coptichymns.net - Sharing the Joy of Coptic Hymns Around the World

CopticSoldier

posted on Sep 09, 2004 - 09:05 PM

Hey all,

I was just wondering how many people have been converted to using Mac's at the hands of the preaching of the most blessed Paul?

I have been considering it myself, what do you all think?

God bless,

CS

Joined: Jan 25, 2004 | Posts: 804
Location: Melbourne, Australia.

PaulS

posted on Sep 11, 2004 - 05:32 AM

Dear CopticSoldier,

First, I am certainly not a blessed anything. We all know that.

Second, I don't expect you to get much benefit from this poll, because people who have not used OS X recently will not have a valid frame of reference from which they can base an opinion. Most people will say, "Oh, I used a Mac in school. I hated them!"

The reality is that Macs today are totally different. Tiger, the next version of OS X, has features in it that Microsoft tried, but could not, implement in its 2007 release of Longhorn, the next version of Windows. Amazingly, the the last version of OS X contained features that Microsoft has yet to copy.

If you want to be on the cutting edge of computing with the nicest, fastest, and most user-friendly operating system, Mac OS X is the way to go.

Of course, if you are like me, it will take some adjusting to get used to OS X. For me, it took about 1 week until I was comfortable in OS X and about a month before I felt invincible with it. The learning curve is quite easy; even more so, since you won't have to worry about viruses, crashes, or other problems. You can focus on what is important to you: your work.

If you have any questions regarding OS X, feel free to post here or PM me directly.

GBU,
ps

_________________
`Uioc :eoc!

PaulS
Webmaster
coptichymns.net
http://www.coptichymns.net/

Joined: Sep 09, 2002 | Posts: 2441
Location: St. Abanoub and St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church in Norco, CA

georgerizkalla

posted on Sep 11, 2004 - 08:00 PM

Hello! I have now been a Mac user for just over a year (I celebrated my Macintosh anniversary a little over a month ago).

I used to make fun of Macs in my more ignorant days. I thought they were made only for the "artsy fartsy." In fact, I used to make fun of any and all Mac users. But there was a little feeling in the pit of my stomach when I did such evil and blasphemous things. You know why? Because the truth was, I'd never used one.

But then, one beautiful summer day, I saw someone using their Macintosh to do some video editing. They were doing tasks in seconds that would have taken me hours to do on my PC. I tried to look the other way-- to forget what I just saw. But lo and behold, it was impossible. I could not ever forget.

So I began my research on Macs. I read hundreds of pages comparing PCs and Macs. The result was this: Macs were easier to use, more efficient, include more software in the operating system (photo management, video editing, sound editing, music making, translators, office productivity software, loads of built in software to support software developers, calendar stuff... the list goes on), and far more fun.

Plus, OS X is Unix based-- so it's rock solid. Say bye to numerous illegal operations, blue screens of death, etc.

Lots of people say that they don't need a lot of software included in Mac OS X because they don't do things like video editing or work with photos on their computers. Well, believe it or not, I didn't either. The fact is, no one wants to do anything on their computers if it is way too complicated. But Macs have made things so easy that you will find yourself doing tasks you never would have pictured yourself doing.

And for those of you worried about compatibility, Macs can integrate themselves into PC networks incredibly easily, their productivity software (AppleWorks-- Mac equivalent to MS Office for Windows) is fully compatible with Office. And, Microsoft's Office for Mac actually includes more features than their own windows version!!!

If you are a student, they provide awesome discounts.

So, if you are looking for info on Macs, I'd also be glad to give you whatever you need.

George
Proud owner of the following Mac equipment:

17" iMac G4
15" PowerBook G4
15 GB iPod
iSight Camera
OS 10.2 and 10.3

P.S. Did you know that the delay so far for Microsoft's next OS, Longhorn, is over 5 years so far??? Take a look at the feature list on the Microsoft's website... If you compare them with past versions of OS X, I guarantee you'll find some overlap.

Joined: Feb 01, 2004 | Posts: 11
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

PaulS

posted on Sep 11, 2004 - 09:24 PM

Well said, George. That is almost exactly how I feel about this issue.

I want to say something in tandem with this statement from George's post:

Lots of people say that they don't need a lot of software included in Mac OS X because they don't do things like video editing or work with photos on their computers. Well, believe it or not, I didn't either. The fact is, no one wants to do anything on their computers if it is way too complicated. But Macs have made things so easy that you will find yourself doing tasks you never would have pictured yourself doing.

