Mac Myths

Mac Advantages

India is slowly, but certainly, turning into a country of Mac-heads. Lending a huge helping hand in this is Microsoft’s Vista with complaints of slow performance and refusal to do even the simplest of tusks.

So what is the choice for new computer buyers? You have two options. Either move to Linux or stay with Windows XP. Linux is not that easy to use and getting a genuine copy of Windows XP is getting more difficult by the day.

There is a third option. It is no coincidence that Apple launched its new range of MacBooks in India just 10 days after the company’s CEO Steve Jobs showed off its best-ever laptops in the US. After all, India is Apple’s fastest growing market.

There was a time not very long ago when a MacBook or an iMac cost almost Rs 1 lakh. Now the very basic MacBook costs just Rs 56,580. And the entry level iMac comes for Rs 57,600. The machine comes loaded with the operating system OS X Leopard and a host of software for which you pay nothing. Support used to be an issue, but that is no longer the case. Apple trained engineers are present in all major cities. If a fault is found with your computer it is either replaced or repaired within 3 to 5 days.

For all those hesitant to leave Windows let me dispel a few myths.

Myth: Apple’s iPods are fantastic, but its computers are not

Truth: Once you see an Apple computer, its ease of use and sheer speed will impress you.

Myth: I will lose all my windows files.

Truth: You can run almost anything on Macs. With Boot Camp from Apple, you can dual boot your system into either Mac OS X or Windows XP. You can also use virtualization software such as Parallels with which you can run Windows XP, Linux or any other operating system simultaneously with Mac OS X.

Myth: Microsoft Office especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel will not run on a Mac.

Truth: Did you know that there is a whole Microsoft division in Apple’s Office in Cupertino? There work is to ensure that all Microsoft products work on a Mac. Thus Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac OS X gives you Word, PowerPoint and Excel with the same familiar interfaces. If you write your copy on a Mac it will open seamlessly on a PC. Not only that, it will also warn you if the version you are saving will have any compatibility issues. The same goes for PowerPoint and Excel.

Myth: I cannot play games on a Mac.

Truth: The new metal MacBook Pro is now the best gaming machine available in the market. It has stunning display with 3d graphics processor. The revolutionary processor, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M is integrated into the motherboard. In addition, there is a separate and more powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M processor with 512 DDR3 Video Memory to provide robust support for 3d games and even faster performance.

For those who want a bigger screen for games, Apple provides a stunning 24-inch LED Backlit widescreen display. MacBook users can connect to this easily. This Cinema display includes a video camera, microphone and speakers.

Myth: Macs are expensive.

Truth: Yes, of course, they are. But Apple hardware and software offer value for money. Steve Jobs was asked whether he would make a cheaper Netbook, a laptop with fewer features, given the gloom all around. He answered: “We don’t make junk.” So it is better to save up and go in for a machine that will not drain your money every other month.

Myth: Macs are proprietary.

Truth: Mac OS X is an open architecture, based on industry standards. It is an open source variant of FreeBSD Unix and developed entirely with openness and interoperability in mind.

Myth: Macs are susceptible to virus, spyware and malware.

Truth: You don’t need any anti-virus software for Macs. Hackers don’t even try to implant viruses because the underlying Unix is tough to crack and there are fewer Macs in the world than Windows. They would rather attack Windows because of its inherent weaknesses.

Myth: Macs won’t fit into my existing network.

Truth: Mac OS X can talk to every major file server protocol on every major server platform on the market today. Leopard includes the major networking protocols for accessing Windows, Linux and Unix. You can wirelessly connect your Mac to any computer in your existing network using Airport Express or Airport Extreme. Both are Wi-Fi routers that give you a speed of 130Mbps.