time for a new computer! i've always used pcs but have been looking at macs. i love being able to submit scripts electronically (i use word). are there any mac users here who have trouble emailing scripts that aren't in word?
I've had no trouble with the new macs and comaptibility. Plus, Mac is awesome.
To know Mac is to love it.
And -- @ Brown this year, it was the first time that Mac users out numbered PCs by students -- and computer services took notice with lots more features for Mac users.
It is all the same hardware. If all one does is writing, emailing and a bit of surfing, it would seem more economical to buy a PC.
No matter what laptop one buys, I think it is a good plan to back up your writing on an external drive of some sort. That way if, heaven forbid, your laptop should get stolen or frig up, you won't lose your precious writing.
(also purchased Apple stock when it was $13.00 / share :) :) :) Was getting a bit worried lately, but it has rallied and is still listed as a #9 out of #10 buy on StockScouter)
Have Mac/Word installed if needed. Most places take PDF files anyway. There is no reason whatsoever to own a "dark world" computer. Take a hard look at the ThinMac laptop.
More expensive...yes. Better for you...absolutely. Take it out of the box, turn it on and you're ready to go.
timmy wrote: I've used Mac for 14 years. NOT ONE VIRUS. EVER.
(also purchased Apple stock when it was $13.00 / share :) :) :) Was getting a bit worried lately, but it has rallied and is still listed as a #9 out of #10 buy on StockScouter)
Have Mac/Word installed if needed. Most places take PDF files anyway. There is no reason whatsoever to own a "dark world" computer. Take a hard look at the ThinMac laptop.
More expensive...yes. Better for you...absolutely. Take it out of the box, turn it on and you're ready to go.
Mac is KING!
timmy
If you have stock, duh that you would want everyone to purchase a Mac.
Because all computers now share Intel pentium chips, some people are converting $400 dollar PC's into Mac books...it's just software.
But, hey, each to their own...devices.
Basso
Last edited on Wed Mar 25th, 2009 03:40 pm by Basso
The little extra money goes a long way. How much is happiness worth? I don't know how to tinker with a computer just as I don't know how to tinker with a car. Mac made it easy to me and like an accustomed married couple we are apparently together for life.
As I sad about the Dramatists Guild, it is 26 cents a day to belong. Yes, it is more of a hit up front, but I've always felt it was worth it.
Never a virus - knock on wood - either.
I have a basic MacBook and I hook it up to a larger screen and a keyboard at home.
Excellent advice about backing up your work from Basso. I also have a back up in a Safe Deposit box I refresh every couple of months. Learned that one from writer friends in LA in case of fire, earthquake, theft, etc. So I actually have two back-ups. One at home and one in the bank.
Interestingly, sales of Macs are dropping while sales of PCs are on the increase right now. Probably more to do with the significant price difference, especially in these troubled times, than anything else, but if money’s no object, then follow your heart’s desire. But if you switch to a Mac expect a learning curve.
Mine is a computer which has Dell written on it. That's about how much I know. My husband set it up for me and anytime anything goes wrong I call him. But what really annoys me is the desk I'm working from. The flap is held up by books. I would love to have a modern desk made for a computer but what can I do. We have children to feed.
Now about them there shares Timmy........interesting
I totally understand the concept of a PC. PC = Personal Computer.
Several of my savvy computer friends can work on a PC like mechanics can work on a car. They know everything and then some. For them a Personal Computer is a tool they conform to their own needs for work, play, life. It is a necessary tool to have it THEIR way.
For me, a Mac covers everything I will ever need for how I personally use a computer. Think of the hundreds of millions of people in this world who own automobiles: we still go to the mechanic when there is trouble or for routine maintenance. I always used to change my own oil and fluids, but now that I am older, and cars engines have been literally stuffed into the car with no wiggle room to get your hand anywhere, I got to the mechanic.
Same with my computer. I have regular maintenance at 6 months from a guy who has written several books on Macs. Great guy, price is right for me.
