A sad, sad, very sad day for a windows admin.

jsimpson3 · 2012-11-26T13:28:19.000Z

So over the holiday weekend, it came to my attention that my fiancee wants/“needs” a MacBook Pro for college. She mentioned it at dinner so naturally I started yelling, throwing food, and blaming her for the downfall of the public education system. (okay, so really none of that happened and I’m going to surprise her with one because she’s always had a love affair with macs, dramatic though, right?)

I’m a windows user and admin with the exception of a LAMP stack I have at home for fun. Is there anything I should plan for when moving her to a mac (she currently using windows 7) other than the obvious UI change and file formats, are there any other “gotcha’s” to look out for?

**Update

After reading everyone’s advice, I tried to look at it from a professional standpoint, I can grow my self as an admin from learning Mac. As of yesterday (12/4/12) We are now the proud owners of two MacBook Air’s (13’) I GREATLY appreciate all of the hints, tips, and laughs from this thread.

@VMware @HP @Dell_Technologies

kkyishkkii · 2012-11-26T13:32:55.000Z

The constant preachy-ness that seems to take over a person when they become a Mac owner

mike0850 · 2012-11-26T13:35:45.000Z

Come to the dark side, we have Macs.

bd235024190 · 2012-11-26T13:35:52.000Z

Buy a Starbucks gift card to go with it?

joshlister3195 · 2012-11-26T13:36:19.000Z

I have nothing useful to add to this, just wanted to thank you both for making me laugh!

edt · 2012-11-26T13:36:22.000Z

Avoid using it yourself unless you want to end up “needing” one too because they’re just so…

shiny…

pretty…

drool

gary342 · 2012-11-26T13:36:29.000Z

The price tag shock that you will get when you go to buy the MacBook Pro and then realize how much Office for Mac costs.

shawnrutherford5625 · 2012-11-26T13:36:36.000Z

I know this sounds crass… but I wouldn’t do anything. If your assumptions of Windows and Mac are correct, let her experience it.

She may learn something… and then again… so may you.

I don’t own mac products so I have no horse in this race.

-shawn

aaronvinyard · 2012-11-26T13:37:11.000Z

I love Windows, I love OSX, I love Linux. Embrace them all, it will make you a better admin.

davidsmith · 2012-11-26T13:37:57.000Z

I have been a Windows admin all of my working life and I bought a macbook (air) a few years ago just “to see what the fuss is about”. It’s easy to use but it doesn’t really do anything a windows laptop cant … I know this post isn’t about that so in answer to your question … the only “gotch” I would watch out for is itunes … don’t let it convert all your music !

preissner · 2012-11-26T13:37:59.000Z

Well first suggestion is to hit MacMall up, they usually undercut apple by $10 or so, a fairly hefty discount on apple products if you ask me.

Other than that, if you really want to support it yourself (and your relationship will thank you) grab Apple’s " OSX Support Essentials " It’s the best reference and learning material available for apple products IMO. Otherwise, buy in to the apple care nonsense, that way there are no surprises with the “Geniuses”.

Also take a gray hat look into the OSx86 Project and spin up an OSX VM or install it on a spare PC to help you get a feel for the OS so you can teach her. That should get you some brownie points.

Of course, there is always the option of buying the apple hardware and installing windows on it… or buying an ultrabook and putting an apple sticker on it… while that would keep you happy on the computer end, she might not be as thrilled as you…

Best of luck.

leifjohnson · 2012-11-26T13:38:26.000Z

I hear the price is a huge got-cha

jackrowley7275 · 2012-11-26T13:38:30.000Z

My experience has been that if you want to change any setting as an administrator you should expect it to hang.

Huw3481 · 2012-11-26T13:39:43.000Z

When they want you to install a bit of software that they had on Windows for which there is no Apple version

davidfant3178 · 2012-11-26T13:40:58.000Z

She is your fiancee.

Get her what she wants.

If she changes her mind later (could happen) trash the shiny toy and get her what she wants as a replacement.

Computers, cars, dishwashers, phones, furniture, etc. - get used to it.

Vive la Difference!

michael9595 · 2012-11-26T13:41:51.000Z

The holier than thou attitude from Mac users.

john4120 · 2012-11-26T13:42:22.000Z

+1 to the price tag or in the case of apple products +500% to the cost of the product in relation to what it is worth

philipdestefanis4212 · 2012-11-26T13:46:13.000Z

Learn to love the spinning colorful ball.

Oh, and adding/removing printers…much different process than on a Windows system, especially the removing part.

paolo0111 · 2012-11-26T13:52:52.000Z

It would be more correct to apply a good practice; the result of centuries of knowledge.
NEVER mix love and work.
You are the master to disregard this at your own risk and peril.

jeremyb · 2012-11-26T13:52:59.000Z

Sounds like a great opportunity to learn something new!