Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Maybe my criticisms of Vista were excessive, assuming that you want to spend a lot of time tweaking it. One of my problems is that Windows Explorer doesn't work (I have installed all the Windows upgrades, but it still keeps crashing about 80% of the time I try to do a file copy). So I'll take Joe's advice and get the file handlers he recommends. As for UAC (user access control) I still have not figured out how to access some of my directories despite having an administrator's account, but perhaps that will come with time. Still, it is awfully slow, especially doing things in Windows Mail. Maybe 3 GB is not enough. I should add that our Vista machine is a Sony Vaio laptop, and when I went to the web for advice I found lots of similar complaints from Sony owners. It may be that my hardware is the problem, not Vista. Still, I know that many people who bought new desktops with Vista soon decided to go back to XP. It's an operating system that some people love and others hate. I am one who hates it. By the way, my comment about problems upgrading laptops from XP to Vista are based on discussions with PC technicians, not on my own experience. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Joe Ledvina [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:09 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac??? More and more people are coming around to Vista, and for some good reasons... I've been using Vista since January, and I love it. I used to use a 3rd-party file manager (FreeCommander) and copy handler (TeraCopy), but Explorer improvements have made them unnecessary. UAC can be adjusted to be hardly obtrusive, and it works.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Just my 2 cents... I just bought a Macbook Pro 15 and got a free IPod touch with my purchase for a back to school offer that Apple has (actually I spent an extra $200 to get the 32GB Ipod touch and got a $300.00 rebate back, but well worth it). I opted to go for the MacBook Pro after my old Sony VAIO just couldn't handle the operations of GIS, Adobe photoshop, and other memory intensive operations. That notebook was 4.5 years old, so I'm pretty happy with the amount of use I got with it. It has taken some transitioning to get used to working with a Mac, and the computer itself comes installed with some applications and I think some online applications are available through the Apple website that can help to make the transition from a PC to a Mac easier. I have yet to partition the hard drive which was what I was planning on doing so I could install XP (perhaps the 64-bit version so I can have access to the extra RAM in the MacBook) so I can run particular programs that can not be run on a Mac, including ArcGIS, ERDAS, Pathfinder Office for Trimble GPS's, and EDRISI (obviously Mac's can not do this). The great thing about the Mac is that if you can get the OSx and XP running I think you are golden, because you can do some pretty cool stuff with editing photos, videos, and such that are easier to do on a Mac than on a PC (another reason I got it) and you can do GIS and other stuff (with the PC OS). The only thing to be aware of, is that if you partition your hard drive for XP you need to keep up with the anti-virus software and protect your computer. I would also recommend visiting a Mac Store, reading as much as you can online, and of course reading the opinions of people on this and other listservers. I would say though, that the employees at the Mac store were very helpful with questions I had and tried to answer them the best they knew how. Also helpful, is if you have other friends who use Mac as they can help you transition too. I'm planning on doing all of my upgrades when I get back to school, since I am currently on an internship. I bought my Mac Book Pro in Virginia at a Mac Store for a pretty steep price, but looking back on it, I think it was a good investment, my VAIO was steep too, but it lasted 4.5 years and I'm hoping this Mac will do that or more. I was originally going to just get the MacBook, but the video card and other features in the MacBook Pro where for me. You just gotta make a decision on what you want and what you don't want, weight them out, and go for either one, it took me some time and a lot of comparisons to come down to my decision. Hope that helps out some. Also, I heard Windows has officially stopped selling Windows XP, but there are avenues of getting XP if you need it. http://www.pcworld.ca/news/article/9853b173c0a800060058871f78388129/pg0.htm That's just an article on a petition, but does offer some insight into XP not being sold anymore. Also, I've heard that windows is working on a new OS, probably due to come out sometime in a couple of years or sooner, called Midori: http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2008/08/04/new-peeks-at-a-post-windows-future/ But I have no clue where that is going. Anyways, I've hoped I helped out in some sort. In summary, get a Mac, partition the hard drive, and put XP (if you can get it) to run your Windows Programs. My opinion is that you should try to make yourself flexible with learning how to work with both OS's (Macs and PCs), they both have issues, I'm sure, but they are