AboutEd Dyer Expertise Current Tech: Mac OS X 10.0 - 10.5, Some shell scripting, cron, launchd, Mac OS X Server 10.2-10.4, AD-OD Integration, Automator, Movable Type Blogging, All current Mac models, iLife '06 and previous, iWork '08 and previous, Apple Remote Desktop, Now Up to Date & Contact, Quark 6.x & 7.x, NetRestore/NetInstall, Font Management, WiFi, BASIC Cisco
Devices: iPhone, AppleTV, Airport Express
Old Skool: Mac OS Environment 7.5.3-OS 9 (please upgrade for pete's sake! I will only answer basic questions in this area, as my expertise here is fading), PowerBook G3/G4(all models), Mac/Windows Networking, PowerPC 604-G4 desktop models, Outlook 2001, Photoshop 7 and previous, Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX
Dabbler: Newton 2100 w/ WiFi and NSync, Yellow Dog Linux, Suse Linux (PPC), Ubuntu Linux, Vista Business
Experience I'm employed as a Systems Engineering Manager at All Covered with a specialty in Macintosh technologies. I'm an Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA) through 10.4 and have the lower certs as well (ACTC for 10.1 - 10.5), an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist for 10.3 (ACHDS) and a member of the Apple Consultants Network, as well as an Apple Product Professional for 2002-2007. I have an MCP cert. from MS as well... I've worked with the Macintosh Operating system and various machines since my first PowerMac 8500 running Mac OS 7.5.3 in 1996. I support my friends and family in keeping their Macs healthy and upgraded. Now I use a MacBook Pro for work and have a Flat Screen iMac (intel 20" core 2 duo) for home use. I went to school for multimedia and design, but this knowledge-base is fading, though I primarily geek out with workstation deployment and server management. I'm sort of a "Mac of all trades" :)
Most important: I've also worked on PCs for a number of years with various flavors of Windows(95,98,NT4,2000,2000Server,2K3Server,SBS 2K3Server,Mil,XPHome,XPPro, Vista Business), but I've always used the Mac as my platform of preference. Publications http://www.macwindows.com : VPNs and Outlook
Get IT for your business: http://www.allcovered.com
Expert: Ed Dyer Date: 6/11/2008 Subject: apple macbook
Question QUESTION: I have always heard Apple Mac are very good computers without many problems PCs have. I may have the opportunity to get an Apple Macbook 2.1ghz The only thing all my programs are for PCs. I am looking at running Microsoft office, Street Atlas, and Adobe Photoshop all for PCs It seems I heard that Apple Mac can now run these programs is this true or would I have to buy new software? Can I share files between them on my desktop PC? Is this a good laptop?
ANSWER: Gary,
1. You can run PC software on your Mac, yes. You can use an XP Pro SP2 or Vista Business or Ultimate license of windows on your Mac, and can do this in many different ways. Check out Macworld's article on the subject: http://www.macworld.com/article/133509/2008/05/mwvodcast51.html
2. You can purchase new software or run it on the above mentioned way.
3. You can share files between the two machines, yes.
4. It may be a good laptop. I enjoy mine (2.33GHz MacBook Pro). I can't speak to the specific hardware you're looking at; make sure it has a warranty, or that you at least have the purchase information and trust the seller.
Good luck!
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QUESTION: The XP Pro and other programs you mentioned, What are they? are they Microsoft operating systems or is it a special one for Mac? If they are Microsoft is there an advantage to have the Mac over a PC?
Answer Gary,
Windows XP Pro is a Microsoft operating system. Service Pack 2 is the first release of XP Pro that will run natively on a Mac these days. Vista Business and Ultimate will also run on a Mac.
The advantage I usually have is that the Mac hardware is superior quality and even Windows runs faster on it than on a comparable PC.
