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New Computer ... I Think ... Maybe ... (or not)
So, I took the plunge today. After months of slobbering and drooling -- and, literally, years of waxing back and forth regarding switching from PC to Mac -- I broke down and got a new computer. iMac i5 with the 27 inch screen.
I was so totally excited about getting this thing. I mean kid-in-the-candy-store excited. And it is amazingly gorgeous. I love how it's all one piece ... and this monitor is just ... wow! I love how big and beautiful it is and how it just seems to stretch on and on for miles. I was using a 24 inch flatscreen and a 17 inch flatscreen (two monitors) on my PC. So, I'll basically be switching from a 24-inch (because I don't use the "extra" screen as much since I switched to the bigger flatscreen) to the 27 inch monitor. In my mind, I think: "3 inches isn't that big of a difference. Not really." And, really, it isn't. But it just seems so much bigger as I sit here and look at it.
I love, love LOVE this "magic mouse" that came with it. And I didn't think I could love anything as much as the Logitech mouse I bought to go with my PC. So far, though ... yeah, I would have to say I love the mac one way more. Magic, indeed!!!
On the downside, I am not at all sure I can use the itty-bitty keyboard that came with the computer. It's really neat-looking, and I love that it's wireless. It doesn’t feel all that bad, typing-wise. I like how responsive the keys are and all, but it’s just so darn small. And I'm not crazy about how the keys are spaced. It just doesn’t feel … “right”.
Also on the downside (and a bit more of a problem than the keyboard thing), we pulled the computer out of the box, turned it on, and within a few minutes, it started flickering. I was so disappointed and quite dismayed. I mean, I read all the posts and information about the flickering, pixel-burn, and yellowing issues before committing to buy the new machine. But I also knew that, for every person who had the issue, there were many who had no problems whatsoever. I figured luck was probably on my side. Looks like I figured wrong. Bleh. We downloaded the “firmware fix”, but I am not sure if it’ll actually fix the problem. The posts on the various forums are not very positive about it -- it seems that, once you have the flicker, it's there to stay. Right now, I've been using the computer for a while after downloading the firmware update and restarting, and I don't see any flicker. I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow when I reboot the machine after having it off overnight.
Plus, I ran the yellowing and pixels test on the screen. Pixels were good – as in I don’t have any dead ones. But I did notice yellowing on my screen during the test. It wasn't significant, and I don’t notice the yellowing on the desktop background I’m using, on websites, or on stuff like a Word document when I’m typing it. So, maybe it’s not a big deal ... ??? I’m really not sure. And I don’t know if it will get worse over time or not.
So, basically, after all my excitement over the new computer, now I'm not even sure if I should keep the darn thing. Right now, I’m tempted to take it back. I could get my money back and wait a few months or a year to see if Apple irons out the problems. I mean, my PC is old, but it still works just fine. And if I pay this much money for something, I really want it to work. Or is this just my own insecurities and fears coming through? Because thinking about switching over totally from PC to Mac is a bit frightening, honestly. I started out using Mac, but I've used PCs for years now. But I have fundamental problems with each new OS Microsoft produces -- not to mention personal issues with the fact that the company basically forces you to "upgrade" to whatever crappy OS is its latest release. Even so, it's hard for me to wrap my brain around this type of total switch-over. I guess it's not as bad for me because my laptop is a Mac. So I already have word for Mac and PS and Dreamweaver for Mac. But it still feels like a HUGE change. I thought I was ready but now ... the doubts are beginning to creep back in.
It's stupid, I know, but I feel like crying right now. *sigh*
I was so totally excited about getting this thing. I mean kid-in-the-candy-store excited. And it is amazingly gorgeous. I love how it's all one piece ... and this monitor is just ... wow! I love how big and beautiful it is and how it just seems to stretch on and on for miles. I was using a 24 inch flatscreen and a 17 inch flatscreen (two monitors) on my PC. So, I'll basically be switching from a 24-inch (because I don't use the "extra" screen as much since I switched to the bigger flatscreen) to the 27 inch monitor. In my mind, I think: "3 inches isn't that big of a difference. Not really." And, really, it isn't. But it just seems so much bigger as I sit here and look at it.
I love, love LOVE this "magic mouse" that came with it. And I didn't think I could love anything as much as the Logitech mouse I bought to go with my PC. So far, though ... yeah, I would have to say I love the mac one way more. Magic, indeed!!!