well worth it. Just stay away from Vista! Arvind Arvind A.R. Bhuta, M.S. Doctoral Student Geospatial and Environmental Analysis Program College of Natural Resources Virginia Tech Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:40:57 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac??? To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Don't forget that with a Mac you can also partition it to run either Windows or OS X and it usually runs Vista/Windows better than the PC's do. I just switched to a MacBook Pro after 20+years of PCs and thus far I'm very happy with the switch. I don't have the partition and I can still access most of my PC files without any conversions. However, there's a lot of software (GIS particularly) that's designed for PC's. You'd have to run a partition to gain access to it. Fortunately I still have a PC with XP on it to run GIS and a few other apps that aren't ported to the Mac. It would take some transitioning to get used to the different file structures and the Mac quirks, but a lot of the stuff is really easy to use, much more so than Windows/Office. Just my 2 cents, Tim Dr. Tim Baker Forestry and Natural Resources College of the Redwoods 7351 Tompkins Hill Rd Eureka, CA 95501 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Wirt Atmar Sent: Mon 8/11/2008 7:55 PM To:
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
A grad student of mine uses a Mac laptop, and she doesn't have excel on it but some other spreadsheet that does not do as much as Excel does. Do you need to make special arrangements to have the usual PC programs put on a mac? 1880's: There's lots of good fish in the sea W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000's: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. \ \ \ \ \ - - _ - \ \ \ \ \ - _ -\ - -( O \ _ - -_ __ / - -/ -/// _ __ ___/ /// / Judith S. Weis, Professor Department of Biological Sciences Rutgers University, Newark NJ 07102 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 973 353-5387 FAX 973 353-5518 http://newarkbioweb.rutgers.edu/department/FacultyProfiles/weis.html
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Move to a Mac. 1. You can get a Mac at a discount through your school bookstore. 2. Macs do not have all the security problems that PCs have. 3. If you have to run windows you can do that on your Mac. Try running a Mac on a PC. Matthew
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Hey all-- I have never used any other machine for my personal work than Mac. It does it all--has excel and every stats package (if you get them). What it does well and what you pay for these days esp on a laptop is the graphic package. Check into it, but I suspect GIS/ArchView can run on Macs and if so, you will be supercomputing and leaving the silly PCs behind. :) Laura A grad student of mine uses a Mac laptop, and she doesn't have excel on it but some other spreadsheet that does not do as much as Excel does. Do you need to make special arrangements to have the usual PC programs put on a mac? 1880's: There's lots of good fish in the sea W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000's: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. \ \ \ \ \ - - _ - \ \ \ \ \ - _ -\ - -( O \ _ - -_ __ / - -/ -/// _ __ ___/ /// / Judith S. Weis, Professor Department of Biological Sciences Rutgers University, Newark NJ 07102 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 973 353-5387 FAX 973 353-5518 http://newarkbioweb.rutgers.edu/department/FacultyProfiles/weis.html -- Laura K. Marsh, Ph.D. Director Global Conservation Institute 156 County Road 113 Santa Fe, NM 87506 USA Main Tel: 505.455.0145 FAX: 505.455.0145 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bringing Science and Entertainment Together *** Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ---Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
HI, Scott, Have you considered getting a PC and running Linux on it? Many Linux flavors come with open-source applications that duplicate the functionality of Microsoft workhorses such as Word, Excel, and Access, and even if these are not part of the original installation, they can be downloaded and installed as freeware. Additionally, since Linux is at the heart of the open-source movement, there are LOTS of other applications developed for it. Do any of you other ECOLOGers have experience with Linux that Scott could benefit from? Martin Meiss 2008/8/12 Voisine, Matthew NAN02 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Move to a Mac. 1. You can get a Mac at a discount through your school bookstore. 2. Macs do not have all the security problems that PCs have. 3. If you have to run windows you can do that on your Mac. Try running a Mac on a PC. Matthew
