - but it's actually faster than on the windows machine ....

I use a GPS mapping software which loads big maps/img works perfect.

I use ESRI, ERMapper and the like, so processing 1GB + data and spatial analysis is not unusual. I should try the apps on a Mac to see what the actual performance is like. Could be interesting.....

[Mulgo]

I use ESRI, ERMapper and the like, so processing 1GB + data and spatial analysis is not unusual. I should try the apps on a Mac to see what the actual performance is like. Could be interesting.....


Just download the test version of Parallels - nothing to loose, mate.

Download Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac ? Run Windows on Mac (http://www.parallels.com/download/desktop/)

[solmanic]

I just found this thread. Good call mate :D :D

What more can I say? (http://movies.apple.com/media/us/mac/getamac/2009/apple-mvp-elimination-us-20090512_480x272.mov)

That's a new one :D


I really like that way of organising my photos - brilliant technology.

GEEK!
Check this one out...

YouTube - Stacks, iPhoto face recognition—Get a Mac

[Scallops]

GEEK!


Yep - until I've sused the beast out at least. After that, I'll just go back to posting inane threads on here!

[rocket scientist]

Good to see you have left the dark side.
Probably one of the best value computers on the market.

[jx2mad]

Just wondering... If a computer just stores and processes information then would it be possible to put Mac programs on a pc instead of windows etc... ..or is it the way it does things that is different? Jim

[Grover-98]

Just download the test version of Parallels - nothing to loose, mate.

Download Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac ? Run Windows on Mac (http://www.parallels.com/download/desktop/)

You can use the boot camp which is already built into the computer type boot in the search bar and load up windows. You elect a certain amount of hardrive space to run it :)

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Just wondering... If a computer just stores and processes information then would it be possible to put Mac programs on a pc instead of windows etc... ..or is it the way it does things that is different? Jim

Jim,

Apple and Microsoft use a fundamentally different operating system. Their architectures are similar though. If you pulled a bit of code from one and put it in the other you could then re-compile that code for the machine which would fix the things that are specific to that machine. It doesn't always work but sometimes it does. That's a very high level explanation.

The Apple operating system is a UNIX variant. Hence, it's possible to get applications from other versions of UNIX and compile and run them on the Apple operating system very easily. Indeed this is probably the key difference between the Apple and Microsoft operating systems.

Microsoft on the other hand is a completely different beast, unique to itself, and in parts very very old. The core of the operating system is not open source so programs are not as easy to transfer.

The easiest way is to run an emulator on either machine to run programs from the other. :)

[Scallops]

Well I'm still lovin' this iMac! I'm in danger of Vit A deficiency though, but I'm really getting the hang of this OS - it's really neat.

A fellow at work suggested that I might like to partition my disc, set up Boot Camp and run windows. :eek:

Apart from the fact that I bought this iMac to escape everything PC, :p , and the fact that my PC was running Office 2000 (which won't run under Boot Camp) - I reckon it would be bordering on sacrilege, not to mention unholy, to pollute this fine machine with such rubbish! :p

[dmdigital]

My advice would be to not do it unless you absolutely have to.

I have a Laptop running Vista - this drove me to the Mac. I haven't seen any need to run boot camp and a Windows partition. I think if I get a Macbook I will probably do so just so I can run LR EPC and Rovacom (or what ever I get for the Puma). I've found I can do everything else I need on the iMac so far.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I use parallels to run the few applications that I can't run on the mac. Like nanocom and ozie-explorer. It works very well.

[Bigmark]

Well done, i have always used mac since the apple 11c days- tried windows once but spent a whole year fixing stuff and looking at blue screen of death, viruses etc.
My latest imac is 3 years old and i havent needed to fix a single thing.
Just a heads up, you can turn your mac into an external hard drive- so other computers (even pc's) see it as a HDD. You just need to enter "target mode" shut down then boot up holding down the "T" key -voila its a firewire Hard drive- you just need firewire to firewire cable (6 pin to 6 pin). Anyway have fun.

[Bigmark]

DONT DO IT---- you dont need anything from windows- the only thing you may find difficult is not many games for mac-but thats what playstation is for. i have always found a mac alternative to windows type software- but better.



Well I'm still lovin' this iMac! I'm in danger of Vit A deficiency though, but I'm really getting the hang of this OS - it's really neat.

A fellow at work suggested that I might like to partition my disc, set up Boot Camp and run windows. :eek:

Apart from the fact that I bought this iMac to escape everything PC, :p , and the fact that my PC was running Office 2000 (which won't run under Boot Camp) - I reckon it would be bordering on sacrilege, not to mention unholy, to pollute this fine machine with such rubbish! :p

[Scallops]

DONT DO IT---- you dont need anything from windows- the only thing you may find difficult is not many games for mac-but thats what playstation is for. i have always found a mac alternative to windows type software- but better.

So - can anyone tell me how I get my iMac to play .wmv files?

[Mulgo]

So - can anyone tell me how I get my iMac to play .wmv files?


try this:

Flip4Mac and Windows Media Player 9 Free Download | Mactopia (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/flip4mac.mspx)

works perfect.

[dmdigital]

try this:

Flip4Mac and Windows Media Player 9 Free Download | Mactopia (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/flip4mac.mspx)

works perfect.
X2

Also Transmission is nice and simple for Torrents

Handbrake is another utility to look up

[landoz]

Welcome to the world of MACs.:twobeers: Would never go back to a IBM compatible. Looking to upgrade mine to the lates macbook sometime after Christmas this year.

You can also get free tutorials from MAC when you get you iMAC at any Apple reseller, does not matter if you did not get you Mac from them.

Also recommend that you get the iApple warranty. Accidently got my keyboard wet and they changed they whole thing for me free.

[antvc]

VLC works well also.

[Scallops]

Welcome to the world of MACs.:twobeers: Would never go back to a IBM compatible. Looking to upgrade mine to the lates macbook sometime after Christmas this year.

You can also get free tutorials from MAC when you get you iMAC at any Apple reseller, does not matter if you did not get you Mac from them.

Also recommend that you get the iApple warranty. Accidently got my keyboard wet and they changed they whole thing for me free.

Thanks landoz - I've found most of the online help to be good - and I did take out AppleCare and have used the phone support a few times now - it's very good. Just need to figure a few little things out still and everything will be grand.

[Bigmark]

Also get perian, quicktime codecs galore to view many videos