[DavidTrap (David)]

Hi Leon,

I've had Macs since about 2001, when OS X came out. This was when the operating system became based on Unix. I have always found them to be extremely stable, and can honestly say that I can count the number of times they have completely crashed on less than both hands in that time.

There is a learning curve to understanding how the system operates, but it is easy if you have conquered Windows.

If you are changing over to Mac, you have to change your software too. This means new copies of Photoshop, Office, etc - the cost of which is not to be ignored.

For astronomy stuff on the Mac - I use Astroplanner and have dabbled a bit with The Sky X SAE. Otherwise I do boot up in Windows to run things like DSS & PHD. Unfortunately, Orion won't release a Mac version of the drivers for the StarShoot Autoguider, so PHD for Mac won't work with the SSAG.

Currently, I have my DSLR set up to download images using "tethering software". I would prefer to use some better tethering software on Mac, but am stuck with using the Windows versions because of the PHD limitation for guiding.

I am not sure about equivalent versions of serious software like Maxim DL - when I take the plunge to buy that, I was planning to use the Windows version.

You can run a virtual PC which boots up within the Mac OS to use Window's software, but I have just stuck with BootCamp which boots the computer up as a mac OR windows.

We now have 3 Macs, 2 iPhones & an Apple TV. The best thing about Mac is the integration between all these devices. It is not just the operating system or the computers themselves, but the Mobile Me site that shares your contacts, calendar & email between these devices. I can put an entry into my phone and within 2 minutes it will appear on my wife's phone, plus all of the other computer when next they are turned on and synced (which happens automatically).

The backup software is brilliant too. As soon as I turn my laptop on within range of my home network, it just starts backing up. I don't have to remember to think about it. You can open up a window and scroll back through time and see your computer as it was on X date and grab that file you deleted (or altered) and drag in back to the present.

All in all, I find they just work. I enjoyed fiddling with network settings, etc when I was at school & uni. Now I just enjoy plugging stuff in and it working - fullstop.

I'm interested to hear other's views on what Astro software is available - I might learn something useful!

Cheers
David T