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Microsoft Office is readily available for the Mac. I have a Mac in the office and a PC at home, and I have most of the same software on each of them. Excel or Word files produced on a Mac easily open on PCs and vice versa. Powerpoint is more challenging. I find that files created on a PC work just fine on a Mac, but powerpoint created on a Mac will often get weird on a PC. Lots of other programs are available in both Mac and PC versions. For example,for stats I JMP on both types of machines and have SPSS on both the Mac and the PC in my lab. Max Taub Quoting Judith Weis [EMAIL PROTECTED]: A grad student of mine uses a Mac laptop, and she doesn't have excel on it but some other spreadsheet that does not do as much as Excel does. Do you need to make special arrangements to have the usual PC programs put on a mac? 1880's: There's lots of good fish in the sea W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000's: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. \ \ \ \ \ - - _ - \ \ \ \ \ - _ -\ - -( O \ _ - -_ __ / - -/ -/// _ __ ___/ /// / Judith S. Weis, Professor Department of Biological Sciences Rutgers University, Newark NJ 07102 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 973 353-5387 FAX 973 353-5518 http://newarkbioweb.rutgers.edu/department/FacultyProfiles/weis.html
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Just wanted to point out that if you price a comparably equipped Mac and PC the prices are actually very similar. When you configure them alike (videocard, no shared memory, etc.) you usually end up with a difference of roughly $100. If you can get an EDU discount it is pretty much a wash. And even if there is a difference, not having to deal with viruses, spyware, etc. makes it more than worth it. Greg Colores * Gregory M. Colores Associate Professor Department of Biology 185 Brooks Hall Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Office: (989) 774-3412 FAX: (989) 774-3462 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/color1gm * On 8/11/08 1:47 PM, Scott D Lapoint [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Ecologers, It's time for me to invest in a new computer. I've long been a fan of Dell computers and PCs in general, but because of the issues I've seen with Vista, I've been considering a switch to Mac. The problems are one, Macs seem much more expensive than a comparatively equipped PC (which is a factor for a graduate student like me), and two, I can't seem to find any one in the ecology field that uses a Mac for work. I was hoping there was someone on this list that uses a Mac to perform GIS analyses, runs statistical packages like Systat or Program R, and maybe how they've found Mac's OS to work with in a field where apparently most of our colleagues are using Windows. Any input would be extremely useful at this stage. Thanks in advance. Scott Scott D. LaPoint Graduate Student SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 243 Illick Hall Syracuse, NY 13210
[ECOLOG-L] Moving from a PC to a Mac???
I had been using Linux on a PC for the last several years, but moved to a Mac just a little over a year ago. I now have a laptop and a desktop - both loaded with OSX and Windows XP (SAS hasn't realized that we use Macs again). I have to use Microsoft Office due to university policy on software compatibility. Most of it works fine - BUT don't upgrade to the newest release of Office for Mac (2008 I think). It seems to run slower, and they dinked Excel so that no macros or add-ins from previous versions work. The machines are well designed and can run programs native to OSX's brand of unix, with a little tinkering many other freely available unix programs, and by dual booting with XP, you can run windows-only software. Tom Martin Western Carolina University
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Replacing my HP Pavillion ZD8000 is long overdue; it still works but the display conked out (started acquiring vertical lines) coincident with the expiration of the warranty. No more HP for me, as the company rep denied the problem existed, and I have found their support lacking with their other products as well; I find their web interface reflective of their indifference as well. I have been limping along using it as a desktop with a separate monitor. So . . . . the question remains--Mac or PC? From the various comments thus far, I still can't quite make up my mind, but I plan to look into the Mac (however, rumor has it that Mac laptops have also had similar problems with the display). I started out with punch cards in the Air Force (IBM 360) and bought the first Compaq portable with the tiny screen and orange display and 250 KB. Many computers later I have suffered from my learning curve bending down instead of up, and justifiably or not, have grown to despise Microsoft in general, grunting as I have under their little cartoon characters that pop up to help me, ad nauseam. I guess, then, I'm ripe for a Mac, but all my archives are PC. But, when I tried a Mac for a few minutes I couldn't make sense of the icons (and could barely see them), but then, that probably wasn't a fair trial. I prefer keyboard commands to mouse clicks, but then, I know I can't have everything . . . Sorry this doesn't contribute anything, but I'll appreciate any comments and advice. WT - Original Message - From: Greg Colores [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:56 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac??? Just wanted to point out that if you price a comparably equipped Mac and PC the prices are actually very similar. When you configure them alike (videocard, no shared memory, etc.) you usually end up with a difference of roughly $100. If you can get an EDU discount