Calling Mac experts...

[Gazjam]

Just went over to the dark side....bought a Mac.
Lifelong windows user here since 3.1. Use 8.1 on my work machine, so no religious conversion here :)
OS X Yosemite seems good to use and easy to get my windows boxes talking to the Mac.

Having recently got an IPad I'm realising how useful it can be as a work tool (and not just a fancy Jriver remote.
For presenting custom Ebooks, 3D and graphic presentations the IPad is brilliant, but there was Mac only software that would be extremely useful for this..so took the plunge and got one.
Also means I get my bedroom HTPC back, though Jriver for Mac isn't quite ready for prime time yet imo.
Will install XBMC for this I think.

Anyway,
Calling out to Mac experts that can hopefully guide me in a few things? Thanks!


. Can I "mirror" my iPad display through my Mac onto the big screen it's connected to?
. I know Remote Desktop is possible, what's a good program for this? (Team viewer good on PC, Mac?)
. What else can I do with an IPad / Mac together?

Thanks.

[roob]

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/ipad/this-is-how-you-remote-access-mac-from-ipad-for-free-3526694/
http://www.geek.com/apple/the-5-best-remote-desktop-apps-for-ipad-1565111/

[julesd68]

Hi Gary,

This should help with the Airplay mirroring -

http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-tips-tricks/how-to-use-airplay-mirroring-from-ipad-to-apple-tv-or-a-mac/

How are you finding Yosemite? I'm using Mavericks but bottled out of installing Yosemite after reading some fairly harsh feedback on it ...

Enjoy.

[roob]

Using Yosemite on both my MBP and Mini no issues at all.

[Nerfbat]

I had issues with Mavericks, but I've had no problems at all with Yosemite, though I know others have had the opposite experience..

[Gordon Steadman]

I'm still on 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard?):(

Does everything I need just perfik.:)

So I'm an expert on a system that you don't have - how helpful:eyebrows:

[NRG]

The link Julian posted is a good one for Airplay mirroring, just make sure you have a stable WiFi connection ;) It will drive you nuts if it keeps dropping out!

For VNC, there are load to choose from. You'll need to enable screen sharing on the Mac then download an app of your choice on the iPad, I use iTeleport, its not cheap but its been the most stable VNC app for me after trying many many others!

I'm sticking with Mavericks as well for now, not yet going to risk Yosemite just yet.

[NRG]

One small Mac rant while I'm here: I installed an iMac yesterday for a customer, it came with Mavericks (latest version), Pages and Keynote all preinstalled. The guy had been sent an email with some documents attached created in Pages but on a Yosemite system...do you think that the installed version on his new iMac would open these Pages documents.....correct, like hell would it. The 'error' message told him to update to the latest version of the OS and then update Pages, I mean WTF.....this is where Apple get things seriously wrong IMHO... As he's a new user and I don't want to start confusing him (just moved from an old XP machine so this is all very new to him) he asked for the files in PDF :D

[Gazjam]

Thanks guys will look into those. :)

My first experience of using Macs so nothing to compare it with!
All good though, like the way the Mac does things.

[Gordon Steadman]

One small Mac rant while I'm here: I installed an iMac yesterday for a customer, it came with Mavericks (latest version), Pages and Keynote all preinstalled. The guy had been sent an email with some documents attached created in Pages but on a Yosemite system...do you think that the installed version on his new iMac would open these Pages documents.....correct, like hell would it. The 'error' message told him to update to the latest version of the OS and then update Pages, I mean WTF.....this is where Apple get things seriously wrong IMHO... As he's a new user and I don't want to start confusing him (just moved from an old XP machine so this is all very new to him) he asked for the files in PDF :D

I very much agree, a bit of backwards compatibility would be a good thing. Apple seem to assume that all their customers can either afford or want to update their machines / software all the time. I'm just glad I now have all the stuff that I think I need. We shall see!

[wee tee cee]

The wee fella just bought a mac book pro- WTF. Makes my dell look like a shitter....

[Gazjam]

Its not what you got its what you do with it that counts :eyebrows:

[julesd68]

The wee fella just bought a mac book pro- WTF. Makes my dell look like a shitter....

:lol: Love your deft turn of phrase Tony, that really made me laugh out loud ...

I had a similar Mac / Dell experience that is thankfully in the dim and distant past - I still have palpitations when I hear the word Dell. My old Dell laptop nearly gave me a nervous frickin' breakdown getting the guys from the Bangalore call centre to actually accept that they needed to physically fix it under warranty. I really don't want to think about the hours and hours of tortuous phone calls. They were obviously trained to do anything humanly possible to avoid having the damn thing back...

[mikmas]

Apple seem to assume that all their customers can either afford or want to update their machines / software all the time.

To be fair - both Mavericks and Yosemite were free OS upgrades and I encountered no problems to speak of when I upgraded. All my 3rd party software has carried on working flawlessly. That said, I have been a Mac user since 1994 and stuck by them when they approached extinction because I loved the ease of the OS and free software - but lately they have completely lost the plot.

