Ok well I want to get an apple but am unsure as to the disadvantages. I have read the entire discussion fourom but still have some questions. Is there a version of Photoshop for the Powerbook G5? Laso, downloading files from the internet. If I went to a site like www.download.com could I get any one of thoise files and use them on my computer? Also, does the apple comp have a version of Firefox for it, and a program similar to Word and one to PowerPoint?
Thanks for the input :cool:

Despite the great things I've heard of Apple, I just can't imagine switching... mainly for the issues you bring up: software.

Then the "support network" of my friends would all be gone, too.

Just my 1.5 cents worth on it.

My Mac experience is badly dated. However, the best way to find out if the sites you mention have software available that you want, is to go to them and look for a Mac link. Find out what version of Mac OS the Powerbook G5 comes with or is available for it. I would be very surprised with Mac's reputation for graphics that Photoshop isn't available for all versions of it. I have it on my old Power Mac, OS 7.6.1.

The Mac should come bundled with software to do most tasks although learning new software is a pain. It should be able to open most MS files. There are workalikes including Open Office likely available for free.

The one thing you may have trouble finding is antivirus, spyware sweeping, etc. software. The good news is you don't need it. My wife and I have been surfing the net using the old Power Mac since 1998, and never had a virus, Trojan, worm, or spyware. We skip the porno sites. Same for the last 3 years on this PC with Linux. Some of that stuff may have been bundled with Mandrake 10, but I have never checked. I never do any scans.

I do not recommend Linux unless you have somebody proficient to help you. I am totally at the mercy of my kids and my son in law. Even with the Mac, you may need to go to a more Mac oriented site than here. Stick around for dog, plumbing, electrical, Windows, and HVAC help. Some other forums may have good people too, but I don't look at them much or know enough to tell if people are getting good advice. Cro is doing a great job on automotive too.

I am a very avid Mac user and a big enthusiast as well. I use a PowerBook G4 for managing a computer network and all things related (writing documents in Word, creating spreadsheets in excel, etc.) It is a great computer and easy to use.

Microsoft Office is available and provides the following progams for Mac: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Entourage (Outlook), and Virtual PC (run Windows programs). Entourage is Personal information manager on Mac instead of Outlook - it does mail, calendar, etc. Pretty much everything Outlook does but with a slightly different layout.

Photoshop exists on Mac also - check out www.adobe.com for more info.

As for limitations, it's a "the glass is half-full or half-empty" kind of thing. There are far fewer games available for macintosh than for PC and the business programs are limited but there isn't anything you can do on a PC that you can't do on a Mac although you may do it a little different on a Mac than on the PC.

I find using a Mac is an absolute joy and overall easier to manage and install. There is a great article in the December issue of Maximum PC (I think) that one of the editors wrote about his experience in switching to a Mac. I'll see if I can get the specifics.

I don't use a windows machine anymore unless I have to (my company has some custom software that runs on windows and not mac.) Even then, I could run it in Virtual PC but to be fair, it's a little slow.

I hope this helps.

Carvel

Read my other APPLE posts, if you have no deep rooted love for the PC, and change is a great idea, I can garuntee you won't be disappointed and the software thing is a non-issue as everything is ported and you can use virtual PC or some other virtualization software to mimic a XP box IF necessary.

JC