I don't know how many of you realize this, but I am not a web designer. I did not take any web design classes in college or high school or anywhere else. I don't have a computer or technical degree. Rather, I am an attorney who spent college studying European and Russian society.

Despite my lack of training and pervasive ignorance, I was able serve you and the Church with this site from my Mac. coptichymns.net did exist before I switched to Mac, but it was an ugly, neglected site with nothing special to offer.

The renaissance for this site occurred only after I switched to Mac. You'd be surprised how inviting the Mac was for me; I was using an iBook for law school (Microsoft Word notes and outlines,) but there was something about the Mac that invited me to use it more effectively for my service and life. In no time, I found myself creating professional-looking DVDs using Apple's free iMovie and iDVD software, managing photos from a digital camera like I could never do on a PC with Apple's free iPhoto, and digitizing/organizing hymns in an extremely efficient way via iTunes and other programs.

The end result? Being able to do so much on my Mac invited me to take more photos and videos, encode more hymns, learn more about web design and graphics, and so much more.

It may sound silly if you've never actually used a Mac or OS X, but once you do, you'll immediately know what I'm talking about.

So, until this day, I have no training in audio editing, Photoshop, web design, PHP, databases, Linux server management, and the host of other skills necessary to power this site.

And yet, it is a pleasure to learn and do on my Mac. I sincerely believe coptichymns.net v. 4.0 is the most advanced and cleanest Coptic site in existence today. While God of course had a hand in this through His blessing of the admins' work, a huge part of the equation is Mac OS X. Ramez, JGreiss, carolb, myself, and several others now work more efficiently in life and on this site because of our Macs.

GBU,
ps

_________________
`Uioc :eoc!

PaulS
Webmaster
coptichymns.net
http://www.coptichymns.net/

Joined: Sep 09, 2002 | Posts: 2441
Location: St. Abanoub and St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church in Norco, CA

marysoliman

posted on Sep 12, 2004 - 01:49 AM

i <3 mac

_________________
your lil sister in Christ
mary soliman
reppin the 850 fa lyfe

i brake for eggrolls.

Joined: Dec 15, 2003 | Posts: 271
Location: tallahassee flawda

SaintMina

posted on Dec 04, 2004 - 08:09 AM

I am now a Mac user instead of a PC user. I just got my Imac G5 on Thursday. Becuase of the people on this website they influence me a lot especially PaulS and Remez Mikhial.



Now it is Raouf2430 Turn.

_________________
GBU,

SaintMina

"Too much have I talked, and too much have I repented, but when I kept silent, I never repented"
-Saint Arsenius

"Love everyone, but keep yourself distant."
- Pope Kyrillos

"Live your life in Honesty"
- Abouna Mina

Joined: Mar 05, 2004 | Posts: 173

maggie

posted on Dec 04, 2004 - 10:23 PM

I wanna Mac too...

_________________
My children, desire to purify your hearts from envy and from anger with each other, lest death should overcome you, and you will be counted among the murderers. For whosoever hates his brother, kills a soul.
-The Great Abba Antony

Joined: Aug 11, 2004 | Posts: 83

PaulHanna

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 02:48 AM

i want to get one too.it is so cool espcially for desiging websites which why i really need it for

_________________
Favorite verse: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat 11:28). Please feel free to ask me for any help. May Jesus Bless you all Amen.

Joined: Nov 04, 2004 | Posts: 64

SaintMina

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 10:25 AM

PaulHanna,

That's the reason why I bought my mac. For web designed. It makes your life that much easier.

_________________
GBU,

SaintMina

"Too much have I talked, and too much have I repented, but when I kept silent, I never repented"
-Saint Arsenius

"Love everyone, but keep yourself distant."
- Pope Kyrillos

"Live your life in Honesty"
- Abouna Mina

Joined: Mar 05, 2004 | Posts: 173

Gigi_angel

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 07:10 PM

To be honest, I really don't understand this fuss about Macs that has been going on for weeks. OK, I do understand why Paul and those of you who design websites really like them (in fact I feel sorry for you lot......you sound possesed with your Macs, like you can't live without them, lol) but why should a 15 year old GCSE student like me think of buying a Mac? And trust me, there is no way that I will ever ever ever design websites or do the things you lot do with your Macs, no matter how many Macs I have
I mean, all that I do on my computer is some homework, research, chatting with friends and reading your beneficial posts......and thats about it.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to your replies regarding my question


God Bless you all and heal you from your "Mac obsession",

Angy

_________________
Gigi

Joined: Apr 18, 2004 | Posts: 221
Location: England

Ramez Mikhail

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 08:23 PM

Hey Gigi, good question!

