Switching from PC to Apple?

What is the software specifically?

Add this information to your question and I will be able to help you out.

A lot of software is compatible and a lot isn't. Another option is to actually run Windows on your Mac via either Boot camp or Parallels.

I highly recommend switching to Mac.

Great response to this question and very savvy advice!

Yes, software issues are one of the keys that tend to 'lock-in' people to using a platform for their needs. The Office suit is a prime example. You can use it, but you don't own it. You can get it for Macs or PC but don't go trying to use one for both! I respect Macs, and think they are elegant pieces of engineering marvel and product development. And at last they have a very serious operating system. Some of the previous attempts did not float a lot of boats. However, Apple is just as 'corporate' as Microsoft, and I think Steve J. must be a lil crazy. You can get Windows on a Mac, and despite the engineer in me, I STILL think thats crazy.... but try and put OsX on a PC, and the might of Apple will fall on you and give you a BSOD, a wedgie, or worse! And yes the coment is true about the over the 1 grand mark- did the piece on it. Like my Mac but not enuff to give up my XP or for that matter, my Linux!

Mac computer run on an entirely different system then PCs. In order to download most software for your Mac, you would have to buy it all over again.

However, if your PC software is still in good condition, you could try selling it, so you could have the money for the software on your Mac.

I have a Mac, and I am just in love with it, but it is a matter of preference. However, many people despise Macs because they are what people call "Less for more" (less quality, more money).

You should try going to the Apple Store and trying out a computer there and maybe talk to an employee. But keep in mind, the employee only wants to sell you their products, so their opinion could be biased.

Good Luck!

Mac computers are terrible, the OS is less reliable then Windows, the software is more expensive as less people buy it, the computers have to be sent back to Mac for any repairs or service, and this will not be cheap.

Don't be drawn in by Mac's promises, they are terrible computers that are overpriced for what they are.

Stick with Windows, it isn't the single most popular OS for no reason!

Also if you are installing Windows as well, does that not defeat the point?

Hi, if u have a lot of windows software, u will have to buy Mac OS X versions of all those programs if u want to use them on your mac.

Its not the Mac thats more reliable its Mac OS X, PC's and Macs have nothing to do with this. If there is no Mac OS X version for your software then u will have to get an alternative if there is any.

If not then u will have to run Windows on your Mac so u will have to buy another copy of windows and decide whether u want to dual boot or install it on a virtual machine, if u want 3d acceleration on windows then u have to dual boot or install on a virtual machine.

Whatever the case installing windows on your mac defeats the purpose of having Mac OS X and your windows partition is as much of risk of getting infected as it was with a pc.

When they say Macs r more reliable than PC's then they mean is that Mac OS X which is based on Unix is more reliable than crappy windows, not that Macs as in the hardware cause according to hardware both Macs and PCs r the same.

Good Luck!

Edit:

One major reason for Apple to switch to intel apart for power management features was that people would be able to run windows on their mac as well. The mac it self is just a pc and like any pc it will face hardware problems, it will need repairs, etc.

Mac OS X its operating system is based on Darwin and Darwin is based on freeBSD which is a Unix like operating system. Mac OS X can't run any windows application.

If u want to run a windows app on your Mac then u will install windows on it and defeat the purpose of having a mac.

Now as for software, u have not told us which software u use, microsoft office has a version for macs, so do open office and neo office, u could also buy Apple iWorks.

There r a few open source programs as well:

http://www.opensourcemac.org/

If u want more help then tell use which software u will use.

It depends on what version the software is and what software it is. I personally think Macs are all hype and are way more complicated than a PC and too sleek. The commercials also prove some of the users are retards (not literally for the over-sensitive). But if you are able to use one without wanting to murder Steve Jobs and his family, go ahead, most software can be reinstalled with other software.

Macs are nice but expensive (and that doesn't includes addons),fragile as compared to most pc's,and their tech support is probably the rudest anywhere. After all they are a monopoly. For a casual user I would go with a pc. Also something to think about: you can buy two pc's and still not equal the price of one mac.

I am a live long PC user who is strong on all MS OSs from the DOS days. For me Vista is what broke me because many of my Apps, hardware and devices would no work and the various Enterprise platforms simply didn't answer the mail particularly when it came to speed, graphics, sound (sounded like I was under water in a tin submarine. Drivers were not answering the mail with I was using the best Video cards on earth for commercial applications.

With my MacBook Pro, I use a feature call boot camp that allows me to use XP Pro that I got for free (legally). With that I use all the XP software applications that I had (numerous). Buying new software can be expensive and frankly, you shouldn't be forced to do it, just because a weaker OS comes out. SP1 did nothing for me in terms of performance. XP Pro & Vista work better on Macs than on any PCs the OS is pre-loaded with and sold on. To me, that is real strange.

But, if you are going to do this method, I would strongly advise you moving fast, because XP pro will some be off the market. My guess is, people who have purchased extra copies, will be able to name their price in the future.

I have returned 3 powerful PCs because Vista cannot do everything XP can do and I refused to pay all that money for hardware when using Vista would make my computer no better than a 5 year old pre duo chip computer in performance and then be forced to buy XP from the same company that tried to forced me to buy Vista.

The main thing with a Mac is that it requires fewer steps to do the main things as PCs (typically to perform task, it takes a PC user 5 steps-on a Mac its 2-3 max where ever you are ). Another nice thing is you get about $200 of applications that are fully integrated that PCs application companies are still trying to copy and improve upon.

I'm not Mac head and have nothing against MS and still use the office suite that I think is still the finest in the world. My HD has equal space for for Mac and PC applications and data. I love the Matte screens of Apple that are standard. I also enjoy and prefer the keyboards, appearance and personalization I can do with Mac. Prior to Vista breaking me, I never believed I ever would have a Mac. Now that I have one I've got the best of both worlds. I find, I'm gradually spending more time on the Mac side-like now, than on the PC side. An issue that Mac Heads do not address is hard drive space. A major issue with Macs as I see it is with Hard Drive replacement. Everything is made to look good, sometimes at the expense of true functionality and issue get ridiculous. On most computers changing hard drives and CD drives are a piece of cake and take seconds to replace for the end user. On laptops, Jobs is so obsessed with the way the bottom of the computer looks, it would literally take $400 to change this on Macs. Granted you start of with the best equipment and technology that's on the market, but don't see any pluses to this. It stifles after market innovation. On the positive side with eSata technology, external hard drives are just as fas as internals right now regarding hard drives

I have not been hung up on anything since I began using my MacBook Pro.

After buying my MBP, I was told and have not confirmed that Apple has 67% of the market for computers over $1000. If you are looking for a deal. Apples refurbished computers are not like PCs. They are tested and work as good as brand new and offer excellent value.

In summary, as long as Vista is out there, I strongly support buying a MAC. Vista give users no incentive to upgrade their computers because they get nothing for it. For those upgrading their old computers to Vista, it will be a big step backwards

NO absolutly not!

All you have to do is install Windows on your mac machine through a program that apple will give you called boot camp. Boot camp alows you to chose when you start up your machine if you want to boot it as a mac or a PC all you would have to do is reinstall the software when you booted it up as a PC.

You have to buy again. Windows software don't run(natively) on OSX. Maybe you will find some open source software for OSX which will serve the same purpose.

http://www.opensourcemac.org/

PCs (windows) are still reliable if you know how to use it. I never get any viruses as such...but yeah, crappy drivers sometimes spoil everything.