Hello MUG,
Thanks to the ones who replied to my first posting ever. I still need some help in my decision...
1. Has anyone used both PC and MAC worlds so that I could get a good idea on the advantages and disadvantages of each?
2. If it would be a good idea to upgrade my DELL system to a Mac mini, once it comes out next week with a new OS, other than upgrading to a 512 RAM are there any other important upgrades to be asked for -- (I'll be using the system for Home use) ?
3. I was told that the Mini has no sound card, just a headphone jack. How would I be able to use sound input / microphone?
4. Where would be the best place to purchase (good price / promo) and have the MAC serviced (honesty), if I decide to buy one?
5. For the Mac Mini, which would be the most suitable ISP -- Rogers, Sympatico, Magma or Sunco; Hi-Speed, Lite or Ultra Lite?
6. Is MUGOO the only organisation for MAC users in Ottawa? Any other groups or Websites I need to belong to?
7. Where can I sell (and how much) my DELL PIII system and all the software I accumulated in the last 4 years?
8. Would my PalmOne Tungsten E PDA, HP Scanner, HP printer, Logitech mouse, Logitech cam and MS Natural keyboard be compatible with the Mac Mini?
9. What other peripherals would be nice to have for the Mac mini?
10. Would I need to upgrade my Logitech Express cam to a newer one that works well with Mac?
11. I presently use PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005. It seems it's not compatible with Mac. Does that mean I have to switch to Norton's Anti-Virus and Firewall?
12. Any other recommended utilities that are a necessity for the Mac mini?
13. Does Mac have it's own chat program or would I need to use any of the ridiculous and troublesome MSN, YM, AOL or Trillian?
14. I guess Mac would have it's own browser, hopefully I wouldn't have to use MSN or Rogers/Yahoo ones?
15. Would I need to have Norton's System Works installed to keep the Mac fine tuned?
16. Are there any other suggestions for me?
17. On a different note, if there are any cute females interested in joining me for some latin dancing or photography, don't be shy to contact me?
18. Thanks in advance for all those who'll take time to read my long posting and reply to each question.
1. There are too many advantages to post in a forum....they will go on forever, no virius ( Yet ), networking options ( FTP, Web, Firewall, Connections sharing ), No spyware, i could continue with the list forever
2. Maybe bluetooth and Wifi, or superdrive..thats about it
3. your right...it doesnt have a input, but it does have a sound card but only an output...you would want a griffin imic with you mac mini to give you input threw usb connection
4. well of course im going to say compusmart...were the only ones that can do a custom order for you..but its your call
5. depends what you need the internet for...i have rogers extreme and its good....but its your call
6. who knows...there are many web forum sites for mac's
7. Ebay ?????
8. i have a tungsten e too and it works just fine, hp scanner, check hp's webiste for driver compaitibity, same with printer, mouse should be okay if its usb or get a usb adapter, keyboard same thing...aslong as it is usb, logitech camera...check with the manufactor for drivers
9. Ipod, isight, cinemia display...lots of things
10. maybe...get a isight
11. firewall built in, no need for virius software yet
12. ilife 05
13. ichat AV, use's .mac accounts or AOL, but there is MSN, yahoo, icq anything else you want
14. there isnt a msn rogers browser..no mac version...mac has its safari browser, or internet explorer or even firefox
15. nope just repair permissions after installing new apps and you should be okay
17. My girlfriend is cute but sorry she is taken....
18. your welcome in advance
1- Ive used both, but have owned a mac for the last 10 yrs, it was my first computer, advantages to a mac, dont have to worry so much about getting viruses and spyware crap, built in firewall, like mr.powerbookg417 has described
2- same as powerbookg417
3- not sure about the sound input, another good mac for a reasonable price is the eMac, you should look into that one too
4- i wouldnt go to "themacgroup", bad customer service, im going to say compusmart, since they are one of the stores that carry much mac stuff, and you can get great advice/help on macs, you can also call up Apple and order directly through them, if your a student you can get an extra 10 - 15% off
5- i am with rogers, i have the rogers express, and with wireless, get great speeds, no problems recently(all companies occasionally have down times), i have been with them for over 5 yrs, great first time promotions
6- mugoo is the only one i know of in ottawa, there is also www.ehmac.ca, that is a canadian mac organization, it has classifieds, and forums, check it out
7- local newspaper, also do a web search, there are a lot of free classifieds on the net
8- check the manufacturers website, most of the items you listed, im sure will be compatible, the one thing im not sure about is the camera, other than that, i can guarantee the others will work
9- boy, the items are endless, check out apple.ca, and click on the "store" tab, your eyes will pop when you see how much apple and other companies have to offer for macs
10- if the web cam has drivers for the mac, i would just use that one, unless you have money to burn
11- i dont use norton firewall, not really needed, the mac os has a built in firewall, as for the virus software as well, i dont use anything, havnt had any viruses, since about 1994 maybe!?