On the downside, I am not at all sure I can use the itty-bitty keyboard that came with the computer. It's really neat-looking, and I love that it's wireless. It doesn’t feel all that bad, typing-wise. I like how responsive the keys are and all, but it’s just so darn small. And I'm not crazy about how the keys are spaced. It just doesn’t feel … “right”.
Also on the downside (and a bit more of a problem than the keyboard thing), we pulled the computer out of the box, turned it on, and within a few minutes, it started flickering. I was so disappointed and quite dismayed. I mean, I read all the posts and information about the flickering, pixel-burn, and yellowing issues before committing to buy the new machine. But I also knew that, for every person who had the issue, there were many who had no problems whatsoever. I figured luck was probably on my side. Looks like I figured wrong. Bleh. We downloaded the “firmware fix”, but I am not sure if it’ll actually fix the problem. The posts on the various forums are not very positive about it -- it seems that, once you have the flicker, it's there to stay. Right now, I've been using the computer for a while after downloading the firmware update and restarting, and I don't see any flicker. I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow when I reboot the machine after having it off overnight.
Plus, I ran the yellowing and pixels test on the screen. Pixels were good – as in I don’t have any dead ones. But I did notice yellowing on my screen during the test. It wasn't significant, and I don’t notice the yellowing on the desktop background I’m using, on websites, or on stuff like a Word document when I’m typing it. So, maybe it’s not a big deal ... ??? I’m really not sure. And I don’t know if it will get worse over time or not.
So, basically, after all my excitement over the new computer, now I'm not even sure if I should keep the darn thing. Right now, I’m tempted to take it back. I could get my money back and wait a few months or a year to see if Apple irons out the problems. I mean, my PC is old, but it still works just fine. And if I pay this much money for something, I really want it to work. Or is this just my own insecurities and fears coming through? Because thinking about switching over totally from PC to Mac is a bit frightening, honestly. I started out using Mac, but I've used PCs for years now. But I have fundamental problems with each new OS Microsoft produces -- not to mention personal issues with the fact that the company basically forces you to "upgrade" to whatever crappy OS is its latest release. Even so, it's hard for me to wrap my brain around this type of total switch-over. I guess it's not as bad for me because my laptop is a Mac. So I already have word for Mac and PS and Dreamweaver for Mac. But it still feels like a HUGE change. I thought I was ready but now ... the doubts are beginning to creep back in.
It's stupid, I know, but I feel like crying right now. *sigh*
no subject
I considered switching to a Mac with my last new computer, mainly just because everyone expects me to use one since I do graphic design…I ended up sticking with my PC since that’s what I’m comfortable with, but I’ve gotten some decent exposure to Macs through GL. I have to say there are things about each that I find better, and things about each that really annoy me. Thay have different strengths and weaknesses. I wouldn’t be 100% happy with either type; a perfect computer just doesn’t exist really.
If there’s a problem with the color, is that something that could be fixed by getting the screen calibrated? Our IT guy periodically comes in and tests our screens and then adjusts the color if they’re off.
I have noticed that the purple-blue background of my alternate journal is a drastically different color when I see it on a Mac than on a PC. Multiple Macs, not just GL’s. It’s very very purple then, wheras it's more of a dark blue on my own computer, and my work one. I haven’t noticed any other glaring color differences when using them, but I hadn’t ever been looking for them.
no subject
I've been going back and forth about switching to Mac for several years. I've actually wanted to do it for a long time, but I kind of let myself be apathetic about it. Over the years, I had gotten used to PC out of necessity -- not necessarily because it was what I liked the best, but it was more affordable and what was used in most of the places where I worked. And, for me, once I got used to PC, thinking about switching back over to Mac was way scary. I kept thinking about everything I would have to reload and change, etc ... and I would get frightened and just get another PC when it came time to get a new machine.
So, I'm actually still a bit terrified about switching over. I guess it doesn't make much sense because it's something I totally want to do. And, so far, I love this machine. (It seems like the firmware download solved the flicker problem. So far, I've had it on for most of the day today with no flicker.) At the same time, I'm so familiar with PC just because it's what I've used for the past several years, which makes switching hard.
As far as the yellowing thing goes ... I'm not sure. I may check to see if recalibrating the screen will solve the issue. It's actually not that noticeable. I mean, it was noticeable in the gray / black for the "test" that I ran. But I don't notice it on regular websites, on open word documents, or on my desktop background. So it might not be something I need to worry about. :/