Tempted to Move over to a Mac

"Will there be any problems connecting to my windows network with the Mac"
NO

"Will my Archos XS202 MP3 player be able to sync with the Mac"
It will connect to the Mac but probably not synchronize with iTunes. Drag and Drop will work though

"With the move to intel processors, will I be better to wait until the Mac Mini moves over to Intel (if it does, I havn't got any idea if it will) or just go ahead when vista arrives?"
ALL Mac's will eventually be Intel driven. Apple seem to be indicating that by the end of 2007, the entire range will be Intel powered. Waiting might make sense but there is no definite, publicly available, plan for the transition. It is all rumor and guesswork.

"Is there a need to keep a PC as well as a Mac incase any of the software I need isn't avalible for the Mac"
Figure out your software "need" and research that one. I know a lot of people who kept the PC but never used it.

There are currently 20K + pieces of software that do not run on the Mac OS. We call them Virus's and currently don't have any.

P

i'v been think to swicth to mac to mac mini is awsome i've been studying mac it's awsome so forget windows get a mac now!

Like most hardcore windows users I used to laugh at Macs and would never have dreamed about moving over. But I tried a friend?s powerbook and was hooked in 30 minutes. I stated moving over last summer. I have a Mac Mini and a Powerbook. I couldn't be happier. I still keep several windows machines. OSX right now is ahead of where Vista is trying to get to. Even when Vista comes out OSX will be ahead. By the time Vista does come out OSX Tiger replacement should be out or not far behind. Mac will be even further ahead. Plus you have to think of the system requirements to run Vista.

The big advantage I see is Mac is ahead of integrating the digital lifestyle we all live in now.

It comes stuffed with great programs iPhoto, iMovie, iDvd, iWeb , iTunes, Podcasting, Photocasting, Garage band, Spotlight, Automator, Expose, Dashboard, that are all tightly integrated with the operating system in a way that windows can never be with third party apps.

Plus to try to mimic these capabilities on windows you'd have to buy hundreds of dollars of extra programs or use free programs, none of which will work as well together.

Another consideration to take full advantage of Vista you're going to have to upgrade your third party windows apps. and probably will need to upgrade to a new computer anyway.

The sooner you get on board with Apple, the further ahead of the game you will be. I expect they will announce an Intel based Mac mini in the next few weeks. It makes too much sense for them not to.

I grabbed a 20", 2 2GHz iMac G5 with 1.5 Gig RAM super cheap ($500)from a pal who upgraded to an iMac Intel. Fun to pay with, but very slow compared to the 6 months - 1 year old PCs in the house. I plan to have my daughter use it her first year year in college this fall. Def not a production machine between lack of processing power and lack of applications (compared to PC) for it. Fun to play with, though

As you seem to have implied you do not do anything that is computer intensive, security dependant, or OS dependant so I dont see why you might neccisarily feel the need to upgrade.

Just because Vista is out does not mean you have to upgrade it. MS will continue to support XP and release security updates for at least several years. I believe they only stopped releasing upgrades for windows 98 a couple of years ago.

As long as you dont feel there is anything tha Mac will do for you that your current PC doesnt, then I dont see why would wont be perfectly happy with what you have now. No need to waste more money. You just made an investment in the computer you own so at least make that investment worth it.