Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Going to the Dark (Light?) Side! I Heart my new iMac.

My friends and family will be shocked when they read this post.  Yes, this die-hard PC computer user has joined forces with the other side and now owns an Apple iMac!

Yes, after years of using PC's (and getting annoyed by Apple ads like that annoying cocky Mac guy who was so mean to that sweet nerdy PC guy and Apple product placement in my favorite movies and television shows), I now am a proud owner of my own Mac.  Thank you
incredibly sweet husband!

I spend quite a bit of my free time playing and working on my computer.  I have owned three inexpensive PCs in the last five years (two hard drive crashes and this new one is getting really slow and annoying).  Last week I was cursing at my computer under my breath and having a small anxiety attack when my husband decided he had enough.  He is also a die-hard PC user, but one of his friends who is a PC genius just bought his first iMac (his wife insisted on buying one for herself first) and was instantly converted and sold my husband on the idea of joining the "Dark" (or Light) side.

So last week my husband came home with a brand new Apple iMac for me.  He knew I was too cheap to buy one for myself... I had a medium anxiety attack when I saw the price tag, but then he plugged it in all was forgiven (insert a heavenly chorus sound effect here).

This computer has only one cord!  The mouse and keyboard are wireless (and yes, you can right-click on a Mac), and everything else is built in the monitor.  It is so quiet I can't even tell when it is on (my PC sounds like it is a rocket taking off most of the time). I plan on upgrading the memory (not through Apple, it is too expensive) and also buying a new external hard drive (Macs have Time Machine automatic backup). 

I have been transferring things over and so far so good, but it is a long process when you are working at home and homeschooling two kids. So I am not as productive right now.

But I absolutely love my iMac.  It is blazing fast, comes with no bloatware, doesn't have major virus issues (most people I spoke too don't even use virus protection), and has an amazing monitor.  I thought I would hate the glossy screen, but after one day I don't even notice it.  So far my photos look just like the ones on my calibrated PC monitor, so I have to decide whether I will actually calibrate.  I plan on sending some photos off to ColorInc. to see how it matches actual printed images.

I have had no problems figuring out how to use a Mac, even though I haven't touched one in years and years.  It is really idiot-proof, which is a big plus to me.  ;-)

I will keep you updated, but so far so good!  Luckily LR3 and PSE9 run in both Macs and PC's, so the only program I have to upgrade is CS4 to Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade [Mac].  Adobe, make CS5 run in both types of computers already!  I usually skip a few upgrades (I went from Photoshop 7 to CS4), but it will be fun to have the newest CS5 (even though I was forced to buy it).

I can't believe I am a Mac user...  All I can ask myself is why I didn't do this years ago. And now I can help both Mac and PC users!!!   I would love to read comments from other PC to Mac users and if you regret the switch.  And if you use Mac virus protection software please let me know what you use (if you like it). 

UPDATE!  I am getting quite a few comments from people worried that I am not going to install virus protection on my new iMac.  I am, I just need to pick my favorite.  Most of them are free if you can believe it!  And I only use Yahoo mail which uses Norton to automatically scan anything I attach and also any attachment I receive and want to download on my computer.  Pretty nifty!  


And everything I make for this blog will work on PC AND Macs.   I have both at home so I will not leave anyone out.  I don't hate PC's, I am just pleased with my new Mac!  It is fun sometimes to experiment and try out new things.  :-)

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for more information! For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

71 comments:

  1. Congrats!!
    We're planning on getting one *hopefully* by the end of the year!

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  2. I'm a convert... love my mac, and won't go back. My kids use the old pc, and it's so loud it drives me crazy. I totally hear you on that one!

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  3. I converted from PC to Mac (MacBook Pro laptop) about 2 years ago and I haven't looked back! I *love* my Mac. It's so much more user-friendly and now that many programs are Mac supported, there's really no need to use my old PC for anything. Congrats!

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  4. I just made the switch in May, and I agree. Why didn't I do this earlier?

    I struggled with crappy PCs for years and years, and just thought that was normal.

    I am sure if I had just splurged and bought a PC for 2k it would have been fine, but I like the mac OS better, and the lack of viruses!

