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iMac Questions

GlazeFamily3

GlazeFamily3

Peeking in everyone's windows ...
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So after YEARS of exclusively using PC laptops, we're seriously considering purchasing an iMac.

Who scraps on an iMac? I would especially love to hear from anyone who has gone from PC to iMac.

Which do you have? What are your specs and are you happy with them? What scrappy programs are you using?

Just looking for input, though I am pretty sure my husband is already sold on it.
 
I went from pc to mac about 10 years ago. Do you have other Apple devices? It's been so long since I made the switch that I can't remember what scrapping on a pc was like... BUT there are so many features that I love since we all have apple devices. I love being able to AirDrop photos from my computer and receive them from other family members. I love being able to access our shared iClouds from my computer. And I'm super spoiled by being able to type texts on my computer. Most of those benefit my scrapping, even if they aren't directly related to scrapping.
 
We have been mac folks since about 2005 exclusively and we love it. I actually work on my macbook/trackpad more often than not, but when I move to my iMac it's like magic (b/c it's so big, LOL).

I use PS CC but have also used PSE when I 1st started out. I have yet to find a program that I wanted that was NOT compatible with mac.

Now, I do remember there being a bit of a learning curve with the OS/finder, etc.. but windows has become more "mac-like" since I switched so I think it'll be easier. I still work on a PC in my office and have the dardest time finding anything, LOL.

We haven't purchased a non-apple product of any kind since we switched (except kindles for the kids, but they ignore them in favor of our iPads). EVERYTHING "talks" to each other in the house.
 
tkradtke said:
I went from pc to mac about 10 years ago. Do you have other Apple devices? It's been so long since I made the switch that I can't remember what scrapping on a pc was like... BUT there are so many features that I love since we all have apple devices. I love being able to AirDrop photos from my computer and receive them from other family members. I love being able to access our shared iClouds from my computer. And I'm super spoiled by being able to type texts on my computer. Most of those benefit my scrapping, even if they aren't directly related to scrapping.
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We all have Apple phones and we have an iPad too. I didn't even think about the whole AirDrop photos- I love that!
 
I switched from PC to Mac in 2014. I don't have an iMac but Macbook Pro. LOVE it. There's a little learning curve but I was tired of buying new laptops each year, so finally got a Macbook and haven't looked back. We have iphones and ipads too, so just one big Apple family lol.

I have no idea what my specs are, but I use Photoshop CC, and an EHD for all my scrapping stuff because my hard drive is not very big.
 
I switched years ago from PC to Mac. Apple discontinued my 17" Macbook Pro, so I was sad. I went back to PC, but if Apple ever came out with the 17" again, I'd go back in a heartbeat. Nothing like my Macbook Pro laptop - it was the best. Eventually, I may have to eat the size and go for 15".

I would determine what size you want, and then get best that you can "under the hood." Personally if I had the ultimate choice, I'd go for the 27", fastest speed - either i5 or i7 quad core, at least 1TB of storage if not more, and configured with at least 16GB. If you can get bigger storage, go for it. It doesn't usually come with a lot pre-loaded in software/apps, just the usual Apple items. Graphics are usually awesome!

As for tips... my biggest one is to give yourself time to adjust. Seriously, it was frustrating. Give yourself 2 solid weeks or a month to learn the little nuances of Apple. For example, everything is backwards, lol! For PC, the X to close the window is on the top right, Mac's is on the left. Many menus are on the left rather the right. It's those little things that become frustrating, but you have to give yourself time.

Try them out in the store, too!
 
I switched from nearly two decades of PC-using to iMac in 2011. I mastered the minor differences quickly and have loved it ever since. I'm still using the same machine and it's running fine but I dread the day it might need to be replaced for fear I won't be able to afford to.

I'd suggest getting as much RAM as you can. It seemed sluggish sometimes before I added RAM. But that was mostly just in Lightroom, I think. Another thing I do to help with performance is that I save almost nothing on the internal drive; everything is on an EHD.

I was only using PSE when I got my Mac, but in 2015 I switched to PSCC. It runs perfectly well.

My husband was sold on it before I was too, and encouraged me to go for the 27" screen rather than the 21". I love having so much space to work. For example, I can have a chat window open on one side of my screen and scrap on the rest of my screen.

