Francisco Magdaraog at 2011-02-17 00:48:02:

Haha. Welcome to the Church of Jobs ;) You'll find your fingers vainly searching for the control key when what you need is the command (a.k.a. "apple") key. Oh, and the minimize/maximize buttons are on the top-LEFT. Other than that, yes, it'll work. And the keyboard feels good on the fingers. And the screen will look much better. iMovie kinda sucks IMO, but Final Draft is more or less exactly the same.

Scott Squires at 2011-02-17 00:48:13:

Wow, you been drinking the PC Koolaid for a long time based on what you posted.

'Tell me I won't lose my edge.'

You had edge? With a PC?

The Mac's not perfect but at least you can focus on using the machine instead of tuning, fixing and learning it. It will also be more pleasant on the eyes and you can print out PDF from any program.

On the Mac you'll likely be using expanding out and using more programs. Music, video, etc.

There's still some old time PC writing programs that have yet to be moved over to the Mac but most of the name brand scriptwriting programs are available.

Enjoy it.

Robert at 2011-02-17 00:53:26:

I used to be the VP of a Regional bank. Had a wife, couple of kids. A real success.

Then I decided to buy a MacBook Pro. More reliable, lots of cool stuff. I figured what the heck. Now I'm a middle-aged Emo who roams around L.A. looking for tickets to bands you've never heard of and a nail polish for every mood.

Do you want to turn into me Scott? Do you!!??

Francisco Magdaraog at 2011-02-17 00:55:47:

Oh, and FYI, when you 'X' out of a program window, the program is still running in the background until you quit.

And as the previous guy said, print to PDF from any program. That part's heaven. Also, simple, built-in screenshot function! (Cmd + shift + 3 for entire screen. Cmd + shift + 4 + mouse to select an area.)

Brian Siegele at 2011-02-17 02:13:39:

Scott,

Been a reader for a while and, oddly enough, THIS is the post I've decided to finally comment on.

Great idea to move to mac! A word of advice: WAIT A FEW WEEKS - as Apple is rumored to be releasing an update to the MacBook Pro line in early March. If you can hold off on your purchase, I'd recommend it - nothing is worse to me than buying something and finding out the company released a new version of the product a few days later!

Hope that helps, and thanks for your work on this blog, I find it informative and enjoyable!

Brian
(USC Screenwriting MFA Student)

donna at 2011-02-17 02:29:40:

I couldn't agree more on waiting for the new release, Scott. The ONLY downfall for the Mac side that I've seen over the years is the insatiable desire to purchase the new model the minute it comes out---even though your model is perfectly fine!!! ; ( Every upgrade is the best-sounding Kool-Aid ever so I'd absolutely wait and then enjoy!

Left PCs kicking and screaming because hubby needed a Mac for graphic arts in '97 and since two months after that 1st purchase, you couldn't have given me a PC for free. NOT exaggerating.

Enjoy ; )

creeboy at 2011-02-17 02:59:37:

The Macbook's trackpad is a wonder but all of the hidden power is switched off by default.

Make sure you have a look at the features available through multitouch by heading into System Preferences which should appear in your dock. Under Hardware select Trackpad. By highlighting each of the selections a small video clip will play demonstrating each feature. You will learn to LOVE Expose with "four finger swipe down."

I am spoiled for any other trackpad.

Enjoy!

James at 2011-02-17 03:23:31:

I was in the same boat. Big PC fan. Gamer was probably why. But was fed up with literally having to buy a new computer every year or so because they were so prone to viruses and infection and nastiness.

While I can't promise you that there won't be any Dali Lama voodoo (there probably will), I can tell you from experience that I've had this MacBook Pro since 2006 and it is still running strong. That's twice as long as I've had any PC.

Also Applecare is well worth it imo. They cover pretty much everything except water damage. And it was easy as hell to deal with. I took it in for the first time at the very end of my Applecare (never had a reason to) and they replaced the fans, box, keyboard, and a whole host of stuff. At the end of Applecare 3 years later my computer felt brand new.

My Mac has crashed twice in 5 years. My PC would crash twice every hour. And I abuse the hell out of my Mac. Play WoW on it. And it is still running strong. I've more than gotten my moneys worth out of it. And love it like a family member. It's literally the one item in my life I'd save in a fire.

The only thing that takes some getting used to is how files are handled and saved. I prefer how PCs directory works to Mac. It's not difficult at all on a Mac. I just grew up on PCs so I'm probably always going to want that sort of system. But in truth, it is much easier to find files on a Mac. Spotlight is freaking sweet. And as mentioned above -- the multiple finger trackpad is amazing.

