It has been six months now since I got my Apple iMac and I have never regretted buying it.
Perhaps it is the combination of the more powerful hardware compared to my old slow Dell along with the more efficient Mac OS, but it seems that I can get more done faster on the Mac. Straight from the outset when booting up the Mac, I can start working on it in 30 seconds whereas on the old Dell, I had to wait over 2 minutes for the system to boot and be operational. Similar effect with powering down. It does not seem like much to be concern about but it was those sort of aggravations that made me want to switch to the Mac.
It has taken some time to get comfortable with the different operating system. Certain habits I have picked up in the Windows world have no counterpart with the Mac OS; whenever I am editing a document on the Mac, I continually use CTRl-End to get to the end of the line. That keystroke combination does not exist on Mac programs. Still, I do not mind giving up those little things for what I received in return.
Everything about the OS seems so intutive. When I think about doing something in whatever program, I try it and it works. No guessing, no cryptic series of steps to do something. A simple click or keystroke and it works. Having said that, though, I find many things sort of hidden from the user but when I discover them, it uncovers some powerful functionality. For example, using the Option+Shift+4 key combination gives me a cursor to snag parts of the screen to save as an image. In Windows, you could use Alt+Prt Scrn to get the whole screen or buy a program that allows what the Mac gives you for free.
The Preview application is a wonder of a program that allows me to see any file, text document or image. It is quick and powerful. No more separate photo viewing programs. It even allows basic photo editing.
Another great thing about the Mac is the integration of the applications with each other particularly with the Apple branded applications. Using iMovie to make videos, I found it could add in photos from iPhoto or Aperture, music from iTunes or Garage Band. Now this sort of coupling of applications with the OS was considered to be bad when Microsoft did it but I do not think Microsoft ever made it as easy and effective as Apple has done with its products.
Still, I had to make some compromises. Giving up all of the software I accumulated over the years, meant losing some nice games and utilities. Indeed, losing access to games is probably the most significant loss as most game developers only develop for Windows or consoles; the Mac world is still relatively small compared to the rest of the computer world in number of homes using the system.
Using the Mac has been a great learning experience and one that I am continually learning every day to become more productive and creative as well.
Nope, no regrets at all.
A keystroke to reach the end of the line in OS X is Command (Apple/squiggle key)-right arrow.
To go to the beginning of the line, it’s command-left arrow.
As a solution to the lack of games, I bought an XBox 360 (a PS3 would work as well). Almost all the biggest games come out for it, and it can drive up to a 1080p monitor (with proper cable) with impressive graphics. Another nice thing about the 360 is the comparative lack of bugs and glitches compared to gaming in Windows or OS X. I have at least a few Windows games that I can’t get to run reliably. It also saves me from the expense of buying a new graphics card every year.
Bot
Another end of line keystroke: Ctrl-e
Under System Preferences > keyboard & mouse > keyboard shortcuts > + you can create your own menu command shortcuts merely by clicking on the plus symbol in the keyboard shortcuts window of System Preferences, keyboard and mouse. You might also search for shortcuts at Apple.com as they have various software as well as Windows sections of hints.
“Indeed, losing access to games is probably the most significant loss ”
I don’t know much about PC games, but perhaps you are aware that you can run Windows on your iMac, and therefore run PC games on it…an option at least. Glad you are enjoying your iMac.
move to end of line: command right arrow
move to beginning of line: command left arrow
move to beginning of paragraph: control A
move one character back: control B
move one character forward: control F
delete character to right: control D
move to end of paragraph: control E
delete text to end of paragraph: control K
move down to next line: control N
insert new line: control O
move up to previous line: control P
transpose characters: control T
delete word to left: option ? (back delete)
delete word to right: option ? (forward delete)
move one word left: option left arrow
move one word right: option right arrow
move up one page: option up arrow
move down one page: option down arrow
[...] Vote My Apple computer and me … 6 months later [...]
Brian… I am with you except I have now had my new iMac for a little over 1 year. I love it. I’ll never buy another PC, as a matter of fact I’m jones’n for the new PowerBook Pro just because I’m a laptop guy most of the time.
Since the iPod, I bought the iMac, and a few months ago picked up the 3G iPhone… Apple has sucked me in and I’m hooked. This also comes from a guy that’s been online and around computers since the early 90’s.
[...] Vote My Apple computer and me … 6 months later [...]