halp halp

[brigdh]

I'm planning on buying a new computer next month, as mine is dying a slow and ignoble death. But! Here is my problem:

I've been convinced by all you mac-adherents out there to buy a mac. However, for my work I need a database program. Not a complicated one (at the moment I'm just using Access '94), but it does need to be an actual database and not just a spreadsheet, and therefore Excel or Numbers aren't good enough. The mac version of Office doesn't come with Access, and apparently there is no Mac Access available, and the guy at the Mac store didn't know of a similar substitute. But he (and I) thought there must be one. So, people who know more than I, are there easy Mac database programs available?

Alternately, I know that you can now buy Macs that run Windows OS, which would solve the problem. But I heard that Vista Office also doesn't include Access, and if I have to buy a new computer, and Windows, and a Pro version of Office, I will be unhappy.

Advise me!

Comments

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

I hate macs with a passion. I think they are entirely overpriced for what you get/rather don't get. The obvious cure is to spend what you would on two Windows based pc and get a mac with windows installed and go with an older copy of office...even a 'bootleg' version. You are looking at nearly $2300 for that option. Or buy a HP with dual core chips and blaze away instantly for $1400 or less depending where you buy it.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

The new macs have a feature that I think will dramatically improve the lifespan of my computers, which is why I want one.

And macs are more expensive than most PCs, but not that dramatically. The one I'm looking at getting is $1000.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

wow...Miep just bought one that was $1400 but it still seems to not have speed I am used to in PC's. What is the feature for life expectancy you are talking about?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

The magnetic connection for the power cord. Twice now the ultimate cause of death for my laptops (and a frequent problem during both of their lives) has been the port within the computer cracking, loosening, and finally disconnecting entirely. I think it must have something to do with how often I need to carry my laptops around, leading to cords getting frequently tripped on and pulled and so forth. But I figure if there's a magnetic connection instead, and therefore nothing to pull on, it should solve the problem.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

oh yeah. I remember that happened when you were in Cyprus this year. I can tell you it would have saved my laptop a few years ago. I wish they would do that for the connector cable for my Ipod.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

One of the more common reasons that PCs comein cheaper than macs is because many people a building them from scratch - which nets quite a bit of savings. Under normal circumstances I can build a PC from scratch for about $500 or so , depending on how high end I want to go. Likewise Dell has managed to come up with some worthy offerings in the $700 range -- but this is a recent development. One of the best ways to save money when buying a new computer is to re-use things such as monitors / hard drives and memory where possible. I say where possible because I buy a new computer just about every 5 years or so , which can mean major shifts in hardware that prevent passing most things up other than monitors. I've watched people I know spend $1000-$3000 on macs, and it's amazed me. IMHO macs were useless to me prior to OS/X. I spent $5000 on one , and all it ever did was crash and hang when trying to edit video / audio under OS9.

In the end it's all up to personal preference, and what you need. Smart shopping, and thinking ahead is always the best option, and it seems that you have that in your back pocket already.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Filemaker Pro is the usual Mac database. I used it extensively at a former job, but not in the past 5 years.

If you're all geeky and want to install Linux on your Mac, you could get MySQL (both open-source: the hassle comes in figuring out how to install them).

ETA: and I don't know why the fuck the Mac guy didn't know about FMP, unless they've stopped making it.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I think he was maybe not the most informed Mac guy, and I saw Filemaker Pro in the store, but hadn't been sure if that was what I wanted.

I did try to use MySQL, but couldn't figure out how to install. I hadn't realized you had to be running Linux. Which I suppose would have helped. Hee.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

:D Yeah, MySQL tends to want one of the *nix environments.

FMP is decent if what you want is a reasonably simple database. We had an incredibly complicated database powered by it, but it was plagued with errors, mostly created because the original maker of the db didn't realize the extent to which it would be used and how many records we'd have in it - however, that's a lot like Access. If you're going to need something that has many, many records in it with lots of interrelating tables, or will have lots of people connecting to it, going the MySQL way would probably be better.

a quick google shows that installing MySQL on Mac is reasonably straightforward (http://developer.apple.com/internet/opensource/osdb.html), although I know it takes a bit to learn the SQL statements and usages. (but once you learn them, you can use a lot of different databases with less of a learning curve.)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

The databases I need are exteremly simple (I probably almost could use spreadsheets instead, but I find the query function in Access way easier to organize and present the information), so FMP will probably meet my needs.

I'm tempted by MySQL though, if just because it would make me feel geeky and cool. XD

[delchi.livejournal.com]

MYSQL ( mysql.org ) is available for both Windows and *nix, but it is a daunting beast. Likewise it is " Open Source " which means that to get any help with it is not unlike a quest worthy of an opera. I've been able to learn enough of it over the last year to make it bend to my well, and even to write web page interfaces for my databases. Although I don't know specifically what your needs are, I get the impression that they would be better met by Bento or Filemaker. They tend to come with a better user interface, and available help. Long story short, you need to spend your time doing actual work, and not working to get/keep the database up and running.

[weirdquark]

Here's a list of Mac database software.

I've never used any of them though, so I don't know which ones are good and which ones are crap and which ones are easy to use and which ones just think they are.

Filemaker Pro is the one that I've heard of though, so I assume it's the Access equivalent.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Ooo, that looks like a terribly useful page. Thank you!

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

I still haven't replaced my ancient computer, because (i) it still does most of what I want it to do; and (ii) every time I get close to taking action, there are compelling rumors about new products about to emerge. (There's reason to think that they're going to launch a new laptop in January, for example. In which case prices will fall on any of the current gen still in circulation. Also, while this is probably not true -- these rumors are always out there, and haven't panned out yet -- rumor has it that this may be the long-awaited Mac ultralight, in which case there'll be a feeding frenzy and a bunch of very recent refurbs may come on the market.)

