New Computer

[BufordT]

May not be for eveyone but for 499.00 won't make Bill Gates richer.

Got this the other day in the mail. Really like the computer. Used my monitor and mouse.





Bufordt

[mikeschn]

So did you switch from a Wintel to a Mac, or have you been a Mac user all along?

I'll be picking up one of those for Michelle for her birthday. Shhhhh... don't tell!!!

Mike...

[BufordT]

I switched.


Wasn't really happy with Microsoft. Road Runner gives me a free download for web protection. Next thing I know Microsoft does the same thing. Now I have two of the same thing on the laptop and have all kind of problems with trying to view pages. Switched to firefox and had other problems. Virus program says there ain't any virus's on your computer so I know it's the build up of all the crap that microsoft puts on the software.

Going to take me some time to get used to this new software but so far I like it a lot better than microsoft.

And Safari ain't a bad web browser at all.

Bufordt

[mikeschn]

I've tried to switch... several times... but I use too much software that isn't available for the Mac...

CAD software
CNC software
etc...

So I keep reformatting my Wintel every year so I get a nice clean start. I will say though, that the Wintel has gotten much better with XP. I use to have to reformat every 3 months with Win98SE.

Mike...

[campadk]

I switched.


Wasn't really happy with Microsoft. Road Runner gives me a free download for web protection. Next thing I know Microsoft does the same thing. Now I have two of the same thing on the laptop and have all kind of problems with trying to view pages. Switched to firefox and had other problems. Virus program says there ain't any virus's on your computer so I know it's the build up of all the crap that microsoft puts on the software.

Bufordt

[start rant]
I made the mistake of upgrading to Norton Internet Security from just the Antivirus program... dumb program didn't tell me to remove the previous version and when it installed it crapped out. The Norton people gave me a HUGE long procedure to fix it... hours later and it trashed my local network... now I have to reinstall the whole computer to correct the mess and I'm out $100 or whatever it was because I will never use Nortons Internet Security again! Its ridiculous all the extra security software they get you to use when a lot of us have a router/firewall that already protects us from 99% of the threats.
[/end rant]

[subtearanean]

Got this the other day in the mail. Really like the computer. Used my monitor and mouse.

Congrats on switching. My primary occupation is support of computers / networks at a site, we're 75% Mac. You will like your new mini, the learning curve of getting to know the OS is steep only for the first couple of days, after that it's like a downhill coast. Seems like things will be exactly where you expect them to be.

I myself just picked up a 12" PBook to replace my 4 yr old iBook. New is nice.........

[exminnesotaboy]

Welcome to the world of Macintosh. I have been there for several years and been very happy.

You will notice some idiosyncracies (sp?) with Safari, but they are minor.

[Paul W]

Macs rock... we have recently switched to an all Mac house. The computers are designed to be logical. It's not so much a learning curve to learn Mac, but more unlearning windows.

Enjoy your new computer... we love ours

[Arne]

I had a problem with norton I/S.... based on cnet reviews, switched to trend micro pc-illin...... I guess it's working... no problems...

Using mozilla firefox after i/e had loopholes (and hogged memory and space)... have lots of anti-spy stuff running ....

My investing software does not run well on macs, so here I am... not that I'm unhappy, but if I could go mac and not need all this 'protection', it would be nice.....

[BufordT]

Thanks guys,

What I really wanted to do was to inform people that there was a new apple computer to compete with the pc out there that was under 500.00.

If you need a new computer and want something that you can use with your monitor, mouse and keyboard then I recommend the imac.

Software hasn't been that hard to learn.

Mike, there is high end software for cad on the mac is there not? Most of the movie studios use the mac for cartoons now I think. And I'm going to have to rebuild the wife's laptop now as it's full of all that crap also.

I'm happy with it and really enjoy it so far.

Bufordt

[asianflava]

We have one here at work to demo. I played with it a little, the mouse was driving me crazy though. Looks really cool and small, the problem is, the monitor they have hooked up to this thing costs twice the CPU.

I wonder if it is using our chip. We used to make all the Apple processors but now we just do the laptop chips. Oh BTW we used to have Macs but swapped them out for Intel boxes about 7 years ago.

Oh I will probably be in Palm Bay next week, how's the weather?

[BufordT]

We have one here at work to demo. I played with it a little, the mouse was driving me crazy though. Looks really cool and small, the problem is, the monitor they have hooked up to this thing costs twice the CPU.

I wonder if it is using our chip. We used to make all the Apple processors but now we just do the laptop chips. Oh BTW we used to have Macs but swapped them out for Intel boxes about 7 years ago.

Oh I will probably be in Palm Bay next week, how's the weather?

Weather great here. Should be warmer next week when you get here.
You don't have to use the monitor that they have hooked up. You can use your vga monitor that you already have. That's what I'm doing right now.

Let me know when you get here. Lets get together.

Bufordt

[mikeschn]

You don't have to use the monitor that they have hooked up. You can use your vga monitor that you already have. That's what I'm doing right now.

Michelle says half of the VGA monitors don't work on that new Mac... and she is still sleeping so I don't know how to tell which half doesn't work!

Mike...

[BufordT]

You don't have to use the monitor that they have hooked up. You can use your vga monitor that you already have. That's what I'm doing right now.

Michelle says half of the VGA monitors don't work on that new Mac... and she is still sleeping so I don't know how to tell which half doesn't work!

Mike...

She may be right I don't know. I have an old 17" monitor and it works with the mini-mac. As far as other I couldn't say. Just going by what is said on the apple web site.

I do plan on buying a new apple monitor later on. But man those things cost a lot of money. I have found one that they are no longer making and the manager of the store is selling a 1200.00 monitor for 700.00

Hope to look at it again today.

Bufordt

[subtearanean]

Apple monitors are very nice, welll built. But you can get near the same quality by going with another vendor ie Sony, Samsung, Viewsonic, etc.

Try to find a Macworld issue that has comparisons / ratings of 3rd party displays.

I'm a little interested in the "half of VGA monitors don't work on a mini". Could we get further rundown on this?