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General discussion

PC to Mac transformation

Nov 4, 2005 7:26PM PST

I am planning to switch over to mac (mini)and I need some expert comments on few issues.
The machine will be for home use, surfing, some office applications, home video editing etc.
Windows has got tons of freeware applications and utlities for such things. I was wondering how far mac users are lucky? Are there enough freeware utilities to get going?
Hows mac (mini) performance? Are they better than G4 globe iMacs? Any down sides?

Discussion is locked

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This one as well
Nov 4, 2005 9:06PM PST

DO you get sort of recovery CD, that you get with PCs, in case if something goes wrong and you have to start from scratch again

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Answers
Nov 4, 2005 11:52PM PST

The mac mini comes fully equipped to do all the things that you are asking, right out of the box.
iTunes for your music, iPhoto for your digital pictures, iMovie for your movies and if your machine has a superdrive, iDVD to combine all of your stuff into a DVD.
There is plenty of freeware/shareware available out there for the mac.
The mini performance is not too bad, you will need to increase the memory size though. Consider 1Gb. Unfortunately it only has 1 slot so you will loose the existing RAM.
I would say that they are on a Par with the G4 Globe iMacs except for expandability. iMac has a greater RAM capacity, larger, full size, HD, but a slower processor.
Oh yes, it comes with a restore CD that will take it back to "out of the box" but you will probably never have to use it.

P