Test Drive a Mac Mini for 30 Days

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?family=testdrive' target='_blank'>http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?family=testdrive</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/sd_testdrive_banner.gif" /><br /><br />Apple is offering a special thirty-day money back guarantee on its popular Mac Mini system, allowing anyone to "test drive" a Mac...worry free. If you don't like the Mini, you can return it at the end of the 30 day trial period for a full refund. How about that?<br /><br />This is another smart move by Apple. As cheap as the Mini is, there are still those who fear the unknown. Many PC users I speak with that are Mac curious always voice the same concern..."What if I don't like it?" This should resolve one more hurdle. Of course, once the new Intel-Macs start arriving, the entire Mac vs. Windows argument will be gone forever, as those systems will be able to dual boot both operating systems.

[mcsouth]

Of course, once the new Intel-Macs start arriving, the entire Mac vs. Windows argument will be gone forever, as those systems will be able to dual boot both operating systems.

Uhhh, where is the proof of this? I've seen several postings elsewhere of people who have gotten the proto Mac OS to boot on Intel hardware, but I'm not sure that I've seen anything from Apple to indicate that they would support dual booting by either:
A. Allowing Windows to be installed on an Apple "Intel Inside" PC, or
B. Offering the Mac OS for sale without a PC.

Dual boot capability between Mac OS and Windows would definitely be a cool thing, but I'm not sure that Apple is interested in supporting dual boot on their hardware, or in selling the OS only. I certainly haven't seen any statement from them indicating support for this concept - most people seem to think that Apple will be looking to "hardware-restrict" their OS in order to prevent it from being "hacked" and loaded on other vendor's PCs.

[Macguy59]

As it stands right now Apple will try to prevent Intel-OS X from running on anything other then Apple hardware. However, Apple execs have stated that they would not prevent Windows from being installed on an Intel based Mac.