Apple announced new products Tuesday. I believe that you should consider one of these — the Mac mini — when you're ready to purchase your next computer.

Here's why:

The Mac mini is small. It's inexpensive. It sports modest technology, but ships with a good selection of consumer software. And more can be downloaded for free. Best of all: this computer is presently free from the scourge of viruses, adware, spyware, and popup ads.

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"We've got computer problems," Jeff told me when I got to work this morning.

I panicked. "What do you mean?"

"Not here at work," he said. "At home. I signed up for DSL so that Nick would be willing to watch our dogs when we're out of town. Last night I went to hook it up and found that my computer was infested with spyware. I tried to remove most of it, but when I did, the thing locked up. It won't even boot now. It tries to, but then Windows 98 gives me some stupid error."

"Ugh," I thought. "Windows 98."

(Seriously, folks: Windows 98 is antiquated. It's an unstable, insecure operating system. If your computer is running Windows 98, you need to upgrade your operating system, or your computer, or both.)

"You know," I said to Jeff, my voice trailing off — I was unsure I wanted to say what I was about to say. "You know, Apple just released a new cheap Macintosh. Macs don't have problems with spyware yet."

There. I'd said it. After two years of resisting, plunged back into pool of Mac zealotry.

The water's fine, thank you very much.

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I used to be a Mac zealot. In the mid-nineties, I extolled the virtues of Apple computers at every opportunity. My efforts were for naught, I fear; I never convinced a single person to buy a Mac.

Eventually, I left the world of Macintosh and bought a PC. I was a PC user for five years before I wandered back to Apple. I've gradually rid myself of PCs so that now I am a Mac-only man once again.

I've resisted the urge to resume the role of Mac zealot, though. Nobody likes a zealot. What's more, I believe that, in general, it doesn't matter which computer platform you use. You can get things done with a Mac, with a Linux-based PC, or with a Windows-based PC. The key is to use what works best for you.

For today only, I'm going to remove all restraint and enter full zealotry mode.

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Over the past year, I've watched as my friends, family, and customers have become increasingly frustrated with their PCs. The spectre of adware and spyware haunts Windows-based machines. Popup ads are everywhere. Viruses attack without warning, and attack hard. (See my Rough Guide to Removing Spyware.) Day-to-day tasks are more challenging than they need to be for the average user: setting up a new printer or adding an internet connection or burning a CD are all non-obvious tasks. (By non-obvious, I mean they do not pass the "Mom test" — could a majority of middle-aged women — or men — accomplish a specific task without help?)

The Macintosh operating system is not subject to adware or spyware. Popup ads are nonexistent. There are no Mac viruses. Day-to-day tasks are generally fairly obvious and easy to complete. (Note that many people, including myself, believe that the lack of spyware, etc. on Macs is largely due to the fact that so few people use the platform. If huge waves of people moved to Mac, problems would likely follow. For now, though, Mac users lead charmed lives.)

I'm not claiming that Macs are perfect. Far from it. They're painfully slow when working with large quantities of files. It takes forever to burn a CD (about four times as long as on a PC with similar equipment). Sometimes the designers have been too clever by half, going so far as to hide features for the sake of a sleek interface. Default models still ship with half as much RAM as is practical. But overall these quibbles are minor.

Using the Macintosh operating system may not be a joy, but it's pleasant. It's never a chore. In comparison, using Windows is often tedious. And when it's broken — from viruses or spyware or just plain malfunctioning software — using Windows is downright frustrating. ("I broke my keyboard last night," Jeff told me today. "I hit the damn thing, I was so angry.")

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I recently placed a computer order for a client. We ordered two Dell desktops at $611 each. Each of these machines had the following specs:

2.4ghz Celeron processor
256mb RAM
40gb hard drive
CD-burner
Microsoft Office Basic
Mouse and keyboard
No monitor

How does this compare to the new Mac mini? For $499 one could order a Mac mini with the following specs:

1.25ghz g4 (roughly equivelant to a 1.8ghz Celeron)
256mb RAM
40gb hard drive
CD-burner/DVD combo drive
Appleworks & iLife
No mouse or keyboard
No monitor

The two primary differences between these machines — other than the presence of a mouse and keyboard — are processor speed and software package. I cannot speak as to the perceived speed difference between the two processors. I believe the Dell would seem faster, but not by much. The Dell also includes Microsoft Office Basic (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), while the Mac does not. However, the Mac includes AppleWorks — a basic productivity suite with Microsoft-compatible word processor, spreadsheet, etc. — and iLife, a suite of programs designed for home use. These programs include iTunes (for managing your music library), iPhoto (for managing your digital photos), and iMovie (for editing film from your camcorder).

The Mac has a definite advantage when it comes to two applications that the typical user needs most: web browser and e-mail. The default Apple Mail application is a sleek e-mail client that is easier to use then Microsoft Outlook Express, and that includes a brilliant search feature. And Safari, Apple's web browser, is in a completely different class than Microsoft's aging behemoth, Internet Explorer. Safari is fast, secure, and easy to use. Its features tabbed browsing, built-in google search, and automatic popup blocking.

With the $112 you might save by buying the Mac mini instead of the Dell, you could purchase a mouse and keyboard (if you don't have one from your old computer), purchase more RAM or a bigger hard drive, or, better yet, pay $8 or $10 or $12 each for several little Mac programs that make life easier. (More on these next week, perhaps.)

I would nearly always recommend a Mac over a Windows-based machine for the average user. There are a few cases for which a Macintosh may not be right for you:

1. Your business depends upon a specialized application that is PC only.
2. You are an avid gameplayer who must have the latest games and the best hardware.
3. You're a tinkerer: you like to fiddle with your computer, and to upgrade it, and to mess with Linux, etc.

In these cases, stick with a PC. In all other instances, you ought to consider a Macintosh.

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Jeff and I are going to take a closer look at the Mac mini. Apple has a nice subsite devoted to the machine, and we're hoping it will answer some questions. Questions like: with only two USB ports, how does Jeff hook up a printer? Is it possible to purchase a parallel-to-USB converter so that Jeff can use his old printer? Will the Mac mini work with any USB keyboard?

At this point, though, it seems likely that my Mac zealotry will yield its first fruit, that my brother will join the cult.

On this day at foldedspace.org

2004 — The Decemberists   While browsing various year-end best lists, I kept finding an album called Her Majesty The Decemberists by The Decemberists. A search of the iTunes Music Store yielded said album, and a casual listen of the sample clips was promising, so I downloaded it. But I didn't listen to it. Last night as I set up my new G5, I chose to listen to the Decemberists on a whim. My god! Here is music so perfect it made me cry.

2003 — Forgotten English   For a few months, the Mirons were saving their Forgotten English pages for me. At some point I decided to write a short story using these words (in chronological order based on the date each appeared in the calendar). I didn't get far.

2002 — My web sites are back!   My web sites are back! My web sites are back!

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