Questions for Mac Users (Vanity)

[MarkL]

Hi All,

My step mother is looking at buying a MAC and she (and I) really don't know too much about them... Well, let me put it this way: She knows nothing about computers, while I've never even seen a MAC up close, though I work in IT. We both have a number of questions.

My first bit of advice to her was to go to an Apple store, sit down with a sales rep, and see if the computer can do what she wants it to do. She currently has a Windows XP PC, and primarily uses paint programs for designing greeting cards as well as some other artwork (she's a retired graphic designer) for her daughter's business and her grand kids. She lives in Yonkers, NY, and she visited a store in White Plains at a Mall, but she told me that the people there weren't much help, and couldn't answer most of her questions. So I'm hoping that people here can help.

1) Is there a good, reputable Apple specialty store somewhere around Yonkers, NY (White Plains, etc) where she could go for a good demo, and that employs knowledgeable people? I seem to recall that there's a CompUSA near Central Ave and 119, but I don't know if it's one that sells Apple, and more importantly, I wonder how good any of their sales reps are...

2) How dangerous is using mail order to save some money on the MACs? Has anyone used dealmac.com? Are there any reputable mail order MAC dealers? Are there any issues to watch out for when buying a new MAC mail order? What about warranty issues? What about going with a refurbed system?

3) Does the MAC come with a paint program? How does it compare with some of the freeware/shareware or even commercial PC programs? Are there any freeware/shareware "paint" programs for MACs? Any decent (but simple) commercial paint programs? She may eventually also get Photoshop Elements for the MAC, but I have no doubt that this would be WAY beyond her. As I said, she doesn't really know anything about computers, and she has a HUGE phobia about them.

4) How is file compatability between PCs and MACs? I figure that I'll either burn all of her work to CDs or maybe copy them onto a flash drive to move to the MAC. Are MACs OK with bitmap (.BMP) files? I'm sure that they're probably OK with TIFFs, PCX, GIF, and JPG (or am I assuming too much?)

5) She would like to be able to use some of her existing hardware if possible. She's got an HP Office Jet 6110 "All in One" and according to the HP web site, it should work. She's also got a Wacom graphics tablet, a CTE-430/W. I really couldn't find anything much about this on the Wacom web site. I did find a reference to the Graphire3 in a google search based on the model number. However, I don't know if this is a USB or a serial interface model (the Graphire3 mentions USB), and that question is WAY beyond what my step mother is able to answer for me. She's afraid to follow the cable and tell me what the connector looks like. If it is a USB model, it should work with no problems. I don't know about a serial model.

Anyway, any help here would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again!

Mark

[MarkL]

Any help would be appreciated!

[johnny7]

If you have doubts about local dealers/discount houses... buy it from the Apple Store. As for a Wacom Tablet... I use one on my MacBook Pro: Model XD-0912-U. I bought it for my Mac G4(partitioned w/System9) and it works fine on the 17'' laptop.

[backhoe]

Swordmaker, aren’t you the Mac guy around here?
MarkL has the sort of questions I’d be asking in a similar situation.

[gridlock]

Questions for Mac Users

We don't use McCain. McCain uses us....

[Lil'freeper]

1) Is there a good, reputable Apple specialty store somewhere around ...

Search the apple website for "retail stores".

2) How dangerous is using mail order to save some money on the MACs?

We've had no problems, though we haven't used the one you mentioned. You can order from apple, too.

3) Does the MAC come with a paint program? How does it compare with some of the freeware/shareware or even commercial PC programs? Are there any freeware/shareware "paint" programs for MACs? Any decent (but simple) commercial paint programs? She may eventually also get Photoshop Elements for the MAC, but I have no doubt that this would be WAY beyond her. As I said, she doesn't really know anything about computers, and she has a HUGE phobia about them.

Macs come with iLife which is iPhoto, imovie, iBlog, Comic Life (which, if she scrapbooks at all, she'll love), photobooth, etc. I highly recommend Photoshop Elements. It's not any more complicated than any freebie "paint" program.

4) How is file compatability between PCs and MACs? I figure that I'll either burn all of her work to CDs or maybe copy them onto a flash drive to move to the MAC. Are MACs OK with bitmap (.BMP) files? I'm sure that they're probably OK with TIFFs, PCX, GIF, and JPG (or am I assuming too much?)

It's the 21st century.

5) She would like to be able to use some of her existing hardware if possible..

Shouldn't be a problem. Macs and Wacoms go waaaaaaaaay back.