it is pretty much a wash. And even if there is a difference, not having to deal with viruses, spyware, etc. makes it more than worth it. Greg Colores * Gregory M. Colores Associate Professor Department of Biology 185 Brooks Hall Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Office: (989) 774-3412 FAX: (989) 774-3462 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/color1gm * On 8/11/08 1:47 PM, Scott D Lapoint [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Ecologers, It's time for me to invest in a new computer. I've long been a fan of Dell computers and PCs in general, but because of the issues I've seen with Vista, I've been considering a switch to Mac. The problems are one, Macs seem much more expensive than a comparatively equipped PC (which is a factor for a graduate student like me), and two, I can't seem to find any one in the ecology field that uses a Mac for work. I was hoping there was someone on this list that uses a Mac to perform GIS analyses, runs statistical packages like Systat or Program R, and maybe how they've found Mac's OS to work with in a field where apparently most of our colleagues are using Windows. Any input would be extremely useful at this stage. Thanks in advance. Scott Scott D. LaPoint Graduate Student SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 243 Illick Hall Syracuse, NY 13210
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Hi all, from my point of view as a PC user who has research assistants who use macs, i've found that PC/mac compatibility problems do exist. This has caused me quite a few problems as we do a lot of data transfer around our group. I need my students to do work on collaborative projects and enter data into the same programs. While we can all run windows applications, the two are updated at different times, so i've found that features which are available in PC-windows are not available in mac-windows, and have had to find them PCs to work on. Also, my students regularly send me files which my PC reads as gobbledeegook even when the file formats should be intercompatible, I think for the same asynchronous update reason. We tried running windows on their macs using parallels, but the software my university supplies for this didn't work for their particular types of processor. These problems can probably be easily overcome by those who know about macs, but unfortunately I don't, and don't have time to learn. I think that if anyone gets a mac and need to interact with PC-users a lot, they should make sure they do learn how to get around these problems, otherwise the logistical implications are really frustrating! I hope this perspective is useful to anyone starting a lab group with lots of computer-based processes. Best wishes, Regan -- Dr Regan Early BioMed Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brown University Providence Rhode Island 02912 USA Office: 401-863-2799 Fax: 401-863-2941 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Scott D Lapoint Sent: Mon 8/11/2008 1:47 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac??? Hello Ecologers, It's time for me to invest in a new computer. I've long been a fan of Dell computers and PCs in general, but because of the issues I've seen with Vista, I've been considering a switch to Mac. The problems are one, Macs seem much more expensive than a comparatively equipped PC (which is a factor for a graduate student like me), and two, I can't seem to find any one in the ecology field that uses a Mac for work. I was hoping there was someone on this list that uses a Mac to perform GIS analyses, runs statistical packages like Systat or Program R, and maybe how they've found Mac's OS to work with in a field where apparently most of our colleagues are using Windows. Any input would be extremely useful at this stage. Thanks in advance. Scott Scott D. LaPoint Graduate Student SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 243 Illick Hall Syracuse, NY 13210
[ECOLOG-L] Fwd: Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship in Soil Microbial Ecology
Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship in Soil Microbial Ecology at Mississippi State University . A NSF-funded PhD project is available to an ambitious student interested in studying the succession of microbial communities during the process of soil and ecosystem development. The student will study within the frame work of a collaboration between the University of Georgia and Mississippi State University and have the opportunity to learn state of the art molecular techniques (e.g. cloning, pyrosequencing). Travel to study sites in Michigan and Georgia will be required. To learn more about the laboratory visit our website at www.pss.msstate.edu/soilmicro/index.htm. Salaries and research support are competitive. The 12-month stipend is 18,000/year, and student tuition will be remunerated by grant dollars. Applications received by Mar 1, 2008 will be guaranteed full consideration, with a starting date soon thereafter. The ideal candidate should have a degree in ecology, microbiology, agronomy, soil science or related field. Previous experience in molecular techniques is preferred. Mississippi State University is located in Starkville, MS (non-student population 25,000), a rapidly growing