Wanting to switch to Mac but unsure

[titchard]

Hi guys!

I have always wanted to own a mac, and now because of finances and other options I can make the switch! the only problem that I have is i'm worried that the mac may not be able to do everything that I need that my windows machine does!

I am a University student taking Internet Technologies with Business, and these things in the list below are what I use my PC mainly for and a list of the software I need to use:

Internet Browsing
Word Processing
Spreadsheet work
MS Access work
DVD burning / watching / creation
Music listening and creating
Web Development

I want to know if these things are possible as i dont want to switch across to a mac and then realise "crap, I've spent all this money and I can't do what I need on my course!!"

I am looking at the Mini Mac btw (as is everyone atm!!)

Thanks in advance for all help and suggestions!!

Rich

[daverobev]

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, but not with Access unless you get a copy of Virtual PC and buy Access for the PC (ie use other programs)
Yes
Yes
Yes

Got a MM on order myself :-)

[titchard]

cheers! thats helped alot! I already have MS office for the PC so I may just invest in that virtual PC program and then use that!

Cheers matey!

Rich

[Stoo]

I don't know if the mini mac will beefy enough to run virtual pc properly?

[CocoPops]

yeah, my powerbook (1.25ghz/512mb) runs virtual PC 7 fine with.

VPC 7 is better than 6.0 at memory handling and disk access etc.

[Jonny M]

If your Windows machine does all that fine, and isn't hindering you - why switch?

[DaBeeeenster]

If your Windows machine does all that fine, and isn't hindering you - why switch?

Virus's, trojans, spyware, adware, security holes...

[daverobev]

If your Windows machine does all that fine, and isn't hindering you - why switch?

Because it was there!

...damn, wrong question.

Why not?

[BroadbandPlacey]

i take it that means access isnt available for the mac then? is there any other database program that works on a mac as an equivalent?

[Flibb]

Might be worth noting that the mini mac does not come as standard with a dvd writer. What its going to cost you to spec one up you could get a laptop (MAC or PC I think). Costs an extra £70 to upgrade to a dvd writer

[titchard]

My PC is ok, but its far to bulky, too noisy, become unreliable and will be incredibly slow compared to this.

I'm a bit confused when you say that virtual PC wont run, if I get virtual PC will that mean I have to install Microsoft XP and Microsoft Access, or can I just use Virtual PC to run JUST Microsoft Access?

Anyone varify that for me?

Rich

[daverobev]

The "standard" Mac DB program is called FileMaker Pro http://www.filemaker.com/

Personally I hate Access, and FileMaker (from what I've seen of it, not much) looks...um...well. Its not exactly well known, and it IS available for windows.

Of course all the open source stuff is available - MySQL and so on.

[titchard]

I understand that but Access is used alot within some of the modules within my course and therefore I do need it alot!

Rich

[daverobev]

Install Virtual PC and XP THEN install Access into your copy of XP..its emulation. Not quite sure how it works exactly (partition wise), but Virtual PC is exactly that. When you run VP your Virtual PC turns on and boots Windows; it has a window like any other program that is a virtual monitor, if you like...like any other emu! Guess it can be run full screen.

IMHO...if you don't NEED access, as in another DB prog would do, DITCH it. Its dire. Saying that...I dunno with Office 2003 if it now uses a SQL back end rather than JET. But...its just not current any more, its for home CD collections and A level coursework, nothing more.

SQL will serve you much better in the long run. We use FoxPro at work which I like very much, but I can see that MySQL has lots of advantages....of course it depends on what you want to do, but (again IMHO) you are much more likely to get a job with SQL experience than Access....like 50x more likely.

*edit* Within modules, understood. Ho hum. In which case Virtual PC and XP and Access will do fine.

[DaBeeeenster]

WHy not virtualPC and Win98 or 2k? No need to use XP...Is there?

[titchard]

I have just sent emails off to the module lecturers I am taking next semester to check if I would be using it, I think thats the only reason I ever had a PC tbh to use that!

If I do need it, ill probs get a mini mac anyway ive wanted to mac the switch for a while really, and i'd like a mac for just general use really!

Rich