C
Chad Harris
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/10/t...1&oref=slogin&ref=technology&pagewanted=print
August 10, 2006
Basics
Weighing a Switch to a Mac
By THOMAS J. FITZGERALD
Ten years ago, if you were a Windows user, the idea of switching to a
Macintosh might not have seemed enticing. An abundance of new Windows
software was arriving on store shelves, while the selection available to Mac
users seemed to be falling behind, often relegated to a back corner of the
same store.
Today the calculation is different. Apple Computer, through a series of
transitions, has reinvented itself. With a new operating system, its own
chain of retail stores, the iPod and now a new line of computers that run on
Intel processors, this new and more mainstream Apple is catching the
attention of Windows users, and many are curious about switching.
But is switching a good idea? The answer, as always, depends on the needs
and preferences of the user. Apple’s move to Intel processors has made it
easier to run Windows on Intel-based Macs, and thus any software a switcher
may want to continue using. But even with that ability, there are pluses and
minuses to consider.
Software
The center of the Macintosh experience is Apple’s operating system, Mac OS
X. With Unix at its foundation, Mac OS X is more stable, secure and open
than previous Mac platforms, and the current version, called Tiger, offers
features not included in Windows. More than 12,000 software applications
have been developed to run on the Mac OS X platform since it was introduced
in 2001, according to Apple, including popular programs like Microsoft
Office, Adobe Photoshop, the Firefox Web browser and many from Apple.
But the world of Mac software is still smaller than what is available in the
Windows world. A Windows user curious about switching needs to take an
inventory of applications and determine what options are available in the
Mac world to accomplish the same. Mac software is likely to be available for
most mainstream applications; some may be included on a new Mac and others
may require a separate purchase.
Other important applications, especially in categories like business
software and games, may run only on Windows. This is where the new
Intel-based Macs can make a difference: because they use the same hardware
architecture as Windows-based PC’s, called x86, the experience of running
Windows on a Mac is much improved.
Two methods for running Windows on the new Macs have moved to the forefront,
and both run considerably faster than Virtual PC, the leading option under
the old Mac architecture. The first, a new program called Parallels Desktop
for Mac ($80; www.parallels.com), enables you to run Windows and Mac OS X
Tiger simultaneously. For example, you can run Windows software like
Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook in a window that can be minimized
just like other Mac programs. Data can be copied between the platforms, you
can share files and folders between them and you can choose to run Windows
in a full-screen mode.
Parallels can run Windows versions as old as Windows 3.1 and through the
current editions of XP. You will need to provide your own Windows
installation software. A drawback of Parallels is that it does not support
3-D-accelerated graphics, which means some higher-end 3-D games and other
programs run slowly or not well. Other factors to consider are a speed
reduction of 5 to 15 percent compared with running Windows natively on
Intel-based computers, the company says, and the fact that not all
peripheral devices are compatible.
The other option for running Windows on the new Macs is made possible by
Boot Camp (www.apple.com/bootcamp), a free utility from Apple now available
in beta testing. (Apple announced this week that Boot Camp would be part of
its next operating-system release, called Leopard, scheduled for next
spring.) Unlike Parallels, which runs Windows within Mac OS X, Boot Camp
creates a partition on the computer’s hard disk and installs Windows to it.
When the computer starts up, you can choose to run either Windows or Mac OS
X.
Benefits of Boot Camp include running Windows at full speed; it runs
natively on the Mac, as it would on a conventional Windows-based PC, fully
using the processor and graphics abilities, and providing compatibility with
hardware peripherals and devices designed for PC’s.
A drawback of Boot Camp, though, is that you must shut down one operating
system before using the other. This means you cannot run Windows and Mac
applications simultaneously. Another drawback is that it can run only two
versions of Windows: Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, which
costs $200, or Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2, which is $300.
Security is another aspect of Macs that has Windows users curious. In
Windows, antivirus and antispyware programs have become essential for
defending against a variety of threats. So far, the Mac OS X operating
system has not been infiltrated by viruses, and it remains free from the
type of spyware threats that spread in the wild and go after Windows users,
according to Symantec, maker of Norton Antivirus.
But when Windows is run on Intel-based Macs, for example through Boot Camp
or Parallels, it is vulnerable to the same virus and spyware threats that
can affect conventional Windows-based PC’s.
