My Mac Mini Switch

I mentioned several posts ago that I had purchased the newly improved Apple MAC Mini. Someone, I think Mike S. was kind enough to ask me to check back in and reveal how the switch from Vista to MAC went.

Well, let’s start with the CPU:

First off, when they say “Mini” they weren’t pulling any one’s leg. That my friends, is the entire CPU. My Vista box was under the desk and took up, oh, I don’t know 50 times as much space? 100? I flunked math. But most of you probably still have a CPU, so you know how big they are. This little Mac Mini sits on top of my desk and takes up almost no room at all. Just a nice little cube.

What’s packed inside that tiny little cube? More computer horsepower than I will ever use.2.0GHz, 4 MB memory, CD Drive, 120 GB hard drive, five USB ports, one Firewire, and more……..

• 2.0GHz or 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
• 1066MHz frontside bus
• The model I purchased comes with 4GB of RAM
• Optical Drive: Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• 120 GB hard drive. (I purchased the smallest because I use external drives.)
• Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless  networking³ (based on 802.11n draft specification); IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
• Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
• Optional external Apple USB Modem
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 128MB or 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory²
• Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports up to 1920 by 1200 pixels on a DVI or VGA display; up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on a dual-link DVI display using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
• Mini-DVI port
• DVI output using Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (included)
• VGA output using Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
• Mini DisplayPort output

So, I just plugged in my monitor, keyboard and mouse and off I went. At least, for a week or so, then I felt like I wanted the full experience so I bought a Apple bluetooth keyboard and a bluetooth mouse. That freed up two USB ports.

I love the keyboard!!! It makes me want to write more. I don’t make as many typos. It feels good.

You can see how small the keyboard is. But the cool thing is, the keys are the same size as any other keyboard, they just cut away all the unnecessary stuff. At least I find the keys better than my old regular keyboard.

The bluetooth handles the mouse and keyboard perfectly.

Now, what about the software? Not a problem there either. I use only a few programs to be honest. I need to run Firefox as you may notice, I spent a lot of time on the Internet. Firefox works perfectly on the MAC. I also need to be able to use Photoshop Elements 6. Not a problem, they make a MAC version that works awesomely. Next up, FileZilla, my FTP program. Guess what, they make a MAC version, And it is free. I’m lovin this!

OK, what about work? I use Word and Excel every day at my job. There are times I need to work at home. Occasionally, I may need to use PowerPoint, even thought I think it is an evil program that convinces boring people that they can give presentations. The solution? OpenOffice. Just download for free the entire OpenOffice package and I have Word, Excel and PowerPoint, only they look slightly different and have different names. But I have no compatibility issues at all.

What don’t I have? Well, I don’t have any anti-virus software. I don’t have an operating system that bugs me every three minutes. I don’t have the Blue Screen of Death. I don’t have any compatibility issues with my hardware!!! I have a scanner, a photo printer and a bunch of external hard drives, as well as a web camera and other miscellaneous items. It took me over a month to get Vista to run my peripherals!!! The MAC? 1, 2 3 done. Piece of cake Not the slightest issue.

Oh yeah, I forgot – my blogging software, WordPress. Piece of cake, Works great!!! And, I have no problem with Cisco’s VPN software so I can connect to my employer’s network and work from home.

The only issue I have is with a Bible study software called E-Sword. They do not make a MAC version. (I guess until recently mostly liberals had MACs and there wasn’t much demand for a Bible program.) Some people have taken it upon themselves to convert it to MAC, and came up with MAC Sword. But it isn’t the same. So, no problem, I just download CrossOver from Codeweavers.com and this allows me to run many PC programs, including E-Sword.

Of course, if I ever was desperate enough, I could install Windows XP or Vista on a partition of the MAC, and then use Windows. But, wouldn’t that be kind of like buying the 2009 Corvette and towing a Ford Escort behind it???

So, bottom line for me? All positives. No negatives. Heaven!!!!

Peace out people.

SCG