Anyone own a Mac Mini?

[devilock76]

To lxskllr

WUBI is a virtual install. I did mention that, although not WUBI directly as I have no experience with it. Since his concern is testing performance the WUBI install as a VM will be limited by the Windows OS performance. However a VM is a great way to first try out the look and feel.

Linux being care free I always consider a misnomer. There are *nix viruses and a poorly administrated system can be very vulnerable. Now I may be wrong on some of this not having used Ubuntu much in the past year or so. But if memory serves Ubuntu has a couple of issues security wise that are important to note. First of all Ubuntu installs with no firewall whatsoever. So after an ubuntu install I would immediately (after an apt-get update then apt-get upgrade) run apt-get install iptables. Granted configuring iptables for most new Linux users is probably outside their ken, but there is lots of documentation online. Plus the vanilla install in ubuntu is perfect for a typically single user machine. Depends what they do though.

Also Ubuntu used to have an almost log in as admin gdm setup. Yes it was your user account but there was no root account and the sudoers file setup that account to not require re-entering the password. This inherently makes the machine just as vulnerable as a windows user who logs in as admin all the time. Granted this is out of scope for a first time linux user but worth mentioning. And ubuntu is out the gate one of the easier to get started in Linux Distros. I would add PCLinuxOS as another good one like that. Also OpenSUSE is nice. Takes longer to download that last one though, but YAST can be a huge help to users that are new to Linux.

As for Hardware, to addendum what you said. In my experience the big nightmare was WIFI, but this has gotten better for most distros in recent years, particularly ubuntu. All in one printers like the one I have can be an issue. Also anything that is really specialized. Like say firewire audio devices like the ones I run. Now people like me start basing their hardware choices around what is Linux compatible. The thing is outside of this most hardware that the average pc user has at home will do just fine, especially under the large target Linux distros like Ubuntu.

One more thing on running Windows programs. WINE is very mature, and except for a few stubborn programs I have had great results with WINE. Granted I prefer where ever possible to find a FOSS alternative but sometimes WINE is the only solution. It has taken some work but I have even gotten monsters like Ableton Live to run in WINE (although that was an example of a lot DirectX tweaks in WINE).

Ken

[lxskllr]

To lxskllr

WUBI is a virtual install. I did mention that, although not WUBI directly as I have no experience with it. Since his concern is testing performance the WUBI install as a VM will be limited by the Windows OS performance. However a VM is a great way to first try out the look and feel.

Wubi isn't a vm, but it is a virtual disk. The only way Windows is really involved is the virtual disk is on top of the NTFS file system. There's a little latency introduced due to that, but otherwise it's like a native install.

Linux being care free I always consider a misnomer. There are *nix viruses and a poorly administrated system can be very vulnerable. Now I may be wrong on some of this not having used Ubuntu much in the past year or so. But if memory serves Ubuntu has a couple of issues security wise that are important to note. First of all Ubuntu installs with no firewall whatsoever. So after an ubuntu install I would immediately (after an apt-get update then apt-get upgrade) run apt-get install iptables. Granted configuring iptables for most new Linux users is probably outside their ken, but there is lots of documentation online. Plus the vanilla install in ubuntu is perfect for a typically single user machine. Depends what they do though.

I've never run with a firewall, and haven't had issues. Linux has obscurity working for it. People just don't target it much. I'd firewall it if it was a server, but otherwise it doesn't matter imo. 'sides, the router firewall should be turned on by default, so he'd be firewalled that way.

Also Ubuntu used to have an almost log in as admin gdm setup. Yes it was your user account but there was no root account and the sudoers file setup that account to not require re-entering the password. This inherently makes the machine just as vulnerable as a windows user who logs in as admin all the time. Granted this is out of scope for a first time linux user but worth mentioning. And ubuntu is out the gate one of the easier to get started in Linux Distros. I would add PCLinuxOS as another good one like that. Also OpenSUSE is nice. Takes longer to download that last one though, but YAST can be a huge help to users that are new to Linux.

Ubuntu doesn't have a root account, but the elevation through sudo is only temporary. I don't know when it times out, but its within 15 minutes AFAIK.

