Switching from Mac, few basic questions

[huski]

Hi,
I'm Mac user considering switching to ThinkPad from MackBook Pro, old edition. I've few questions concerning the upcoming brave move! I would like to switch to ThinkPad as I find Lenovo more durable than Apple, am I right? Also, I was wondering if it makes sense to get Windows 7 64 bit as offered ot the Lenovo website? Snow Leopard is pretty decent OS working in 64 bit but still many applications run in 32 bit. How is it with ThinkPads and Windows 7, does 64bit version have some extra performance? My other question is very specific and concerns sync between mobile phone and laptop. That is must have for me as I constantly update the dates of meetings and phone numbers on my iPhone. I would like to know if it's possible to get the same level of integartion with a Windows 7? I really need to have the same address book and calendars on both my laptop and the mobile. I'm also considering swithing to BlackBerry does that BlackBerry software provide ideal sync between Windows and Phone? I know it's a lot of random questions but that's basically most important stuff for me. Thanks for reading

[ausmike]

Evening Hus*....
well what a move! .... why not?
Windows is cheaper (even with Apps) faster and much easier obtainable Acc/Hardware & Cheaper to Boot!
As you can see from my Sig; I have a chosen the best of each from the Windows and OSX platforms - not sure if you are planning to run with Office Mail as in Outlook etc but either way - NONE of what you have used in IPHONE/IPAD etc would be ANY problem (eg Sync, Itunes etc) in Windows. APPLE as usual has done a nice job (if u use VPN - say some thanks to this user for doing that on Apple iphone) and all their Apps work nicely in Windows 7 - even in XPpro!!
My Library; in iTunes/ipad/iPhone is often swaped/Sync between OSX and Windows and never have had any issues. In my experiances I havent had any issues nor ever logged in a call on my iPhone(4) / iPad-3g nor my MaCBK Pro yet ! Blackberry Apps = more suited for Windows anyways - not sure I heard anyone ever complain about their Blackberry/Windows combinations and we have lots of those 'combo'..... However I cannot say the same about WindowsCE/WinMobile OS Phones and Sync etc = AFAIK....only God might be able to help those users ! lol

My Windows = always been x64Bit (even XpPro) and never have had any issues with Lenovo laptops - as they near 'bullitproof' for me while travelling. X64 while giving you the advantages of bigger RAM, faster Proc etc is often not utalised by the APPS ( as you so rightly noted) however then I never worry about those apps as I hardly am a Gamer or worry about running Apps to their limit in x32 - I dont do that much else but WORK !

.....But then .you might NOT want to move to WINDOWS... as you's all there in Scotland might be flush with Euro's & Pounds ,,,,,, and might love the challange of messing around with 'viruses' bugs/malwares etc ,,,,, so that those long winter nights would keep you well occopied! <jokein>

Ceers _ let me know if you need more info !

[ZaZ]

I think it's the same in Windows. You can install a 64 bit OS, but a lot of apps are still 32 bit. I've had 64 bit Windows installed on various machines. I can't tell much of a difference. Though I have an iphone and bluetooth, I'm not much of a syncer.

[j-dawg]

Windows Vista made a big leap with 32-bit software compatibility in a 64-bit OS, as compared to XP x64. You will not be worse off for selecting 64-bit. If you choose to upgrade to more than 3GB of RAM, you will be better off with a 64-bit OS, as it would be capable of addressing the whole amount.

[Utwig]

Since you're switching from a Mac, you probably have no old 16-bit software or hardware with 32-bit drivers that would require 32-bit OS. I'm running Windows 7 64-bit since beta and haven't had any problems Even stuff like old webcams work. With 64-bit windows you can use more than 3GB RAM and more and more newer software.

For phone-laptop sync check for ways to sync with Outlook. I use Nokias with Symbian and I can either sync to Outlook with Nokia PC Suite or have phone sync tasks, callendar, contacts, mails to my Microsoft Exchange Servers account which Outlook also Syncs with. If you have Exchange account, set up your iPhone and Blackberry (blackberry requires extra software on Exchange server or carrier support, iPhone uses Outlook Mobile Access) to sync with it. If you don't have Microsoft Exchange email account then research whether iPhone or Blackberry can be made to sync with Outlook. Windows doesn't come with good calendar and address book out of box and most free solutions are not supported by cell phones, so you must pretty much live with Outlook.

Don't switch to Blackberry as it requires either special software on servers or can sync through carrier or Blackberry servers. If you want to switch get Android or Symbian.

[huski]

Thanks for the reply. It's very helpful. I have two exchange accounts and few email accounts via IMAP. The same with calendars, one for work and some for private use. I can get office and use Outlook, was just wondering how it is with sync when it comes to Black Berry/iPhone. It has to work flawlessly, especially when it comes to address book on the phone and the email client.

[ausmike]

backberry suc works flawlesly in windows/office > its made for that
iphone is same as above ; with added feature of able to 'syc' with free emails like gmail/yahoomail etc ,,, with built in apps and 'gayeway' already in iphone.iphone3&4 even have VPN setups already on iphone built in and its EASY PEASY....
cant be much simplier!!