The thought (of a Mac Mini) did cross my mind, but how much does it come to when you add in the keyboard, mouse and monitor? Aside from that, I have a couple of peripherals I would like to use, including the Wacom tablet, and I'm not sure a Mac would like them. I also don't know if the Wacom bundle included Mac versions of the software... I'm thinking it doesn't. So probably I'm stuck in PC land for now.

quote:

Originally posted by Bravus:
Alternatively, if it has a free AGP or PCI-E slot you could just buy a cheap vid card and go 'off-board' for graphics - even simpler than switching mobos.

There are two problems with that:

1) The default connector for the monitor I have is a funky one I've seen nowhere else labeled "Digital+". If the new video card has composite out I can cable that over, but the picture quality might not be so great.

2) I don't know how/if I can disable the on-the-board video card so that the new video card will take over.

disabling the onboard video card isn't too tough. i've bumbled my way around it before. if you have time or the number of a trusty friend with skills, it should be okay.

i wish you luck colin.

and yes, i can disable onboard video, but i can't locate my touch-pad options. its still a mess.

quote:

So probably I'm stuck in PC land for now.

Too old for, Bootcamp...

well, i suggested the macmini cause you have one defunct computer, I assume it has keyboard, monitor and mouse which are no longer being used....

the wacom tablet (assuming it is USB) will probably just work once plugged into the mac. wacom knows a huge number of customers are mac based and so there are extensive drivers for macs for all the wacom products.... your discs should have mac versions as well of whatever addon software the tablet came with....

The keyboard has a PS/2 connector (at least, I think that's what the round ones are called), and the monitor has a number of inputs, but I thought Macs used a different type from the ordinary VGA of the PC world (even to do that I would need a cable for the old monitor).

The wacom would probably work though. It's something I might look into (not the least for the entertainment of trying out a Mac).

Wacom should work--you can look up drivers vs models on their site. You may be able to get a PS/2 to USB adapter for the kbd, but only if you're really attached to it. Otherwise, any USB kbd/mouse will work. FFS, do not get one of the lame-ass "Mighty Mouse" mice from Apple! Buy a $20 Intellimouse Optical 5-button instead. Also, I recently bought a MacAlly "IceKey" kbd with scissor-key mechanicals and it rocks! (Helps that I found it for $25 on clearance.)

Apple includes a VGA adapter in the box with Mac Minis, IIRC. My mom is using the one I bought her with an absolutely ancient 13" monitor, so I believe that is the case. (And yes, buying her a new monitor is on my list of things to do this year.)

The mouse I have is USB, so that should be OK (I think). I would need to get a replacement keyboard, but I guess that wouldn't be a big deal... Wait a sec, how do those funny Mac keys (command and option and all that) map to a PC keyboard?

The included VGA adapter is an interesting bit of info.

Here's one funny thing. My monitor has a bunch of different inputs: Digital+ (the funky one), s-video, composite video, and also a TV tuner card(!), but I'm not sure if it has VGA! The monitor and the PC were separate components, but sold as a single system and with some tightly integrated features.

you should be able to get a DVI to composite video connector if necessary.... any replacement computer will probably need something similar if your monitor has no VGA input....

the keyboard panel in the systems preferences allows you to map keys... you can set the windows button on a PC keyboard to act as the apple button....

i have a simple 3 button optical mouse i use or my old Powerbook, OSX will be much easier to deal with if you have a 21st century mouse and not that stupid one button Apple shit.....

the wacom tablet probably came with a 5 button mouse, it works fine as well....

Apple DVI to Video Adapter

Apple kbds are pretty good really. At $30-ish, they're not a bad deal. The major downside, imho, is that every little fleck of dirt or hair that falls on their crystal clear/white plastic surfaces shows up as clearly as a zit on the face of supermodel. If you are a neat-freak, this may bother you...

At any rate, it may be worth wondering into a local Apple store and fiddling with one. The Mac Minis are definitely the slow kids in the crowd--5400 rpm HDs and 1gb RAM, are default I think. Best to try before you buy, imho.

my partner's knocking up a website for another mate, and asked me to ask whether anyone can recommend a basic ecommerce template, really all it needs to be is an order form, no need for credit card stuff or too much security.

and he always says please and thank you even if i don't remember to pass it on!

thanks.

Possibles...
FREE
http://www.zen-cart.com/
http://oscommerce.com/

CHEAP
http://www.cubecart.com/site/home/

I haven't used any of them.

I built one for someone, Joined him to PayPal, built a dedicated page and linked PayPal into it. Paypal do a shopping basket kind of application. It's quite easy, but then I was only selling a few products.

See an example here.

sorry, gil, i'd forgotten i'd left a question hanging there.

thanks so much for the help and info!

Okay, geeks and geekettes, talk to me about installing more RAM in my computer. What do I need to know? I've changed out my own hard-drive, so I think I'm up to ramming the RAM. I just don't know where to start.

A little more information would add context to conjecture.

However, if you have the correct parts its easy.

Look at the old RAM 'sticks'. Flip back 'the ears' on the empty slots. Insert the notched sticks. (They'll only fit one way.) Flip the ears back. You're done.

Depending on how much RAM you're adding, sometimes its prudent to remove the old RAM and only boot with the new to 'check it out'. You can add the old stick(s) back in later.

My usual upgrade method involves handing my computer to an IT buddy and saying, "Make this better".

Failing that, try this site. I've only used it for laptops, not desktops . . . but the scanner worked OK for mine. It should be able to scan your comp and tell you what kind of memory to get.

Before all that, I need to figure out what to buy. I was looking at my recent Staples ad, and there were a gazillion different acronyms. I remember how particular my hard-drive was, so I'm imagining the RAM is the same way.

How do I figure out what I need to buy?

quote:

Originally posted by Tongster:
Failing that, try this site. I've only used it for laptops, not desktops . . . but the scanner worked OK for mine. It should be able to scan your comp and tell you what kind of memory to get.

Danke, Mr BrainWorms.

Mmmmm . . . brains . . . .

This is what Crucial hath informed me of :

# Maximum Memory Capacity: 3145728 MB
# Currently Installed Memory: 512 MB
# Available Memory Slots: 1
# Number of Banks: 2


Now what do I do?