[devilock76]

Wubi isn't a vm, but it is a virtual disk. The only way Windows is really involved is the virtual disk is on top of the NTFS file system. There's a little latency introduced due to that, but otherwise it's like a native install.



I've never run with a firewall, and haven't had issues. Linux has obscurity working for it. People just don't target it much. I'd firewall it if it was a server, but otherwise it doesn't matter imo. 'sides, the router firewall should be turned on by default, so he'd be firewalled that way.



Ubuntu doesn't have a root account, but the elevation through sudo is only temporary. I don't know when it times out, but its within 15 minutes AFAIK.

Good to know on WUBI. I gotta check that out some time.

Linux has obscurity. Then again most of the hackers out there know linux well. Most people won't have problems, but that is only due to small targets in setups like Ubuntu. Best practices to me is to change those things. Which is a minor 60 seconds of work to do. But not something joe user new to linux knows. Like I said though I tend to have higher security concerns, computing usage concerns, so my gripes aren't universal to most home users.

Ken

P.S. Even on a home users laptop, if they travel at all I would consider a firewall a minimum if they will be on open coffee shop type wifi networks.

[ProudMarineDad]

I am kind of hesitant to try Linux because I don't really enjoy tinkering with a PC that much.

I was looking at the specs on the Mac Mini and got to wondering what my current PC's specs were so I checked them.

This is the info off the properties of "My Computer".
Intel Pentium D CPU 2.80 GHz
2.79 GHz
1.00 GB of RAM

My hard drive is 144GB with used space of 92.3 FB with 51.9 GB. That is after 5 1/2 years use.

On the Apple Mini Mac, here are the specs that I picked if I decided to get one. I don't know enough about computers to understand the GHz but does the fact that it's dual core mean that it would be a lot faster than my old PC? Is the boot up on an Apple pretty fast?

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive

[lxskllr]

The Mac is pretty old tech, but light years ahead of what you have now. You can't compare cpu speed across architectures. The comparative difference off the cuff, would be like comparing your current computer to a Pentium2. In other words, it should be a mindblowing upgrade for you :^)

[ProudMarineDad]

The Mac is pretty old tech, but light years ahead of what you have now. You can't compare cpu speed across architectures. The comparative difference off the cuff, would be like comparing your current computer to a Pentium2. In other words, it should be a mindblowing upgrade for you :^)

I really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to patiently answer my questions and not making me feel any dumber than I already do.

[lxskllr]

I really appreciate you and everyone else taking the time to patiently answer my questions and not making me feel any dumber than I already do.

You're welcome :^)

How much is that Mac Mini? Dell has a bunch of machines with better specs for less than $500. They aren't as sexy as the Mac, but I'm guessing better bang/buck.

[ProudMarineDad]

It is over $800. Looking at Dells after starting out with Asus over on Best Buy.com.

[lxskllr]

Check this out for $405. Don't know what shipping is, but it's a better machine spec wise...

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...d=inspiron-560

[devilock76]

I am kind of hesitant to try Linux because I don't really enjoy tinkering with a PC that much.

I was looking at the specs on the Mac Mini and got to wondering what my current PC's specs were so I checked them.

This is the info off the properties of "My Computer".
Intel Pentium D CPU 2.80 GHz
2.79 GHz
1.00 GB of RAM

My hard drive is 144GB with used space of 92.3 FB with 51.9 GB. That is after 5 1/2 years use.

On the Apple Mini Mac, here are the specs that I picked if I decided to get one. I don't know enough about computers to understand the GHz but does the fact that it's dual core mean that it would be a lot faster than my old PC? Is the boot up on an Apple pretty fast?

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive

The Mac being *nix based and also less a victim of malware due to being a smaller target will feel light years ahead as lxskllr said. As for Linux let me mention this. I know people like me have talked about a lot of tinkering and stuff. But I am kind of a particular user who even if I did not have the specific needs I had would still tinker because I am a geek. I would tinker if it was Windows or Mac or what not. Most Linux installs are just about damn turn key in this day and age. Personally I feel a Windows machine needs more tinkering than a Linux machine for safe, secure and reliable computing. Esoteric hardware might be the heel of linux but malware is the heel of Windows combined with the OS being so willing to let such malware on. In my opinion 99% of OEM Windows installs are done completely wrong and seem to almost be setup so the user WILL NEED paid support within the first three years of the computers life.

