Which is better: Mac mini or an ordinary CPU?

It’s a steal for just for Rs 37,000. An Intel Core2Duo processor, 1 GB or 2 GB RAM, 80 GB or 120 GB hard disk. No extra costs for the operating system, Wifi enabled. No extra wireless router needed, Bluetooth 2.0 included. Built-in speakers and free and legal software for every task. Height is 2 inches, width 6.5 inches and depth 6.5 inches. And it weighs just around 1.3 kg.

That’s Mac mini for you.

If you already own a monitor, keyboard and mouse it will cost you even less. You only need to upgrade your RAM to 2 GB or the processor to 2 GHz. And what’s more, you can run Windows, too, with Boot Camp.

So why would anybody want to upgrade to Vista or even buy a Windows PC? If you get your machine assembled, you are bound to be saddled with a pirated version of Windows and a trial version of an antivirus software. You will be running helter skelter for programs to watch your DVDs or play your audio. I guarantee you will be formatting your machine every three months because of virus problems.

The Mac mini comes with state-of-the-art OS X Leopard, which includes Safari. You can even run Microsoft Office 2004. The remote that comes with your Mac mini can be used for Front Row to play movies, listen to songs or watch a slideshow of your pictures. You can even catch the latest Hollywood trailers.

How to move to a Mac from Windows

First, let me assure you all your Windows files will work on your Mac. When you buy a Mac you get extraordinary support. You walk into an Apple shop with your old PC and come out with a brand new Mac with all your data intact.

If you own an iPod or a removable hard disk you can use it to transfer all your files to your Mac. Just follow these steps.

• Enable disk use on your iPod. Open iTunes in Windows and delete everything from your iPod when it appears in the source list after you connect it.

• Open Windows Explorer and copy all your files onto your iPod. You may have to do this several times depending on the capacity of your iPod which varies from 1 GB to 80 GB. Here are the files you will need to copy. Your iTunes library which resides in My Documents/My Music. Just drag the iTunes folder to the iPod.

• Microsoft Office documents, photos, movies and other files, too, have to be copied into your iPod.

• Export your Favourites in Internet Explorer. Open IE and choose Import and Export from the File menu. Now export them to your desktop and call it favourites.html. Now move this into your iPod. For Firefox do it through Manage Bookmarks under the Bookmarks menu.

Now you are ready to copy all you files to your Mac. Eject your iPod in Windows by using “Safely remove hardware”. Mac OS X keeps different kinds of files organised in different folders. You will notice that the Finder has folders called Documents, Movies, Music and Pictures. The Finder is similar to Windows Explorer.

To copy your files to the Mac

• Open iTunes on your Mac. From the File menu choose Add to Library. Navigate to the iTunes folder and select choose. iTunes will organise all your music automatically.

• For photos open iPhoto in the Mac. From the File menu select Add to Library. Click import after you navigate to your folder containing the photos.

Similarly, copy your documents, movies and other files to their respective folders on the Mac.

Now erase everything on your iPod and format it for use with a Mac. A dialog box will crop up asking you to do this. Next, sync your iPod with iTunes on your Mac. Now you are ready for an entirely new experience.

A word of advice. Buy your Mac from an Apple Authorised Premium reseller. You will find the list for your city at http://www.asia.apple.com/buy/locator/.

Send in your computer- related problems to askdoss@abpmail.com. The solutions will appear soon