Switching to a Mac

A number of friends and associates have made the leap from a Windows PC to Mac. I just throught I'd put together a few links and tips for helping make the transition as smooth as possible.

Links:

• Apple's Switch Page
  • Guide to Switching - Apple's official "how to" for switching over your files from your PC to Mac. Provides good step-by-step instructions. For some reason, they didn't make it very easy to find this page. Opps - the secondary links from this page do not work.
  • Apple Switch FAQ - some common questions about switching and Apple's responses.
• Move2Mac - Software/cable package to help transfer your files/settings. You decide if it's worth $50.
• I've Switched from Windows, Now What? - Good introductory article for recent switchers.
• How To Switch To The Mac - A more technical article about switching. Probably too detailed for most users but worth scanning.
• Transferring MS Office Files
  • Outlook2Mac - This looks like the best, cheapest option for transferring Windows Outlook mail, contacts, etc over to Mac. At $10, it's a deal!
  • Entourage Cross Platform Issues - Addresses issues of transferring data and has some links to how-tos. The basic issue is the MS-Outlook uses a file format (PST) which nobody else uses and MS does not offer options for exporting (surprise, surprise). There is a way to import pst file into Mozilla products (Google:Thunderbird) which can then export MBOX format which can be imported into lots of programs. Still, Outlook2Mac looks easier.
  • From Windows to Mac and back: Working across platforms with Office - A general article about transferring MS-Office files back-and-forth between PC & Mac. It's pretty simple if you remember a few rules (like including file extensions).
  • Information where you want it: Importing your data into Office v. X for Mac - Good article about general strategies for importing data into MS-OfficeX. Interestingly, it does not offer a solution for importing email from Outlook (because Outlook does not offer a way to export it's data).

Here's some additional tips I'll offer for getting the most out of your new Mac:

• Get a decent mouse. I don't know what Mac has against 2+ button mice.
• Essential software:
  • M$ Office for Mac. Take advantage of the good deals they offer when you buy your machine.
  • Firefox web browser - Personally, I like it better than Safari for general use but essential if you do any web development.
  • Menu Meters - Provides some very useful info regarding network access, disk use, etc., in the menu.
  • Tofu - An odd but really useful application. Reflects the kind of out-of-the-box great design ideas that Macs inspire.
• A few Mac OS habits you'll want to get use to:
  • Using command-key (with the apple) combintations rather than control-key combination. Essentially, many of the control-key commands you used on your PC (like control-C for copy) are the same on Mac but use the command key instead.
  • Using the "control" key while clicking on things to give contextual menu (like right-clicking on PC). Essential until you get a decent 2 button mouse.
  • Using the Exposé feature (F9, F10, f11) to navigate between windows or showing desktop. Just very cook.
  • Drag and drop - You can do a LOT more with drag-and-drop in Mac OSX then you ever could with Windows. Play around with it - it's very useful.
• More to come...

-- LynnwoodBrown - 07 Feb 2005