[rlmorel]

Hi MarkL,
Check this link to find an Apple Store near you:

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=apple+store+yonkers+ny

I agree with the other poster’s comments (Lil’Freeper), Photoshop Elements is good for most types of users including beginners. There are freeware and shareware out there good for graphics, try this link:

http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/graphics/image-edit

Versiontracker.com is a great place to go for safe, reliable and clean software downloads.

Filenames are not a problem...although each platform does have its limitations. Just don’t use puctuations, and you are usually okay.

The Wacom Tablet is probably a USB...I don’t know how long ago they stopped selling the serial port tablets, but that type wouldn’t work in any case.

All the included Mac Applications are wonderful for beginners, especially iPhoto...very nice app.

Lastly, you don’t really gain much buying from a third party. They really can’t mark the Mac down very much or even enough to make it worth it, though sometimes they will throw in a printer or some other thing to make it more worthwhile.

I would buy directly from an Apple Store. Go to one near you and speak with a representative, I have found them to be fairly good, but as with anything, you might get someone who is less talented. They will usually ask questions of their co-workers, though, if they don’t know.

[Swordmaker]

Freeper requesting Mac advice... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[jacquej]

She might like this program for her cards and graphics... I have it, and am more than happy.

There is a free demo, so she can try before she buys. I use it for everything from designing needlework patterns to preliminary design drawings for my Architect husband...

http://www.eazydraw.com/

[N3WBI3]

#1) The best place is an apple store everything else it hit or miss

The Closest to Yonkers without having to go into Manhattan or Jersey would be

125 Westchester Ave
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 428-1877

#2) I dont know I would be as careful as any other time you buy from a third party on line

#3) Im not sure about built in but there is a ton of freeware that is ‘paint’ or better like GIMP http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/ Gimp will also be as good as elements for all but a small minority of users.

#4) File Computability is fine especially the image formats you mentioned

#5) The only area that Mac hardware has ever wonked me is with printers but that has gotten worlds better in the past several years. If its serial you’re SOL but looking at their site I cant even find your model number. The few items I did look at all had osx drivers..

[Swordmaker]

She lives in Yonkers, NY, and she visited a store in White Plains at a Mall, but she told me that the people there weren't much help, and couldn't answer most of her questions. So I'm hoping that people here can help.

First of all, it's "Mac" not "MAC"... MAC is an acronym referring to a Media Access Card. ;^)>

I'm very surprised at her not getting knowledgeable Apple reps in an Apple store... I suggest she try again at the White Plains store. My experience and the experiences of my clients at Apple Stores is that they are very helpful and are also very knowledgeable about the availability of Mac software. Every time I have been in an Apple Store the staff has been willing to spend as much time with me as I require... Clerks at places like Best Buy and CompUSA or independent Apple resellers will be much less knowledgeable.

She might want to try the Apple flagship store on 5th Avenue... it's the largest in the world and is open 24/7/365. All the Apple Stores have free introductory classes... and you can also purchase a year's worth of 1 on 1 training for $99.

Perhaps you should go with her and assist with the questions. It would help her and let you become knowledgeable as well.

2) How dangerous is using mail order to save some money on the MACs? Has anyone used dealmac.com? Are there any reputable mail order MAC dealers? Are there any issues to watch out for when buying a new MAC mail order? What about warranty issues? What about going with a refurbed system?

MacMall, the Apple online Store, SmallDog, Amazon are all safe to use. Refurbed Macs are generally only available from Apple and come with a full factory warranty. It matters not to Apple where you buy your Mac... you can still get full service and technical support as well as warranty exchanges, etc., at the nearest Apple Store.

3) Does the MAC come with a paint program? How does it compare with some of the freeware/shareware or even commercial PC programs? Are there any freeware/shareware "paint" programs for MACs? Any decent (but simple) commercial paint programs? She may eventually also get Photoshop Elements for the MAC, but I have no doubt that this would be WAY beyond her. As I said, she doesn't really know anything about computers, and she has a HUGE phobia about them.

There are large numbers of Mac paint programs out there, commercial, shareware and freeware. Remember, the Mac has been the pre-eminent graphics platform for over 23 years.

4) How is file compatability between PCs and MACs? I figure that I'll either burn all of her work to CDs or maybe copy them onto a flash drive to move to the MAC. Are MACs OK with bitmap (.BMP) files? I'm sure that they're probably OK with TIFFs, PCX, GIF, and JPG (or am I assuming too much?)

You will have no problems. As to getting her work from the PC to the Mac, you can take both computers to the Apple Store and they will migrate all your documents for you for free. There are also some commercial applications that will do it.

