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[arkabee]

What do you think the Mac Mini can do that a G5 or PC system cannot do?

i'm sorry, i must have misread what you posted, as i was under the impression you were comparing the mini to PC, not to G5 platform macs.

I mean, if you're going to talk about *specific versions* of software then there are FAR more pieces of useful software that will not run on a Mac than there are useful Mac programmes that will not run on a PC.  

no, i was speaking of the Operating System OS X.

I'm comparing functionality, not specific software titles.  And besides, I can run most OS X apps on my Linux box.  So software isn't even an issue.

Sorry again, i thought you were comparing mini price to PC price, must have misread again.

[miles]

What do you think the Mac Mini can do that a G5 or PC system cannot do?

It can sit there and look so fuck*ng sexy like no PC ever could.

[CortJstr]

What do you think the Mac Mini can do that a G5 or PC system cannot do?

It can sit there and look so fuck*ng sexy like no PC ever could.

What about Alienware or Casemods?

Oh wait. You said "sexy" not "nerdy." Nevermind then.

[Limmo]

It can sit there and look so fuck*ng sexy like no PC ever could.

What are you talkin', my PC is sexy as fuck.

That's cause I've taped fake nude photos of the Olsen Twins all over it.

[jough]

I have a pretty vase on my desk, but I wouldn't expect to get much work done with it.

The Mac Mini is just a little box.  How pretty is it, really?

The iMac was great looking.  The G5 looks like an overly thick LCD monitor.  It's pretty cool, but not as cool as a good tablet PC (it's actually cheaper than a similarly equipped tablet PC).

The Mini obviously isn't meant for anyone who has to get a lot of work done.  But then again, I'm not looking for an everyday-use PC - just something to use to test software, and I'd probably use it to sync my iPod.

Of course the Mac designs are better than most PC makers designs, but if the PC is less functional what good is it?

See, the adage is that form follows function, not the other way around.

If you want a pretty shoebox on your desk then by all means get a Mini.

And again, Mac OS X is unix-based, with some proprietary components and a custom front-end.  I've used OS X and it's fine for most things, although the lack of quick-to-access features (courtesy of one fewer penis buttons) is a real hassle - although I've been told that you can get a two button penis and map the little curlyque mac key (I'm sure this has a name of which I'm unaware) to that second button - but again, the pretty colours of OS X isn't compelling enough to switch from Linux (for stability and performance) or Windows (for software ubiquity).

With a dual-boot system I can get the best of both worlds.  If I could boot OS X to my PC I may use it to burn DVDs or something (Roxio suxx teh c0q) but for everyday use?  Heck, I'd miss the missing featueres in the OS X version of Photoshop alone, which ironically started out as Mac-only software.

Anyway, I guess we should leave religion alone.  My god can kick your god's ASS any day of the week.

[miles]

I don't own anything by apple besides my iPod and those shitty earbuds.  But looks-wise, no one touches them.  Not enough reason to buy one, just pointing it out.

In a year or so I will be in the market for a laptop, and I'd love to get an apple, but I understand they are quite a bit more, and price will be a huge consideration then.

[CortJstr]

And again, Mac OS X is unix-based
[...]
If I could boot OS X to my PC I may use it to burn DVDs or something (Roxio suxx teh c0q)

Huh. I did not know that. Just the other day I saw a car with a Unix joke bumper sticker* pull into the Apple building next door and thought it was weird that they'd so openly support a rival OS. But it makes sense now.

Why not use Nero? I've been using version 5.x for about 4 years and it is awesome. Especially with a high-end drive like Plextor or Lite-On


*I think it was $HOME = dev/null/

[Nabubrush]

Nerd fight! Go get the Sheriff!

[Pedro Picasso]

I have a pretty vase on my desk, but I wouldn't expect to get much work done with it.
...

See, the adage is that form follows function, not the other way around.

Yes but if I had a choice between working in my little dungeon here or working at the coffee shop where I'm surrounded by attractive people reading interesting looking books, guess where I'd go.  Beauty makes you feel better.  Feeling good helps you get work donw.

The Mac Mini is just a little box.  How pretty is it, really?

As pretty as poop.  Good point.

I've used OS X and it's fine for most things, although the lack of quick-to-access features (courtesy of one fewer penis buttons) is a real hassle - although I've been told that you can get a two button penis and map the little curlyque mac key (I'm sure this has a name of which I'm unaware) to that second button

Just to clear this up: Macs come with one button mainly due to Steve Jobs' hubris.  To get contextual menus as you have in windows, you hold the control key and click the penis button.  It's not hard.  You get used to it.  AHA!  But you don't want to get used to it.  Okay, plug in your USB two button penis.  It works immediately, and the second penis button does the little control clicking trick to do what you want it to right away.  No problem.

- but again, the pretty colours of OS X isn't compelling enough to switch from Linux (for stability and performance) or Windows (for software ubiquity).

It's been a while since I've used Linux, so my impressions may be outdated.  My impressions are that it's slow as fuck.  Any time you try to do the smallest GUI trick, it lags behind.  It's also ugly.  No matter how many high res icons they put in Gnome/KDE, it's still just not quite right.  It's stable, but the UI is ugly and has poor performance.  

