Change of Plan! I'm buying an Apple Mac Mini (80GB) (1 Viewer)

I have decided (and wife has already approved) to purchase an Apple Mac Mini. They come out on Saturday and my name is decently high on the waiting list. I may have mine in on Saturday and possibly worst case by next Wednesday.

Here's why I am doing this:
1. Cheaper than any decent PC config I could create and available soon.
2. Mac:Office is 100% compatible with my existing IBM files.
3. Better photo/video management for our family home computer.
4. Better music management
5. Helluva lot better user operating system.
6. Better video display designs with higher refresh rates and color accuracy for photo analysis, movies, etc.

I'm getting the 1.4ghz PowerPC with 80GB, the $600 Mini (versus the 40GB $500 Mini).

So I guess I have joined the Apple cult but one with great customer service and better productivity.

Lee

Discussion on the Mac Mini is already underway here:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...41#post2524641

I've got one on order myself...

I hope you enjoy your mac, they are beautiful looking machines, but any pro or anti mac thread you start is probably going to turn into a flame fest whether you intended to or not. I was going to rebut your claim that you couldnt better spend the money on a pc of the same or lesser value, but there really is no point.

I think the mac thing is like a religion. To me 500 is still too much for what they are offering, but many here would not be caught dead using a non apple product and neither side is going to convince the other they are wrong.

Anyway enjoy, and please post your thoughts once you have the unit. Even though I'm not a mac head I would find it interesting how there first true budget offering fares.

Yeah, I figured that Benson. My intent is not to start a flame war one way or the other. I'm a long-time user of PCs and remain a huge fan of the T Series ThinkPads. It's just that I want to save some money and after analysing all the local retail, Dell, Alienware, and other options, I think the time is right to go with an Apple. The O/S seems superior but I will test it for a while and post my thoughts...

The reason that the machine is cost-effective is as follows:
1. Much software I buy for the IBM is unnecessary-I won't likely need SpySweeper, Systemworks, etc. so many utilities are built into the Unix based O/S.
2. The PowerPC ghz ratings are more powerful than the Intel equivalent. RAM remains very important. I'm getting 512MB for an extra $75.
3. Comparable software pricing is very reasonable. On Saturday the bundle of Pages and KeyNote is out for just $79!
4. Ilife is included so I think I will have enough photo and music and video management for the forseeable future. This is largely not included on PC configurations.

Craig, thanks for the Mac Mini link-did not see that before.

Another upgrade you may want to consider is the SuperDrive ($100). Any Mini with enough RAM and HD space will let you import video from MiniDV tapes, edit it, and export the result to a new MiniDV tape. A Mini with the SuperDrive will also let you burn your home videos to DVD-Video discs.

If you won't be making home videos, or backing up large amounts of data, the Combo drive may be the better choice.

Lee:

That is one cool looking computer. Let us know what you think of it once you get it up and running.

Parker

Parker,

Will do. I will post a review once I have about a week to play with it. I've been using the Panther OS and it is terrific. I also saw the Keynote demo for the new Tiger OS due out by June and it looks even better.

If I like this, I will probably get a PowerMac G5 in the future. That Jobs is sneakily clever...he gets us IBM faithful in the door with the Mini Mac and then probably gets us hooked.

Thomas, I have thought about the SuperDrive. I may do that but I don't do any video at present. Still the extra storage capacity for music/photos/data is enticing.

I REALLY want to get an iBook or a PowerBook, but it's simply too expensive with everything I want, so I'll have to settle for a Mac Mini.

My Mini shipped yesterday!! I should have it by Monday. I'll post my impressions when I get it.

Parker, any chance of merging the two Mac Mini threads??