This is (eventually) a review of the book “Switching to the Mac” by David Pogue (from his Missing Manual series)
It’s been a few years since I made the switch to Mac, and even though I remember it being painless for me, I come from an IT background, and I didn’t have a lot riding on the transition. I imagine that a few readers will be coming at this with either a lot more at stake in terms of files and emails, or aren’t so confident with technology. So I decided to take a look at the current offering from Mr. Pogue.

(my copy of the book)

First, a little background - I came across David Pogue’s Missing Manual series way back when got my first PowerbookG4 and started using iMovie. I remember being blown away by the video editing capabilities you were given for free with every Mac (I still am blown away by this, although back in 2004 it was revolutionary).

However, I could see the power that was there, but as a new user I couldn’t seem to get to it. So, being a little impatient, I looked around for a book that would get me to the things I wanted quickly. After a lengthy visit to Foyle’s of London and much book-thumbing, that’s how I found my first copy of “iMovie: the Missing Manual”. It was everything I wanted, and more.
Back to the story then.

At close to 600 pages, the book has enough space to give reasonable coverage of a wide range of topics, and it does just that.

The book is broken down into the following sections:

Part One: Welcome to the Mac - This section is all about getting you comfortable with using your new machine - before you undertake anything major (very sensible, really!). Topics include “How the Mac is different,” an introduction to using the file system and the basics of getting things done on a Mac.

Part Two: Moving in - This section is all about getting things from your PC to your Mac - files, old emails, contacts - and also about finding the Mac equivalents of PC programs. There is also a chapter on connecting hardware - printers and scanners - to your Mac.

Part Three: The Mac Online - This sections covers all aspects of connecting your Mac to the internet to browse Web Pages, read email or chat online.

Part Four: Putting Down Roots - Information in this section covers more advanced topics, like User Accounts, Security and Setting System Preferences - things you will want to do once the machine is up and running and your basic needs have been met. There is also a brief overview of all the free software that is included on your Mac and what you can do with it.

Appendixes - The Appendixes contain a comprehensive guide to installing your new Mac, as well as a list of PC terms and their Mac equivalents. There is also a list of handy Keyboard command to help you get things done more efficiently once you start using your new Mac.

What I like about the book is that it gives particular emphasis to the basics of operating a Mac, and how it differs to a PC before it delves into the detail of moving from PC to Mac.
I also like the thorough coverage of almost every conceivable topic that a new user might want to know about, whilst not overwhelming the reader with detail. This makes the book a great reference to have on your shelf for those times when you need a quick answer so you can get on and get something done - especially if you would know how to do that thing on a PC.

I highly recommend this book for anyone thinking of switching from PC to Mac, and to new Mac Users. Click on the link below to get your copy today:

Highly Recommended - a great book for people switching from PC to Mac. If you are looking to convert to Mac, this book will guide you through the process of moving your files and data, then help you to get the most from your Mac.

Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Buy from Amazon.com

As I mentioned, David Pogue has published a number of books in the “Missing Manuals” series. Here are some other books you might be interested in if you are a new convert to Mac or if you are thinking of moving from PC to Mac:

A more in-depth book about Leopard, the current Mac Operating System.

Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Buy from Amazon.com

Tricks and tips for the free Mac Movie Editing and DVD Production tools. Great for people who have just made the move to Mac, or people wanting to get more out of their Mac.

Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Buy from Amazon.com

Probably the most popular PC application used by people switching from
PC to Mac. This book will get you up and running.

Buy from Amazon.co.uk | Buy from Amazon.com

Technorati Tags: Books, Convert to Mac, From PC to Mac, Move to Mac, Windows to Mac

It’s a series of posts made by a photographer on his blog about his decision to convert to Mac after many years of using a PC.

I too am a photographer, so I found the article interesting - at the time that I made the switch to Mac, I had not built up a serious collection of digital photographs (Digital Cameras were relatively new and very expensive), but I had invested a lot of money in software, so I can sympathise with the guy in the article.

The posts are from the blog of Mark Graf, and American photographer (take a look at the rest of his blog, the photos are quite nice!) and they cover the initial decision to switch to Mac, the wait, the delivery and the first few days of using his new Mac.

Mike decided to convert to Mac after almost continual problems with his PC, which is the centre of his business. One of his first impressions was, “It just works.” (Mac users are accustomed to saying that, but it’s harder to believe until you’ve seen it yourself). He also liked the “small touches” that can be seen throughout the experience of using a Mac.

He was particularly concerned with Networking (even with an existing PC network, it just worked!), transferring Email (that just worked, too), and his existing investment in software; most of which he was able to transfer across for the cost of an upgrade.

There are some un-scientific speed tests in there too, but I’ll let you see for yourself.