As for the software ubiquity of Windows: You have a multi-PC setup.  You would probably need to use the same programs on a new computer that you have on the PC's.  This kind of locks you in if you're using Windows.  For instance, I run MS-Money on my PC.  There are plenty of great money management programs for the Mac, but my wife uses our gaming machine at home to balance our checkbooks, so we went with Windows on that one.  This is a problem.  But there is no software I can think of in Windows that doesn't have a Mac equivalent.  Okay games.  If you like to play videogames, the Mac is not your friend.  That's why I have a windows machine.  It's a toy.  Also the Mac can run X11 programs.  So most of your Linux stuff will run here.

With a dual-boot system I can get

...a headache.  Come on.  You know dual booting is a pain in the ass.  How much time did I lose in college to dual booting.  Fuck dual booting!  It is an evil disguised as an annoyance.

 the best of both worlds.  If I could boot OS X to my PC I may use it to burn DVDs or something (Roxio suxx teh c0q) but for everyday use?  Heck, I'd miss the missing featueres in the OS X version of Photoshop alone, which ironically started out as Mac-only software.

Really?  Photoshop on the Mac lacks Windows features?  That sucks.

Anyway, I guess we should leave religion alone.  My god can kick your god's ASS any day of the week.

Too late, the Roman soldiers beat your god to it.

[St_Zartan]

my wife uses our gaming machine at home to balance our checkbooks

I love the Dunstons, I really do.

[Pedro Picasso]

I'm happy the Mini came out because I'm the only person in my fathers family who knows how to turn on a computer, so every time someone gets infected with something, I'm the person they call. Now, hopefully, I can just point them to the Mini.

I feel the same way.  I'm not pumped about the Mac Mini, personally.  But I can't wait to recommend it to others.  My friends and family can be divided into two groups: 1) Those smart enough to install and maintain a firewall router 2) Those whose computers have become useless due to spyware, adware, malware.  I picked up the latest copy of PC World, and practically the whole magazine was about how to fight this stuff (that and firefox, they love firefox).  Ridiculous.  So GO, ye vulnerable.  Buy an Apple computer.  Leave me alone.

[jough]

Well, my HP laptop that I'm using now is great looking.  Lots of soothing blue lights.  Even Mac people comment on how cool my PC looks (and I can understand that if you want a black PC the Mac's choice of "glossy white or nothing!" is a bit annoying).

Of course, I love my little iPod.  But I don't really need to redecorate my entire life to match it.

Any recent Linux build will be just as fast, if not faster, than OS X.  That ain't no kind of comparison.

I find most software for the Mac to be simplistic at times.  Sure, it's uncluttered, and you can usually dig down into menus and such to get to the more advanced features, and sure, most people won't need to have that much control most of the time, but dang, it sure makes it seem weak.  I guess I'd get used to it, but I'm already used to Windows and Linux - why suffer through a new OS?

So if I get a Mac it will be as a toy - something to test web designs on (hitherto I pretty much just ignore the Mac but code to web standards - so I know my sites will at least look good in Mozilla, Firefox, Safari, and Opera, for the most part) but it would be nice to have a Mac on hand, and I must admit that Garage Band and some of the other iLife apps are easier to use and a lot cheaper than their PC-based competitors.

The real problem, of course, is that computers are still pretty primative even at their best and that each major platform has its own major flaws.

Yes, Windows is a big slow bloated piece of crap, but damn, it's everywhere, and it's easy to go anywhere in the world and plug in a USB hard drive and just start working.  And honestly, Windows hasn't crashed for me in months.  My applications just *work*, and I get a lot done.

Would I get more done with a Mac?  I'd really like to take the Pepsi challenge, but I just can't justify the expense for something I'd use for an hour a week to surf my own web sites.

I may just eBay an old iMac for a couple hundred bucks.  At least it's really nice looking, like a 1930s lamp with a screen attached to it, and I'm sure it'll surf the web and maybe even run the latest Mac OS.

But the current offerings - eyuch.   There's really no market for the Mini excepf for a Mac enthusiast who has to have every Mac they put out.  They're marketing it as a box to switch PC users over to the Mac, but when people notice that it doesn't have features that even low-end PCs have they won't think "Oh, I should've bought a higher-end Mac" - they'll think "Mac sucks.  I can't do anything.  I'm going back to Windows."

[slink]

I was very close to trying to set up a G5 to run Pro Tools. Everyone who is anyone using Pro Tools seems to do so with a Mac, (OK, it may still be true that TDM is better on a mac) but apparently LE is more stable on XP, so I figure I'll stick with the cheaper option.

Oh, and thus being able to have an up to date gaming machine too.

[Limmo]

How did I ever live without this magical device?

[jough]

How did I ever live without this magical device?

It's sweet, isn't it?

The wonder of the 40Gb iPod didn't really hit me until I was on the train one day and just had a weird whim for Weezer's "Hash Pipe."  Damned if it wasn't on my iPod.  

It's gotten to the point where I can't even remember what's on it.  I'll just hunt around.  I'm approaching the 300Gb mark for music, so 40Gb doesn't even come close to holding my entire collection, but it's enough to hold pretty much every song I really LIKE, and it holds about 350 albums which is plenty for even the longest trip.  

It's just nice to have all of the Beatles, Pixies, Jane's Addicion, Velvet Underground, Weezer, Beck, REM, The Smiths, Parliament, Sonny Rollins, Clash, Dead Kennedys, U2, etc., plus another couple hundred albums and another few hundred straggler tracks available at the click of a button, and at the spin of a little wheel.

And the click wheel is awesome.  It's just a pleasure to use, even if I wish its sensitivity was adjustable.