Welcome to the PC PAL Newsletter - May 2016
I would like to thank all those customers who gave such positive feedback about last month’s newsletter on “Five interesting uses for your computer”.
We have always tried to make our newsletters as informative as possible and hopefully this month will be no different as we dedicate May's newsletter to “Five things to consider when changing from a PC to a Mac.”
With Apple shops popping up everywhere it’s not surprising that more and more people seem to be making the leap to Apple. I must admit as a Windows user those sleek aluminium curves and those fantastic 5k screens are tempting. For many people, the leap to Apple seems rather intimidating and we are asked questions all the time - hence the creation of this newsletter, which we hope you find interesting and informative.
If you would like to satisfy your need for more tech news, please look no further than our blog: www.pcpal.co.uk/blog
PS... Don't forget to forward this email to your friends, family & work colleagues - we're sure they'll appreciate the tips and advice!
Five things to consider when changing from a PC to a Mac.
1. Documents, pictures, music and emails
The problem isn’t being unable to transfer your personal data to your new Apple Mac but whether you can open them once they have been transferred. Most common file formats for Music, Video, Photos and Documents shouldn’t be a problem. However there may be one or two files you may need to install or purchase additional software for.
Apple Macs can also transfer Contacts, Messages and Account information from most common Windows email clients including “Outlook Express”, “Windows Live Mail” and “Outlook”. This can be done via the “Mac Migration Assistant” which can also transfer your personal files at the same time.
Make sure you buy an Apple Mac with enough storage capacity! Most Windows PC’s use hard disk drives which tend to come with higher capacities where Apple have started the trend of using the more expensive but much faster Solid State Drives (SSD) which can come in smaller capacities. This may cost you a bit more but this is an important consideration when you buy your new Apple Mac especially if you have large amounts of photos, music and videos.
2. Software and hardware compatibility
All new Apple Macs come with Pages, Numbers and Keynote but if you would prefer to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) then you would need to purchase the Mac compatible version unless you have an Office 365 subscription in which case it’s a free download.
You will also need to check compatibility of other software that you use. Programs such as Sage, MS Money and even your antivirus may have compatibility issues. Most Macs come with the equivalent software to Microsoft’s Media Player, Photo Gallery and Movie Maker however it doesn’t come with Solitaire and Minesweeper.
Apple Macs have great printer support however some older printers may not work. Most digital cameras will work and even your USB memory sticks and external Hard Drives will work.
If you do encounter compatibility issues when moving to your new Apple Mac then all is not lost. Apple Macs have built in Windows support in the form of “Bootcamp”. This means you can reboot your Mac into a Windows based operating system for extra compatibility.
Bootcamp is great but does have some drawbacks however you can purchase VMWare Fusion or Parallels Desktop for a more integrated solution. These will let you run Windows and Mac OS side by side.
3. Does my Mac need Internet Security?
This is a common question our engineers are always getting asked. It comes from a myth that there are no infections for Macs or that Macs are less susceptible to infection.
The truth is that more infections are still created for Windows machines because of their larger market share. However infections still exist for Apple Macs and they can be equally nasty.
Another thing to consider is that security products for Apple Macs can detect Windows-based infections, preventing you from passing possible infections to Windows based machines via email or memory sticks.
Internet Security does not need to cost any more for your Mac as most common products can be transferred from your PC to your new Mac.
4. Do I need to have a backup?
Yes! PC PAL would always recommend that you keep full, regular backups. Some Apple Macs still use mechanical drives which can be unreliable and solid state drives can also fail without warning.
Apple Macs have iCloud which is great for Photos and Bookmarks but this doesn’t always cover files like your documents. The PC PAL recommended solution is to use Time Machine which can be setup with a USB Hard Drive or Network Drive.
5. How does Mac OS differ from Windows?
Apple Macs use Mac OS, which is slightly different compared to Windows. You won’t find a taskbar or a Start button at the bottom; instead there is a dock which can be configured with all your favourite applications. At the top there is a menu bar which changes depending on the application you are using. This can take a bit of time to get used to.
You will notice that the keyboard is a bit different especially when you write your first email. The “@” symbol can be found by holding “Shift” and pressing “2”. There is a “cmd” button next to the space bar which can be used to cut (cmd + X), copy (cmd + C) and paste (cmd + V).
By default there is no right click button although this can be enabled. Instead most Macs use a multi touch mouse/trackpad and the right mouse click can be perform by clicking the mouse with two fingers instead of one. A lot of newer Windows based laptops have adopted the same idea.
