HELP!! MAC vs.PC ??????

[pharmgirl2011]

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Ok here is my dilema. I already have a pc but iam thinking about making the switch. A few of my friends have macs and they are AWESOME..the dilema is worrying about my pharm software applications being able to run on this system. I talked to my IT dept and they werent to helpful. Other than that I would love anyones opionion in general regarding macs and pc's.

 

[Caverject]

I've been using a Mac for 8 years now and in my years of pharmacy school, never once did I incur a problem. If you go to a school that does satellite teaching, you may want to find out if you can get your mac to work with the system but that would be the only reason not to get one.

 

[MR. C]

the new intel macs run windows with no troubles.. I love my mac and would never go back to windows.. I hardly ever use it but its there IF I need it.

 

[omnione]

Yeah, you can get the best of both worlds by buying an Intel-based Mac and installing either Vista or XP using the Boot Camp program.

 

[ForcedEntry]

no Vista!

 

[pharmgirl2011]

Thanks everyone. Iam definitly goiing to get a mac. I have heard nothing but positive things regarding them...ok i guess i need to decide if i should get a macbook or a macbook pro..any opionions on that?? The macbook pro is more expensive but is it worth the upgrade or do ppl seemed satisfied with the macbook?

 

[Caverject]

if you have the money, macbook pro. If you need something in a pinch, macbook will get you by. I wish I had a pro so I can run some heavy duty photo/video programs but most people don't have that problem like I do.

 

[confettiflyer]

I'd get a MacBook, if they're good enough for the Dept. of Defense they should be fine for anything you are using 😉 That and I don't think the extra $$$ justifies the extras.

 

[LECOMorBUST]

Thanks everyone. Iam definitly goiing to get a mac. I have heard nothing but positive things regarding them...ok i guess i need to decide if i should get a macbook or a macbook pro..any opionions on that?? The macbook pro is more expensive but is it worth the upgrade or do ppl seemed satisfied with the macbook?

I would go with the Pro version, the price is a ridiculous jump compared to the non-Pro, but if you decide to run Windows as well on your Mac, the extra RAM and processor speed will make the Windows (and Mac) experience nicer. Though, if you need less weight and mobile convenience, go with the non-Pro as they come in 13" screens as opposed to the Pro 15" screens.

There some are some education discounts on the apple site for either one of the MacBooks. It's about $100 or so off. Or you can go with their other school promotion which runs until mid-September. Buy a notebook with an iPod and get a $200 rebate for essential a free iPod (unless you get the expensive 30 or 80 GB models).

My brother who is an exclusive Mac user and professional designer, recommended I hold off on the purchase until Oct. when Apple releases the new revision to the OSX, which is OSX 10.5.

 

[Requiem]

I've got an iMac. Switch was basically painless, only takes a few hours to get used to the entirely different interface and you're good.

iPhoto is a huge plus, much superior to other picture programs [good for organizing albums i.e pharmacy events]

No mess of cords in the back... everythings in the monitor. No spyware/viruses/popups, no disk defrag, no computer randomly grinding to a halt...

iTunes runs much more flawlessly on a mac, and quicker.

So incredibly convienent to have everything in a monitor... this "desktop" is so mobile. I could unplug everything, move it into another room and have everything hooked up [including sound system] in probably 2 minutes.

My PC had about 15 cables running around in the back of it, from the sound system, monitor, printer, mouse, keyboard, internet, monitor power, printer power, etc. It was gross, took forever to unplug ****.

Downsides: Not a huge fan of quicktime.

If you're going to use a computer for browsing the internet, listening to the internet, watching movies/media, and typing up some papers MACs are ideal.

If you're a hardcore gamer, i'd recommend a PC. That's about it.

 

[tennismn]

I got a Macbook Pro last year for school, and I love it. I don't have to switch over very often to Windows, but it's painless when I do it. If only they made a Mac version of Clinical Pharmacology....

They were running the same deal last summer, to get a free iPod with your laptop, and it was great.

I don't know what the default memory configuration is right now, but 2GB runs everything smoothly.

 

[pharmgirl2011]

I got a Macbook Pro last year for school, and I love it. I don't have to switch over very often to Windows, but it's painless when I do it. If only they made a Mac version of Clinical Pharmacology....

They were running the same deal last summer, to get a free iPod with your laptop, and it was great.

I don't know what the default memory configuration is right now, but 2GB runs everything smoothly.

So can you just switch over to windows and run your clinical pharm program there? Iam new to the mac world and I am getting my macbook pro this weekend. I am also going to get the paralles and run vista just for familiarity reasons, incase i ever panic and dont know how to do something on my mac, though i doubt this will happen.

