Yes Tech!

Everyone who knows that I recently purchased a Mac have been asking if I now prefer Mac to PC. Can’t say that I do. Yes, it is different. I just like knowing both languages! At work, I use a PC. At home, I switch off. Almost everything I do these days is web based, so either platform works just fine. The creative suite of software on the Mac has been fun to try out, but there are PC equivalents to all of it. The business world is almost entirely PC, so I support my school district in sticking with PCs.

After about a month of use, here are my thoughts:

• The Mac is very hot on my lap. I quickly learned about the need to stick something between me and my laptop after scalding my thighs!
• The Mac makes a very strange bubble noise that I cannot figure out how to turn off. I have figured out that the noise is probably due to using Skype, and the noises may occur when people on my contact list log on and off. I’ve tried switching every settting, but I’m still dealing with that annoying noise. Yes, I could turn Skype off, but I like to use it.
• Microsoft Office on a Mac = Microsoft Office on a PC
• Camtasia does not work on Mac
• Photobucket is fun. This is a program that does not have a PC equivalent (at least I don’t think so)
• iChat is also very cool. I love the computer-sharing function. I use Yugma to do this on a PC, but need to use Skype for audio.
• iMovie = MovieMaker
• I love the ease of using keyboard shortcut to snag images on the Mac - Vista now does the same thing.
• Less software updates on the Mac
• Garageband lets you do “enhanced” podcasts. I use Audacity on my PC, but there is no ability to add images. I’m not all that keen on the enhanced podcasts, because I am unable to use them on my video mp3 player (I have a Creative Zen… didn’t go with Apple’s ipod. My Creative has a built in voice recorder that Apple did not have…. Apple requires an additional piece of equipment that you have to buy).
• The ease of zooming in when presenting with a Mac is an awesome feature!