On 11/2/05, Jared Kuolt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I do multitask like crazy, so I suppose RAM should be a consideration.
Definitely feed it as much as you can. The marginal cost of more memory more than makes up for the regret of not purchasing "enough." > A few more questions if you don't mind: > > 1) Is the dashboard really that cool? Yeah, it's pretty cool, and you can make your own dashboard widgets without too much pain. It can get kind of cluttered quickly, though, unless you have a lot of screen real estate. > 2) How often do unforseen problems occur (BSOD-esque, not hardware failures)? Haven't run into any since I started with OS X in February 2002. > 3) Are refurbished Macs generally good quality? Dunno; my Mac hardware has all been purchased new (refurb prices are often quite close to full price, in my experience, so I tend to go with new). I presume they'd have to get cleaned up and be in pretty good shape, though. Generally, refurb hardware is reputed to go through more QA than new hardware. > 4) From what I've seen it looks like the first Intel-based macs are > due to arrive in about 6-8 months. Since I'm in need of a new computer > soon, would it be a good idea to get a mini now and wait for the new > Power Mac to make a decision? Or should I just go with a cheap PC > laptop? Mini now. You know you want to... :-) Also, with the Intel Macs, I'm planning on holding off until at least the second or third generation of them before purchasing, in case there is any wonkiness that needs to get worked out. > 5) Mac Mini or iBook or Powerbook? Is the price justified if I'm not > very mobile? Mini if you think you're not going to be mobile at all, especially if you already have a display, keyboard, and mouse that you want to continue using, or would prefer over Apple products. (I'm considering the Mini as a way of creating a wife-sanctioned upgrade path that will eventually let me have a big shiny Apple monitor.) iBook if you want to be mobile but don't want to break the bank. Powerbook if you want do decadent things like burning DVD's on the beach. > 6) Do the iBooks get really dingy-looking? A friend's iBook got kind of cruddy and physically unsound, but he dragged it everywhere with him and didn't take very good care of it, was pretty casual/careless with how he treated it, etc. I'm guessing if you're nice to it, it'll hold together a lot better. -- Mike Pirnat [EMAIL PROTECTED]
