After more than a decade of evangelising Apple’s computers and wishing I had one, I went ahead and got myself a shiny new Mac mini.

I resisted from posting on the blog earlier, simply because I wanted to experience it for a while and really see if it would be worth all the hype that surrounds it.  I have no regrets in reporting that it really is.

Apple’s website offers some interesting reasons for why you should get yourself a Mac:

• It’s gorgeous. Inside and out.
• Secure. Powerful. Compatible. Right out of the box.
• The world’s most advanced operating system. And then some.
• It’s a pleasure to buy and own.

Yes, it does offer a stable, virus-free operating system that’s easy to work with.  Yes, Apple’s products are designed with such attention to detail that even the packaging is an art form.  But for me personally, it’s that last factor – a pleasure to buy and own – that really sums it up.  (And yes, even the buying experience was unlike any thing I’d seen in the PC world!)

My choice was to go with a Mac mini and an original Apple keyboard, and hook it up to a standard mouse and a 20 inch Samsung widescreen LCD display.  I also choose to get the OS upgraded to Snow Leopard and have Office for Mac installed on it, before bringing the beauty home.  Oh yes, and I added Altec Lansing 2.1 sound, since the Mini’s built-in sound is quite limiting.

Google it and you’ll find tons of reviews on what it means to switch to a Mac.  Some may complain about the subtle differences (between PCs and Macs) that take some getting used to, while others may point out specialised needs in their line of work (e.g. Blackberry synchronization with Exchange servers) that prevent them from switching over completely.  There are a few things that work differently in a Mac, but the difference is akin to British English and American English, not Swahili.  There are a few “office-related” considerations like extensively sharing resources on a Windows network that will invite a few inconveniences, but that’s a non-issue for home users.  (Read this for an objective view of what it’s really like to move)

To be perfectly honest, when I first started researching it, I couldn’t easily get all the dope on the list of LCD displays that would be “compatible with Mac” (not an issue if you buy the MacBook or iMac) or whether or not my Reliance (India) broadband connection would work on it.  But, when it came down to it, every single piece of hardware just worked as soon as it was plugged in, and all the software I regularly used had Mac versions that were easily available. 

Now, having made the switch over a week ago, my main complaints are as follows:

1. I cannot believe how good the Apple keyboard feels!  Why can’t all keyboards be that nice?
2. How can “uninstall” just involve dragging the file to the Trash can?  Really?
3. Why can’t all image viewing / slideshow software on Earth work as well as iPhoto does?

You get the picture… The reality is that for over 90% of home users, there really is no reason why a Mac wouldn’t be a better choice.  In fact, almost all of those folks who once switched to a Mac, have never returned to their PCs.

As the old saying goes, “Once you go Mac, you never go back!”

Read More:
Switching 101 (Apple) | Mac User Types | How to Switch | My First Mac