Well since no one else was about to do it, let me go ahead and congratulate you. :) I'm sure the idiotic debate of Windows vs. OS X and PC generic vs. Apple proprietary will soon ensue even here, but let me go ahead and say grats, I hope you enjoy your purchase. I use a Macbook Pro as my work and portable computer, and I absolutely love it, and when I go home for the evening my home network is riddled with Windows PCs, including my main system at home that I built myself. It takes some serious getting used to going back and forth across platforms, but once you're settled and have been doing it a while, it'll come naturally, and you'll be better off for it. Also, I don't think your Apple product really comes with a manual, aside from some basics. One thing I can heartily say about OS X is that you really cant break it by going to town and just playing with it and exploring. Install this, install that, remove the other thing-you won't hurt it. Have fun!

I am currently awaiting my loan for the Fall 2006 school semester and along with it comes a $1000 bonus. Well ok so I said I needed $1000 more than I really do so that I can get a new macbook. I dont get my money until late August so I am eating up everything I can that is Mac until my day comes. Please keep us informed with your journey through the switch!

The best thing about beeing a switcher is one thing not mentioned. If you switched from Mac to Windows you had to buy and install anti spyware and anti virus protection and have to worry all the time about your system. No need fo that with a Mac. There are so many great things built in OS X just to mention one is that you can save everything as a PDF. Good luck with your Mac. SWEDEN

1249 for all of that seems like a pretty good deal. is this something only available in mac stores, because the price i get online is $1334, with the educational discount. sure you didn't get the 1.83Ghz version?

I've observed that most Windows users tend to over-think how to perform a task in Mac OS X. My advice to people who switch from Windows to Mac is: don't overcompensate for the computer.

So you are obviously in the tech industry, and no doubt you would be aware of all the data that you have, and would want to put onto your hard drive. So why did you get such a small one?

Having had an Apple IIe and a Performa and then played around with various Linux installs I can tell you it's tough to change your mind-set. It's not exactly overcompensating for your computer as much as relearning how to interact with your computer. I'd compare it to learning how to drive in England on the other side of the road- it's the same idea, but different delivery. Anyways, have fun with it and I hope it doesn't give you too many more problems!

We will see, my collage bound daughter picked a Mac over a PC, after 15 years of using PC with Dr. Dad Tech support. Will be intersting to see if she can get it all done at school with out a PC and Daddy-Tech Support.

The switch to Mac to run windows is nuts... Why would the average person want to have to have or support multiple OS's... The Mac OSX is extremely complicated and open to security questions. Ok Windoes is full of viruses and adware and security issues as well... Why have both problems? All the cool applications are still windows based i.e. Skype, MSN, Yahoo and games etc... Give this some thought... Can you afford 2 copies of Norton? This concept is for power users that want to run everything and can self support. It is for pilots not passengers:) StevieD

After many years of using a PC and hating the old macs in the work environment because it was such a pain to get them to interact on an IP network I decided to give OS X a try. I wouldn't consider myself as a switcher because 90% of what I still use are PC's but there are some tasks that are fun on the MAC. All the iLife apps are great and that's mostly what I use my MAC for. This business about MAC's being easier to use is hooey. I find the interface difficult at times but I plod through it. I hope Apple doesn't become too successful since the government would come after them for unfair trade practices like they did with M$ due to the wonderful bundled iLife software.

there are products that work poorly or not at at all. m$m and norton who charge $20 or $30 an hour to remove secret files so you cansafely run your pc on comcast cable...dont use norton/symantic ever....I'sorry for the wasted money and years of frustratio.....good luck to all.......c........

First, it's switching TO a Mac from a PC - you should at least write well in describing your situation. Mac's are a distant second place in the world - faaaaar behind PC's - and for good reason. Just walk into any Apple store and see who works there - bunch of kooks, peace love and tye-die lefties. Get over it - stick to a PC.

Mac's may be second in quantity to peecees, but when it comes to quality and ease of use a peecee cannot compete. When learning a new OS you have to keep in mind the learning curve. I've used windows my whole life, built my first peecee when I was 12 almost 10 years ago, I've used solaris, red hat (a dozen other *nix's to follow) and until OSX didn't find an os that was designed for a consumer's ease. I honestly believe that using windows requires Admin abilities, ie being a "Pilot" to quote "sdavis". In order to maintain a proper XP or 2k install you have to be quite keen and willing to spend a lot of time, and money on installs and protective softwares. I switched to an Apple iBook in 2003 when I wanted a laptop for college. I had already been in a linux stage, and therefore felt that switching to mac would be the logical step as I hated having to re-format my peecee in order to maintain a clean system. Since then I have spent $0.00's on os protection, and in 3 years I have never had a virus, spy ware, ad-ware, or even a pop-up. I couldn't be happier with my OS, and to boot we get a new one almost every fiscal year. Which means that all of our so called security weakness's are phased out. If you want a computing experience that doesn't require Admin ( Pilot) abilities feel free to jump in the back and let Apple take you for a ride.

Congratulations on making the switch. The learning curve for Mac OS X isnt high at all. My 11 year old just received her first PowerBook. I gave her the instruction manual. And a test shortly afterwards, now she connects to airport, is able to setup a computer to computer network syncs her iPod, uses Groups within .Mac, breezes through iPhoto. iChat etc. Thats just to name a few. I can tell that there were a lot of non mac owners within the above post. Because they didnt have a clue as to what they were talking about, for example the "switch to mac to run windows" is far from the truth. Running windows is optional, (which by the way I will never go back to windows) 2 Copies of Norton? I don't own any copies....since I have dumped the PC running windows XPee. I do btw have skype. Steve A, if my jr high school child can handle a mac so can your college bound daughter. I do agree with the idea of purchasing a small HD. 80Gigs? I hope you have an external. WIth the rate of digital media sp easily accessible and a part of everyday life now, I highly recommend and external...in your near future. Once you go mac you never go back. For everyone that has made the switch even partial....have you put it back in the box yet? I dont think so

First lesson for new Mac users: don't overcomplicate things on the Mac. Everything is simpler than it was on Windows. To install Firefox, just drag the application to your Applications folder. To connect to your wireless network, just pull down from the Airport menu (near the upper right-hand side of your screen) to your network. Simple as pie!

I fell in love with the 24" iMac when it was announced. I've been tearing myself apart for two weeks with half of me longing to try something new and potentially better and the other half in fear of a learning curve, new software apps, etc. Apple is putting together a 24" with 2Gb, 7600GT, wireless keyboard, and wireless Mighty Mouse. Plunked down $2500 and I'm looking forward to the new system - I can hardly wait!! Oh, and I'm NOT a tree hugging vegan hippie leftwing wacko. Just someone wanting a computer that Just Works!