How many Mac users?
 

Perhaps not the right forum, but I am curious whether the aviation community, helicopters in particular, use the Mac format rather than IBM / Microshaft Windows.

The Oz CASA is reluctant to produce any software or amend their web browsers for any other than Windows format, but perhaps there is a shift in the proportions of users in aviation. If I can show CASA that there is a significant proportion of Mac users in aviation, we might get treated better.

And PLEASE, this is not a request for Windows-haters and Mac-haters to vent their spleens.

I Mac User!
 

And thru the years I have managed to convince several other pilots to make a very successful switch, they all seem happy to have switched to Mac.

I use a MAC G4 Titanium Powerbook Laptop and have found it to be the best laptop I have ever used. Being non windows based it doesnt suffer from the numerous viruses out there built around the windows operating system.

For graphics, which I do a lot of work with, you cant beat it.

AB

I had an old grey one but since the "flasher" accusation I threw it away......:D

I have a HP laptop, but I also have a old G3 imac. Like both, have different uses for them. But next I'll buy a MAC laptop.

I use a G4 cube - great computer and friendly programs:)

I use an iBook, excellent machine wish they had more gaming software though. Overall no complaints and will buy MAC again

I have used Mac's for years and years, but sadly, I finally slipped over to the dark side due to ease of access and costs of software and hardware.
It's a shame that Apple never built the network of products and support as the PC did.
I personally think that Mac's are by far a better product.

I went from an IBM/Windows PC to an iMac last september. I like it a lot. I can set it up in minutes and its easy to take on the road with me. As for programs and such, well I been able to get all the software I want to use so its not a problem. There is plenty of software for Mac's, you just can't buy it at Staples.

407 Driver

How about going back to a MAC and then installing Virtual PC. This is a great program and allows you to basically run a full PC suite on a MAC. I use it to run my subs database on the same computer as my graphics programs. Makes life much easier and being able to run MAC and PC programs on the same laptop is very cost effective.

AB

Don;t then cooling fans on those macs rotated the wrong way ?.

I use a PC for writing and an iMac for design.

All Blacks, I thought about that, but it's the cost also. My new Dell with lots of extras installed was only about $2,000 CAD last year, a similar Mac may be twice that. (granted, I may have received twice the product??)
George, you are correct, Mac software is available, but not with such off-the-shelf ease as a PC.
Widgeon, it doesn't matter which way things spin, just learn to react accordingly :D

I too went over to the dark side because of my job. I took my recent unemployment, and the lightning strike that fried my HP Laptop as a sign, and went back to my old PowerMac 7300 again. With OS9.1 its very stable, runs all the USB toys and with 256MB of RAM can run MS Office 2000 with ease. I had also heard that the latest versions of Virtual PC are pretty sweet, thus opening up the software side a goodly bit. For the CD driven, graphic heavy, maintenance or operational manuals (like Boeings) out there today, Macs are the business.

Tinyrice

I agree with them as the best for graphics. On my 750mhz G4 Powerbook I am running Quark Express, Photoshop 7 and Adobe Acrobat for all my magazine related work as well as Office 2002 with all the neat toys it has.

The on the PC side am running Tracker which is a database program for subscriptions, mailouts etc etc as well as MYOB for all my accounting needs. Not bad for one laptop.

Mind you, and this is for 407 Driver, the initial cost for the G4 Powerbook runs around $8K NZD and then I put all the software etc on. Its not cheap but I would never go back to a PC. Besides when running on the internet I can have Internet Explorer, Entourage and Netscape all doing seperate things and it handles it with ease. Not like my PC that would crash after opening the second program :rolleyes:

AB

Since 1986. Saw the light after doing spreadsheets in DOS using backslash commands. If you believe the stories Apple is the largest selling BRAND of computer. Think before you flame that statement.

Currently using a Titanium G4 500 Mhz. Bluetooth wireless to an Ericsson T39m mobile. Can go online in most places in Europe where there is GSM coverage with GPRS. Cost is based on quantity not time - speed is as much as 64 k which is faster than dialup.

Running OS 10.2.2 Jaguar. Rock solid. Even have OS X running on an old G3 266 Powerbook and it is entirely acceptable. Clock speed isn't everything. There were rumours running that OS X has been run on the Intel platform. I say don't bother let them suffer.

Ever wondered why there is no support industry for the Macintosh? Obviously doesn't need one.

CASA - there's a can of worms on it's own. Interestingly their Regulatory CD is Intel, Mac and Unix. Mind you it is an Adobe product. There are some smarter people in Seattle than others.

BTW - Unix is like living in a teepee: No windows, No Gates, Apache in house.

Mac since 1990. Now using iBook & iMac running OS 9.2 - and Airport wireless connecting to my cable modem. High speed internet in the bathroom! Have to use SoftPC to run some of my aviation stuff (Garmin.......clunky company).

Yes, Garmin is yet another company that ignores us. I tried to get the software for our new G196, but it is only Windows, and of course it only runs through a Com port, which doesn't exist on my iMac.

I am very pleased to see that the most prolific and respected posters on this forum are Mac people. It gives me the incentive to get onto CASA and suggest that they look at this thread and get thaeir @r$es into gear.

Thanks Rotorheads - any more out there?:D

Here on the top table at the Towers myself, Danny and Sick Squid are confirmed Mac men. Only Mik stays on the dark side but then again he thinks in unix and finds that OSX only gets in the way........

Regards
Rob

Mac since 1988, have to use Wintel at work and hate it. The thing I miss most on the Windows programs is not being able to navigate without using the mouse.
Interesting to see how the responses are pretty much all in favor of Macs - is this just a rotorhead thing, or perhaps more to do with aviation in general?
I know we're different in many ways from (most) FW folks in ways of thinking, but that's another thread all on its own.