PC User Seriously Considering MacBook Pro - Advice Needed!!

Hey guys and girls,
So I have been using PCs now for almost 20 years and of course Windows since the 3.1 releases. I have been using a Sony Vaio laptop for the last 3 and a half years and the poor thing is just getting slower and slower and formatting the computer does not make much difference at all. Also I am getting a little bit tired of problems associated with Windows and PCs and although I know how to solve them I just want an easier life so I am thinking about upgrading to the MacBook Pro.
I have played around on a MacBook for a small amount of time as a friend of mine has one. I have read up alot about Leopard and I really like its design and features (so I will wait until Leopard is released before I buy). My main concern really is that I need a laptop that is capable of business tasks (as I run my own business) and I also wish to use it for Audio Recording (demos, EPs etc). So I need to know what MacBook / MacBook Pro would be best for me bearing in mind I have never owned a Mac before!!
If you can give me some advise I would really appreciate it! Thanks =)
P.S. I am looking to steer away from Windows as much as possible but I will need it to run certain products associated with my business that only use Internet Explorer 6 or above.

Welcome to the forums. Glad to see you are having a serious think about moving to the Mac and OS X. The Vaio is a well-made machine, but Windows is not to everyone's taste these days.
Many of the problems you have on Windows do not exist on Macs but that is not to say they are not problem-free. Before you settle on the model (and the date) have a look at Apple's own resources, for example their "< href="http://www.apple.com/support/">Solutions" including Switching 101.
As well as a version of Microsoft Office for Mac, there are a number of other solutions such as Open Office or (my choice) NeoOffice -- perhaps a little slower but certainly usable. There is also the new Numbers application in iWork (including Keynote (instead of PowerPoint) and Pages (instead of Word).
If you are looking at such professional applications as sound recording, then you would probably be best looking at the MacBookPro: the only choice you need to make is size (15", 17") and configuration. Go for what you can afford, but also factor in buying more memory as soon as you can.
If you need to run IE6, there are a couple of solutions: a Windows installation using Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion; or perhaps Crossover for one or two Win applications (mine does run IE6); and you might also look for alternative browsers as sometimes these are enough to spoof those websites that think they need IE6.
If there are other must have Windows applications, you might try with Crossover first (download a trial to check it out) or you may have to consider one of the three solutions (above). There is a Boot Camp forum and I believe a Parallels user group where you might find additional answers.

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Looking to buy my first MacBook Pro, advice needed

Hey all, this is my first post. I am looking to become a MacBook Pro owner for the first time. I have an iphone5 and an ipad but have decided it's time to step up. I have decided to give my ipad to my wife because she likes the more portable device and just uses it for web browsing and Facebook.
I am looking for opinions, I am currently leaning towards getting the 13" macbook with retina display. I will be using it mainly for Internet browsing. Downloading music and films. Managing them and using iTunes etc. will also be looking to stream what I download to my ps3 if that is possible. I am not a massive user in terms of I do not video editing or music editing professionally but like the idea of iPhoto and iMovie just for playing around and seeing what I can do. Could turn into a new hobby for me.
I had a windows laptop previously and it became riddled in viruses and slowed down so quickly so will not be getting one of those again. In terms of MacBooks do they generally stand the test of time? It will not be slowing down on me anytime soon will it?
My main concern is the storage. I feel my best bet is the 256gb hard drive and an external hard drive also.
Is there anything I need to consider other than what I have mentioned above before buying one having never used a mac before? Does the App Store work the same as on the iphone? Are there any really good apps to get me started?
All advice welcomed. Thanks

Depending on your intended use, you may want to max out the RAM to 16GB. This will future proof your Mac to some extent.
Althouigh your MacBookPro won't slow down over time, OSX RAM requirements may increase with future updates.
I agree a good backup plan is essential. Time Machine for incremental backups and a cloning strategy with an offisite rotation is ideal.
You may want to consider storing Music/Video on your network, either a NAS device or USB drive attached to a router. A future purchase could be a MacMini as a Server.
As for applications, the usual office apps are available in Mac versions (MS Office being the one that comes to mind). I would start with the Apple programs and then, if you need others, come back here or search the web for reviews.
Lastly, consider whether you need to run Windows either in Bootcamp (dual boot configuration) or as a virtual machine. For example, you may have Windows software that is not available on the Mac.
Good luck and enjoy your new Mac.
Sam.