12- iLife is a great one, like mr.powerbookg417 already mentionned, maybe "toast titanium" to burn cds/dvds
13- Yes mac does have its own "instant chat" program, its called "iChat," i dont use that, i use msn, and yahoo, with ichat though, you need a mac account or aol account, more $$$
14- Apple does now have its own browser called "Safari," but like they have on pc, they also have "Internet explorer" which comes installed on the mac, use whatever you prefer, there are no restrictions
15- No you dont need anything, you can use the disk utility that comes installed with the mac called "Disk Utility" lol, repair permissions there
16- Come back here if you need any further advice
17- Im cute, but id rather stick to my mac stuff, much more enjoyable
18- your welcome, this did take me some time
1. I find ease of use, and consistency of keyboard shortcuts across many apps to be big favourites. Makes it very intuitive for tasks in many apps. I don't know how well it works in OS X, but the search program on Mac OS called Sherlock is very powerful. I typically don't pop open folder after folder until I get to the document I want to open. I just type part of the file name in Sherlock and boom it's there quickly, and then it allows you to select any level of the folder tree and open that area up, depending on what you want to look at. (eg. the file itself, or other items within the folder the particular document resides). Very powerful; there are probably apps that do this on the PC side, but I hate having to go to the Windows menu, selecting Find folders, and then typing what I'm looking for.
Mac OS: hit Command-F, up pops Sherlock, type n go...
And from what it sounds like, Tiger has something called Searchlight which makes it a super-searcher.
5. I'm with Rogers. Extreme. No complaints. Running home network using a router with PCs and Macs, sharing a printer between them all over the network.
7. Can post it on the ott.forsale.computing newsgroup.
13. I haven't been following it lately, but is Ircle still available for the Mac, and have they made an OS X version? It is an excellent IRC client, and the shareware(?) price wasn't too bad.
17.LOL jessin9 and PowerbookG417
-Mike
mike: yes they do have ircle for os x, ive used it, same interface
not sure how much they charge now, ive never registered (used to be $30)
Well, I'd have to agree with Jessin. An e-mac might be a better choice for you. And it just so happens to be that we are selling ours, along with our powerbook (we are buying a new imac, we dont need two comps)
Anyways, if you're interested in buying the emac, let us know...its not very old, in mint condition, and still has a two year warranty left at future shop. Which is a bonus because that cost me $350 alone!!!!! :)
But ya...the mac mini is not user upgradeable, only has one ram slot, doesn't have the full sound card and no monitor and I mean, if you're getting a mac, you just HAVE to have a mac monitor...hehe..for looks.
Ok....tata.
Hi Powerbook,
I'm new to this posting business but I think I have to click on "Quote" in order to reply to your message after reading it.........
Thanks for replying to my message with your advice.......
Does your cute gf have a cute sister?
Ciao.....
Quote from: PowerBookG417 on April 27, 2005, 10:03:18 PM
1. There are too many advantages to post in a forum....they will go on forever, no virius ( Yet ), networking options ( FTP, Web, Firewall, Connections sharing ), No spyware, i could continue with the list forever
2. Maybe bluetooth and Wifi, or superdrive..thats about it
3. your right...it doesnt have a input, but it does have a sound card but only an output...you would want a griffin imic with you mac mini to give you input threw usb connection
4. well of course im going to say compusmart...were the only ones that can do a custom order for you..but its your call
5. depends what you need the internet for...i have rogers extreme and its good....but its your call
6. who knows...there are many web forum sites for mac's
7. Ebay ?????
8. i have a tungsten e too and it works just fine, hp scanner, check hp's webiste for driver compaitibity, same with printer, mouse should be okay if its usb or get a usb adapter, keyboard same thing...aslong as it is usb, logitech camera...check with the manufactor for drivers
9. Ipod, isight, cinemia display...lots of things
10. maybe...get a isight
11. firewall built in, no need for virius software yet
12. ilife 05
13. ichat AV, use's .mac accounts or AOL, but there is MSN, yahoo, icq anything else you want
14. there isnt a msn rogers browser..no mac version...mac has its safari browser, or internet explorer or even firefox
15. nope just repair permissions after installing new apps and you should be okay
17. My girlfriend is cute but sorry she is taken....
18. your welcome in advance
Testing..............
Thank you all for taking the time to read and reply to my long messages......
And I'm still waiting for those cute ladies to contact me...................hehe........
Thanks Jessin...............cutie................
Ya I've got a cute sister but shes taken...and lives in London.
Sorry! :)