Switching from PC to iMac ?

[Mikesr]

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.

[Mortimer_Brewst]

You will love how the iPad, iPhone and iMac all sync together.

[joshuajim]

Mikesr wrote:
Thanks this is all great information and very helpful.
One more question, does the latest iMac have a CD/DVD slot ? I’m not seeing on the info I’m finding.
The connection ports seem straight forward and the mouse and mini keyboard are recharged with the lighting connection the way it looks.
Thanks again

Nope. You have to use an external USB drive. Relatively cheap.

[Mikesr]

Thanks this is all great information and very helpful.
One more question, does the latest iMac have a CD/DVD slot ? I’m not seeing on the info I’m finding.
The connection ports seem straight forward and the mouse and mini keyboard are recharged with the lighting connection the way it looks.
Thanks again

[Y-Guy]

The learning curve really isn't that bad. What I've seen most often is people want to keep doing things the way windows forces you to do them. Don't try to keep doing them the old way, you will have better experience if you jump in live in the Apple world.

I use Mac at home and one at work. I deal with Microsoft Word, Excel & Power Point files every day. There are some differences but only if you are getting very deep into the details of those programs. For the most part our files share just fine between the Mac & Windows world. The only thing that doesn't are Publisher files, as there is no Mac option.

You get the Apple apps; Pages, Numbers and Keynote with your mac. They are good, but there is a learning curve for those programs as they are very different then Word, Excel & Power Point. I use a small free word processor for 90% of my work, it's called Bean. Very fast and easy to use, opens most document files just fine too.

Do pick up something like a Western Digital drive to use for the Time Machine backups. Very simple setup and cheap insurance.

I was resistant to using the Photo app on my Mac, the one app from my windows days I miss called ThumbsPlus doesn't exist on the Mac. But the more I use Photos more I enjoy it. That said I still maintain my own photo folder off all of our pictures so I can have them organized my way.

When I bought my MacPro I gave my wife my older iMac, I thought she'd have a harder time transitioning over to it, but alas she didn't have any issues at all, now she wants one at work too.

[Mortimer_Brewst]

I switched from a PC to an iMac a few years ago and couldn’t be happier. The hard drive died on my PC, so it was a good time to make the switch. Here is an article which is pretty good. Be sure to read the comments. This other article answers some of your questions.
The SSD (solid state drive) makes for a fast boot up. I would recommend getting an external drive for back ups. Our Epson printer works with both PCs and Macs. I would check the website of your printers maker. If you look up the model, it should list compatible systems.

[Desert_Captain]

To the OP and others...

Are you a veteran? If so bring proof when you shop the Apple store as they give a veterans discount. They took $329 off of the everyday price of my I-Mac but you have to ask.

We switched to Apple 10 years ago and would never go back to a PC. Virtually zero learning curve on the switch and Apple support is awesome. Just make an appointment at the Genius Bar and they can and will fix just about anything for free. :C

[joshuajim]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

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.

After you buy a Mac, get a program called Parallels. It allows you to load Windows on your mac, use all your windows programs, run both simultaneously and switch back and forth with just a click of the mouse.

[Larry-D]

I'm on my 4th year of using a Mac from PCs. Little learning curve, no big deal. Much more secure. I also run a Windows software simulator so I can run Windows programs on it.

[STBRetired]

I'm not sure about iMacs, but MacBooks have gone to soldered in RAM. That means you cannot upgrade it at a later date. Make sure you check that before you spec out your machine. I have a MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and very rarely get into a situation where I wish I had more RAM. If you intend to do video editing or some serious photographic work you might want to think about 32GB.

Love the fact that the Apple products all seamlessly integrate together with very little effort. There are no issues with printers, external HDDs, or networked storage. I share NAS storage between DW's and my MacBooks and the two remaining Windows systems that we have with no problems. The MacOS user interface takes a bit of time to get used to, but seems to make more sense than the Windows 10 UI. Guess it's just a matter of preference which UI you like better. If you like using iOS on an iPhone or iPad, you will not have much effort to learn MacOS.

[guidry]

When I was using PC computers it seemed as if I was always having to upgrade and buy security software. Once I bought my Macbook Pro, I haven't had those expenses and it has lasted me several years. Buy the right tool and it will last and save you money in the long term. I would never go back to PC.

[punomatic]

SoundGuy wrote:
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

X2. I switched about five years ago. I currently have a Win7 desktop, a Linux laptop and a Macbook Pro. The Mac is the one I use, because there is so much frustration with the others. I haven't tried Win10, because I have read so many complaints about it.

I use Libre Office, which is compatible with MS Office documents. The first time you reboot your Mac, you will swear off Windows. Mac reboots in about a minute, or less. My PC takes at least five minutes, and that is on a clean install. I will grant that iTunes is probably the most frustrating, incomprehensibly user unfriendly software ever written, but you already know that.

If learning curve is your only concern about the switch, forget it. Spend an hour on the Mac and you will forget you are on a a different OS. No computer is perfect, but if you want frustration, stick with Windows.

[MarkTwain]

SoundGuy wrote:
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'tuy want to know how it works, I just want it to make "toast", and for me that's what my Macs do. :B

X1. Could not agree with you more. Highly recommend buying the "Apple Care Package" in order to have 24/7 competent tech support over your phone. Using "screen share" when you call for tech support cuts 70% of frustration when solving tech computer problems.

[justinhscott]

I’d say it’s more of an “unlearning” curve. There’s so many little things Windows makes you do that are easier or automatic on a Mac that it’s mind boggling.
I use a Mac 90% of the time and a PC for some work stuff and it boggles my mind how awful Windows is once you’re accustomed to a Mac.

[theoldwizard1]

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 !!

[folivier]

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.