Now that I've had a chance to use a Mac computer, it seems too easy to use once you know where stuff is. Being a fast learner, I don't like it very much. Because I am used to using Windows, I have some questions about Macs for the Mac experts around here.

1. Where is the text editor? Gedit (or Pico) in Linux, Notepad in Windows, ??? in Mac.
2. iWeb. As I understand from reading the page on Apple, iWeb allows you to instantly publish your photos, movies, etc to the web with a few clicks. Where do you write the HTML code in this application?
3. Are there any virus/spyware that are compatible with Mac that I can install/run?
4. Is there Windows Live Messenger for Mac? Most of my friends use Windows Live, so that is one of my must-have applications.
5. Are there different flavours of Mac OS X? For Windows Vista, there is Home Premium, Home Basic, Business, Ultimate and Starter. I have a variety to choose from that way.
6. Is Microsoft Office for Mac the same as Microsoft Office for Windows? With the same features and everything?
7. Is it true that Linux applications are Mac-compatible?
8. Where is the taskbar? The Dock is similar to the All Programs menu, and the Menu bar has a clock, but where is the taskbar?
9. Is there any Speech Recognition technology in Mac?
10. The final question: Is there such a feature as User Account Control? There is in Vista (which is the biggest reason I like it), and in Ubuntu (which I enjoy very much). If Mac doesn't have it, that will definitely by a huge issue for me, as the whole point of upgrading to Vista is to experience the fun and exciting UAC!

I'll find out if Mac is for me, or that I should stick with Windows and Ubuntu.

1. It's called TextEdit it's in the Applications folder.
2. I don't know, I usually just edit my website on cPanel directly.
3. Yes there is. It uses the same engine that powers the most used Linux antivirus, ClamAV, the Mac frontend is called ClamXAV. Of course there are plenty others. As for spyware and viruses themselves, there are no known Mac virus that is active nor spyware.
4. Yes, it's called Microsoft Messenger for Mac, however, it doesn't have A/V nor games built into it. It's like MSN Messenger 7.
5. No, that's the beauty. Who likes being confused with so many different packages when I can have basically EVERYTHING in one package for $129 (cheaper than Windows Vista Ultimate in order to get everything).
6. It is basically the same thing, think of it as Microsoft Office 2003, but a Mac version. Microsoft Office 2008 is the Mac version of 2007.
7. Most Linux application can run on Mac, as long as its POSIX compatible. You may need some tweaking.
8. The Dock is basically your taskbar. Your minimized programs appear there. to find your way through dozens of window, you use expose (ex-pose-eh). On most Macs it's buttons F9 through F11. F12 brings up Dashboard. F9 is view all windows, F10 is view all windows in the same application and F11 is show desktop. Of course these buttons can be remapped.
9. Yes, OF COURSE! (System Preferences --> System --> Speech)
10. Yes and No, yes when you're installing software and making changes to the system folders (quite rare since only drivers and software that requires installation of kernal extensions require writing to the system folder ... that or just the Installer requires it just in case it does). No, because no programs get full administrator access and mess up the system folders. The system security in Mac is so simple that you must be deliberately running a malware in order to get hit. I have yet seen anyone accidentally run a malware on their Macs at my school (which is more than 25% of the laptop population). Remember that each Mac .app is basically a folder with that extension, all the files required to run that program are compiled inside that folder. You will never see them placing files into the system folder unless for the reasons I stated above.

With Apple computers, you must adopt their old slogan "Think Different." Also remember MacOS X is basically UNIX with a fancy desktop shell. Plus, UAC is annoying as hell. I like Linux/UNIX (incl. Mac)'s security better, plus, most people turn it off, so it's basically useless at that point.

Also, the whole point of the Mac since its conception was ease of use. Which was why Microsoft took the idea and made Windows from Apple (which took it from Xerox since they didn't want it at the time).

xboxrulz

For 3 and 4, there are third party things that are better, eg I believe aMSN is cross platform with a/v.

What they call flavours, we'd call new versions, like Tiger and Panther. Mac is unix, not Linux, but both of them are posix.

Also, if you're thinking of going from Xp to Mac instead of Vista on the same computer, check your motherboard can run Mac OS's.

Note that your last comment is illegal and cannot be discussed on Astahost. To legally run MacOS X, you must have Apple hardware (I know this sucks for some, but Apple has really good computers.)

xboxrulz

So you mean I cannot find viruses/malware applications to run on a Mac?

