Learning Curve For Mac From Windows
The mouse is a non-issue. You just buy a mouse with two buttons and a scrolling wheel, and it will behave like on Windows.
Degree edge for mac knives 2017. In fact, at the basic functional level (where most users will stay) there are little differences between Mac OS 10 and Windows. Some things are just in different places (for instance you use 'alt' on the Mac instead of 'crtl' on Windows.) and this doesn't take much to learn. Working with the command line to do more advanced stuff is something entirely different, and in my opinion, with that respect, the underlying BSD subsystem on the Mac is vastly superior. Learning curve is minimal. I came from a PC Windows/Unix background and I was productive on Mac from day one. Most of the day to day tools are well represented on the mac, including MS Office (but not Access), Photoshop and RIPs, digital asset management tools, Quicken/Quickbooks for your business (I prefer MYOB for that though). You will enjoy the rock solid unix underpinnings (although you will never see it unless you want to) and still use the apps you've been used to.
I also recommend ditching the mouse and getting a standard logitech mouse with umpteen buttons and scroll wheel. OSX is a more straight forward, linear interface than Windows, which is easier in some respects, and harder in others. Depends on your working style. The more hardcore a Windows user you are, the more difficulty you'll have making the transition, the two button mouse being a somewhat petty complaint. I have subjective gripes about OSX's Aqua GUI; less emphasis on file management than Windows, and a greater blurring of where the application stops and the operating system starts. This is by design rather than fault since Apple tries to emphasize the tasks you are doing and their integration vs the tasks you might do. This is one reson I hate XP so much because it tries to do this, but my personal preference only.
AGIS for Windows is a mapping and simple GIS shareware package. Plot your own geographic data on the map of the world provided without the high cost and steep learning curve usually associated with this kind of software.
Funny thing is, my Windows users I support who use Macs at home prefer Windows 2000 over XP and have no complaints about working on both, so it's kind of a strange world anyways. The underlying BSD structure is *not* superior to windows because I used to have FreeBSD running on a 486 as a mail router, and I don't see OSX running very smoothly on 10yr old hardware. Every monolithic OS I've worked with claims it's borrowed from Unix in some way/shape or form, so please cut the sales pitch. What you think is 'funny' is a problem that many computer users here cannot restrain themselves from exaggerations (OSX being true 64-bit, OSX never has driver problems, OSX is true Unix, all PC's get virus's, OSX never requires patching, OSX has built in color management that always works while Windows can't) and taking broad slams at other platforms.
This akin to slide shooters making comments like 'professionals only shoot slide film' and getting rebuffed when they find out differently. If you are that sexually obsessed about your OS/platform, go see a doctor. Stressfull enough I work on an average of 5 different platforms a week, and yet hear how one is simply perfect and solves every problem. Most of us spend most of our computing time within applications, and are less directly affected by the OS than we might think.
[Scott gets to spend more time with the OS's than most of us ever want to, I would imagine.] As with any topic that affects every one of the people on the forum, there's some rampant disinformation and some strong opinions along with some real expertise. In exchange for not trying to pretend to offer the last, I'll try not to offer the others either. I was just trying to throw out one user's experience. I switched from PC to Mac in 2002. A month or so to learn new habits and unlearn a few bad ones. I have convinced a few friends to switch and they report a similar experience.