Switch from PC to Mac: I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system? What's...

Trieast1

I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system?
What's the best way to bring my programs over, LR, Elements, etc.?

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

don't let yourself use a crutch - just leave windows 7. They really aren't that much different.

You will need to get the Mac versions of LR and Elements. You can use your Adobe ID to download them.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

The biggest thing I see folks run into is the Ctrl key on Windows is the Command key on the Mac

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Trieast1 wrote:

I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system?
What's the best way to bring my programs over, LR, Elements, etc.?

Long time ago, I switched the other way (from Mac to PC), there are applications that let you use Windows on your Mac, but I don't remember the name. It will probably take you some time to get used working with your Mac. Good Luck!!!

doclab88 Loc: Baldwin Wisconsin

Trieast1 wrote:

I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system?
What's the best way to bring my programs over, LR, Elements, etc.?

Windows 7 would need to be installed on your Mac. It can be done thru bootcamp assistant. You would need to purchase Windows 7 to install it. I checked into this and it is supposed to be pretty easy to install. I was told a windows 7 version would be about a $100. I recently switched to Mac and I have no regrets about it. It is fairly easy to navigate thru all of its programs and installing new programs was easier than on a windows system IMHO. I dont know if you can "bring" your existing programs over if they have already been installed on another pc/laptop unless the particular program allows multiple computer usage. I was able to transfer all my photos and documents from my old windows laptop to my Mac via an external hard drive.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

doclab88 wrote:

Windows 7 would need to be installed on your Mac. It can be done thru bootcamp assistant......

You could also checkout Virtual Box which will run Windows in a window withing the Mac OS. I would avoid BootCamp as then you're just running Windows on an expensive box with an Apple logo.

https://www.virtualbox.org/

Wes97068 Loc: Portland Oregon

If you have a PC program that is not Mac compatible, check out www.codeweavers.com "crossover" program which will allow you to run it on a Mac and you don't even have to buy a copy of Windows. I ran Quicken for several years that way because the Mac version did not offer the same features that I needed.

doclab88 Loc: Baldwin Wisconsin

sloscheider wrote:

You could also checkout Virtual Box which will run Windows in a window withing the Mac OS. I would avoid BootCamp as then you're just running Windows on an expensive box with an Apple logo.

https://www.virtualbox.org/

Would you still need to partition off a portion of your storage to run this?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

speters wrote:

...there are applications that let you use Windows on your Mac...

http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

doclab88 wrote:

Would you still need to partition off a portion of your storage to run this?

Nope, it dynamically allocates the space it needs up to the partition size you set. You can give it 50 gigs of space but it'll only use as much as it needs to hold the stuff you put in it.

I had a Hackintosh (Mac on PC hardware) running Mavericks, running Windows 7 in a window on the desktop :)

Never tried it but I suspect you could install another Hackintosh within a virtual machine...

Oh, it's free too... donations welcome

NealB Loc: Lowell Indiana

Trieast1 wrote:

I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system?
What's the best way to bring my programs over, LR, Elements, etc.?

You can purchase a program called Parallels. You can ports windows to the Mac. This allows you to use the Mac OS and Windows on the same machine. I did this when I moved from PC to Mac 2 years ago. The funny thing is windows 7 runs faster and is more stable on my Mac.

photoman64 Loc: Commack, NY

Trieast1 wrote:

I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system?
What's the best way to bring my programs over, LR, Elements, etc.?

I would not use bootcamp. There are few other programs that are better, VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac are better. Both are great because you do not have to reboot your machine so you can switch back and forth from Mac - PC. I like VMware a bit better when open most of the time it will run faster in the background but it is up to you. Also there are programs that are in both that will let you back up your PC and bring it in to the Mac and it will look just like your PC did. I do not recall at this time the name but and find. And here is the BUT if you know the PC (windows) you will be able to use the Mac. A small carve time but well worth the time.

paccmps

Trieast1 wrote:

I am receiving a Mac desktop and I am worried about the transfer. Can I use the Windows 7 on the Mac until I am familiar with the Apple operating system?
What's the best way to bring my programs over, LR, Elements, etc.?

I got my IMAC and was really worried about switching over to the new operating systems ! A close friend by my side who was a mac user and got me started with the differences ! I was using my pc for some items for a while. He came by the house and disabled my PC and forced me to use the IMAC for everything ! That forced me to not my old computer and seemingly right now the IMAC was all I wanted. The pc was on a desk for quite a while and I would try using it and its operation was confusing! sold it a sort time back and a nice printer is in its place. In short do not sweat it you will be glad you mac is a fine machine for your photography as well as everything else !!

tomcat

Don't ever install PC programs on a Mac. That's like putting a Volkswagon beetle engine in your Ferrari. Others have suggested just biting the bullet and jumping in to the Apple OS with Mac. It took me about 2 days to get familiar with it and I was off and running. If you put PC software on it you'll never appreciate the simplicity of OS AND you'll be leaning on that PC crutch for a long time

hdg Loc: Boston

I'm agreeing with Tomcat above. Just don't do it. I know the transition seems scary, but you just have to remember that Mac is very intuitive -- it's just comes at things from a slightly different angle than Windows. You'll learn it quickly (although there will be times you'll be frustrated). Just don't put that Windows system on your machine! You'll regret it. It has terrible performance and you'll think it's your Mac's fault. I have to run Windows on my Mac for testing of websites and it's truly terrible. Just don't do it. I promise.