Hardware
The physical designs of Apple’s desktop and notebook computers are often
innovative. The iMac, for example, is a space-saving desktop unit with an
all-in-one enclosure that conceals the computer’s components behind the
monitor. And the MacBook, a new notebook with a glossy screen, includes a
new keyboard layout. This week, the company introduced the Mac Pro, a line
of desktops replacing the Power Mac, completing its transition to Intel
chips.
But while Apple’s selection covers much ground, it is less diverse than what
is available from companies like Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sony and Lenovo. For
example, Apple does not offer ultraportable notebooks, a tablet design or as
wide a choice in processor types and speeds. And when it comes to pricing,
Apple no longer offers notebooks in the sub-$1,000 range, or desktop units
in the sub-$500 range, as do other makers.
Consideration should also be given to the compatibility of any devices like
printers, external hard drives and cellphones that may be connected to a
computer. In some instances, only Windows may be supported.
The Switching Experience
I spoke with a number of Windows users who had recently switched to Macs.
Their reasons varied, but their experiences had some notable similarities.
In many cases, since they had mastered Windows long ago, learning the Mac
interface, essentially from scratch, took more time than expected. Also,
many switchers retained strong links to the Windows world, often through
computers at their workplace or older units at home.
Danielle Wang, 26, of Austin, Tex., bought her first Mac six weeks ago. She
took the advice of a friend and decided to buy a MacBook to replace her
Windows-based laptop, a Sony Vaio, which she said had been stolen.
Early in the transition, Ms. Wang said, it took time to get used to the Mac
interface; the menus, the location of buttons and other items were
different. “It was difficult,” she said. “The first three days, I was
constantly thinking about returning it.”
Ms. Wang uses the MacBook mainly for applications like e-mail, Web browsing,
digital music, games and instant messaging; so far, she has not encountered
problems finding Mac software, and she still maintains access to
Windows-based computers for other programs she prefers to use at home.
In comparing the MacBook and the Vaio, she said the graphics were clearer on
the Sony.
“The Sony Vaio is more lively,” she said. But she prefers the look and
design of the MacBook.
Over all, Ms. Wang is glad she switched. She likes the Mac interface and
says she is likely to remain a Mac owner for the foreseeable future. “It was
the right decision,” she said. “I really love my Mac right now.”
Enjoy,
CH
August 10, 2006
Basics
Weighing a Switch to a Mac
By THOMAS J. FITZGERALD
Ten years ago, if you were a Windows user, the idea of switching to a
Macintosh might not have seemed enticing. An abundance of new Windows
software was arriving on store shelves, while the selection available to Mac
users seemed to be falling behind, often relegated to a back corner of the
same store.
Today the calculation is different. Apple Computer, through a series of
transitions, has reinvented itself. With a new operating system, its own
chain of retail stores, the iPod and now a new line of computers that run on
Intel processors, this new and more mainstream Apple is catching the
attention of Windows users, and many are curious about switching.
But is switching a good idea? The answer, as always, depends on the needs
and preferences of the user. Apple’s move to Intel processors has made it
easier to run Windows on Intel-based Macs, and thus any software a switcher
may want to continue using. But even with that ability, there are pluses and
minuses to consider.
Software
The center of the Macintosh experience is Apple’s operating system, Mac OS
X. With Unix at its foundation, Mac OS X is more stable, secure and open
than previous Mac platforms, and the current version, called Tiger, offers
features not included in Windows. More than 12,000 software applications
have been developed to run on the Mac OS X platform since it was introduced
in 2001, according to Apple, including popular programs like Microsoft
Office, Adobe Photoshop, the Firefox Web browser and many from Apple.
But the world of Mac software is still smaller than what is available in the
Windows world. A Windows user curious about switching needs to take an
inventory of applications and determine what options are available in the
Mac world to accomplish the same. Mac software is likely to be available for
most mainstream applications; some may be included on a new Mac and others
may require a separate purchase.
Other important applications, especially in categories like business
software and games, may run only on Windows. This is where the new
Intel-based Macs can make a difference: because they use the same hardware
architecture as Windows-based PC’s, called x86, the experience of running
Windows on a Mac is much improved.
Two methods for running Windows on the new Macs have moved to the forefront,
and both run considerably faster than Virtual PC, the leading option under
the old Mac architecture. The first, a new program called Parallels Desktop
for Mac ($80; www.parallels.com), enables you to run Windows and Mac OS X
Tiger simultaneously. For example, you can run Windows software like
Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook in a window that can be minimized
just like other Mac programs. Data can be copied between the platforms, you
can share files and folders between them and you can choose to run Windows
in a full-screen mode.