 

[tennismn]

Yeah, I use BootCamp to just reboot into Windows and run it there. I keep most of my files for class on a flash drive, so both operating systems use that without problem. Since I've MS Office (or Open Office, whatever you want) on both OS's, it works really well.

I was kind of surprised how easy using a Mac was, coming from the Windows world. Not a noob at all, but it's really intuitive. There's a lot of great blogs about it, and plenty of switching websites, to let you know how comparable Windows tasks can be accomplished with a Mac.

www.tuaw.com

 

[pharmgirl2011]

Thanks for everyones advice regarding this post. you guys have been awesome! I checked out that website tennisnm, thanks a bunch!
I am starting to feel like a SDN junky, i mean this forum takes over your life. any question you have about anything can be found here. I find myself on here for hours at a time...uhh ok so I kinda got of topic there,sorry.
Thanks again everyone

 

[ZpackSux]

Thanks for everyones advice regarding this post. you guys have been awesome! I checked out that website tennisnm, thanks a bunch!
I am starting to feel like a SDN junky, i mean this forum takes over your life. any question you have about anything can be found here. I find myself on here for hours at a time...uhh ok so I kinda got of topic there,sorry.
Thanks again everyone

Slowly... Step away from your computer...

 

[Caverject]

If only they made a Mac version of Clinical Pharmacology....

What are you talking about? I thought CP was an online database? I've never had any trouble accessing CP's service...Just curious

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I've actually never met a Mac owner I didn't want to punch. Especially that actor that plays "Mac" on those idiotic, half-truth spewing commercials. I put them in the same category as "people that drive Jettas" and "people that eat at Panera Bread". When you see them...you just want to punch them....

With that in mind, I'm sure it doesn't really matter in the long run. If you know what you are doing, either platform can run seamlessly. Though if you buy a Mac, people might be tempted to punch you.

 

[ZpackSux]

I've actually never met a Mac owner I didn't want to punch. Especially that actor that plays "Mac" on those idiotic, half-truth spewing commercials. I put them in the same category as "people that drive Jettas" and "people that eat at Panera Bread". When you see them...you just want to punch them....

With that in mind, I'm sure it doesn't really matter in the long run. If you know what you are doing, either platform can run seamlessly. Though if you buy a Mac, people might be tempted to punch you.

One of my best buddies drive a Jetta TDI and my wife eats Panera Bread. You have Panera in M-Town?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

One of my best buddies drive a Jetta TDI and my wife eats Panera Bread. You have Panera in M-Town?

Yeah....I don't live in freakin' Siberia...

 

[ZpackSux]

Yeah....I don't live in freakin' Siberia...

Does Siberia not have Panera?

 

[ForcedEntry]

Pick 2: Smoked Ham on Rye, w/o tomato and french onion soup, w/o croutons.


mmmmmmm


and **** PF Changs!

 

[ZpackSux]

Pick 2: Smoked Ham on Rye, w/o tomato and french onion soup, w/o croutons.


mmmmmmm


and **** PF Changs!

PF Chang isn't really Chinese... There aint no iceberg lettuce in china.. are there?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

"Chinese" food as we know it was invented in Brooklyn. And PF Changs makes the best fake Chinese food they is.

Panera is annoying. I remember the first time I went there I pay and they are like, "What's your name?" "Uh...Mike?" "Ok, thanks!!"

Then the ****ers get a tray ready for "Mike" that was a roast beef sandwich like I ordered. I forget what pretentious term they used to describe "sandwich"...but it wasn't sandwich. Anyway, I grab it and sit down. Next thing I now some yuppie (I HATE yuppies...those bourgeois bohemian dinguses that use Macs, drive Jettas and eat at Panera) is chasing me down threatening to not diversify my 401k plan if I don't hand over his food. Apparently they do not have a contingency plan for there ever being a situation when people with common first names order at around the same time.

The environment is lame, too. It's basically an Arby's that thinks it's a trendy NY eatery or some crap.

 

[ForcedEntry]

"Chinese" food as we know it was invented in Brooklyn. And PF Changs makes the best fake Chinese food they is.

Panera is annoying. I remember the first time I went there I pay and they are like, "What's your name?" "Uh...Mike?" "Ok, thanks!!"

Hahahaha...you have to **** with em. I've used Shrek, Homer, Stewey, Mr. Bigglesworth, funky monkey, and rockstar before. They say it...everytime.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

If I go back, I definitely will. They need to warn you that they will be using the given name for food distribution purposes.

 

[ZpackSux]

"Chinese" food as we know it was invented in Brooklyn. And PF Changs makes the best fake Chinese food they is.

Panera is annoying. I remember the first time I went there I pay and they are like, "What's your name?" "Uh...Mike?" "Ok, thanks!!"

