Switching to Mac Easier Than You Think

Most of the iLife programs come with tight integration to Apple's .Mac Internet service. In a few simple clicks from these programs, I was able to create attractive online photo albums through iPhoto, an online clip of a video I made in iMovie, and was even able to backup my important files to the .Mac servers. Your address book can also be synced to .Mac for Web access. These services don't come cheap at $99 per year, but I found the extras provided are well worth the cost.

For those who like Microsoft Office, Office for Mac looks and works just like its Windows counterpart - there is no learning curve at all. The same goes for Adobe Photoshop, as well as many other cross-platform applications. Performance is more than acceptable on the low-end Mac I used to switch with a 1.0GHz G4 processor and 1GB of RAM.

However, Mac OS X does suffer from a lack of software applications. Gaming on the Macintosh platform is nowhere near that of Windows, and while most applications do have an Apple counterpart, in some cases -- such as America Online -- the software is an afterthought and leaves much to be desired.

Despite the lack of choice, I quickly got accustomed to the applications on Tiger; most Mac software is just as -- if not more -- capable than its Windows equivalent. But what has really kept me from booting Windows are the little things in Tiger such as Spotlight and Dashboard.

Dashboard was one of Apple's key selling points in the OS, and I must admit, it has become an integral part of my everyday computer use. At first, I didn't see much use for the mini-applications that run in a separate layer above the desktop, but now as I do my daily work it becomes more and more useful.

Instead of opening up five windows, you can find out how your stocks are doing, the weather forecast, your upcoming appointments, and even the latest tracks on iTunes in one screenful. Apple has over 500 other "widgets" for you to choose from, allowing any user to customize Dashboard to their tastes.

It would be nice, however, to allow some of these widgets to reside on the desktop as well.

As much as it is derided, Apple's one button mouse really is all that is necessary. I found I could do just about everything I needed two buttons for on my Windows PC with a single button mouse using Tiger. Think about it -- it is actually a good idea.

Look at most right-click menus in Windows programs. Instead of figuring out better ways to incorporate features, some developers just throw these options into a right-click menu. A one-button mouse forces Mac developers to rethink a program's interface to make it friendly to users with a standard Apple mouse.

Finally, and probably the most attractive benefit to switching, is the fact that Macs are currently immune to spyware and malware that plagues Windows. And the chances of your Mac catching a virus are practically nil. If you are getting tired of having to make sure your computer isn't infected with spyware every day, maybe it's time to consider a Mac.

I walked into this review fully expecting to just try out the platform and return to my Windows desktop. But due to the Mac's ease of use, no-hassle operating system, and the productivity boost it has provided, I find myself using Windows less and less.

If you asked me to switch to a Mac a few years ago, I would have called you nuts. However, with all of problems Windows has and the lack of true innovation to the operating system in recent years, Microsoft has left the door wide open for somebody else to take the reins. And Apple is taking full advantage of it.