My Affinity for Diminutive Computers

My first PC, oh so many years ago, was the much maligned (unfairly, in my opinion) PCjr. (see http://www.micro-zone.com/index.html ) The PCjr was IBM’s first ill-fated attempt at a consumer market PC, and essentially a “mini” version of the more full-featured original IBM PC.

Now, having been an IBM/Microsoft DOS/Windows user for a couple decades now, I find myself actually craving, of all things, a Mac! And, as you may expect, the Mac that has triggered this full-on techno-lust is the new Mac mini. (see http://www.macworld.com/hot_topics/macmini/index.php or http://www.apple.com/macmini/ )

I have dabbled in Macs several times over the years. I had one or two roommates who had Macs in the ‘80s and ‘90s. My employer in the late-‘80s even had a few Macs around amidst a sea of PCs and CDC mainframe terminals. And a good friend and roommate now is a big Mac fan.

What now has me looking to the Mac mini with such great interest? Well, it is probably two things. First, I have become increasingly frustrated with the headaches of operating and maintaining Windows-based PCs. The continual slew of inexplicable Explorer crashes, mysterious hardware driver problems, and the ever-growing necessity to update software with patches and keep ahead of the tidal wave of viruses, spyware and malware has reached a point where I have begun to consider jumping off the Windows ship. Add to that the fact that I am the de facto PC guru for many family members and friends – it is nearly impossible to troubleshoot a Windows PC over the phone these days.

Don’t get me wrong, all things considered Windows XP is a big improvement over Windows 95/98/ME as far as stability is concerned. My Windows XP machines don’t crash nearly as much as my older Win9x machines did. And I realize that a major part of the virus and malware problem on Windows is simply due to it being the runaway biggest target for such “attacks.” But the end result is that it is getting to be a chore, and even worse, a worry, to keep a Windows system clean and running smoothly.

And the second reason I want a Mac mini: it is small, ever so small! At 6.5” x 6.5” x 2”, the mini is well… truly mini. Heck, you could tote it around in purse (not that I carry one of those) or a lunch box. This brings us back to that affinity I seem to have for small PCs. And the fact that it doesn’t cost the arm and a leg that Macs have seemed to cost in the past makes it even more appealing.

I will probably still keep a Windows PC in my world (because, hey, let’s face it, Macs just aren’t the best for gaming) – old habits die hard. But I can see a Mac (mini) in my future. Definitely.