small city at the intersection of the upper gulf coastal plain, the blackland prairie, and the interior flatwoods. The culture boasts a mix of traditional conservative and progressive outlets. The grounds of the University comprise about 4,200 acres, including a beautiful mixture of farms, pastures, and woodlands. Applicants may complete the domestic or international MSU Graduate School application form located on the Mississippi State University website at: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/grad/admissions or apply online by following the link on the same page. All materials should be provided to the MSU Graduate School at the address shown on the application form. The application process can be accelerated if electronic copies of these same materials are sent to Dr. Mark Williams in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). I welcome student enquiries about the position via email. Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Mark Williams, Ph.D. Asst. Prof. Soil Microbiology/Ecology Plant and Soil Sciences 470 Dorman Hall, Mail Stop 9555 Mississippi State University, 39762 office: 662-325-2762 FAX:662-325-8742
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
I've experienced a few weird things when moving files between PC and Mac formats, mostly formatting issues. A big one to remember is the date math issue since it can cause you problems with your data (See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/180162). It's usually easy to spot since all your dates will be 4 years and a day off. Amy Macleod USGS - Glacier Field Station West Glacier, MT 59936 phone: 406 888-7987 fax: 406 888-5835 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[ECOLOG-L] Wildlife Research Technician, Banff National Park
*STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS* *Wildlife Field Technician * *Banff** National Park*** *Banff**, Alberta*** *Screening Criteria: * Applications will be screened against the following criteria and must clearly indicate that they meet the established criteria. * * *Language: *Proficiency in the use of English is essential** * * *Education: *Training or education in biological/environmental sciences. ** *Experience: *Previous field research experience involving tracking wildlife movements or quantifying animal use of wildlife crossing structures an asset. Winter field work experience an asset, including snowshoe and/or backcountry skiing experience. *Rating Criteria:* Candidates will be rated against the following criteria. Please note that the Assessment criteria has been aligned with the Agency's Values and Principles. *Candidates may also be* rated against education and experience. ** * * *Knowledge of: * · Proficient in database mgt (MS Access, Excel) and basic statistical analysis. · Mammal identification and tracking skills. *Ability inline with duties: * Primary 1. Conduct camera and track-pad monitoring of wildlife use every *2 days, *each week, at 26 crossing structures on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) in the Banff-Bow Valley. 2. Maintain the track pads, cameras and wire fences. Secondary 1. Participate in winter field work opportunities such as snow tracking, small mammal culvert monitoring and/or herbivory monitoring. 2. Assist with project outreach and communication activities. 3. Assist in preparing technical reports from research and monitoring. 4. Regularly communicate with project director and other wildlife staff on progress. *Personal Suitability:* * * Demonstrated independent work ethic Physically able to climb wire fences and rake track pads Effective interpersonal relationships Sound judgment within the field Dependable Flexibility is key *Remuneration*: $13.00-17.00 per hour depending upon experience. 40 hours per week. Accommodation provided. *Opportunities:* Field research experience in national park setting Work on a leading edge wildlife research project Opportunities to participate in other Parks Canada projects Nearby world-class skiing and backcountry recreation Deadline for applications September 30, 2008 *Please send cover letter indicating your current student status, citizenship, winter field work experience, resume and contact information for 3 references should be sent to * Name: Adam Ford Title: Research Associate, Banff Wildlife Crossings Project Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
Regan, I run mac and pc, but mostly mac. I find very few data transfer problems. Cheers, Jim -Original Message- From: Early, Regan [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:41 am Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac??? Hi all, from my point of view as a PC user who has research assistants who use macs, i've found that PC/mac compatibility problems do exist. This has caused me quite a few problems as we do a lot of data transfer around our group. I need my students to do work on collaborative projects and enter data into the same programs. While we can all run windows applications, the two are updated at different times, so i've found that features which are available in PC-windows are not available in mac-windows, and have had to find them PCs to work on. Also, my students regularly send me files which my PC reads as gobbledeegook even