Guess what, I dont design websites, either...I dont do anything fancy on my computer..i actually have no clue how to design a website. However, i have been using a 12' Powerbook for almost a year, and its simply amazing.

Even if you dont do any fancy stuff on ur computer, does that mean you wouldnt mind it crashing all the time? how about viruses and worms and spyware? lol.....of course not, and an Apple computer would be ur best choice if ur sick of these things. To my knowledge, none of the above has ever happened to a mac user I know. I never had to reboot my computer cuz it froze for the last year...so u can only imagine how convenient having a mac is.

Other pluses:

1- absolutely gorgeous looking system. I thought XP looked beautiful with its blue taskbar and green start button....lol...until i saw the Mac OS X. Just take a trip to a mac store, or if u go to a UC or maybe even Cal State, they sell Macs with student discounts and u can play around with one in the store. U cant lose anything.

2- Chatting is simply great. I am another person who is ALWAYS online...AIM, MSN, Yahoo..u name it. I use a mac program called Proteus that lets me sign on all of these services from the same program! no need to have a million chatting clients open. And not only that, but u can have all of ur chat sessions open in the same window with tabs (like DeadAIM), but its better in that u can sign on all of ur messengers....so in windows, where u have multiple programs running, and several IM windows for each (depending on how many people u r talking to), on a mac u will only have ONE single window open with ALL ur AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Japanese Yahoo IM sessions.....amazing for a IM addict like me, and i think u.

There a million other things in the Mac that makes it very kool to have, but u can discover these things on ur own....trust me, macs are lovely!

oo....and did i forget to mention the small size of powerbooks and ibooks? most windows Laptops ive seen are bulky, stuff sticking out from the sides, black, plastic i-like-to-call-them-software-coffins. Not the case with macs.....so-wicked-portable, its not even funny...lol. Ur laptop will be the envy of all ur friends....the miserable souls who own black software coffins..

_________________
Ramez

St. Cyril of Alexandria COC

Joined: Sep 15, 2002 | Posts: 1782

SaintMina

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 08:32 PM

I agree with Ramez 100%. The are user friendly.

Ramez, how can I make the text bigger on Safari?

_________________
GBU,

SaintMina

"Too much have I talked, and too much have I repented, but when I kept silent, I never repented"
-Saint Arsenius

"Love everyone, but keep yourself distant."
- Pope Kyrillos

"Live your life in Honesty"
- Abouna Mina

Joined: Mar 05, 2004 | Posts: 173

Ramez Mikhail

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 08:37 PM

You can do that from Preferences, but the simpler way is:

1- On top menu, click on View
2- Click on Text Size
3- A Text Size button will appear in the safari window....keep clicking on the Big A to increase text size until ur happy with it.

Isnt that simple, everyone?..lol

_________________
Ramez

St. Cyril of Alexandria COC

Joined: Sep 15, 2002 | Posts: 1782

eishak

posted on Dec 05, 2004 - 09:21 PM

After buying my 17" Powerbook, I've done so much talking about how wonderful Macs are. I've tried to convince my Windows friends users to switch. I've used every argument there is... better programs, easier interface, slicker hardware, never crashes...the result is the same--"I can never leave Windows."

The fact is, no one ever wants to leave a familiar environment. A Windows user who checks mail with Outlook, browses the web with IE, uses MS Office every day, needs a start menu to go to their programs, chats with AIM--just can't take that giant step. It's not the talk that will convince them. It's the change of attitude. You, as a user, don't deserve anything less than what Apple provides.

I think the key fact about Macs is the following: Anyone who has EVER switched has never regretted it. Basically, once you go Mac, you never go back--almost without exception. It's like quitting a bad habit. Hey, you ever asked a smoker if he ever regretted quitting?

-Eddie
The day I found Mac: May 19, 2003

Joined: Mar 20, 2004 | Posts: 5

catcouta

posted on Dec 06, 2004 - 02:13 AM

This semester we had a 90 sec educational movie to do for one of my classes and the teacher forced us to use imovie because she knew it was a program no one had much of a basis on. It took us less than3 hour to edit the movie..and much of that time was disscussion on how it would be nicer!