    I will never ever ever go back to PC!!!

    Welcome to the light side!

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  5. Absolutely adore our iMac. Was by far the best computer purchase ever. Congratulations!

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  6. You'll never go back to a PC! Enjoy the new Mac!

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  7. Hello Rita =)

    congrats for buy new Mac, i was planning to change to Apple since i use Windows for long time in editing pictures,

    Keep update! see later.. =)

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  8. We bought our first mac three years ago and can't believe how much fun and easy a computer can be. The pc was so much work, we never used it. I will never buy a pc again. Enjoy!:)

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  9. Congratulations, Rita~~welcome to the "i" crowd :~) I've always been Mac~~you will LOVE it!!! Smart hubby, btw :~)

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  10. Yes, my hubby is pretty smart. ♥

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  11. Congratulations, Rita! I am in desperate need of a new computer myself and while I would love to get an iMac, funds are tight and I will be investing in another PC tower. Can't wait to hear more about what you love about it!

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  12. Congrats! I love that pic of your husband carrying the iMac! I love having a big monitor!

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  13. I agree with the rest of the comments, your life will never be the same! It's tough to explain it to a pc person, but Macs are just soooo much better... Especially for photo editing. I myself didn't understand until my husband converted me, but now I can't even imagine having to go back. Enjoy!

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  14. We've had our iMac for 3 years with no issues. Are you going to play with iPhoto at all? I am curious what LR users think of it--I haven't found batch processing, but it does allow presets and I love it's crop tool. PSE6 is my other editing software.

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  15. CS 5.5 is the latest one out there. upgraded due to the popularity of IPads, tablets, Kindle and such devices.

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  16. Congrats Rita!! You'll NEVER go back.

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  17. Yay!! I've worked on both, but I love Macs. I'm using an old dual-core G4 with a pc monitor until we can save up for the big kahuna Macbook Pro I want. I even converted my husband, who is amazed at the lack of issues even an old Mac has.

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  18. I'm a convert too and love it! Also, I wanted to mention that if you're not upgrading versions, Adobe will allow you to switch platforms for only the cost of shipping. They'll disable your old license and then ship you the software for the new OS. I also want to plug ColorInc for being awesome when I switched. I struggled to get my monitor to match my prints, but now it's GREAT. (Watch out for screen brightness. Mine is turned WAY down!).

    Marisa

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  19. I know, if I had already had CS5 it would have been really cheap to upgrade. But I guess whether I bought it earlier or now, it really doesn't matter!

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  20. I ADORE my iMac! You will wonder what took you so long to get on board. Seriously, it has no faults. Congrats!!!

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  21. Lucky you! That's such a cute shot too. He looks like a hero in a geeky sort of way!

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  22. That's really awesome Rita!! I've been a mac for three years now -- after growing up with always having a PC in the home. I'm sure my dad almost disowned me over my conversion, but now he's seeing the light too!!

    I'm a graphic designer and I've never needed to calibrate my macbook. I do check it often, but there's never been an issue. I also don't use a virus protection software... but I do have ad-blocker installed on Chrome and FF.

    The only problem I have ever had is upgrading to the newest OS... I don't have a functioning CD drive to upgrade to Snow Leopard... I may of dropped my macbook to cause that! And, I can't upgrade to Lion without Snow Leopard... so I have to find someone with Snow Leopard to do a remote install.

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  23. My wife converted me to a Mac a few years ago and I LOVE it. It is so easy to organize pictures, music, install programs and just all around easy to use.

    There are not as many programs available as there was for my pc and I do miss all those pesky viruses but, I will stick with a Mac :)

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  24. I just bought my first iMac too, a few weeks ago, OMG, I cannot believe I waited SO long. I <3 it so much!

