I’ve finally succeeded in winning my wife over to the “white side”. After “sunsetting my service agreement” for her PC (i.e.: “I fix this thing one last time, then you’re on your own!”), the accumulated weight of problems for her laptop convinced her that it might be a good idea to switch. Her computer lasted about two months without tech support, and then she spent another 4 months on my PowerBook before she gave in, but we’re completely switched now.
And since I can never resist making a point, I let her install her new Mac Mini
The experience was even more painless than expected. Step one: Marvel at the packaging for some time. Even that is truly well done. (Did you know even the styrofoam shock insulation has slightly rounded edges?). Step one-and-a-half: While unpacking everything, we discover that Apple has thoughtfully packed batteries with the wireless keyboard and mouse. Thank you for realizing that you usually unpack items when you don’t want to go to the store any more, Apple!
Step two: Setup peripherals. Which means, put batteries in keyboard and mouse. The keyboard battery compartment has one of those interesting locks that looks like a screw and can be opened with a penny - so the only complaint is that it doesn’t ship with a penny.
Step three: Setting up the Mac Mini. That consists of plugging in power supply and monitor. Again, the monitors DVI/VGA converter is extremely well done. The screws that are supposed to hold it in place are not the usual ones. They’re not protruding from the back, they don’t go loose, and they can be turned easily. All integrated into one nice white converter plug. No sharp edges.
Step four: Setting up the computer. That involves, well, booting it and answering a couple of questions. It automatically finds the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It discovers all wireless networks available and asks which one you’d like to join. It takes down your address for the registration and has the courtesy to also place it in the address book application. It then goes and offers to download all the updates that happened since you bought the machine.
Overall duration from opening the first box: fifteen minutes. That’s it. (Well, twenty including downloads.) It’s the first computer my wife felt able and willing to set up on her own. Plus, I got my PowerBook back!
Day Two, of course, brings her onset of buyers remorse. Not because the computer doesn’t work, but because of the money spent. Luckily (for her - certainly not for me!), I have to revive the Windows laptop to test a problem that the ChallengeMap has with Internet Explorer. After 90 minutes of just getting the wireless to work again, I give up and plug it into my PowerBooks ethernet port instead. Setting up the PowerBook to share the Internet Connection: Two minutes. That certainly cured all remorse - I’m not pleasant to be around when a computer refuses me 
Moral of the Story: What makes Apple good is the attention to detail. I can only dream of Windows auto-discovering wireless networks. Moral #2 - I feel the same relief when I go from a Linux box to a Windows box. Linux on the desktop is in the distant future.
Something’s wrong with the map again. Nothing’s showing up in Firefox
Sigh. Fixed, though.
Yey! I love how there’s a tag in the middle of the ocean
(Hawaii)