Re: Mini Mac, is it worth switching for PC to Mac?

[MacNewbie <macnewbie@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ok So here's my 2p!

Switched to a mac mini 12 months ago. I wanted to switch as I was fed=20=20
up of Windows so I suppose I tried harder than some of the others who=20=20
have responded!

There is a learning curve but it's really not that different and I've=20=20
been using windows  since before there was windows!! By the way,=20=20
there's some excellent free video tutorials available from yours=20=20
truly that will give you a flavour of the mac - check out my video=20=20
podcast at http://www.screencastsonline.com
and click on the "All=20=20
Shows" button at the top of the page. Check out the switcher
series=20=20
or just browse around.

You need a two button mouse - period! I don't know if some of the=20=20
other guys used the one button mouse supplied as standard - it feels=20=20
like you've an arm missing. Get a two button mouse and your right=20=20
click is your friend. Any standard two button will do or if you're=20=20
feeling flush get a mighty mouse - it gets a bad press but I like it,=20=20
especially if doing timeline based work i.e. video editing as the=20=20
"nipple" gives you horizontal scrolling.

Upgraded straight to a 1GB so never tried with 512GB but although not=20=20
the fastest machine on the planet never had an issue with day to day=20=20
speed.

Yes, Macs do crash occasionally - horror!! :-)

All done in the best possible taste though and usually only affects=20=20
the app you're working on - mainly poorly written 3rd party apps do=20=20
it for me.

If you're doing occasional video editing, it's a no-brainer. The=20=20
combination of iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto and iTunes all make for a superb=20=20
integrated environment that just can't be beaten for the price. They=20=20
are all free with the Mac Mini as part of the iLife 06 suite. Not=20=20
really had chance to check the new versions but some significant=20=20
updates in there to make your videos really shine. If you're a=20=20
serious video editor, I'd still have no issues with the apps but you=20=20
might need a more powerful machine to handle the encoding load if=20=20
you're doing tons of work. It'll work but can take a while. You'd=20=20
also need a more powerful machine to  use any of the Pro Apps - Final=20=20
Cut Pro, etc

As far as hanging on for the Intel based mac minis to come out, it's=20=20
difficult to know when they'll be available. Could be 3 months, could=20=20
be 9, we just don't know.

There's tons of mac software available and most of it is extremely=20=20
reasonably priced.

The kids are fine with the mac but I've also met resistance from the=20=20
wife in switching as she's an IT trainer who teaches on Windows and=20=20
is worried that she'll lose her Windows skills and really doesn't=20=20
want to know.

So after having the Mac Mini for 6 months I decided that was the life=20=20
for me and I ended up getting a dual G5 PowerPC to use as my=20=20
principal machine, give the mini to the kids and let my principal=20=20
windows machine become an MCE PC.

Haven't looked back :-)

Hope that helps.

Don




On 18 Jan 2006, at 09:09, Chris White wrote:

> We need a new PC at home, specifically for general house admin stuff
> as well as my basic web site design and management.
>
> We also have a new digi camcorder so this is the driver for upgrading
> my old P3 to a nice new machine with firewire so we can edit the
> videos and burn them back onto DVD.
>
> The crunch - we want to spend as little as possible, sub =A3500 if
> possible. Is the mini mac good enough to warrant moving over and
> changing all our software etc?
>
> Is it compatable with our exsisting wifi, as we both have work
> centrino laptops and is open or star office available for it? How much
> would the other software be to buy for it?
>
> Sorry for far to many questions!
>
> Chris
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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