Re: To Mac or not to Mac... was Re: monopoly on relief

[Guest guest]

Klein wrote:

> a C. MacNeil wrote:

>

> > I have MS Streets and Trips on my PC, used it once. I can't say

> > whether the Mac has an equivalent or not, but I can't see why not,

> > it has many other apps that do a plethora of different things.

>

> I prefer not to use MS apps... the only thing MS I really want to use

> is the operating system. However, after having purchased DeLorme's

> Street Atlas USA 2005 and 2006, and seeing how inaccurate the maps

> can be, I bit the bullet and bought the MS product.

>

> DeLorme's product has many more features, has a much, much better UI,

> and is not sold by MS... but I use them with my USB GPS receiver,

> and when I am GPS tracking, the most important thing is accuracy.

> With DeLorme's product, the actual GPS fix is several hundred feet

That should read " sometimes several hundred feet... "

[Guest guest]

> > But any modern mouse works on the latest Macs, have for

> > awhile, so yes, you can have a right clicker, a scroll wheel, or

> > that extra side button that my PC's mouse has. Apple now are touting

> > their " Mighty Mouse " - I haven't decided yet if I want

> > one.

>

> But do mice with more than one button have the OS functionality (like a

> context menu)?

Yep, the scroll wheel and right mouse button work without a hitch on

any standard USB mouse, without even having to install any extra

drivers.

--

Cody B. / " codeman38 "

cody@...

http://www.zone38.net/

[Guest guest]

> Well, those two are the leading choices for PCs.  I do not know what

> offerings there may be for the Mac.  With the PC, I can pick and

> choose

> (I can pick one if I like the features and UI, or the other if I need

> maximum accuracy).  The question is about which product best suits my

> needs, not whether I can get something that does the task at all.

What I use a computer for is Web design, graphic work, video editing,

e-mail, surfing, playing the occasional " old school " game and writing

(when I get the time). I also use it to organize my life, such as

through iCal, which I very much appreciate. GarageBand, which came

with the Mac, is the coolest little music studio I've ever come across.

So in the end, the Mac has everything I need, and no, I do not have to

settle for anything " less than " . Web design apps, graphic apps - all

major software is available on both platforms.

When I want a map, I generally use the Web. I don't travel much

(except in my home province which I know quite well) so I'm not in dire

need of map software ever.

As to my PC, the software I use are SoundForge for sound editing and

Roxio for recording my old LPs and tapes. I use it for back up

purposes, to test websites, and to play some games.

If my PC has something already on it that works for me (such as

SoundForge and Roxio), I don't bother searching for a Mac equivalent, I

just keep using what I'm used to or what's worked so far. Both

SoundForge and Roxio are commercial apps, and it would be a waste of

money to replace them, or search for a Mac equivalent. But I've seen

some rather interesting sound editing apps for the Mac, and in this

way, Macs are on par with PCs (with regards to software availability).

I just assume stick with what I have on the PC in this regard.

My iMac (G4) and PC (Compaq/AMD-Athlon) are both desktops that sit

right next to each other. I operate the PC mouse with my left hand and

the Mac's with my right. (When I totally shattered my right wrist two

years ago, I became quite good with my left hand.) Both keyboards are

wireless so I switch as I need them. So, while I'm on my Mac most of

the time (about 90% of the time, give or take), I have convenient

access to a Windows' PC. I'm quite happy with my set up and with my

software choices, both for the Mac and the PC.

As to the MAC interface, I like the old " bubble " look, and I'm not real

crazy about the " metal " look. But since the Mac interface is minimal

(menu bar at the top), and most 3rd party apps still use the " bubble "

look, the " metal " look is rarely noticed, except when I open certain

native apps. But speaking of which, MS just updated MSN messenger for

the Mac and they gave it the metal look, which is most definitely not

an improvement. (Although they finally added some features that I've

been wanting.) I can live with that though. I dislike the XP look as

well.

[Guest guest]

>

> > >  But any modern mouse works on the latest Macs, have for

> > >  awhile, so yes, you can have a right clicker, a scroll wheel, or

> > >  that extra side button that my PC's mouse has. Apple now are

> touting

> > >  their " Mighty Mouse " - I haven't decided yet if I want

> > >  one.

> >

> > But do mice with more than one button have the OS functionality

> (like a

> > context menu)?

>

> Yep, the scroll wheel and right mouse button work without a hitch on

> any standard USB mouse, without even having to install any extra

> drivers.

There is context menus on the Mac, yes. And if all you have is the

single clicker mouse that Apple sends with a new Mac, it's just a

matter of control+click to get the contextual menu. I'm become partial

to keyboard commands (particularly on the Mac which came about due to

the simple mouse) so maybe that's why I'm content with the mouse that

came with the Mac. But in the end, there's a choice regarding what

mice I can use.