5) She would like to be able to use some of her existing hardware if possible. She's got an HP Office Jet 6110 "All in One" and according to the HP web site, it should work. She's also got a Wacom graphics tablet, a CTE-430/W. I really couldn't find anything much about this on the Wacom web site. I did find a reference to the Graphire3 in a google search based on the model number. However, I don't know if this is a USB or a serial interface model (the Graphire3 mentions USB), and that question is WAY beyond what my step mother is able to answer for me. She's afraid to follow the cable and tell me what the connector looks like. If it is a USB model, it should work with no problems. I don't know about a serial model.

That should be no problem if the device connects via USB. You usually can plug in any device and the Mac will recognize it instantly and start using it... without installing any drivers. The Mac is truly plug-and-play. If the device has Bonjour, it is even easier. If it is REALLY OLD and uses a parallel port, she should buy new equipment anyway.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Just started switching from pc(xp) last summer. bought an older mac-mini as a desktop replacement for my oldest daughter. She loved it, so did I.

Then in October I bought a macbook refurb from store.apple.com, and will do so again. Probably far too soon, we kinda fight over it...

I can’t much speak to the software you are looking for.

My 14-yr-old started creating dvd’s for friends and youth-group within a week of the mini’s arrival.

Safari is a nice browser, still need FireFox for some things. If you get somewhere and Safari isn’t doing what you want, try FF.

Good luck. (Oh, and you came to the right place. Swordmaker does a great job - get on his mac ping list!!!)

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I seem to recall that there's a CompUSA near Central Ave and 119

. . . but I seem to recall that CompUSA went belly up.

[MediaMole]

Pixelmator is another good graphics/paint program for the Mac. It is $59.

[50mm]

My two cents: I've used both MacMall and MacConnection multiple times and never had a problem. I've used both Macs and PCs extensively aover the last 25 years and prefer Macs. With the new Macs you can use both Mac OS and Windows XP/Vista if you provide your own copy of the Windows OS. At MacMall you can even get Windows XP or Vista preinstalled.

MacMall Mac with Windows pre-installed

[thefactor]

in another life i worked for a large advertising agency in NYC. i was on the business end. we all used PC's. every single art director/writer/creative person used MAC's and loved them for the design/artistic aspect.

i bought my girl a macbook last xmas and myself one this xmas. best thing i ever did.

ichat is the craziest thing ever! built in webcam right in the frame of the computer. when i'm away, my girl and i just visit on video and it's like i'm home. well, almost.

really though, i would definitely go to a MAC store. they are great people who actually know what they are talking about. and they are great about servicing stuff they sold. MAC's are more expensive soup to nuts. you have to buy word/excel/office if you want it. but it's worth it. good luck!

[thefactor]

ps - apple.com has some refurbished stuff from time to time and they stand behind their stuff. it is the official site. about 200 bucks cheaper too.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

My first bit of advice to her was to go to an Apple store, sit down with a sales rep, and see if the computer can do what she wants it to do.

That is IMHO exactly what she should do, after she takes inventory of everything she uses, hardware and software, with her PC.

My experience is that they do have the ability to answer questions. The Apple Store has its own repair section and its own consultation section. It is unlikely that she will have a question that they can't answer, IMHO, among all those people. My experience at my "local" (50 minute drive here on Long Island) Apple Store was that they were quite good, and no pressure at all. They could probably have egged me on a little, and sold about $500 more computer to me, but they didn't. They can't possibly be on commission.

In addition, they offer a $100 contract to provide up to one (15 minute, I think it is) consultation a week for a year. If you think you need it, that might be right up her alley. Assuming the Apple Store is reasonably accessible. If it were next door, I'd probably have bought it myself. They also have free classes on the use of the mac for particular applications, if she can find one at a convenient time that she's interested in. I'd have more interest in that if it were closer, too.

If she's tech phobic and also artsy, I would not consider failing to get her to an Apple Store if she were my mother (besides, Apple makes money on their stores, and I own a few shares of AAPL because I think Steve Jobs can get to the nub of what computers and digital devices should work like, and profitably get people to make it happen).

As to file compatibility, I bought the iWork package because I don't think a computer is a computer without a spreadsheet and a word processing program - and because my wife wanted to be able to read some Office files. I have tested the capability to do that, and it works. Some nice features in iWork, slanted toward making pretty documents incorporating images.

My son-in-law has an art degree and is a serious photography hobbyist - and he loves his Mac laptop. Macs are not built with sub-$1000 specs, tho . . .

[SunkenCiv]

Hope this helps.

[DesScorp]

The best thing about MacMall? No sales tax. That makes a big difference.

[Military family member]

I use photoshop for the Mac and it works great!

I would stear away from Paint programs as the ones I have seen want to save files at Bitmaps.