Re: OT: Hardcore Windows user needs Mac advice


"Wayne Stuart" <me4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1i6ayai.17ahpmtfav2kfN%me4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Deano <deano@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


As a switcher I think the Mac Mini looks useful. I like the idea of
using
my own keyboard and mouse and saving space.

Just so long as they're USB and not PS/2. And also bear in mind the key
labels will be slightly different.

Mouse is, keyboard isn't. I currently use my keyboard via an adaptor
plugged into a USB port. Not doable on a Mac?

Latest spec for the £499 seems decent. I have never had high spec PCs
so I
feel a high spec Mac would be pointless.

I don't particularly like the Mini; the *** child of the Mac range.
Like, I never got why they made it as small as they did. As it is, it
can only accomodate a laptop hard drive, which is inherently slower and
inferior size/price ratio to a desktop HD. And then to top it all,
purposefully makes it difficult to even upgrade the RAM. Putty knives
indeed! Pff!

Interesting. I'm assuming virtualisation will demand as much RAM as
possible. My worry is that I could spend nearly £600 on this and it might
then be better to consider another model. Food for thought....


I want to retain Windows 2000 and Office 2000 for my database work.
VMVare
Fusion looks like the best way of virtualising Windows. How practical
Fusion will be is one uncertainty and I want as much memory as possible.

Questions then for the Mac users out there;

Any comments on Fusion? It uses both Duo cores and Parellels does not.
Bootcamp seems out as it won't run Windows 2000 without a great deal of
hacking.

I think you can, although Boot Camp will only provide drivers for XP or
Vista. You'd need source your own for Win2K. But it'll still install
IFAIK, even if you have to do it manually.

Booting natively would be my preference, I do this for Windows have lots of
different installs using HyperOS. But tweaking Bootcamp seems like too much
work if it runs ok within OS X. I don't play games or do anything CPU
intensive.


Can the Mini's memory be upgraded beyond 2GB?

No. Two slots, 1gig each, both a pain in the arse to get at.

Bollocks.


Any recommendations for a friendly Mac forum? I have found Mac Forums
and
Mac Rumours. Anything there perhaps with a UK bias?

news:uk.comp.sys.mac


Ta for that. I might wonder down to the Apple store and lustfully touch
stuff.


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