when the file formats should be intercompatible, I think for the same asynchronous update reason. We tried running windows on their macs using parallels, but the software my university supplies for this didn't work for their particular types of processor. These problems can probably be easily overcome by those who know about macs, but unfortunately I don't, and don't have time to learn. I think that if anyone gets a mac and need to interact with PC-users a lot, they should make sure they do learn how to get around these problems, otherwise the logistical implications are really frustrating! I hope this perspective is useful to anyone starting a lab group with lots of computer-based processes. Best wishes, Regan -- Dr Regan Early BioMed Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brown University Providence Rhode Island 02912 USA Office: 401-863-2799 Fax: 401-863-2941 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Scott D Lapoint Sent: Mon 8/11/2008 1:47 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac??? Hello Ecologers, It's time for me to invest in a new computer. I've long been a fan of Dell computers and PCs in general, but because of the issues I've seen with Vista, I've been considering a switch to Mac. The problems are one, Macs seem much more expensive than a comparatively equipped PC (which is a factor for a graduate student like me), and two, I can't seem to find any one in the ecology field that uses a Mac for work. I was hoping there was someone on this list that uses a Mac to perform GIS analyses, runs statistical packages like Systat or Program R, and maybe how they've found Mac's OS to work with in a field where apparently most of our colleagues are using Windows. Any input would be extremely useful at this stage. Thanks in advance. Scott Scott D. LaPoint Graduate Student SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 243 Illick Hall Syracuse, NY 13210
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
We have just upgraded our computers to MS Office 07 and bought some new computers. Amazing what some RAM can do to speed. Geez, I thought our last computer upgrade was amazing. This question might have been covered? I started out using only Mac's and was a Mac user before it really became cool. Had to learn all this PC stuff for the usual reasons. Am quite curious, and this is directed to Mac users. Can you use all the basice MS Office things on today's Mac's or is this wishful thinking. Would love to buy a Mac tomorrow. Is this wishful thinking? Thank you. Mike Nolan -- If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your number, best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address. After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request. Sincerely, J. Michael Nolan, Director Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit ** Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest Marine Ecology Spanish/Cultural Immersion Programs: Spain, Mexico, Central and South America Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit P.O. Box 141543 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49514-1543 USA Local/International Phone: 001.616.604.0546 Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721 Skype/MS IM: travelwithrandr AOL IM: buddythemacaw E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED] *Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses Web: http://rainforestandreef.org **
Re: [ECOLOG-L] moving from a PC to a Mac???
I switched from a PC to Mac a year ago. Thus far the PROS: For the most part, the Mac is a much better machine. It boots up much faster and not having to worry about viruses and spyware is great. It is awkward transition at first but you will figure it out after spending a few days on the Mac. I find windows to be very clunky now. Also the applications flow together really well. Macs really just seem to work better than PCs. I have found that moving documents back and forth is not a problem. I recently used Power Point (2008 version) on my Mac to make a poster and a talk. I had to use a PC to present the talk and print the poster and both converted perfectly. I think some of the conversion problems were fixed with the new Office (2008). CONS: The biggest negative is that there are a lot of important programs that do not run on Mac (Access, PopTools, SAS, GIS, Canvas). I use Parallels to run Windows and it works great. However, this adds to the cost of the computer as you will have to buy both the software and Windows. Also, it takes up memory and hard drive space. If something goes awry (less likely to happen on Mac) you will have to find a Mac-certified technician to fix it. This can be a big problem if you do not live in an urban area. Also, Macs are harder to fix yourself. This may be a coincidence, but three of my colleagues and myself bought Mac laptops in the last year and three of us had our hard drives crash. We lost everything that was not backed-up. OVERALL I think I would buy a PC if I had to do it over again. You could purchase quite a nice PC for the money you would spend on the Mac. The biggest reason for me is the programs that only work on Windows. If you will be on Windows the vast majority of the time I would stick with a PC. Hope that helps. Dan
