I love Macs. I spend a good portion of my day, every day, talking about Macs over at Apple Gazette.com, so I’m happy to write this short “How To” for all of you Windows users thinking of making the switch.

It’s never been easier, because now that Apple has switched to Intel processors you can do something you’ve never been able to do before…you can take Windows with you when you switch.

You can run Windows AND Mac OSX on the same computer…at the same time! I can hear you already…”boy, Michael, I’ll bet that’s complicated”…but it’s not. This is a Mac we’re talking about here. Almost nothing on a Mac is complicated.

Here’s all you have to do:

1. Buy a Mac - seems simple enough, right? Well, it is, but you can actually go to someone like MacMall (instead of Apple.com) and get Mac with Windows pre-installed on it. So you don’t even have to hassle with installing Windows at all. It just comes to your door with both Windows and Mac OSX isntalled and ready to go.

2. Use The Mac - Don’t worry about reading a manual, or taking a bunch of tutorials. This is a Mac. Most things work like you think they should work. Just try it out. You will need to know a few of the icons to know what programs you’re using, but don’t feel like you have to buy a book to start using your Mac. The biggest surprise most people find about using a Mac is that it’s not THAT different than Windows. It’s just more secure, it runs better, it’s prettier, and it will cook you breakfast in the morning if you show it a good time…unlike Windows who will be gone by the first crack of dawn…

3. Attach the Apple Sticker to Your Car - That’s right. You’re in the club now…let everyone know. Take one of those stickers that comes with every Apple product and stick it on your car.

4. Use Windows when you have to - Don’t be afraid of having to give up Windows if you’re comfortable there. With the new Macs you can boot directly into Windows and use it for gaming, or running Windows only programs. With Parallels installed on your Mac, you can even run most Windows programs INSIDE the Mac OS…so you don’t even have to reboot!

5. Spread the Mac Love - It won’t take long. You’ll forget you even have Windows on your Mac, and you’ll be a Mac Zealot like me and every other Mac user. Tell your friends and family…heck take it over to their house and SHOW them how great the Mac is…then one you have your family hooked…go after you friends (this isn’t getting creepy is it?…because it shouldn’t be…).

In all seriousness, Macs are fantastic computers, and you will (most likely) love it if you give one a chance. Go to your local Apple store or Best Buy (if they have them), then give a Mac a try. Then, if you like it, follow these steps above to make the switch without worrying about leaving Windows behind.