Office Alternative?

Dan Cameron

The Mac mini is a tiny computer, that doesn't require much desk space. Basically a little silver box with a slot-loading CD/DVD drive in front, the mini packs a 1.25 or 1.42GHz G4 processor. While the G4 is not as fast as the more modern G5, it is still a competent processor. Indeed, this page you are reading was assembled on a G4.

The Mac mini comes with either a 40 or 80 gigabyte hard drive and can be connected to standard VGA and DVI video monitors. Any expansion would need to be external, connected via the included USB or Firewire ports.

The cost for the Mac mini starts at a low $499. This price doesn't include a mouse or keyboard (although even a PC compatible USB mouse or keyboard will work). Unfortunately, this lower-end model is only equipped with 256 megabytes of RAM. Upgrading to 512 megabytes is highly recommended.

An extended three-year warranty is available for $150. With these upgrades, the cost is close to $800. Add Microsoft Office software for $400 and your total cost approaches $1,200.

In comparison, a similarly configured, low-end Dell OptiPlex business computer is about $100 less.

One additional cost you probably won't need to incur for the Mac is for antivirus software and spyware removal. Aside from a few known Trojan horses, Mac OS X is considered to be virus free.

Now that we have established cost parity between the platforms, we can ask how well the Mac will integrate into the office environment. The answer will vary depending on the needs of your office. If you are reliant on running specific Windows-only applications, Mac OS X is likely to be inappropriate. While many Windows applications can be run via Virtual PC on the Mac, this is not a realistic option for primary-use programs.

If your office needs center around Microsoft Office, the Mac will work pretty well. Office 2004 for Mac OS X offers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage (an email program used in place of Outlook).

Unfortunately, the Entourage email client does not support Microsoft's MAPI protocol for using the groupware features of Microsoft Exchange Server. This means that meeting invitations and employee free/busy schedules are not viewable.

Mac OS X is a relatively easy-to-administer operating system. The lack of spyware and viruses make it a great choice for companies that lack dedicated IT staff to maintain their computers. Ultimately, application compatibility will determine the feasibility of a switch.