Well I prefer choosing different packages rather than having everything. That's (one of the reasons) why there's something called Firefox and Opera, if you know what I mean.

That will seriously take some getting used to.


Of course you have to think differently and have an open mind to try new things. The desktop shell, as you call it, is not "fancy" in my opinions, I'd rather run GNOME over that (I haven't tried KDE yet). If I get Windows Vista, I would want the UAC prompt to pop up when I point to menus and click Start. The security in Linux and Macs are probably better, but I still would prefer having UAC.


I just read about this in some newspaper.

Nope, there hasn't been any active viruses or malware in the wild as far as most people know, maybe there are but only researchers have the backup copies.

You can customize what to install or what to not install if you do a fresh install in the Mac installation manager, but the default installation has everything installed.

It took me a day to get use to it, but it beats constantly cycling through ALT+TAB or WIN+TAB. I work very efficiently with the expose, but that's just me, for some it may come to be a terrible functionality.

If you play around with Finder (Explorer in Windows), you can find very cool things that aren't really documented unless you yourself are a programmer and read the technical manuals. GNOME is bland and dull, I don't quite like it. Compared to KDE, GNOME is quite slow and bulky. MacOS X runs much faster than both and have very good eye candy. Vista is just butt slow, even on a new machine with comparable specification.

xboxrulz

A big reason you should consider a mac is the simple change and experience of trying what there is offered out there. I personally have not owned a mac, mostly because I'm poor, but if I had the surplus of cash I would heavily consider getting one. Not only are they loved by many, so obviously not a bad choice, but they will give you a modified perspective on home computing. Seeing a different way that things are done might take some adjusting in your head but in the end you might find you like it much more. If you think about it, you're only used to windows from being forced to use windows for so long, not necessarily because you like it

But yea, your above questions have been answered and on top of it macs seem just to be an appealing breath of fresh air. If you are interested I say give it a shot.

Yeah well Macs are quite expensive and I need to be really sure that I want one before I get one. My dad isn't really interested in them, although I have told him my brief experience on the Mac.

One thing that is major and missing from Mac is User Account Control, which throws me off on decision making.

It's really your decision, my friends and I spend hours on Photobooth, iChat and many other things that PCs don't offer (or have no good alternatives).

I bough the Mac because it comes with a great UNIX system and I don't have time to tweak it when I'm on the go, so Mac was obviously the best choice for me. I have a Macbook.

xboxrulz

1. Where is the text editor? Gedit (or Pico) in Linux, Notepad in Windows, ??? in Mac.
openoffice writer or BBEdit for HTML or text editing.

2. iWeb. As I understand from reading the page on Apple, iWeb allows you to instantly publish your photos, movies, etc to the web with a few clicks. Where do you write the HTML code in this application?
iWeb really isn't meant for this. Its just supposed to be simple and easy to use and having to deal with HTML would impede on that for some people. I dont use iWeb, so I wouldn't really know.

3. Are there any virus/spyware that are compatible with Mac that I can install/run?
There are viruses for the Mac, but the mac isn't as big a target as windows is.

4. Is there Windows Live Messenger for Mac? Most of my friends use Windows Live, so that is one of my must-have applications.
Use Adium.

5. Are there different flavours of Mac OS X? For Windows Vista, there is Home Premium, Home Basic, Business, Ultimate and Starter. I have a variety to choose from that way.
No, but I would say that is is a GOOD THING that that is the case. You don't want multiple versions, just one that does everything.

6. Is Microsoft Office for Mac the same as Microsoft Office for Windows? With the same features and everything?
Features are the same and files created on a Mac will be openable in the windows version and vice-versa.

7. Is it true that Linux applications are Mac-compatible?
Yes, use X11.

8. Where is the taskbar? The Dock is similar to the All Programs menu, and the Menu bar has a clock, but where is the taskbar?
At the top of the screen.

9. Is there any Speech Recognition technology in Mac?
Yes, go to system prefs and there is a tab for speech right there. click "turn speakable items" to on.

10. The final question: Is there such a feature as User Account Control? There is in Vista (which is the biggest reason I like it), and in Ubuntu (which I enjoy very much). If Mac doesn't have it, that will definitely by a huge issue for me, as the whole point of upgrading to Vista is to experience the fun and exciting UAC!
Of course! just look in system prefs.