My Mac LCII was like a Mack Truck. Strong, reliable, still running like a top when I got rid of it. Wish I had kept it just for word processing. My last Mac Book lasted only 4 1/2 years. The mechanism that ran the hard drive broke, But it had to be torn apart. Did not lose any data. Very unusual for a Mac to do this. It was faulty. SO, THINGS CAN GO WRONG WITH A MAC. (See why backing up helps!)
But as far as ease of use for the average person or the graphic artist or other specialties in the arts, the Mac is the one...for me.
a little extra $ came my way so i got a mac! yes, apple people, i'm one of you now!!
also got iworks b/c the wp it comes with (textedit) isn't really enough for a writer so now i have "pages" which is like word.
haven't done much writing as i'm still feeling my way around my fruit & i got a new job at the same time so i've been mucho busy but i think it's a good fit - both computer & job.
now i have to get a new printer...have my eye on a printer-copier-scanner. *sigh* when it comes to technology, it never ends.
Have a new one in the box myself. Will commence to opening the box, taking it out, and turning it on this weekend. Really, that's all it takes and you're good to go.
Windows crashed and burned on me for the second time in six months a few weeks back so I decided to install Ubuntu on my laptop instead. There is masses of software available and it is all free. As well as writing my scripts, I write for a newspaper and maintain two websites, so far I haven't found anything that I previously did with expensive software that I can't do with the free software that is available for Ubunto.
quick update - i am enjoying my mac but get very annoyed with the spod that causes me to shut down & restart. for pc-ers, the spod is the "spinning pinwheel of death" - an icon you get when a program is running veeeeeeery slowly or not at all. sometimes you can force the program to quit but often you have to shut down to get out of it. this causes me to shut down & restart much more often then i ever had to with my old pc.
after the first time i sent a copy of a script to someone who has a pc & couldn't read it, i now remember to send things to others in pdf format & haven't had any problems in that department.
one of the great things about having a mac is that when people with pcs send me something stupid, i can say, "sorry, couldn't read it!" & so don't have to waste so much time on email these days!
Boy oh boy, I must be completely out of touch. My PC is nearly a decade old, with a newer 200 gig hard drive and 1gig processor and does everything I want. I burn a disc to back up new files regularly and haven't had a crash in more than five years. What am I doing wrong?
Sam Stone wrote: Boy oh boy, I must be completely out of touch. My PC is nearly a decade old, with a newer 200 gig hard drive and 1gig processor and does everything I want. I burn a disc to back up new files regularly and haven't had a crash in more than five years. What am I doing wrong?
Good for you. Maybe we should consult with you on tomorrow's Lottery numbers.
Lottery - not me... never won a thing in my life but do feel lucky with my 'puter. Does anyone know much about the new (for me) back-up links you subscribe to and it updates your back-up every time you're on line?
I'm uncertain as to which backup service is best. Find the links at article below. And have you tried "timeline", the app with leopard version.
"Mozy vs. Carbonite: Mac Backup Smackdown
Written on July 16, 2009 by Dave Greenbaum and 94 people have commented
If you look at the amount of advertising out there these days, you’d think the Mac vs. PC war is a mere slap fight compared to the war being raged for your data backups. They want your data, and they want it now!
In one corner you have Mozy, which shares corporate DNA with former Mac backup champion, Retrospect. In the other corner is Carbonite, which began supporting the Mac this year. Mozy had almost a 2-year head start on Carbonite, but the software race doesn’t always go to the first one out of the gate. I gave both products an intense 3-month test. Which one deserves your data?"
Both programs have assistants that automatically pick your critical data, as well as let you manually decide what to back up and how much bandwidth to use. Because these programs upload large amounts of data, the average system could take weeks to back up. Neither program will back up external media. Mozy claims it does, but if you detach it, it forgets the configuration. Carbonite flat-out refuses to back up externals. If you keep critical files, such as iTunes or iPhoto libraries, on something besides your main boot drive, neither product will back it up reliably.
