Macintosh - Mac Mini aficionados please help

I just want to comment on Apple's customer service. I bought my first Mac in 1995, which is still very useful. My son uses it. We also have an iMac for my son and my wife has an iBook, and I now use a dual chip tower which is about 3 years old. With all of these computers we never once had to call Apple for help. The computers are built really well and are simple to use and fix. The old pre OS X operating system was very simple to troubleshoot and the current OS X system has been totally trouble free and crash proof.
I use Windows at work which I also like but we need to have MIS specialists take care of them to keep them running Virus's and adware are a big problem with them.
Bob

Bob,

You never had to call customer service so how can you comment on them?

BTW - I said customer service not technical support.
I know this is going to sound wrong, but....

Dean,

The mini is running fine. I purchased SAMS Teach Yourself OS X Panther and I'm about half way through it. Going from WinXP to Panther is not a big jump.

The problem is that I ordered some software from Apple. They shipped it in an unpadded envelop via UPS. Of course, when it arrived it has been mutilated. So, I called customer service to get an RMA and a replacement. Well, it took seven calls and about three hours on the phone to be told that Apple is not responsible to shippping damage and to file a claim with UPS. Anybody here knows that the Shipper has to file the claim with the shipping company. So, I faxed a nasty letter to Steve Jobs secretary (the power of search engines). About 6pm lastnight, Apple called me back and agreed to take back the damaged products. And, they did email me shipping labels for Fedex. So, the software is sitting by the front door as I type waiting to be picked up. You would think that returns would be a lot easier than this.

I spoke to one Customer Service Supervisor that told me "Apple makes superior products so we don't need good customer service." GM has this attitude. Ask them about their $1 billion loss last quarter.

Anyway, I'm excited because Tiger just arrived. I'm thinking about upping the memory in the mini to 1GB. 512MB enough but I've read that you can expect about a 10% performance increase with 1GB. I'm also considering picking up an Apple Cinema display in the near future.

Finally, for those who keep saying the Windows has a lot of spyware, adware, mallware and virus problems let me say this:

My windows pc is on for days at a time. Yet, I have no problems with spyware, adware, mallware and never have I caught a virus. Surfing the net is like dating. If you go out with the easy girls (strange software/websites) your going to catch something, but if you date the good girls (safe websites/known software) your going to be a lot safer. I don't do click through agreements, I don't click on strange ads, I don't let any site install something on my machine unless I'm 100% familiar with the software, I don't open attachments unless I know who they're from and what they are about, and all spam goes right to the junk folder before it can even opens up.

Prpixel,

Does the Mini-Me-Mac have a powerful enough video card to run a Cinema Display. Just wondering aloud. I know my CUbe doesn't, but then again that's a four year old G4 based machine.

If you ever need Apple tech support in the future, here's a heads up. Their tech support staff is the typical tiered-based system where you get the dumbshit with a step-by-step fix-it manual sitting in front of them, then youget passed on to someone more experienced if everything they tell you fails.

When I was at Sony, we found that the tech guys we dealt with at MacWarehouse which is an Apple mail order retailer really knew their stuff. Sometimes you'd have to go "root" and get into the Unix underpinnings but they always seemed to have a intuitive feel for what we were experienceing on the other side of the country.

If you own any or plan on purchasing any Adobe products, their tech support isn't much better than Apple's. It's a good thing I haven't had to call tech support in years.

I wish everyone's customer service and tech support was as good as what I've experienced with Earthlink.

Yes! - Mac mini will drive the 20 & 23 inch cinema displays...and many others...

http://www.apple.com/macmini/graphics.html

Your criticism of Apple's tech support has no grounds today...quote: Gunbei - "It's a good thing I haven't had to call tech support in years."

Times change - Go Visit the Genius Bar at an Apple store...amazing.

Dean,

Microsoft has a great deal for tech support; $35.00 to solve your problem or your money back. Of course, this is after your 90 day free support expires. There were some times when I had winME (big mistake) that I would be on the phone with them for ever.

Another thing that MS has is a huge knowledge base. I had a friend that had a problem with his HP printer and WinXP a few weeks ago. I was able to search the knowledge base and find out how to get control of wireless network setup back from the HP driver. Within an hour I had his new HP all-in-one printing and scanning over his network and the wireless running better than before. I don't know if Apple has anything comparable; I have not had time to snoop around the Apple support pages.

Cupmit,

Can you send me the URL for the Apple Genius Bar?

Thanks,