What Can You Do With A Mac Mini?

It is worth looking at if you have not seen the newest addition to the Macintosh line. It is a tiny computer that is only 6.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches. The Mac Mini is about the size of one of those internal CD-ROM drives you install into a PC. By far, it is one of the smallest computers you can buy. And it’s relatively inexpensive; the base model costs only $499. You need not buy a new monitor, mouse, or keyboard. It is 100% compatible with PC monitors, USB keyboards, and mice.

But what exactly can you do with this mini-computer? Quite a bit! The base model comes with more than enough features for most computer users. It is a full-fledged Macintosh; there is nothing small about this machine except its physical size.

In this article, I will discuss three main uses for the Mac mini. First, I will discuss what Macs are known for: their audio and video capabilities. Second, I will discuss general Internet uses such as browsing, email, and chat. Finally, I will discuss word processing. These three are some of the most common tasks for most computer users.

Mac Mini

Digital Video, Photos, and Music

Music has become what Apple is known best for. Who has not seen one of their iPod music players? The Apple Macintosh comes with iTunes, which allows you to play MP3 music and purchase legal copies of songs directly from the iTunes music store. Pieces only cost ninety-nine cents, and the selection is huge. You can attach it to the Macintosh and use it now with iTunes if you have an iPod.

The Mac Mini also comes with iMovie and iDVD. These two applications allow you to edit and burn your home movies to a DVD. With a digital camcorder, you can transfer your films directly into the Mac Mini. However, if you want to record your DVD, you will need a Mac Mini with the optional DVD burner, which adds $100 to the price of the Mac Mini.

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Digital Video has become very easy with the Macintosh. Just drag clips from your video together and make a complete movie. If you are like me, your home video includes many scenes where the camcorder is not pointed where it should be. The video editing software makes removing such footage from your movie very easy.

If you have a video camera, you can use iPhoto to download and organize your digital photos. The iPhoto application lets you quickly move your pictures from your digital camera to the computer. Images can be classified into catalogs and printed.

Browsing, Email, and Chat

The Mac Mini comes with both Internet Explorer and Safari browsers. Internet Explorer is provided for sites that require it for compatibility. You can also use the built-in Macintosh browser Safari. Safari works like Internet Explorer, only with many additional features and fewer security issues. Safari supports tabbed-based browsing, which allows you to open multiple websites and quickly switch between them.

Email can easily be set up on a Mac with iMail. The iMail application will connect to your mail provider and allow you to send and receive mail messages. IChat provides chat, enabling you to use your existing instant message accounts to communicate with friends. Additionally, most major chat networks have chat clients that can be downloaded free of charge for the Macintosh.

Word Processing

The Mac Mini comes with Apple Works. Apple Works is a full-featured office automation product similar to Microsoft Office. It can open files created with Microsoft Office. Apple Works comes with all the standard “office applications” you would expect. It includes a word processor similar to Microsoft Word.
Additionally, Apple’s works include a database application similar to Microsoft Access. Spreadsheet functions are provided as well, similar to Microsoft Excel. Finally, a presentation application is also included, similar to Microsoft Powerpoint.

The word processor is fully featured and includes all of the tools you have come to expect. Files created with Microsoft Word can be opened. Additionally, you can save your files as Microsoft Word documents. Apple Works is ready whether you are writing a report for school or a resume for a new job.

Conclusions

The Mac mini is a powerful computer despite its small physical size. It also comes with a great deal of software already loaded. The only add-on I discussed in this article is a $100 DVD burner if you want to record your movies on DVD.

Using a Macintosh is very similar to Windows. The average Windows user will soon be right at home with a Macintosh. Many things are much easier on the Macintosh. The Macintosh operating system is based on the industrial-strength UNIX operating system. This makes for a very stable operating system without any crashes. If you want to try something other than Windows, the Mac Mini is a great option.

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Alcohol scholar. Bacon fan. Internetaholic. Beer geek. Thinker. Coffee advocate. Reader. Have a strong interest in consulting about teddy bears in Nigeria. Spent 2001-2004 promoting glue in Pensacola, FL. My current pet project is testing the market for salsa in Las Vegas, NV. In 2008 I was getting to know birdhouses worldwide. Spent 2002-2008 buying and selling easy-bake-ovens in Bethesda, MD. Spent 2002-2009 marketing country music in the financial sector.