If you haven’t seen the latest addition to the Macintosh lineup, it’s worth checking out. It is a very small computer measuring just 6.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches. The Mac Mini is about the size of one of those internal CD-ROM drives that you install in a PC. By far one of the smallest computers you can buy. And it’s relatively inexpensive, with the base model costing just $499. Plus, you don’t need to buy a new monitor, mouse, or keyboard. It is 100% compatible with PC monitors and PC USB keyboards and mice.
But what exactly can you do with this minicomputer? Quite! The base model comes with more than enough features for most computer uses. It’s a full Macintosh, nothing small about this machine except its physical size.
In this article I’ll talk about three main uses for the Mac mini. First, I’ll discuss what Macs are known for; its audio and video capabilities. Second, I’ll look at the general uses of the Internet, such as browsing, email, and chat. Finally, I will talk about word processing. These three are some of the most common tasks for most computer users.
Digital video, photos and music
Music has become what Apple is best known for. Who hasn’t seen one of their iPod music players? The Apple Macintosh comes with iTunes, which allows you to play MP3 music, as well as buy legal copies of songs directly from the iTunes music store. The songs are only ninety nine hundred, and the selection is huge. If you have an iPod, you can connect it to a Macintosh and use it directly with iTunes.
The Mac Mini also comes with iMove and iDVD. These two applications allow you to edit and burn your home movies to DVD. However, if you want to burn your own DVDs, you’ll need a Mac Mini with the optional DVD burner, which adds $100 to the price of the Mac Mini. If you have a digital camcorder, you can transfer your movies directly to Mac Mini.
Digital video has become very easy with the Macintosh. Just drag your video clips and make a complete movie. If you’re like me, your home video includes many scenes where the camcorder isn’t pointed where it should be. Video editing software makes it very easy to remove said footage from your movie.
If you have a camcorder, you can use iPhoto to download and organize your digital photos. The iPhoto application allows you to quickly move your images from your digital camera to your computer. Photos can be organized in catalogs and printed.
Browsing, email and chat
The Mac Mini comes with Internet Explorer and Safari browsers. Internet Explorer is provided for sites that require it for compatibility reasons. You can also use the Macintosh’s built-in Safari browser. Safari works much like Internet Explorer, only with many additional features and fewer security concerns. Safari supports tab-based browsing, allowing you to open multiple websites and quickly switch between them.
Email can be easily set up on a Mac with iMail. The iMail app will connect to your email provider and allow you to send and receive email messages. Chat is provided by iChat, which allows you to use your existing instant messaging accounts to communicate with your friends. Also, most major chat networks have free downloadable chat clients for Macintosh.
word processing
The Mac Mini comes with Apple Works. Apple Works is a full-featured office automation product, similar to Microsoft Office. You can open files created with Microsoft Office. Apple Works comes with all the standard “office apps” you’d expect. It includes a word processor similar to Microsoft Word. Additionally, Apple Works includes a database application, similar to Microsoft Access. Spreadsheet functions, similar to Microsoft Excel, are also provided. Finally, a presentation application is also included, similar to Microsoft Powerpoint.
The word processor is fully featured and includes all the tolls you expect. Files created with Microsoft Word can be opened. Also, you can save your files as Microsoft Word documents. Whether you’re writing a report for school or a resume for a new job, Apple Works is ready.
recommendations
The Mac Mini is a very powerful computer, despite its small physical size. Mac mini also comes with a lot of software already loaded. The only add-on I’ve mentioned in this article is a $100 DVD burner, if you want to burn your movies to DVD.
The use of Macintosh is very similar to that of Windows. The average Windows user will soon feel right at home with a Macintosh. Actually, many things are much easier on the Macintosh. The Macintosh operating system is based on the UNIX industrial operating system. This makes for a very stable operating system, without a lot of crashes. If you’re thinking of trying something other than Windows, the Mac Mini is a great option.