Writing for ZDNet Anchordesk , executive editor David Coursey has offered up a five-part question and answer session for “Mac voyeurs” entitled Try a Mac? Why it won’t hurt as much as you think. Mac voyeurs, in case you missed it last week, are Coursey’s euphemism to describe died-in-the-wool Windows users who have an interest in the Mac but still haven’t taken the plunge.
Coursey’s five main topics touch on common questions or concerns that PC users have, such as file exchange (“old hat,” said Coursey); ease of use (“much easier to use” for the average person, he said); what to get for a college-age kid (depends on the major, according to Coursey); transition woes (more difficult for Mac users to switch to Windows, Coursey said); and availability of applications (“… how many apps do you use,” he asked).
Coursey delves into some specifics along the way. He noted that Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows database Access doesn’t exist on the Mac, for example, but lauded FileMaker Pro as a better solution. He’s also impressed with the Mac’s ability to network both with Windows and UNIX networking systems (and plugged Thursby Software’s DAVE Windows-to-Mac file sharing software a couple of times along the way too).
Coursey’s life as a full-time Mac user was supposed to be drawing to a close, but a bad bout with the flu mid-way has pushed him back a bit. “So what, as Regis would say, is my final answer? I don’t know yet — but I will in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned,” he offered.