Then the ****ers get a tray ready for "Mike" that was a roast beef sandwich like I ordered. I forget what pretentious term they used to describe "sandwich"...but it wasn't sandwich. Anyway, I grab it and sit down. Next thing I now some yuppie (I HATE yuppies...those bourgeois bohemian dinguses that use Macs, drive Jettas and eat at Panera) is chasing me down threatening to not diversify my 401k plan if I don't hand over his food. Apparently they do not have a contingency plan for there ever being a situation when people with common first names order at around the same time.

The environment is lame, too. It's basically an Arby's that thinks it's a trendy NY eatery or some crap.

I'm gonna say the Chinese food in America started in San Francisco in 1800's where many Chinese immigrants came and settled... And since when do yuppies drive a Jetta?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I'm gonna say the Chinese food in America started in San Francisco in 1800's where many Chinese immigrants came and settled...

Nah, I watched a special about it on Food TV. The Western Chinese immigrants did change some dishes to meet the needs to railroad workers though. They invented the fortune cookie out there, too.

And since when do yuppies drive a Jetta?

I'm sorry, I should have prefaced that. West Virginia Yuppies. They also listen to Dave Matthews. God, I hate Dave Matthews.....

 

[ZpackSux]

Nah, I watched a special about it on Food TV. The Western Chinese immigrants did change some dishes to meet the needs to railroad workers though. They invented the fortune cookie out there, too.



I'm sorry, I should have prefaced that. West Virginia Yuppies. They also listen to Dave Matthews. God, I hate Dave Matthews.....

Aint no yuppies ( young urban professionals ) in WV... You got urban areas in WV?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

There are 4 of 'em classified as such. Parkersburg-Marietta, OH; Charleston; Huntington-Ashland, KY; Morgantown-Fairmont-Clarksburg.

 

[ZpackSux]

but no D&B eh?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

We're suppossed to get one, I heard....

 

[dgroulx]

What are you talking about? I thought CP was an online database? I've never had any trouble accessing CP's service...Just curious

UF gives you the CD version every quarter, so you don't have to get online. Of course, you can access the online version with any computer.

I switched to a Mac in 1992 and love it. I have an older Power Mac with a G5 processor. It never crashes, it's quiet and has very stylish brushed aluminum finish. I use a ViewSonic monitor, though.

 

[LECOMorBUST]

I've actually never met a Mac owner I didn't want to punch. I put them in the same category as "people that drive Jettas" and "people that eat at Panera Bread". When you see them...you just want to punch them....

Good point with those types of Mac owners, I have only known Mac users who use them for their profession. I recently paid a visit to an Apple store in Buffalo, NY and I saw a good number of the non-professional users who likely frequent the Panera Bread.

Just this week I paid a visit to Panera Bread for my 1st visit...

Panera is annoying. I remember the first time I went there I pay and they are like, "What's your name?" "Uh...Mike?" "Ok, thanks!!"

Then the ****ers get a tray ready for "Mike" that was a roast beef sandwich like I ordered. I forget what pretentious term they used to describe "sandwich"...but it wasn't sandwich.

The environment is lame, too. It's basically an Arby's that thinks it's a trendy NY eatery or some crap.

...which turned out to be a similar experience overall. Needless to say, the place is full of people looking for gossip with their gazing stares and inability to mind their own business. The food is over-priced and substandard. Never again.

 

[tennismn]

What are you talking about? I thought CP was an online database? I've never had any trouble accessing CP's service...Just curious

Like dgroulx says. I enjoy having the program, for those times when I don't have internet access. I know, it's crazy...places without wi-fi? They do exist.

The program seems faster than having to go through our school's library website, sign in, then go to CP.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Good point with those types of Mac owners, I have only known Mac users who use them for their profession. I recently paid a visit to an Apple store in Buffalo, NY and I saw a good number of the non-professional users who likely frequent the Panera Bread.

The people inside of Mac stores are even more frightening. It's bad enough to
gush over a vastly overhyped product on the internet (because there weren't MP3 players before the ipod...or PDA phones with more functionality than the iPhone before either were released... 🙄 ). But to go out in public and drool in front of a Powerbook display...that just takes one special person. I might hang around outside of one some day and sell fung shui books, home plan guides for McMansions, and horribly tattered blue jeans I can pawn off as "designer". I'll make a fortune.

...which turned out to be a similar experience overall. Needless to say, the place is full of people looking for gossip with their gazing stares and inability to mind their own business. The food is over-priced and substandard. Never again.

It was actually my mistake. I looked around the crowd and didn't see another Mike around. Why the hell some guy who looked like his name was Sebastian was named Mike is beyond me. If you are going to raise a Mac/Jetta/Panera person, darnit, give them an apropriate name.