I've never used a database program. But, two things. First, if Filemaker Pro turns out to be what you need, I may have an unused copy around here somewhere. Second, a good resource for checking what may be available is http://www.versiontracker.com. It covers everything from the big commercial apps to freeware, and a search through it can usually give you a good feel for what might be useful to you. In the Mac world your choices are narrower than on the Windows side, obviously, so this is less of a PITA than you might expect -- it can be fun, and you can find yourself with freeware that does the job you expected to have to pay money for.

Finally, I see no reason why you'd need Vista. All the Intel-based Macs -- that is to say, all the ones now being made -- will run Windows, and I see no reason to think they wouldn't run XP just as happily as Vista. So you should be able to keep your current software and just transfer it to your new machine.

I see someone upthread is complaining about how expensive the machines are. They are pricey compared to Windows computers, but once again I note that I'm sitting here with a 2000 laptop I have not yet had to replace. In the long term, they may actually be cheaper, despite the higher upfront investment. -- But that wasn't what I started out to say. What I started out to say was that you might want to check the Apple online education store, which may offer you a significant discount for being an NYU grad student. Also, you might want to follow http://dealmac.com, which posts significant discounts on Mac systems whenever their staff sees them.

Or you might want to just buy a computer and get this over with. I so wouldn't blame you. Otherwise you could easily turn out like me, and be planning on buying a new computer, oh, how about the 18th of Never? Does Never work for you?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

(Their laptops already look very light! I think, pretty as I'm sure it will be, I have no need for an ultralight. I will focus on building up my muscles instead.)

Filemaker Pro seems to be the standard answer, though there so many other options I'm sure at least one of the freeware programs will meet my needs.

I'm sure I could run Windows XP on a new mac- the problem would be convincing a computer store to upload it for me. I feel like they like to encourage new versions of anything to the point of making it difficult to get older copies, and as I don't have an installation CD of XP myself, I would need their help.

And oh! I almost forgot about the student discounts (since the real plan here is to talk my parents into buying it for me for Christmas). Thanks so much for that reminder.

[drfardook.livejournal.com]

Filemaker is releasing a new personal DB product called Bento:

http://www.bentotrial.com/preview/

If you're just doing access level work, this looks like it should work well. Plus it looks like it integrates with the other applications which is always nice. And it appears to be cheap.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh. that would be perfect! It looks like it's pretty difficult to transfer Access files into it, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone has a fix for that before too long. Thank you!

[drfardook.livejournal.com]

Do you think you could export your access DB to a flat text file or an excel?

That should be easier to import and you shouldn't loose any data.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I could do Excel, certainly, and it would be very simple to reconstruct the seperate spreadsheets back into relation. I don't know if a flat text would work as well, but I should download the free preview and try tranferring my files. If it works, I'll know I have a solution!

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

Echoing FMP.

Also finally friending you, if I may?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

And of course you may!

[rm.livejournal.com]

I tried to get them to come here, but they are answering there:

http://rm.livejournal.com/1224312.html

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Heh. People are lazy. But thank you!

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

I uninstalled most of MS Office on my home machine because Open Office (http://www.openoffice.org) suited most of my needs (including converting Word docs sent me by other people and saving as Word for other people's benefit) and took up much less space. I haven't tried out their database program yet, but I keep planning to; it does have some kind of automatic conversion from Access.

I'm using the Windows version, but they do have a Mac port. Also: open source and free.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I do actually use Open Office for my word and powerpoint (ah, being a grad student. I used to hate powerpoint as cheesy and pointless and now I rely on it to give presentations several times a month) programs, but its Access equivilant isn't advanced enough for me. At least in my version, but now that I think about it, I'm sure there's been a new version out since I dowloaded mine. I should check that out; it might be a really easy solution. Thank you!

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Let me know how it turns out? Access is the one Office app I've kept. My book db isn't very complicated, but it is mine and I cling to it.

[lilerthkwake.livejournal.com]

Here via rm. I second FileMaker Pro. Though it has its drawbacks--it's quirky and takes awhile to learn, and for printing purposes, formatting the records can be difficult/time-consuming--it's a pretty hefty, reliable program and has been around FOREVER. It's also available for use on PCs, so if you have to switch platforms later on, you don't have to re-create all your databases in a new program. If at all possible, find someone who's currently using FMP, or download a trial version, so you can play with it a bit and be sure it's actually the sort of program you need.

I'm also a diehard Mac lover/user, although finances may necessitate purchasing a PC when my beloved PowerBook does eventually die. I'd only EVER use Macs if money weren't an issue.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Filemaker Pro definetely seems to be leading the pack, though I think I'll try a couple of the available freeware programs, just to see if any of those meet my needs.

Well, if macs last longer than PCs (which I keep hearing they do), the price difference may work out in the end.

[lilerthkwake.livejournal.com]

My experience has always been that they do last longer and aren't as prone to viruses. I don't have any experience with the new Intel-based Macs, but it sounds as if you have a few friends that have made a convert out of you, and I'm assuming that at least a few of them own a newer model. Mine's four and a half years old, and despite the fact that I've beat it to hell, it's still going!

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

I just want to add that I am currently using a Power Mac (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Macintosh_G3_%28Blue_%26_White%29) from 1999. It runs OS 10.3.9. I've upgraded the memory and added a larger hard drive, but that's it. Apple computers last for a long time!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's insanely impressive!

[kessie.livejournal.com]

Dude, Mac all the way. I'd burst out laughing if someone tried to buy me a PC again.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. Hopefully I will feel the same way soon.