Over the last 4 or 5 years I have avoided or deleted most of their productivity programmes (iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and the 'Office' equivalents) precisely because of the frustration of trying to move projects between different OS versions on the various Macs I run

[Gordon Steadman]

To be fair - both Mavericks and Yosemite were free OS upgrades and I encountered no problems to speak of when I upgraded. All my 3rd party software has carried on working flawlessly. That said, I have been a Mac user since 1994 and stuck by them when they approached extinction because I loved the ease of the OS and free software - but lately they have completely lost the plot.

Over the last 4 or 5 years I have avoided or deleted most of their productivity programmes (iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and the 'Office' equivalents) precisely because of the frustration of trying to move projects between different OS versions on the various Macs I run

We have eight machines of varying vintage. A couple of the original iMacs are still running flawlessly, one with system 9 on it as there are a couple of games that won't run on a later system. Switch it on at Christmas for a play. My Mac use started in 1985 and I have always used them at home. Having to use PCs at work put me off for ever in spite of the fact that Windoze has almost caught up now (after 30 years of trying, they should have). I fear that the doom merchants who predicted that Jobs' death would mean the end of the real 'Apple' experience are being proved right.

Fortunately, they still have his legacy products to keep them going but the spark has gone, sadly. I'm nearly 68 so its seen me through. I doubt I will need to get many more afore I go. It might be fun to collect some old models like I'm doing with Quad hi-fi. A 20th Century Mac appeals.

[BilliumB]

I 'need' to move on from my Windows XP machines, have just sorted a 2nd hand Windows 7 machine which I hope will allow me to utilise much of my software, printers and scanner for now. However I have been toying with moving to a Mac Mini (really like the iPad air and use it a lot) - what are people's experiences with switching?

Cheers. Bill

[NRG]

I switched a number of years ago from XP completley bypassing win7 and 8/8.1.... I've not looked back! I've used Macs for years previously but ony in a support roll never as my main system, wish I had done it sooner. I found it quite a natural transition having previous experience, however, the guy I'm helping to transition at the moment also seems to be getting to grips with it despite no previous experience, so it's all good IME! Much easier than the transition from win7 to,8 which is an abomination IMHO ;) BTW I run both Win7 and 8 as a virtual machine on the Mac for support purposes...

[BilliumB]

So Neal, what would you say is better about Macs, and is it worth moving if I have to sort new printer, scanner, software etc?

Cheers. Bill

[NRG]

Intuitiveness, integration and ease of use. Stability is right up there with minimal risk to Virus infection although they can be caught out with Malware if you're not careful. I hardly ever if at all reboot either my MBA or MacMini unlike XP or a Dell Latitude running Win7 which I was unfortunate to have for a while.

I've not found a newish printer the OS won't recognize and the scanner utility is built in along with the ability to create and publish PDF's without an add on or any additional drivers.

Free to use MS office style applications (Libre and open office) are great to use, no subscription ;) General networking, file and screen sharing functionality is also great. TimeMachine backup built in works well for me.

Apps and the OS get updates now and then but nothing like the continuous stream of 'fixes' MS throw out. If I need to run a Windows program and there's no wineskin version I can fall back to a VM of Win7 or 8 and run it from there.

As always though YMMV ;)

[Robprog]

I have been a lifelong Mac user in the home. I have upgraded to Yosemite and so far no probs. However, a strange thing happened yesterday, I was in the lounge of my house and my iPhone rang in another room. The display on my iPad, which I did have with me, showed that I could answer the call on my iPad, which I did!

[Werner Berghofer]

Robert,

However, a strange thing happened yesterday, I was in the lounge of my house and my iPhone rang in another room. The display on my iPad, which I did have with me, showed that I could answer the call on my iPad, which I did!
this is standard behaviour on any iOS 8 device plus any Apple computer running Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, if identical Apple IDs/iCloud accounts (usually a @me.com or @icloud.com e-mail address) are used on these devices.

Feels a little bit Lynchian the first time one experiences this, but you’ll get over it ;-)

Werner.

[julesd68]

I'm slightly reluctant to install Yosemite on my Mini as I've only recently changed to Mavericks which I am just loving. It has proved to be very speedy and I don't feel that I need a RAM upgrade any more ...

[Gordon Steadman]

I'm slightly reluctant to install Yosemite on my Mini as I've only recently changed to Mavericks which I am just loving. It has proved to be very speedy and I don't feel that I need a RAM upgrade any more ...

This is the problem. Up until recently, it was automatic to upgrade as the new version always seemed better. After an iTunes upgrade disaster, I now only do it if there is a specific thing I need that the existing system won't run. I then, of course, have the problem that some old progs won't run with the new system. I would always suggest leaving it until any bugs or obvious problems have been ironed out.

[webby]

I totally agree Gordon.