I get frustrated on non-Macs when I can't drag 2 fingers to scroll down a page in Final Draft.

Somehow talking about the multi finger trackpad always sounds dirty.

I love my Mac. And was a diehard PC fan. I just wish they were cheaper.

Joshua James at 2011-02-17 05:50:04:

Macs are TANKS, tanks ... they're very powerful and should you have a question, they have this wonderful thing called The Genius Bar at the apple store, sign up and get any question answered ...

I've used macs exclusively (PCs when I've had day jobs) and never had a mac crash because of a virus, never. Ever.

And there's this thing called GARAGE BAND wherein I'm told, you can basically record music like a studio, if you're musically inclined.

I'm not, so it's only what I've read. But I know you are.

donna at 2011-02-17 06:13:16:

Sorry, Screenwriter, gotta call BS on the 'Macs fail just as often as PCs' line.

Just ain't true, 'm friend. Do a poll of 100 Mac users and 100 PC users and you'll be shocked how many Mac users never have had a virus, never or rarely restart their machine, never freeze up, etc.

Sorry, really think someone gave you SunnyD instead of Kool Aid ; )

Steve Bedford at 2011-02-17 06:24:27:

Wow. It is kind of sad that this post of all posts got so many responses. People are passionate about loving or hating Apple, as you can see.

I personally love my Macbook Pro. The biggest plus about Apple computers in my opinion is that they just work. I have had a Mac for over two years now and barely ever find something that I have to spend hours trying to fix (which is a weekly occurrence with a PC from my experience). The biggest test case for me is that both my parents have PC's, and every time I'm home, there is something wrong with their computers that they don't know how to fix. My mother-in-law has a Mac, and we have not once received a tech support question from her.

Are PC's crap? Certainly not, but they do require a certain type of user. They are akin to the guy who changes his own oil and brakepads in the car world. Does doing that make your car suck? No. It actually might make the car better, but I don't have time to tinker with all the stuff under the hood to get the perfect setup.

If you enjoy getting your hands dirty in your OS and hardware, trying to fix problems and gain a sense of pride from working our bugs, then a PC is great for you. But if you don't, Macs just work.

Sean Z P Harris at 2011-02-17 07:28:14:

I have to admit that part of me loves fixing issues that arise on my PC - on anyone's PC, for that matter.

Do I hate Macs? Not at all. If I'm honest, the only reason I never consider getting one is the price. You are paying from something undeniably cool, but, in my experience, you can find a netbook/pc/laptop that will do the same job for less cash.

Perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places.

Julia Kelly at 2011-02-17 07:46:04:

I'm glad someone else is battling with the decision to join the "Apple club"- yes the computers have some advantages over PC- but the...can't think of a better word then "elitist" attitude that goes along with them has made me resist the change- and I am running huge programs like photoshop on my PC- and working in publishing-
I hear ya- on hating being attached to the stigma that goes along- someone declares I have to have a Mac to be an artist/writer and the rebel in me resists it-
I guess my PC hasn't caused me enough grief- yet- to make me take the jump.

Mike at 2011-02-17 09:11:24:

Hi Scott!

I was a PC hardliner for over 25 years. I switched to Mac in 2007 and you couldn't give me a PC for free at this point.

Once you get used to it, the Mac is just TRANSPARENT. On a PC, it's impossible not to notice the computer you're working on. On a Mac, the computer disappears and it's just you putting words to the page. It's the Apple paradigm, straight out of the Dieter Rams design philosophy: Good design is unobtrusive, minimalist, and reinforces what the user would naturally tend to do. Macintoshes are good design, plain and simple.

Give it a couple of weeks and grab the new-refresh Macbook Pro if you like... I don't typically work from a notebook computer so I went iMac instead, but it's whatever meets your preference.

Bruce Ingram at 2011-02-17 09:27:34:

Windows 7 and Mac are about as stable and unstable giving that you will likely to use either to mostly write, email, surf, listen to music and watch videos.

I do think, as a creative mind, you'll find OSX less obtrusive to your creative flow, I know I do and I am completely OS agnostic.

Advice on the Mac store, don't depend on them. Find a friend who knows Mac AND Windows well but has no loyalty to either, a true Geek. The Mac store employees are helpful but most of them are no more a true Geek than I belong in a Gap store. They sell the company line, a Geek will help you decide how much Mac you need and how much you don't.

