Ok, it's been a little over a month since I've switched to a Mac, and it's really been an eye opening experience. I think I've definitely done the right thing, and I'm glad that I'm able to use both systems on one machine now.
In no particular order, here's my observations about the Mac:
1. Everything 'Just Works'
They really aren't kidding when they say that, it's really true.... honest....
Every time I have gone to do something on the Mac, my mood has slowly been changing. At first it was with a slight trepidation, what will I have to do to accomplish the same task I did on my Windows machines? Slowly this has changed to excitement when I go to do a new thing I've never done, because I know that in very little time I'll be accomplishing something, instead of scratching my head, digging through registry entries, searching google, downloading drivers....etc. Examples to follow.
2. My Windows Mobile 5 PDA has become useful again
I know at first this doesn't seem to make sense, I mean I just switched to a Mac, shouldn't I be using at least a Palm, instead of my Windows PDA? At first I thought of using my Palm, but I'd miss a lot of the cool features I like in my PDA, Wi-Fi, two card slots, the security etc. Of course this was something that out of the box the Mac can't do (the things it can't do out of the box I can count on one hand still).
I ended up getting a program called The Missing Sync from a company called MarkSpace. Now this was definitely one of the trepidation times, as anyone who's used ActiveSync can tell you, it is not a pretty sight to connect your PDA to your PC.
I started the install (and about 2 minutes later) it said it was done and required a reboot. Wow, this is the FIRST program that required a reboot (in fact I think this is the first time I've rebooted it)
Well after I logged in, I see a little dialog that says 'Hey, I've found hx2795 on bluetooth, would you like to sync to this device?'. At this point I was flabbergasted, I've NEVER gotten the PDA to sync on the Windows PC with Bluetooth, in fact the sync wouldn't even recognize it. So brave soul that I am, I clicked yes. I then configured how I'd like it to sync, and POOF away it goes, about 10 minutes later (first syncs are always longer) it says it's done. I check my PDA and sure enough, not only did it sync up well, it actually took my 4 calenders on iCal and combined them into one on the PDA, using the category as the Calendar name. SWEEEEETTT!!!!
3. The 15- minute DVD
Now creating DVD's on a PC can be an art (a kill a chicken during a full moon and sprinkle it's blood over the PC kind of art), but on the Mac it's supposed to be much easier.
Wow, that's another understatement. I had some video left from our last Team Building trip that was still on my camcorder. I hadn't wanted to fight with setting up and configuring the Firewire on my PC, so these wonderful memories have been lying stagnant, just for the Mac.
Ok, I did do some searching on Google for drivers, but I couldn't find any, mmmmm. Well let's just plug it in and see if it tells me where to find the drivers.
*BING* little pop up 'Would you like to import the video from your SD-23 camcorder?'
Ummm, yeah, let's do that....
*iMovie opens, then another pop up* 'The tape is not at the beginning would you like to rewind before starting?'
Yeah, that'd be a good thing....
*whirring and video importing happens*
*another pop up* 'Would you like to make chapters from your video?'
Yeah, I like those....
*It actually splits the chapters CORRECTLY* *faints*
*Pop up* 'Would you like to send this video to iDvd to make a DVD?'
*with lots of confidence* YEAH, let's do that thing....
*little more spinning* 'Please pick a clip to add to the title page'
Ok, not hard, drag and drop
'Please pick a theme for your DVD'
Ok, I can do that
'Would you like to edit the menu?'
Sure, let's move things around, make a more dramatic build-up. I then get a nice GRAPHICAL interface where I can drag and drop clips, menu items, and basically the easiest editing I've ever done for a DVD menu.
'Ready to burn, click here'
*CLICK*
Ok, now here it did take a little more than 15 minutes, it had to encode the video to DVD format, and it took about an hour, so I had some lunch.
'Your DVD is completed, would you like to archive your video?'
Yeah, I like having more space....
And that's it, from the point of plugging in my camera, to having a completed DVD, and my video files being packaged up into a nice simple file for storing.
I'll continue with more observations a little later, but overall I'm VERY pleased with my Mac, so much so, that I'll be selling my Laptop, and donating my other machines.