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  25. I am so happy to hear this! I am also in the middle of switching from PC to MAC. I am a high school Art teacher and our entire department is switching from PC to MAC . We are also switching at home (one computer at a time). So far all of your actions have run and have been just as easy to install. Good Luck with the transition. I am anxious to hear how it goes.
    Tricia

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  26. I love my iMac... Since December last year I own one and it was a good decision to change from PC. :)


    Greetings from germany

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  27. The Mac seems to be the go to computer now. A few of my friends have bought one recently. I am not there yet. I enjoy my PC and all its quirks. I have not even joined the ranks of Windows 7 users yet. I do use PSE9 though and have an old CS2. I look forward to all your new actions. I hope you do not abandon us PCers. V

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  28. This post warms my little Mac heart.
    :)

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  29. Welcome to the Light! Your love will only grow from here.
    We had an iMac, but two MacBook Pros too. And we only used the iMac to watch movies - check that out sometime! GORGEOUS!
    But we sold it.

    I was bi until about 1997, and have been straight Mac since them.

    Welcome and enjoy the world of - just using your computer to work, and it cooperating with you brilliantly!

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  30. Wooo Hooo! Welcome to MAC. I'm 50 in July and I've been using them since I was 17 years old. They are so worth the money. Just be careful who you buy additional memory from and the best externals are WD so far the others died I have 3 2TB externals plugged into my iMac with another 2TB internal and it's awesome. I still have my G4 and G5 still going too and my laptop. LOL You'll so love it.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE your work!!!

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  31. I promise you will never want to go back to a PC - it's like a "Come to Jesus" moment, but for computers.

    Welcome to the Light Side!

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  32. Haha told ya it would be easy! My whole family has converted to Apple products and we are never turning back. I've even converted my die-hard- Apple products are so overrated/overpriced ranting bf and now he's dying for a MacBook.

    Someone told me that if you call Adobe you can ask them to send you the Mac version of the Photoshop program you need to switch. Not sure it would apply to older versions or not as I upgraded when I switched as well. But it's worth asking if your not ready to shell out for CS5 just yet.

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  33. Happy New Mac !!!.... It's the best investment !! Ba Bye Windows nightmare and PC crashes . You will love it :)

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  34. Hardcore Mac user since 1990 - I've had Macs that last for 10 years with few problems - they were still working when I gave them up for a newer model.

    You might want to consider subscribing to this newsletter: http://tidbits.com/ I get mine once a week via email. Great way to stay on top of all that is Apple. Also there is information to be found on the website re whether you might need virus or protection software, etc. I never had any problems until this past year and was glad I had installed protection software after reading articles about problems that could be looming on the horizon.

    Congrats on the new iMac.

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  35. Once you go Mac, you never go back!

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  36. Yay!! I'm in LOVE with my iMac! Best (and most expensive, lol) purchase I've ever made and it's SO worth it!!

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  37. I used to swear I would never use a Mac... When I went to a professor about majoring in photography she told me I would convert. I told her she was crazy that I would always love my PC. Well that was a year and a half ago and I am now proud to say I am a Mac User and I totally love it!

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  38. Welcome to the wonderful world of Mac! I made the switch last summer & it's been heaven ever since. Terry White (Adobe Evangelist) recommended Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition. I've been using it for several months and haven't had any problems with it. Terry gave some pretty convincing arguments for needing antivirus software, yes even on a Mac. I figure better safe than sorry & there was a Mac thing going around a few weeks ago. Happy Mac'ing!

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  39. Love my iMac! I use the Spyder3 Pro for calibration. The only problem I have had is connecting it with printers. I have an old Dell Laser printer and they don't make a print driver for Snow Leopard. I've gotten it to work but I don't have as many print options as I use to. Also, I just bought a Canon photo printer and it has taken some trial and error to get it right. Just upgraded to CS5, but haven't had time to play with the new features! I don't use iPhoto since I have PS, but iMovie is extremely user friendly. The kids love to play with Photo Booth:) I have Office for Mac and it is pretty similar to the windows version.

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  40. I have had an iMac now for almost 4 years now and I absolutely love it! My hubby and boys all have the Mac laptops and they love their Macs too!We have iPhones, iPads and iPods.... lol! Mac all the way! Well almost we have a Windows laptop for our business still. Enjoy!

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  41. You'd be a fool not to have virus protection on the new computer, even Apple's get viruses.

    Also, good luck when you decide to upgrade the monitor!

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  42. Good for you, Rita! What an awesome Hubby! I am saving for one myself and am half way there. I can't wait!