Another awesome thing is the Apple Magic Trackpad. It's so much better than any mouse, and better than any other track pad I've used. So easy to swipe, scroll, zoom, etc!

Have fun!
 
Not an iMac, but I scrap on a MacBook Pro. I made the switch from a PC to a Mac very easily. I tell the story of winning a PC a few years ago and I thought I would use it, but it turns out that it's true - once you go MAC you can never go back! I was totally confused and couldn't find anything.
 
All I can say is when and if I have to replace my PC, I'm getting a Mac. All of my other devices are Apple and having a Mac would be awesome!

Glad to see all of the discussion on this!
 
I switched from being on a PC from the time computers came out in about 2000. A Mac Mini was my first and after a dismal failure in trying to teach myself Photoshop 7 (Yes that was a PS version!) I got PSE4 and started scrapping, something I had never done. Next was the 24" iMac and I was in love. When I upgraded to a new one I went for the 27" and have had this iMac since 2011. We are a almost a total Mac household though he has a 15" MBP and a PC for some work that requires PC programs.

In both my iMacs I have upgraded the memory myself with memory cards from Crucial. I have a 3.4Ghz drive and 16 GB memory and am still using OS X El Capitan as updating to either of the Sierras would put too much strain on my iMac. That's usually the reason I upgrade machines though I did burn out the graphics card on this current one and replaced it for a couple hundred dollars last year. That was just to buy me time to decide what I want on my next iMac plus mine is one of those that still has a cd/dvd slot. I love this baby!

Scrapping? I usually have PSE or PSCC Open as well as Lightroom and several tabs in my browser. I play music through my phone and often have mail turned off. But after a day on line and often scrapping, I am sure to clear my browser cache and turn my computer OFF. It is timed to turn on at 6am each day so it's happily waiting for me each day!
 
only read a few here, but I think is more than enough said...I switched in 2006 UI think it was, after 2 Dell desktops (windows) were affected by viruses and I have not regret a single sat since.
I have never used antivirus in all these years, plus with the iMac, the whole computer is on the screen, not sure how windows PC come these days but in my time there was the monitor and the tower...
I scrap with a Windows program, even that I was able to do with iMac: there is a program called Parallels that allows you to create a virtual windows in your Mac, so if anything you need has to be windows, you can also get it done....
I dint think I could ever go back to PC/Windows, though many people tell me windows has advanced so much, still... Sarita has an iPhone (I dont have a phone at all) but we communicate by imessage or Face time,
r is one amazing computer, I would change it ever!!!
 
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I switched to a 27" iMac in 2010 and mine is still going strong. I had only used pc's till then and I usually had to replace them every 4-5 years. That's actually what I was doing the day I bought my iMac. I walked into Best Buy looking for a new pc because mine had just died and I still remember just casually walking by the Apple department and seeing that huge 27" screen begging me to take a closer look. I totally messed up when I started playing around with it in the store. Everything was so much more intuative and easy to figure out than a pc, to me any way. I spent twice as much as I planned to spend that day but it came home with me and I have never once regretted the decision. I've never run any kind of antivirus software on it and it has yet to let me down. I run PS CC on it and that's really the only major software. It pretty much been my scrap computer so I've been stingy and I don't share much with the family, although recently I have let my girls play their star stable game on it. Anyway, like I said I've had it since 2010 and it's still doing great. I could never imagine switching back to pc.
 
gracielou said:
I switched to a 27" iMac in 2010 and mine is still going strong. I had only used pc's till then and I usually had to replace them every 4-5 years. That's actually what I was doing the day I bought my iMac. I walked into Best Buy looking for a new pc because mine had just died and I still remember just casually walking by the Apple department and seeing that huge 27" screen begging me to take a closer look. I totally messed up when I started playing around with it in the store. Everything was so much more intuative and easy to figure out than a pc, to me any way. I spent twice as much as I planned to spend that day but it came home with me and I have never once regretted the decision. I've never run any kind of antivirus software on it and it has yet to let me down. I run PS CC on it and that's really the only major software. It pretty much been my scrap computer so I've been stingy and I don't share much with the family, although recently I have let my girls play their star stable game on it. Anyway, like I said I've had it since 2010 and it's still doing great. I could never imagine switching back to pc.
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This is so encouraging to hear because my 27" iMac is almost as old as yours (2011) and I hope to get a lot more years out of it.
 
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