Anyone Running Windows On a Mac Mini?

[chris]

I need to run PC software and was considering a cheap PC. I'm also considering the Mac mini if the performance is comparable. Anyone running Windows on their Mac mini? If so, what OS (XP,Vista) and how would you rate the performance. I'm using Virtual PC right now and it's abysmal.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[joe]

I need to run PC software and was considering a cheap PC. I'm also considering the Mac mini if the performance is comparable. Anyone running Windows on their Mac mini? If so, what OS (XP,Vista) and how would you rate the performance. I'm using Virtual PC right now and it's abysmal.

I'm running Windows XP in Parallels on a first rev MacBook. I have 2G of memory. It runs really well for what I need (web development testing) but it does take a lot of resources. I end up with a ton of open apps and need to quit some of them from time to time to reset memory.

I definitely recommend adding Parallels to an Intel-based Mac if you have a couple Windoze apps to run here and there.

 

[chris]

I'm running Windows XP in Parallels on a first rev MacBook. I have 2G of memory. It runs really well for what I need (web development testing) but it does take a lot of resources. I end up with a ton of open apps and need to quit some of them from time to time to reset memory.

I definitely recommend adding Parallels to an Intel-based Mac if you have a couple Windoze apps to run here and there.

Thanks Joe! I ended up going with a cheap PC or so I thought. Got a cheapie DELL, but it ended up costing me almost as much as a Mini in the end. I was figuring Mini + Parallels + Windows XP. When I got my doorstop (I mean DELL), it had nothing but a VGA connection. First upgrade, video card. Then I realize it has no internal speaker. Next upgrade, speakers. When I bought the box, I had to upgrade Windows, since the shipping version lacks a number of features. Came with nothing more than a DVD ROM, add a DVD/CD burner.

The whole process was confusing. DELL takes you through what feels like 50 steps in choosing components.

It really makes you appreciate the whole Mac buying process. Mac's always get a bad rap for being more expensive, but they are properly outfitted.

My other option was to get a new PowerMac, but I could hardy justify considering I just upgraded to a G5 before the move to Intel processors.

-Chris

 

[joe]

Thanks Joe! I ended up going with a cheap PC or so I thought. Got a cheapie DELL, but it ended up costing me almost as much as a Mini in the end. I was figuring Mini + Parallels + Windows XP. When I got my doorstop (I mean DELL), it had nothing but a VGA connection. First upgrade, video card. Then I realize it has no internal speaker. Next upgrade, speakers. When I bought the box, I had to upgrade Windows, since the shipping version lacks a number of features. Came with nothing more than a DVD ROM, add a DVD/CD burner.

The whole process was confusing. DELL takes you through what feels like 50 steps in choosing components.

It really makes you appreciate the whole Mac buying process. Mac's always get a bad rap for being more expensive, but they are properly outfitted.

My other option was to get a new PowerMac, but I could hardy justify considering I just upgraded to a G5 before the move to Intel processors.

Ouch! Sometimes it's all about timing. The "more expensive" thing just doesn't fly anymore; hasn't for a long time. Besides the better hardware, they include some of the best software that you'd have to pay $$ for on a Windows system. A friend who is trying to get into basic movie editing is finding this out the hard way. He doesn't like it when I say he shoulda got a Mac.

 

[Spin This!]

Thanks Joe! I ended up going with a cheap PC or so I thought. Got a cheapie DELL, but it ended up costing me almost as much as a Mini in the end.

It's a grey area legally but a lot of Dells use comparable hardware that would run mac os x with little or no tinkering. Check out the mac os x 86 project...

 

[joe]

It's a grey area legally but a lot of Dells use comparable hardware that would run mac os x with little or no tinkering. Check out the mac os x 86 project...

I don't think it's quite that simple.

 

[Spin This!]

Depends on your definition of "simple."

It's a crapshoot really, depending on your hardware. I've done it on a couple machines just for "fun" but I wouldn't use a hacked version of Mac OS X on a daily basis. IMO it's a lot easier (and roughly about the same cost really when you factor everything Apple includes) to get it right from Apple.

 

[joe]

Depends on your definition of "simple."

It's a crapshoot really, depending on your hardware. I've done it on a couple machines just for "fun" but I wouldn't use a hacked version of Mac OS X on a daily basis. IMO it's a lot easier (and roughly about the same cost really when you factor everything Apple includes) to get it right from Apple.

Exactly! When you compare TOC, real features, quality, OS, software, and other intangibles, I don't see a price difference. Apple is arguably cheaper in the end. While you can find cheaper products, that's just not the market Apple is trying to compete in.