Does anyone have experience with Macs? I need to get a little more experience to support an upcoming symposium I'm supporting, so I ebayed this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130078731063

I'm hoping not much has changed between 10.3 and 10.4, and I'm really hoping that this will be a very linux-like OS

From what I've heard the main presenter is using a Mac through one of our projectors - we need to be able to support them if stuff goes haywire.

I may diddle with garage band a bit too.

Sam you're going to LOVE it! And no, it's not really linux-like unless you want it to be. There are ways to install a ton of commandline stuff from GNU plus xwindows. Actually you can even run KDE on it if you want.

Anyway, no not all that much has changed from Panther to Tiger. At least nothing regarding using a projector or anything. As far as the mini goes, I have the current top-end one as my main machine now. I use it for everything except WoW, which will open but is not really usable due to the integrated graphics. 256megs of ram of course will be limiting and you can't use standard ram. It's SODIMMs like in laptops, which is more expensive. I have 1 gig in mine and the Core Duo and I'm able to run windows using parallels with only minimal fuss. Very usable.

Oh and the ram really is going to limit you with garageband. That's a bit of a resource hog.

Memory slot looks like regular DDR DIMM on the G4 based boxes...

http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008276.html

I stand corrected!

I'm going to make a "sacrifice" since I have 2G in my PC I'm going to grab one of the Gs and put it in my mini, then toss a 512M stick back in my PC... 2G->1.5G should not impact too much. but 256M to 1G should make a nice difference in the Mac.

Yo, trackin da Mac

HORSHAM,
PA, US 02/20/2007 3:42 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
HORSHAM,
PA, US 02/19/2007 10:17 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
LAWNSIDE,
NJ, US 02/19/2007 9:25 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
02/19/2007 7:35 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
US 02/19/2007 4:38 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Sam, I work in a Mac network and am trained extensively in macs. That macmini is a good solid base to start learning macs. I would recommend adding alot more ram. at least 512. If you can afford it get more (1gig). Research it, and get the right kind too. Most 3rd party ram is compatable but the specs have to match, i.e. latency timing and the such. As is, It will load OSX ok but will be slow. OSX is a very stable user of VR when out of Reg ram but slows real bad. 10.3 is also a good place to start. 10.4 really only added some bells and whistles. OSX is loosly based on Berkley Unix. Very stable. Silver and I work in the same technology Dept, in the same location even though hes works with satan....I mean.....Windows. If you have any questions please feel free to join the ATF IRC during the day. Silver and I are in IRC most days. or email me. jmatteson@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us or cucucan@mac.com

P.S. Please, if nothing else. Spring for a cheap 2 button USB mouse. I know Logitechs work ...... Holding the control key to do "right click" stuff will become annoying. I love Macs but, the 1 button mouse thing I've never understood. Especially since OSX, most 2 button mice work out of the box. True plug 'n' play.

I will be putting a gig of PC3200 (2,3,3,6) - should do just fine since it comes with 2700 stock. I will use a two button mouse, I have enough lying around. Should be here by next Monday. And I'd jump on IRC except the compsec folks tend to frown on the protocol mucking around our networks.

w00t!

PACIFIC,
WA, US 02/26/2007 6:00 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY
02/26/2007 5:55 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
SEATTLE,
WA, US 02/26/2007 5:07 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
SEATTLE,
WA, US 02/24/2007 1:14 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
HORSHAM,
PA, US 02/20/2007 3:42 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
HORSHAM,
PA, US 02/19/2007 10:17 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
LAWNSIDE,
NJ, US 02/19/2007 9:25 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
02/19/2007 7:35 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
US 02/19/2007 4:38 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Ok, so what's the verdict????

http://ragingsamster.googlepages.com/macdaddy.jpg

What's with these weird keys? ctrl+c and ctrl+v for cut and paste is how God intended us to live!

And with just 256MB garage band is not a happy camper.

/edit loaded firefox w00t, one button mice suck! took the picture edited it with Iphoto cropping it and resizing - pretty nice utility.
I was wondering what the hell were they thinking sending a mouse with a 24"cord, then I noticed the USB inputs on the back of the keyboard

It runs nicely at 1920X1200 but I'm not doing anything graphically intensive. I'm goin g to buy or find a wide putty knife to open it so I can drop a gig in there... garage band should be happier then. All in all, for three-fiddy I can't complain.

I'd like to get my hands on one of those, but I think i'd go with a KVM switch or something.. Not enough desk space for 2 keyboards, mice and monitors. :-/

Yea I actually just bought myself a DVI/USB KVM for my mac and pc. Works well although those types of models are friggin expensive!

BTW if anybody wants to play with garageband, NIN has released their newest single as a garageband file for free so that you can mix it how you please. It's pretty sweet.