You'll likely spend a week or two in what I call, "Mac Nirvana". You'll explore the App store, you check all the shiny new stuff that is different from windows and you'll, likely, delve a little into the hip Mac culture. Then, the fog will lift from your eyes, you'll get over the initial shininess. It'll be just another computer that you work on and you'll get back to work.

I do, despite my usual aversion to them, suggest you get the extended Apple Care. Those laptops can go strange out of no where and it's almost always a hardware issue.

Good luck!

Tom at 2011-02-17 10:33:29:

A few years ago my wife, and architect, started a new firm with her friend. They went all Mac because it was the "artists" machine, and their designs are art. I used it for some writing, and didn't really find any issues, however in less than a year they changed back to PCs and one of the main reasons was the difficulty they had with their network (we use Apple's Airport for our home wireless network and have had the same issues we had with Linksys - which really means it's the cable provider). I've been using a PC since the hot new technology was an 8086 chip. The problems I had with viruses were due to my stupidity. I currently use Bit Defender for my antivirus software, but have had great success with AdAware and Spybot - both identified viruses that Norton missed. I was fun watching Norton pop up with a virus alert right after AdAware deleted the offender.

daveed at 2011-02-17 11:12:57:

I'm comfortable with both systems. For years, I had PCs at home and Macs at work. I liked how I thought it made me "platform agnostic". Whoop-de-doo.

I was really good at keeping my home PC lean, mean and malware free. But it took a crap load of work, research, testing, etc., etc. I got tired of constantly searching for workarounds, tweaks, bug fixes, and the like.

I had enough. So I went MacBook Pro, too.

Here's a great example: in order to play a DVD on one of my earlier PCs, it took me about 5-6 hours to figure it out. Why? There was no native DVD player. I had to download something called "codecs" -- what the hell were those? Well, that took time to figure out. Oh, and if I went through Microsoft, I was taken to a 3rd party site that wanted to charge me $15 for these magical "codecs."

Meanwhile, I found free ones, but that took a lot of searching and figuring out. Then it was investigating 3rd party player applications, trying to install them, and so on...

You want to play DVD on a Mac? Just pop it in.

Shawn at 2011-02-17 11:40:28:

I've been a PC user for years and have yet to have any problems with my machines. One desktop lasted five years and now my laptop, bought two years ago, is still going strong.

My wife recently bought a Macbook Pro - we paid three times the amount of my current laptop; same specs, hard drive space, processor speed, everything.

And I have to strongly disagree with many Mac proponents here - the keyboard is terrible. Absolutely the worst for writing.

Jeff at 2011-02-17 12:16:44:

Lifer PC guy myself (probably a byproduct of being an I.T. guy in a prior life...)

My wife bought herself one of these iPad things six months ago.

(Jeff drops to his knees, throws his hands to the heavens and, if you look closely, you can see a halo glow emanating from his body)

I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!

This machine is remarkable in every respect. The scriptwriting apps are delectable and if you want to easily take your work wherever you go, no probelmo. My only issue is transferring files from the iPad to a larger machine (I think iTunes can handle that but it can get wonky) but I have to assume Apple is already on that quirk.

Now, if you were reading the above closely, you took note that I said it's my WIFE'S iPad. So, um, yeah, we're working on that little marital hiccup as we speak... heh heh.

Annika W at 2011-02-17 13:25:19:

I didn't get a Mac because of the hip image. Didn't even realize they had this tattoo/coffee shop association. I bought my Mac in 2006 right before moving to San Francisco because I HATE tinkering with computers, wanted something reliable, and didn't mind paying extra for it. In five years, I've never had one virus, one crash, never "lost" a file. And I rarely have to go online to figure out how to do something. The UI is that intuitive. I learned very early on that - unlike all the PCs I'd used before - if something wasn't working right or seemed hinky, it wasn't the computer. It was me.

Scott, the real bottom line is this: you are worried about getting LESS work done on a Mac. But, when your tools are reliable, you'll get more work done - so much so you may surprise yourself and wonder how you got along before.

scriptnotes at 2011-02-17 14:18:50:

"
Please convince me my writing won't get lost in the abyss of cool-ness and I won't suddenly find myself plunked down for endless hours at the local Caribou Coffee, with Final Draft open, FADE IN typed, cursor blinking... and I'm busy trying to download a bootleg copy of a Czech band's rendition of Arcade Fire's "Keep the Car Running.""

YOU'RE DESCRIBING MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!