Thinking of getting an Apple...

elfen

It's going to be a learning curve for me too, going from PC to Mac when mine turns up. Just a few questions.....
a) can i use my memory sticks with my Mac and my Netbook? As I'll be moving stuff about dependant on what I'm using that day.
b) what's the usual battery life? As in, if I do an hour and a half lecture, use it for a few hours in between and then for a seminar, will it go off one full charge or will I need to charge it at uni?
c) How easy is it to install third party software? I'll be using a printer and a dictaphone third party, will they be easier to install than on a PC?
d) Can I use my wireless mouse on it? I have one for my PC, but want to use it on my Mac, especially during the 4 hour break I have at uni.

Thanks for anyone who can answer these for me, I'm just a little worried about it.

Marty_J

elfen wrote: »

a) can i use my memory sticks with my Mac and my Netbook? As I'll be moving stuff about dependant on what I'm using that day.

Yes, provided they aren't formatted as NTFS. If they are, you'll need to format them as FAT32 if you want to use them with Macs and PCs.

b) what's the usual battery life? As in, if I do an hour and a half lecture, use it for a few hours in between and then for a seminar, will it go off one full charge or will I need to charge it at uni?

The battery life on Macs is excellent. MacBooks and 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pros have a battery life of 7 hours, and 17 inch MacBook Pros have a battery life of 8 hours. Apple test the battery life wirelessly browsing websites and doing word processing (unlike other manufacturers who test it with the laptop not doing anything), so you should find you get very close to the stated battery life (though obviously using intensive applications or the DVD drive will shorten it).

c) How easy is it to install third party software? I'll be using a printer and a dictaphone third party, will they be easier to install than on a PC?

It's ridiculously easy. For most applications, you just copy them into your Applications folder. When you want to delete them, you just drag them to the trash. There's no installing or uninstalling involved. Some applications come with an installer, and then it's just a case of running it as you would do with Windows. You might find your printer doesn't require you to install a driver; my HP didn't.

d) Can I use my wireless mouse on it? I have one for my PC, but want to use it on my Mac, especially during the 4 hour break I have at uni.

What sort of wireless mouse is it? If it's a Bluetooth mouse, you shouldn't have any problems (all Macs come with Bluetooth as standard).

Apple make a very nice wireless mouse called the Magic Mouse which is worth considering even if your existing mouse works just fine.

elfen

I have a decent Logitech I was bought for a birthday present that I want to use. I don't like the look of the Magic Mouse as I am used to my Logitech. It's not bluetooth but it is wireless and was ridiculously easy to install on a PC, so I'm hoping it's the same for a Mac.

purt

If it helps, I have a wireless Microsoft mouse and an external Logitech keyboard. Both plugged into my Mac easily and worked instantly. My external keyboard is now recognised as a non-British keyboard so am having the same @ problem with it. Not to worry.

Can someone tell me what I'm meant to do with the Time Capsule I bought? :rotfl:

BillScarab

culchied wrote: »

If it helps, I have a wireless Microsoft mouse and an external Logitech keyboard. Both plugged into my Mac easily and worked instantly. My external keyboard is now recognised as a non-British keyboard so am having the same @ problem with it. Not to worry.

Can someone tell me what I'm meant to do with the Time Capsule I bought? :rotfl:

Bury it in the Blue Peter Garden!

busenbust

culchied wrote: »

I don't want to come across as a phillistine. I do work between PC and Mac now and am so akin to touch typing without so much as glancing at the keyboard that it's gonna be a bit of a learning curve for sure.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Am liking my new toy thus far, despite the keyboard!

It's a small price to pay for what is, undoubtedly, an awesome laptop. Enjoy! :beer:

M4RKM

It's not that it is recognised or is a non british keyboard, it's that it's a a mac!

I've got loads of keyboards lying around, whatever I plug into my mac, the shift 2, will be an @ key.

It's much more sensible, because the ' and the " are on the same key. A logical place for it to be, rather than at opposite ends of they keyboard.

I touch type. I use macs at home, and have a pc in the office. I can still touch type differently on different machines, and still remember, you just have to get used to it.


The easiest way to check if they sent you a US keyboard, is look a the number 3 key.. if it has a £ on it, you have a standard apple UK keyboard (which I know it will have on it)

Also, the enter key is different on US models..

ooh.. if you need a # sign, it's ALT+3


Time capsule, you plug it in your modem, and set it up as your router for the house. If you're on ADSL, this can be a bit of a problem, because you probably already have a router, so you'll need to make it pass through the external IP to the time capsule, so the time capsule can be your only router. Router behind Router isn't a good config to have.


M

purt

I only wanted Time Capsule as a hard drive for all my music and such like...

Scrilla

culchied wrote: »

I only wanted Time Capsule as a hard drive for all my music and such like...

After using Time Capsule for a month, I eBayed it. It just wasn't what I thought it would be, but make up your own mind once you have yours set up

diable

Time Capsule is used with Time Machine for backups I don't think it can be used as an external hard drive though.