One thing that I really agreed with, and it was the first thing I liked about my Powerbook, was the “Sleep” mode. Having come from using PC’s, I was dubious about this myself (I regularly worried about the suspend mode on my PC laptop, and often wondered why I bothered because it took so long to start up again). Mike discovered, as I did, the almost instant-on that you get when you put a Mac to sleep (I confess to a few episodes during my first week of closing the lid on my Powerbook then opening it again just to see how quickly I could get it to start up). This is something I now rely on daily - I can honestly say that my Powerbook has been switched off less than 20 times in 4 years, and it has never failed to be ready to work immediately after I open the lid.

Mikes conclusion was that the transfer from PC to Mac was “Smooth as silky water, and now flowing quite fast!”

Interestingly, after an initial flurry of posts, he no longer posts about his Mac exploits.

Perhaps that’s because to him, “it just works!”

-=-

Links in this article:

Mike Grafs Blog

From Mac to PC - A Photographer’s View

Why did you move to mac? (Or what are the reasons you are thinking of making the switch to Mac?)

For me, it was a work decision - I was working in a graphic arts and print-production environment, and even in the enlightened days of the early 21st century if you wanted to work in those industries you had to have a Mac to be taken seriously. Today, things are different. With Apple Stores popping up all over the globe - and every new Mac shipping with all the software you need to live the Digital Lifestyle - Macs have moved on from being seen solely as a tool for the creative professional to something that fits well into every home.

Gone are the days when people would say, “oh, you have a Mac,” like it was something you didn’t mention in polite company. Today, people exclaim, “Oh! You have a Mac!” (for truly, they are a vision to behold).

Oh yes, Macs have come a long way since the days of the Beige Box.

They have also come a long way since the days where transferring files from PC to Mac seemed like it needed a PhD in Astro Physics along with a Computer Science Degree (it scared me at the time - I only have a Computer Science Degree).

If you are reading this you most likely fall into one of two categories: either you have recently gone through the Mac switch, or you are thinking of switching from PC to Mac.

Either way, if you are a recent convert to Mac you will have questions - as I did when I did the Mac switch - and hopefully you will find some answers here.

Do you run your business from a PC or keep all of your important files there? (I did, both) You will want to know how to make sure that everything gets across safely from Windows to Mac, from your Microsoft Word files to your emails (most files will work on both machines and you get free email software with your Mac). Once your things are there, you’ll also want to know that there are programs on the Mac that will do the same things as the ones on your PC (you can get a copy of Microsoft Office for your mac, and there are thousand of programs available, so you should find one that matches).

You’ll probably also want to know why the CONTROL key doesn’t work like it does on a PC (use the CMD key on a Mac where you used CTRL on a PC and you should be fine - CTRL+C becomes CMD+C for Copy, for example).

It’s knowing little things like this that make moving from PC to Mac easier.

Have you have heard that Macs help you do creative things? Do you want to know what opportunities the move to Mac will bring you and your family? You’ll want to know about all the great software that comes installed for free on every Mac. Do you have a digital camera? Use iPhoto for downloading and organising your photos, showing them to friends in a slideshow, and even having books printed! Got a video camera? Use iMovie for getting the footage off the camera and actually making movies (do you have a backlog of tapes like me?) Want some music to go with your slideshows and movies? Use garageband to make an original composition (if you are musically inclined). When you’re done, use iDVD to put it all on a standard DVD to send to your friends, family, or customers.

If you are thinking of making the Switch Mac then you will want to know some more about why Mac owners love their Macs and what all the fuss is about. Things like, “have you really never had a crash?” (not in 4 years and on 3 machines, no), and “do you really not have virus problems?” (not so far, no), and even “are they really that easy to use?” (oh yes!)

This isn’t just a place for people moving from PC to Mac, though. You might have got a Mac as your first computer (good choice!) But be assured, this isn’t a place for techno-babble. No PhD’s required! (Although if you’ve already got one, good for you!)

For new Mac users, you’ll want to know how to get the basics done

Also, even if you have had your Mac for a while, you may find something of interest here.

Wherever you came from, and whatever it is that you want to get from your move to Mac, hopefully what you find here will help you. Think of this as a Little Mac School, where you can learn about Macs from the very first steps.

Let me know in the comments if there is anything in particular you’d like to know about.

As a first step on the road to harmony with your Mac, I recommend getting a copy of the book Switching to the Mac by David Pogue (I highly recommend David’s Books on a wide range of Mac topics). I’ll do full review of the book in another article, but for now I can say that it is an excellent reference for those who want a one-stop shop for quick answers to a wide range of questions about the switch from PC to Mac. Click on one of the links below and grab yourself a copy now.

Links:

From PC to Mac Book at Amazon.com

From PC to Mac Book at Amazon.co.uk

Technorati Tags: From PC to Mac, Mac Switch, Move to Mac, Windows to Mac