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You will need the original Tiger installation disks. Insert the install disk, open Disk Utility from the UTILITIES menu, erase the HDD and inatall the OSX. That will create your own Apple ID. The second option is to use a retail Leopard or Snow Leopard disk instead, but they do not come with all of the applications.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Ciao.

I have a new Macbook pro and need to run some Windows software, it appears "Parallel" should work well from what I've have read. Will I have any issues or problems accessing and printing from various printers on my Windows 7 network within Parallel?

I have a new Macbook pro and need to run some Windows software, it appears "Parallel" should work well from what I've have read. Will I have any issues or problems accessing and printing from various printers on my Windows 7 network within Parallel? Is Parallel in fact the best way to go?

First, back up all data immediately, as your boot drive might be failing.
There are a few other possible causes of generalized slow performance that you can rule out easily.
Reset the System Management Controller.
If you have many image or video files on the Desktop with preview icons, move them to another folder.
If applicable, uncheck all boxes in the iCloud preference pane.
Disconnect all non-essential wired peripherals and remove aftermarket expansion cards, if any.
Check your keychains in Keychain Access for excessively duplicated items.
If you have more than one user account, you must be logged in as an administrator to carry out this step.
Launch the Console application in the same way you launched Activity Monitor. Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Select the 50 or so most recent entries in the log. Copy them to the Clipboard (command-C). Paste into a reply to this message (command-V). You're looking for entries at the end of the log, not at the beginning.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Important: Some personal information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting. That should be easy to do if your extract is not too long.

I just created a new profile/user on my MacBook Pro. My pointer/mouse. It works fine in my older user profile, but when I go to the new profile my mac will not respond to clicks. Mouse moves but will not click. Already tried restarting and the pram zap.

I just created a new profile/user on my MacBook Pro. My pointer/mouse on my trackpad. It works fine in my older user profile, but when I go to the new profile my mac will not respond to clicks. The Mouse moves but will not click. Already tried restarting and the pram zap. The problem starts when I log out of my main profile. I get to the login screen and my laptop stops responding to clicks. When I manage to make my way back to my main profile the mouse works perfectly. Should I just delete the new profile and try again?

If the modem is also a router, either use the modem in bridge and run pppoe client on the TC.. that is assuming ADSL or similar eg vdsl. If it is cable service.. and the modem is a router, then bridge the TC.. go to internet page and select connect by ethernet and below that set connection sharing to bridge.
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Fingers crossed, the following document may be of some help with that:
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Moving Libraries between users on same MacBook Pro

So when I bought my new MacBook Pro, I started a new user account and imported my old user acct from my Black MacBook. This may have been a mistake because now I have an iPhoto library and an iTunes library for each user on my new MacBook Pro. I would like to move these libraries from my old MacBook user acct to the new acct on the new MacBook Pro. Is there a way to do this? I ultimately want to delete the old MacBook acct and just have one user on my MacBook Pro. Does that make sense?
Thanks!
T

Log into the old account. Drag the Libraries to the Users/Shared folder.
Switch to the new Account. Drag the Libraries to the Pictures or Music folders as appropriate.
Regards
TD

How do I share programs between users on my MacBook Pro.

How do I share programs between users on my MacBook Pro. I downloaded mine craft under my user name and I just made my son a new user on the computer but I can't figure out how to put mine craft on his desktop

Try going to system preferences, then go to users and groups- find the option to allow sharing among users
I hope this solved your problem(: btw- I love minecraft!!!

