tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104614442011-04-21T18:40:15.387ZI want to switch to an iMacWant-2-Switchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142041151913681896noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10461444.post-1106925746219263472005-01-28T15:22:00.000Z2005-01-28T15:25:00.376Z<span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm not going to lie to you. Hell, i'm not even going to pretend. <br /> <br /><strong>I want an iMac. </strong> <br /> <br />Nothing fancy. <br />Nothing too "high tech". <br />Just a bog standard old iMac. <br />A newer model would be nice, but this is financially out of the question. <br /> <br /><strong>A brief history</strong> <br /> <br />I have been interested in switching to Mac for a few years now (since the first iMac came out). <br />I work with and support Windows PCs all day - the last thing i want to do i go home to another buggy slow Windows PC. We have a G4 mac here at work with a Studio Display and it is totally lush. I had to get it on the network (easy) and configure it for use with our proxy servers for internet access too. At the moment, the main user of the Mac has left the business and it sits there on the desk next to where she used to sit doing nothing all day! Totally tragic! I don't even think it gets switched on any more! Can i "borrow" it? Don't think so. <br /> <br /><strong>So, if/when i get my iMac, will it be compatible with my PC?</strong> <br /> <br />Heres a quick run down on what i use my PC for: <br /> <br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Email (outlook 2003)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Web browsing (firefox)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bittorrent (bittornado)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Listening to MP3s (iTunes)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Watching movies (Windows Media Player/Divx Player/Quicktime)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Spreadsheet work (Excel)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Writing (Microsoft Word)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">FTP to my XBOX (FlashFXP)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Getting photos from my Digital Camera</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photo editing (Photoshop)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Using my USB scanner</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Using my USB printer (epson C80)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">CD Writing</span></li></ul> <br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I don't really play games on my PC. This is mainly because it is not technically "up to it" but also because i have an XBOX. <br /> <br />I do download stuff from bittorrent and keep it on the hard disk - but i could burn it to CD and then delete it. So this means a large hard disk is not essential. I have 120gb at the moment and that is enough to keep me in downloads for quite a few months before a clearout. 40 or 80 gig should be sufficient. <br /> <br />My PC is also wirelessly connected to my Netgear router - so i guess the iMac would also need to have an Airport card installed for me to continue accessing the internet. <br /> <br />So, in summary - there is probably not anything i do on my PC that cannot be done on an iMac. <br />I may have to "obtain" some software such as iLife and Office for Mac but it can all be done. <br /> <br /><strong>So, How will i get this iMac?</strong> <br /> <br />My finances could currently be classed as "average". I can afford to pay an over £500 mortgage, run 2 cars, support my wife and two kids and even buy the odd can of beer now and again. I am not rolling in cash - more like paddling and keeping afloat. <br /> <br />I came up with the idea that if kind people donated cash or even an iMac(!) then that would be most excellent. In a way it is also a bit of a social experiment to see if blogging and Blogger really can generate interest in such a scheme. If everyone reading this gave £1 (or $1) then my goal would be reached. <br /> <br />I promise to use the money to buy an iMac and i also promise to keep the blog updated with information as and when it happens. If you donate, i will give you a mention and any cash left over will be donated to the Tsunami appeal or some similar charitable scheme. <br /> <br />Even as i type this i am starting to feel cheap and nasty. Maybe this was not such a good idea after all. <br /> <br />After checking eBay i have estimated that i can buy an old iMac for about £100. This may or may not include the Airport card and software, so i will need to research this further. <br /> <br /><strong>How you can help:</strong> <br /> <br />As this blog has only just started i am not going to splash my name and PayPal details over the page - not just yet. If people start reading and offers come, then we will see. <br /> <br />Please feel free to leave a comment, no doubt it will be a flame saying something like "i worked day and night to afford my first iMac and you expect one for free....". <br />I would also be interested in hearing from Mac users who have any suggestions for software that i can use (see list above). <br /> <br /></span><a href="mailto:want2switch@gmail.com"><span style="font-family:verdana;">want2switch@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10461444-110692574621926347?l=want2switch.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Want-2-Switchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142041151913681896noreply@blogger.com3