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  43. Congratualtions!I bought the very same iMac in February 2011.It was my first time ever owning a Mac. Unfortunately, I had to return it within a week. The screen was too large and it hurt my neck to look up at the screen. I have a room that my husband designed for me 2 years prior and there was just no way that I could get the screen to work for me in my room. I brought it back and here I am a PC user. I miss that iMac very much. Have fun and enjoy. :)

    Mary

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  44. I cracked up reading that comment about how I couldn't upgrade my monitor on the iMac. I have a monitor that has outlasted 4 PC's!!!

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  45. You instantly gained 20 IQ points and 50 productivity points when you got your Mac. Your hubby is a smart guy. once you go Mac you never go back. They just work!
    in over 20 years of using one I only ever had one HD crash.
    Ive been using this one straight for the past 5 years and only need to reboot it once every month or so. TOTALLY RELIABLE. make sure you use the Time machine feature. It has saved me more than once!

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  46. Yeahh!!!! Finally a Mac girl!! No virus protection has ever been needed by our family and all of our 5 Macs....just sit back and enjoy!....and don't forget to upgrade to the new Lion format that's coming in July!

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  47. I hope I never, ever go back to owning my own PC. After the first few days of getting used to my Mac I was in love. I've never looked back. I keep trying to covert my husband. Maybe one of these days! So happy you have found a new and useful tool, esp. for all your photo work. I hope someday I can work on photos on a screen as big as yours!

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  48. Congratulations on the upgrade. It is wonderful that the switch is going to smoothly.

    I am a PC user, not because I think they are superior (or inferior) to Mac, but because of history and price. I used to get the hand-me down computers in my family, which were all PCs (even though I advocated for Macs). When my last PC was becoming inefficient about 3 years ago, my son, a computer guy, ordered a PC to meet my photo needs. I also got a 24" monitor, which I love. At that time, buying a Mac that met my needs would have cost twice as much.

    Since then, my son has become a Mac user and tries to persuade me to switch. But so long as I don't have issues with my PC--and I don't--and I have a son in a private university, I'm happy with my economical and well-behaved PC!!

    As someone else wrote, please don't abandon us PC and Elements users!!! And, thank you for your instructive blog.

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  49. PC users, everything I will put on this blog will still work on both computers, don't worry! My laptop is a PC so I will test everything. I won't forsake you guys!!!

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  50. I am a long-ago Mac convert and like many on the blog own multiple Macs. Having worked for a public school in IT, I learned to love them for the ease of working on them and controlling access as well as their user-friendliness. Viruses will become more common as more and more people convert to Macs, but I personally don't run any virus protection on our home Macs. It was a different story at school. The iMacs *are* much more difficult to work on than the towers, but they need such little work, it didn't figure into my purchase. My favorite though is my old G5 with Cinema display. It is unfortunately VERY hard to get software for it since Mac went to Intel Processors. Great Hubby! Enjoy--

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  51. Well, you said it yourself, you kept buying cheap PC's ;^)
    My PC isn't noisy, and I wouldn't trade it for a Mac. And Mac's do still get viruses. Proportionately it's not the same and you don't hear much about it, because for every Mac out there, there are 10x more PCs, so yes the PC numbers will be higher. Don't get lazy with your virus protection thinking that Mac's can't get viruses, because they can. And, I might add, that I don't get viruses on MY PC either.
    I only spent about $1200 on my PC and I'm very happy with it. It works great, doesn't freeze up and purrs along just fine all day long while I crank out the graphics & websites. But I did invest in a 64-bit system with plenty of RAM to make it purr. The cost to switch all my software over to Mac is prohibitive anyway.

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  52. Yep, I too converted to Mac from PC in January of this year, and wondered why I didn't do it years ago. Had been a PC user since the early 90's, but enough was enough. I don't use virus protection, but do make sure your firewall is switched on (it's not by default on a new Mac). My hubbie is still cursing his old PC laptop and my heart sinks every time he asks me to fix something on it - a Macbook is on the shopping list :o).