Parallels can run Windows versions as old as Windows 3.1 and through the
current editions of XP. You will need to provide your own Windows
installation software. A drawback of Parallels is that it does not support
3-D-accelerated graphics, which means some higher-end 3-D games and other
programs run slowly or not well. Other factors to consider are a speed
reduction of 5 to 15 percent compared with running Windows natively on
Intel-based computers, the company says, and the fact that not all
peripheral devices are compatible.
The other option for running Windows on the new Macs is made possible by
Boot Camp (www.apple.com/bootcamp), a free utility from Apple now available
in beta testing. (Apple announced this week that Boot Camp would be part of
its next operating-system release, called Leopard, scheduled for next
spring.) Unlike Parallels, which runs Windows within Mac OS X, Boot Camp
creates a partition on the computer’s hard disk and installs Windows to it.
When the computer starts up, you can choose to run either Windows or Mac OS
X.
Benefits of Boot Camp include running Windows at full speed; it runs
natively on the Mac, as it would on a conventional Windows-based PC, fully
using the processor and graphics abilities, and providing compatibility with
hardware peripherals and devices designed for PC’s.
A drawback of Boot Camp, though, is that you must shut down one operating
system before using the other. This means you cannot run Windows and Mac
applications simultaneously. Another drawback is that it can run only two
versions of Windows: Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, which
costs $200, or Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2, which is $300.
Security is another aspect of Macs that has Windows users curious. In
Windows, antivirus and antispyware programs have become essential for
defending against a variety of threats. So far, the Mac OS X operating
system has not been infiltrated by viruses, and it remains free from the
type of spyware threats that spread in the wild and go after Windows users,
according to Symantec, maker of Norton Antivirus.
But when Windows is run on Intel-based Macs, for example through Boot Camp
or Parallels, it is vulnerable to the same virus and spyware threats that
can affect conventional Windows-based PC’s.
Hardware
The physical designs of Apple’s desktop and notebook computers are often
innovative. The iMac, for example, is a space-saving desktop unit with an
all-in-one enclosure that conceals the computer’s components behind the
monitor. And the MacBook, a new notebook with a glossy screen, includes a
new keyboard layout. This week, the company introduced the Mac Pro, a line
of desktops replacing the Power Mac, completing its transition to Intel
chips.
But while Apple’s selection covers much ground, it is less diverse than what
is available from companies like Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sony and Lenovo. For
example, Apple does not offer ultraportable notebooks, a tablet design or as
wide a choice in processor types and speeds. And when it comes to pricing,
Apple no longer offers notebooks in the sub-$1,000 range, or desktop units
in the sub-$500 range, as do other makers.
Consideration should also be given to the compatibility of any devices like
printers, external hard drives and cellphones that may be connected to a
computer. In some instances, only Windows may be supported.
The Switching Experience
I spoke with a number of Windows users who had recently switched to Macs.
Their reasons varied, but their experiences had some notable similarities.
In many cases, since they had mastered Windows long ago, learning the Mac
interface, essentially from scratch, took more time than expected. Also,
many switchers retained strong links to the Windows world, often through
computers at their workplace or older units at home.
Danielle Wang, 26, of Austin, Tex., bought her first Mac six weeks ago. She
took the advice of a friend and decided to buy a MacBook to replace her
Windows-based laptop, a Sony Vaio, which she said had been stolen.
Early in the transition, Ms. Wang said, it took time to get used to the Mac
interface; the menus, the location of buttons and other items were
different. “It was difficult,” she said. “The first three days, I was
constantly thinking about returning it.”
Ms. Wang uses the MacBook mainly for applications like e-mail, Web browsing,
digital music, games and instant messaging; so far, she has not encountered
problems finding Mac software, and she still maintains access to
Windows-based computers for other programs she prefers to use at home.
In comparing the MacBook and the Vaio, she said the graphics were clearer on
the Sony.
“The Sony Vaio is more lively,” she said. But she prefers the look and
design of the MacBook.
Over all, Ms. Wang is glad she switched. She likes the Mac interface and
says she is likely to remain a Mac owner for the foreseeable future. “It was
the right decision,” she said. “I really love my Mac right now.”
Enjoy,
CH