Install linux for free, see how you like it. If you don't nothing lost, just get a new computer. Or maybe just keep that one if you like it Linux breaths new life into it. Just make sure you don't lose your data. Maybe getting a good external drive is a good idea either way just for backup data store. I got a 2TB external drive from Amazon for $110 about 6 months or so ago.

Ken

[Snusify]

I got one of the first Mac Minis a few years back for my mother. In all that time she has only called me once for technical assistance. That alone is testament to the Mac OS. If it passes the mother test.

[heders]

Mac makes great computers for video editing and rendering, music production, image editing, et cetera. But when it comes to games, and in my case, software synths for my music producing, it's really a pain in the ass to be a Mac user (luckily I got my Macbook Pro for free by my school). I won't buy this computer at the end of my three years of school as I find PC far more superior to Mac. But Mac has it's charms for sure. No viruses, stable and very fast.

But taking in consideration that my Macbook Pro had a price of around $2000, I would be able to get a PC that was just as fast, if not faster, and have compatibility for almost all programs and games available. Luckily, as I said before, I did not pay for my Mac, and will return it to school after my three years of borrow time is over.

[devilock76]

Mac makes great computers for video editing and rendering, music production, image editing, et cetera. But when it comes to games, and in my case, software synths for my music producing, it's really a pain in the ass to be a Mac user (luckily I got my Macbook Pro for free by my school). I won't buy this computer at the end of my three years of school as I find PC far more superior to Mac. But Mac has it's charms for sure. No viruses, stable and very fast.

But taking in consideration that my Macbook Pro had a price of around $2000, I would be able to get a PC that was just as fast, if not faster, and have compatibility for almost all programs and games available. Luckily, as I said before, I did not pay for my Mac, and will return it to school after my three years of borrow time is over.

I am not a big computer gamer, or gamer in general, but you are right, Windows still owns the gamer market share. As for the soft synths. Some of their programs have a lot built in, however there are more makers of VST synths which are more windows specific. In addition there are a lot of free VST synths available. I would wager part of it is the independent developer market. More of the private coders out there have access to Linux and Windows boxes vs Macs. However out of the box Mac has the lowest audio latency setup of any OS. Windows requires ASIO to really get close and Linux, well Linux requires even more work. However on Linux if you do that work you can see low audio latency numbers that most Macs can only dream of.

Ken

[internope]

I got one of the first Mac Minis a few years back for my mother. In all that time she has only called me once for technical assistance. That alone is testament to the Mac OS. If it passes the mother test.

B-b-b-but what about speed?
How can you hobble your dear old mother with a computer that is a couple of nanoseconds slower than a whizbang Windoze PC?

[heders]

I am not a big computer gamer, or gamer in general, but you are right, Windows still owns the gamer market share. As for the soft synths. Some of their programs have a lot built in, however there are more makers of VST synths which are more windows specific. In addition there are a lot of free VST synths available. I would wager part of it is the independent developer market. More of the private coders out there have access to Linux and Windows boxes vs Macs. However out of the box Mac has the lowest audio latency setup of any OS. Windows requires ASIO to really get close and Linux, well Linux requires even more work. However on Linux if you do that work you can see low audio latency numbers that most Macs can only dream of.

Ken

Yeah, for sure! Yesterday I downloaded Team Fortress 2 from Steam, which they had released for free to the public, thinking it would run on my computer without any problems. But it crashes, is slow as hell, and takes hours to connect to a server. That's very strange considering it in fact was made for Mac and playing on a highly expensive computer which runs good in other aspects.

I have luckily been able to find most VST synths I prefer to use for Mac, but some runs with many problems and bugs, which I did not experience at all as a Windows user. My program used for producing (Ableton Live 8) runs like a dream though!

Thanks for your info about latency. I was not aware of the fact that Linux could (after a lot of work) have such low latency numbers that you speak of. Sadly I'm not a big Linux fan though.