how to switch – part 2, and the mouse.
June 12, 2008
Whoops! Where did the time go? Something about best laid plans… now was I the man, or the mouse?
Anyway, now back on track (mostly), and with some new fire thanks to the straw, what do you do next?
Continue with Phase 2 of how to switch, of course!
You have a nice shiny Mac sitting in front of you, and you have your data backed up. You have backed up your old PC as a virtual machine, or you may decide to make a fresh start.
I have tried both, and in the end I settled on a fresh install, as I only need a few applications on the Windows side (Internet Explorer 7 for my work VPN; Liquid Story Binder XE, which I use for writing – and will blog about soon; and Office 2007, since I haven’t saved up to buy Office 2008 for Mac yet).
Anyway. Open up the web browser of your choice and go to Vmware to download Fusion. You could just out and out buy the current stable version, or throw caution to the wind and run the latest beta for free (for now!)
Hey – fail early, fail often, right? Right! The latest beta works just fine, and has for the last three weeks with no problems. Sometimes they’ll offer a discount for beta testers, so why not give it a whirl?
Follow the instructions to install Fusion (drag to Applications folder, not too difficult!) and then fire it up. Once running, you can either click “New” to create a new virtual machine (you’ll need your Windows disk), or you can click “Choose” to open up the virtual machine you created from your old PC using Converter.
(If you are using your old PC as a virtual machine, just make sure to copy the files from your external hard drive or network share onto your new Mac’s hard drive before you do this.)
After Vmware is finished working some magic not involving underpants, you can then start up the machine (just click the little symbol that looks like a play button). By default, it will start up in a window. Once it is running, you can go to View on the menu bar and select “Unity” if you wish – this will hide the virtual machine and allow you to integrate your Windows applications into your Mac desktop.
The picture above shows a Word 2007 window and Internet Explorer 7 integrated into my Mac desktop.
This works so well, you have to see it in action.
Please excuse the cheesy music… 
Anyway, what about the mouse? If you ever have a chance to use one of these – awesome. Just wish it would work with my Windows laptop from work…
So there you have it, in a non-technical nutshell. I’m still working on the PDF for the “tech stuff”, and once it is finished I’ll put up a quickie post to link back to this.
As always, feel free to contact me if you have any detailed questions – like the Koala Brothers, I’m here to help.
Do you really love the might mouse? Did you love it straight away?
I agree Mac is beautiful – I use a work supplied Macbook and hope to have one of my very own soon – but I actually got a Mac compliant logitech wireless mouse instead because I had been told the left/right click system on the mighty mouse was annoying. Trying it out in the store I thought so too.
Rebecca Leigh’s last blog post..Mix it up for fun and inspiration
@Rebecca,
I do like it very much, though I’ve heard it isn’t for everyone because of the reasons you suggested. Often times, though, I just leave it on single click and use the keyboard as a modifier – or if I’m “mobile” I just use multi-touch on the touchpad. It probably has something to do with the size/shape of a person’s hand, and how they sit.
That little ball though – really cool.
I just gotta say Brett – the last couple of times I have commented you have replied back right away! Either our schedules are pretty similar, which would be funny cause we are opposite sides of the world, or you have a kick arse artificial intelligence auto responder!!
Rebecca Leigh’s last blog post..Mix it up for fun and inspiration
@Rebecca,
I think in some way our schedules are similar, perhaps because you’re in Oz, and I’m a Kiwi at heart (so same neck of the woods, as you know). I’m so attached to that place – it must be from a former life.
Eventually we’ll make it over there and then my biological schedule will sync up with the clock
Though it might be an AI auto responder! (now on sale for only $99.95)
In all seriousness though, I’ve always found it easy to keep in touch with friends from the other side of the globe – the world is a small place these days.
@Brett
It is a small place and we are so lucky to be able to easily make contact with new people from across the world. When you are striving to do something new in your life, and make changes, it is so encouraging to be able to chat with like minded and friendly people such as yourself and Monika (and many others I am sure).
Rebecca Leigh’s last blog post..Mix it up for fun and inspiration
@Rebecca,
We are lucky to be able to do that. I know that I often look to Monika’s story for inspiration – she and John were able to make the move, and I figure we can also do it. And an added bonus is that we can make some good friends in the process!
When I make my move it will be to California. Still going to happen though. I have learned all I can from these midwest winters!
Brett, I read this thinking two things. 1) thank God I am not switching computers right now, I don’t have anymore mental energy. 2) well, if I did, this would be the kind of instructions that would work for me. I don’t have a techie bone in the whole head.
Nice.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Once Upon a Time
@Wendi – I’m with you. I don’t get any of it, or why should we use it?
@Brett – I think a Mac would be nice. I hear it’s great for graphics (for all my photos, yeah!), but could you tell us non techie people why we should want one compared to an IBM? Really, I have only heard a few things. Like the graphics capabilities.
Ho hum. Back to article. Then I have to drive to E.L. for a photo shoot. Take care!
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Pouring Yourself into Purity
@Wendi,
California… very beautiful place. I’d go there too.
Though it isn’t too difficult, I think one should only switch if there is a need (in my case, there was). Often the computer people make things sound more difficult than they actually are – there isn’t too much you could break here, if you made a mistake – and the help files are really good.
Plus, helpful people (like me!) are just a Skype or a Twitter away
@Ellen,
They are good for that, and traditionally people will say that – but you can use it as an all around general purpose machine (I worked for an engineering company that used them, to good effect).
A simple way to look at it is that it just stays out of your way and lets you work. And there are some tools that you can get on a Mac, that you can’t get anywhere else (yet). Likewise, that is the case for Windows.
Then again, you can run Windows and associated applications using a program like Vmware Fusion. The reverse isn’t generally true (without some serious hacking).
So for me, it is the perfect tool. Many others find the same.
However – if what you have works – keep on using it!
… and then everyone can visit me in California! Yay!
I’m not a mouse person at all. Since I’m never sitting in the same place when I use my computer, a mouse is very inconvenient. Plus I’ve gotten so used to just using the trackpad, I actually prefer that.
Son always gets mad at me and tried to get me to use a mouse, but the habit just never sticks (probably doesn’t help that I’m not really trying to make it stick! 
)
Allison’s last blog post..Guns and Roll
Interesting what people are saying about liking trackpads. I’m not a fan and will use my wireless mouse whenever possible when using the macbook. I find the trackpad difficult for click/dragging to highlight (although the two finger thing on the mac trackpad is good), and also right clicking.
Maybe it’s simply because I am so used to the PC at work…
Good stuff to know. I have vowed that my next computer will be a Mac.
Michael Martine’s last blog post..Why the Bleeding Edge of Social Media is Important for Tech Bloggers
@Rebecca – I don’t really have those problems on the trackpad, or at least not often. But then that’s pretty much all I use, so I’ve gotten very used to it.
Allison’s last blog post..Guns and Roll
@Allison & Rebecca,
I tend to use a bit of both, depending on where I’m sitting. I may also get a wireless keyboard soon, so I can place the machine in just the right spot to type… I’ve been tempted from time to time to get a trackball as well! So many choices
@Michael,
You won’t be disappointed. Setting one up this way is not really difficult. I’m about 1/3 finished a little PDF that gives a lot more detail on how to do this, and once it is ready everyone can have a copy.
@Brett – that is very generous of you. Looking forward to it!
Michael Martine’s last blog post..Why the Bleeding Edge of Social Media is Important for Tech Bloggers