And one really cool thing.. Imacs have built in microphone...I thought that was really cool...

it's very user friendly...and has a really nice software design...

chances are that if I ever do get a laptop I have 95% of chances of it being a mac. Change is good sometimes!!!!

Joined: Mar 13, 2004 | Posts: 300
Location: Virgin Mary COC, Mtl, Canada

Ramez Mikhail

posted on Dec 06, 2004 - 02:50 AM

All Apple Laptops come standard with built-in Microphones.

_________________
Ramez

St. Cyril of Alexandria COC

Joined: Sep 15, 2002 | Posts: 1782

SaintMina

posted on Dec 06, 2004 - 04:06 AM

Is there a website that I can learn the mac operating system, Panther? I am still new at this.

Thanks

_________________
GBU,

SaintMina

"Too much have I talked, and too much have I repented, but when I kept silent, I never repented"
-Saint Arsenius

"Love everyone, but keep yourself distant."
- Pope Kyrillos

"Live your life in Honesty"
- Abouna Mina

Joined: Mar 05, 2004 | Posts: 173

Raouf2430

posted on Dec 15, 2004 - 03:32 PM

From SaintMina:I am now a Mac user instead of a PC user. I just got my Imac G5 on Thursday. Becuase of the people on this website they influence me a lot especially PaulS and Remez Mikhial.



Now it is Raouf2430 Turn.

Dear SaintMina,

It is done as you have commanded.

My new G5 iMac should arrive within the next few days.

There is no turning back now!

In Christ,
Raouf

Joined: Jan 08, 2004 | Posts: 199
Location: San Diego, California

PaulS

posted on Dec 15, 2004 - 03:44 PM

Mabrook, Raouf... we're slowly building an empire here.

As always, any advanced questions or help requests may be directed to me privately or publicly.

GBU,
ps

_________________
`Uioc :eoc!

PaulS
Webmaster
coptichymns.net
http://www.coptichymns.net/

Joined: Sep 09, 2002 | Posts: 2441
Location: St. Abanoub and St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church in Norco, CA

Raouf2430

posted on Dec 15, 2004 - 03:54 PM

From PaulS:Mabrook, Raouf... we're slowly building an empire here.

As always, any advanced questions or help requests may be directed to me privately or publicly.

GBU,
ps

Thanks Paul! You were obviously the one who planted the seed...later to be watered by others here at coptichymns.net.

I am not as an adventerous user as probably most of the others but even for what I will be using it for, I am quite excited!

In Christ,
Raouf

p.s. I sent you a pm a while back on a technical issue related to ftp...did you get it?

Joined: Jan 08, 2004 | Posts: 199
Location: San Diego, California

michaelAziz

posted on Dec 15, 2004 - 06:37 PM

Hi,

I was a pc user too but I switched over to an ibook g4..
It's hot!
Forget windows, windows people.

By the way...which program is used for websites? I'm curious to know.

God bless

_________________
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6

Joined: Dec 26, 2003 | Posts: 97

michaelAziz

posted on Dec 15, 2004 - 06:38 PM

Oh, I've had it for 2 months now.

_________________
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6

Joined: Dec 26, 2003 | Posts: 97

Fortunatus

posted on Sep 08, 2005 - 01:52 AM

+Iryny nem `hmot,

I am the most recent convert, I suppose. :p
Where can I get Coptic fonts for a Mac?

Please pray for me.

Joined: Sep 04, 2003 | Posts: 401
Location: the Coptic Orthodox Church

Mathitis

posted on Sep 08, 2005 - 02:10 AM

You dare convert from Coptic Orthodoxy to Macism? Khalass!

Joined: Oct 07, 2003 | Posts: 1621
Location: "Legitimate" Business Headquarters

PaulS

posted on Sep 08, 2005 - 05:00 AM

Mena,

A thousand congratulations on making the right choice!

To get Coptic on your Mac:

1) Visit http://copticchurch.net/coptic_fonts/downloads/

2) Right-click (or Ctrl + Click) on the fonts you want to download and choose "Save as..."

3) Save them to your Desktop. Double-click on the name of the file(s) you downloaded.

4) You will see a preview of the font. Choose "Install Font" and you're ready to go.

Mabrook again!

GBU,
ps

Joined: Sep 09, 2002 | Posts: 2441
Location: St. Abanoub and St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church in Norco, CA