Gathering some input and thoughts on switching from being a PC user for 20 years. DW and I are already iPhone and iPad uses and have upgraded these devices a couple times because we outgrew the storage capacity of the older phone and tables. So we’re already familiar with Apple and both have iTunes accounts. Some of the specific questions and concerns we have is with peripheral devices like printers, external hard drives and data files stored on flash drives and portable HDD’s. Will our PC data files (i.e. word documents and photos) work on an iMac? We understand the iMac will be a chunk of change and we plan to spec it for RAM and processing speed to be higher then our current needs. Any input on that would be helpful. The iMac Pro is not in our budget. Hopefully keeping this under 2 grand. Thank you for any input.

Prepare for a huge/frustrating learning curve, going from long time experienced Windows users to "newby" Mac users. iPhone and iPad experience won't help much. They don't use the same OS as the Macs do.

I have both and there is nothing better about the MAC vs Windows and like the other person said there is a frustrating learning curve that probably is not worth it.

I guess I must have missed this so-called "frustration", having switched years ago from PC to Mac ... couldn't pay me to go back and be continually abused by PC when Mac is about as Plug 'n Play as it gets. To me a computer is a toaster - I don't want to know how it works, I just want it to make "toast", and for me that's what my Macs do. :B

Same experience here as SoundGuy. I found it an easy transition and really like how Mac programs don't clutter up the registry like Win programs do. And I updated my laptop and iMac to the newest OS and it was easy and seamless.I first bought a Mac laptop for myself then a year later bought one for my wife who figured it out pretty quickly. Now I have a 27" iMac on my desk. Love it!But check on the iMac, on some recent models you can easily upgrade the ram.

Mikesr wrote:Some of the specific questions and concerns we have is with peripheral devices like printers, external hard drives and data files stored on flash drives and portable HDD’s. Will our PC data files (i.e. word documents and photos) work on an iMac? You will be able to access all of your old data, but you may have to buy extra "conversion" software. Also, don't expect to be able to go back and forth seamlessly for the one format to another.Mikesr wrote:We understand the iMac will be a chunk of change and we plan to spec it for RAM and processing speed to be higher then our current needs. Any input on that would be helpful.I have been using computers of one kind or another for over 40 years. Multiple different OSes, etc, etc. Never used a Mac except for a few minutes. I have always been impressed with both their hardware and software, but I just can NOT bring myself to pay the BIG PREMIUM price !!

Switching from PC to iMac ? | Good Sam Community

TechWriter
Explorer
Apr 28, 2018
Something to keep in mind if you want to use a VESA-mounted iMac like this . . .

If you're ordering a new iMac, you can buy one with a built-in VESA mount. After-market VESA mounts can be klunky.
tragusa3
Explorer
Apr 28, 2018
Lifelong PC user here. Frustrated as all heck in 2014 I bought an iMac 27" (middle of the road specs). It has changed my computing experience! In nearly 4 years, it has never hesitated to do exactly what I expected it to do. I have used Final Cut Pro for thousands of hours of HD video editing and it has done it flawlessly. My hobby of video editing would have never existed the way life was on a PC.

In another year or two, I will spend the Apple premium tax again, HAPPILY!

BTW, the learning curve was all of two days.
1492
Moderator
Apr 27, 2018
I use both my PC and iMAC every day. Primarily Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator or other developer work on iMAC, which I prefer over WIN platform. And enterprise stuff like MS360, or Adobe Premiere Pro/After Effects (Video) on DELL WIN10 workstation, as it has faster processors and can accommodate Adobe's recommended nVidia graphic cards internally, which essentially can blow the iMAC out of the water.

For travel, I tend to take a MS Surface Pro or DELL XPS Ultrabook, both WIN10. But at home, prefer my MacBook Air.

I would definitely buy an external HD drive for backups on iMAC or PC, most any brand will do. Though, IMO, iMAC has a far better backup/recovery system "built-in" than WIN. If your internal drive fails in your iMAC, you're likely not going to be able to replace it unless you're a techie with specialized tools. About all you can do is upgrade the RAM yourself, not too difficult for most users. But then again, you will also have access to walk-in support from Apple stores.

You can install WIN on iMAC with Apple's free Boot Camp. Parallels is a paid app. Though, one caveat, a WIN or MAC OS upgrade can cause Boot Camp to fail on your system, requiring a restore. Another reason you should make sure to have backups.

I also prefer using a separate wireless mouse on my iMAC, which is actually a Microsoft ergo mouse. :B But works better than what comes with the iMAC.

Another very handy accessory has been this inexpensive hub, which adds USB3 ports and/or SDHC card reader to the front of my iMAC. Especially, convenient for portable flash drives. It works very well, attaching to the vents on the under side, though need to make sure the screw is on firm. But will not scratch the case. I bought mine on Amazon.
pauldub
Explorer
Apr 27, 2018
I've been using PCs for at least 30 years and I've also had a macbook for the last 4 years. I really love my iPhone and iOS but I've never cared for the macbook's OS. I've used Windows for so long that none of it's quirks seem like quirks while the mac quirks still seem like quirks. I think it's easier to make the change if your brain is younger.
Larry-D
Explorer II
Apr 27, 2018
I wouldn't say monthly but it does let you know when there's an update and then gives you the option of installing it. You can ignore it for a while but then it'll do it on its own or when you turn it off and then back on. At least that's what my mac mini does.
neal10a
Explorer
Apr 27, 2018
Does the Mac do monthly updates like Win-10 ?
mockturtle
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2018
I switched to a MacBook Pro two years ago and am very pleased with the choice, although I still have my Win 8.1 laptop because there are files and programs that don't work on my Mac. The learning curve was not really too steep. The biggest downside to a Mac is the lack of usable applications. In short, compared to Windows programs, Mac versions are pretty second rate. This is especially true with games, so if you're an avid gamer, you might want to at least hang onto your Windows (I don't have Windows 10--I refused to download it--so I can't use my word processing app but my Mac version works fine). Mac is trouble-free compared to Windows, without the annoying 'updates' and fixes Windows is so prone to. YMMV.
b17drvr
Explorer
Apr 26, 2018
Once you do mac, you never go back.
stew47
Explorer
Apr 26, 2018
i bought a Mac air couple years ago. I’ll never go back either. There were some Apple ways I didn’t understand but I just find a YouTube video and no problems.
ljr
Nomad
Apr 25, 2018
Mikesr wrote:
....we plan to spec it for RAM and processing speed to be higher then our current needs.

As a retired IT guy and long time Mac user, put whatever extra you have to spend into RAM first. That’s where you’ll get the most bang for the $. As apps and operating systems grow in the future, as they inevitably do, you’ll need all you can get.

Personally I have a Mac mini stashed behind my TV. I use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and the TV as a monitor.