Using a Mac

My friend Bill McGregor brought his Mac Mini in this morning so I could tinker with it.  In fact, I’m using it right now to post this entry!

So far, for a “limited resource” computer by PC standards, it seems to be doing fine.  Fairly snappy, even with several applications up and running.

I’m really a bit curious about the thing “under the hood” and being able to manipulate it in the same manner as I would a PC.  I would like to be able to image the hard drive, reload it, add applications, make it do things like rip DVDs, utilize FTP, browse newsgroups, edit video and audio, figure out its quirks and learn the “Apple Way”.

I feel like I’ve been handed a my first windows machine all over again.  Yeah, I can make it do things like browse the web, listen to music, read e-mails, etc.  But ANY computer can do that.  I want to take it to the next level – I want to be able to “hack” on the thing and see if I can make it do things out of the ordinary.

• Can I set it up as a Web Server?  With the BSD underneath, one would think so.
• Can I make it serve files to my Windows PCs?  Again with BSD and Samba, one would think so.
• Can I make it run SETI@Home/Folding@Home?
• Can I play “real” games on it?  Like Call of Duty, Halo, PWI, etc.?
• Can I access my network from home with it?

At any rate, I know that all of these things should be possible, but I want to make them happen and learn how to control the system, not work inside the “Apple Box” so to speak.

Will report back later.