I'm running 10.5.8 on a MacBook Pro and need to update to Java 7 in order to take a software assessment test for a potential job. The Java app will only upgrade from 10.6 or higher. What can I do?

I'm running 10.5.8 on a MacBook Pro and need to update to Java 7 to take software assessment tests online for a potential job. What can I do?

Apple Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 10
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I would suggest you upgrade your computer's OS minimally to Snow Leopard 10.6.8.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.
     Snow Leopard General Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
       2. 1GB of memory
       3. 5GB of available disk space
       4. DVD drive for installation
       5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
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       6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
           terms apply.
Upgrading from Snow Leopard to Lion or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99.
If you sign into the App Store and try to purchase Mountain Lion but the App Store says your computer is not compatible then you may still be able to upgrade to Lion per the following information.
A. Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
     OS X Mountain Lion - System Requirements
       Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
         1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 7,1 or later
         2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 5,1 or later
         3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 2,1 or later
         5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         7. Xserve (Early 2009) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
     Are my applications compatible?
         See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps.
     For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion.
B. Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
     Lion System Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
           or Xeon processor
       2. 2GB of memory
       3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
       4. 7GB of available space
       5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

How do i delete a user from my macbook pro?

How do I delete a user from my macbook pro?

If you've admin privileges and there are no files in the user account that you want to keep, just go to System Preferences>Users & Groups and unlock it with your admin password. Select the user that you want to delete and click on the minus button. You'll get a warning before you completely delete the user but once it's gone, it's gone.
Clinton

I just bought a MacBook Pro, and need to d/l my photos from my memory card reader. iphoto keeps coming up as the app to use, but the column on the left says "No name, and shows 0 photos on the black screen. How do I view the photos on the reader?

I just bought a MacBook Pro, and need to d/l my photos from my memory card reader. iphoto keeps coming up as the app to use, but the column on the left says "No name, and shows 0 photos on the black screen. How do I view the photos on the reader?

Did it... When I clicked on "No name", a file folder came up and, I forgot to put MacBook Pro in the name bar... That was it! Maybe someone else can use this post Hopefully...

I cannot load Lion for my macbook pro - it needs a core 2etc

i cannot buy Lion for my macbook pro - it needs a core 2, Duo, Core i3, Corei5, Corei7, or Xeon processor!! now what!
What do I need to do?

laundry bleach wrote:
applefandan -
I have seen reports of people who have replaced the processor - putting a core 2 duo where there was a core cuo - and Lion still will not work. Be cautious about doing this.
Best of luck.
Oh thank you I was unaware of this. Yes please be cautius if you intend to replace your processor.

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I have a 2007 MacBook Pro that needs its screen backlight replaced. How do I go about doing this? I'm told it is vintage and Apple will no longer fix it. If I am paying why not??

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
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Just bought a new macbook pro. i need to transfer information from my old mac. help please?

just bought a new macbook pro. i need to transfer information from my old mac. help please?

Hi,
See Here
Transfer from Old to New
http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/Setup.html

Transfering librarys between 2 user accts on MacBook Pro

So when I bought my new MacBook Pro, I started a new user account and imported my user acct from my Black MacBook. This may have been a mistake because now I have an iTunes library and an iPhoto library for each user. I would like to import these libraries from my old MacBook user acct to the new acct I set up on the new MacBook Pro. Is there a way to do this? I ultimately want to delete the old MacBook acct and just have one user on my MacBook Pro. Does that make sense?
Thanks!
T

Your problem is, one user, even an Admin user, doesn't normally have access to another user's stuff. That's kinda the point of separate accounts.
There's no eay way to "merge" accounts. See Transferring files from one User Account to another.
Your best bet is probably to start over, and use Setup Assistant. See How do I set up a new Mac from my old Mac or its backups? and note the green "Second chance" box there.

PC User Seriously Considering MacBook Pro - Advice Needed!!

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