    If you're interested, you can see my blog post raving about my new iMac here http://oaktree-cottage.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-love-my-apple-long-wordy-post-read-on.html

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  53. So happy for you! I heart my iMac like it's another child! (tongue in cheek but super heart it)

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  54. I am so happy you just got a Mac that that made my final decision in deciding to purchase your action pack. I want to help you pay for it! :)

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  55. The night my DH and I met 12 years ago we fell in love over our disdain for Apple (and other mutual nerdy agreements). He bought me a MacBook Pro for Christmas. It was a HUGE deal for both of us but I loooooove it! He secretly covets mine and I think wants one too :) ENJOY!!

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  56. At least now I understand all of the hype. It is well earned by Apple!

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  57. I TOO WANT A MAC, but yes cost is HIGH!! I used to work at UCLA Computer Science Dept in 1998 & they had converted all to MACS (no crashes, no virus, no problems) and was convinced back then. But still stuck w/PCs that have crashed & cost lots of money to restore hard drives, lost data & much heartache over the years. Now that Im new to digital scrapping & have thousands & thousands of digi files (only have done several digi pg layouts & cards)....will they convert over to a MAC if I get one....can someone help me in the area. I had deleted all the Macox files when I unzipped my digi supplies. Am I hosed??!!! I recently got PSE9 & LR3 so Im okay there, but what about my digiscrap files? PLS SUGGEST ANY HELP FOR ME !!! I'm a Rita too ;-)

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  58. I went from a PC to an iMac a in April 2011. Never looking back!!
    I also have PS5 for Mac and LR3. LR
    is the way to go, but i-photo is
    good for most people. I now use
    LR3 to organize my digital scrapbooking kit as well as my
    photos. Congrats on going Mac.

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  59. Ahhhhhhhhhhh - the sigh that releases each time I turn on that wonderful machine! It has such a warming welcome!! I'd sleep with it if I could!

    (cant you tell I'm in love too?)

    PC? What's that?

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  60. Congrats Rita. Am so happy for you! I'm old school...well just old...so still enjoy my PC.

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  61. I'm late to this post. I just wanted to say, I love my Mac. I will never go back to PC again. They are so much easier to use. I had much of the same problems with my PC's you did. I use MacKeeper for virus and computer maintenance. Have fun!!!

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  62. I keep hearing how expensive. :D 1 iMac 5 yrs going strong. Daughter, same 5 years, 2 pc laptops, expensive windows upgrades, yearly virus protection. I'm not a numbers person but even I can add. Have fun with your new mac!

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  63. I have been a mac girl for a loooong time. Once you go mac, you never go back. :)
    Aren't you a homeschooler? Check out the adobe prices for educators. I got CS5 for $200 because I'm a educator.
    Have fun playing. :)

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  64. I have been using Macs since 2003 and I have never looked back! I know it sounds trite by now... But every time I have to get on my husband's PC I cringe. I can't ever find anything on that thing!!! Not intuitive at all and I am super intuitive. Welcome to the Light Side!

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  65. Rita, you will love it. I started life with a PC 15 years ago, I went to a MAC two years ago and will never go back to a PC. I just love this machine.

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  66. I think you're going to absolutely love it and wonder how you were able to do things on your PC. No turning back!

    What made you finally decide to get this?

    Great picture. Welcome to the mac world

    Liz-CoolProducts

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  67. I have the same one! I think you can see it from outerspace!!! You will L O V e love it!!! I know I do, even my non mac husband likes it!!!!

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  68. I bought an iMac last year. I am not running anti-virus software and I haven't had a problem so far. I read somewhere that anti-virus software slows down the computer and all it finds is pc viruses. For the time being I just leave it at that, but I will also keeping an eye on several sites for Apple users to keep myself up to date regarding viruses.

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  69. so funny I just happened upon this... we're about to go over to the "light" side as well. My hubby fell in love with this thing a while ago and convinced me that it would be great for my photography. I told him we didn't need the biggest one, but of course that went in one ear and out the other. We should be getting it any day now :) I'm curious how long it'll take to get used to.

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  70. Melio, it takes no time to get used to using a mac. Oh, I can't tell you how much I adore this computer! Rita

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  71. Melio, it takes no time to get used to using a mac. Oh, I can't tell you how much I adore this computer! Rita

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Rita