Mark,

It gets even more complicated. Just because you might be able to find
FreeBSD for both the Apple Mini and a PC, they are going to be physically
different operating systems since one will have to be compiled for the MAC
processor and platform, and the other for the PC since the machine code is
not compatible. This also means that any applications would also have to be
different versions, one compiled for FreeBSD on Apple and one compiled for
PC.

For free software, this may not be a big deal, assuming the little
differences and nuances between compiling on different platforms are written
into the source code. If the author does not have resources to compile and
test on both, there is no guarantee it will work the same, or at all on both
platforms. Commercial software gets a little murkier. I have run across
commercial software that consider the same product to be different licenses
for one platform vs. another, so say if you purchase a spreadsheet program
for PC, you may have to purchase again for Apple. They don't give you credit
even if you are only using it at one time on any given computer.

Russ Poffenberger
[log in to unmask] 

-----Original Message-----
Nope, a Windows machine is designed different then a Apple machine. You will
never be able to install XP or any version of Windows directly on it. While
some hardware components might be PC/MAC compliment, ... in the case of the
mini, things like keyboard, mouse and digital monitor are interchangeable
with a PC, the hardware, at a fundamental level, is different and is
designed to be used with the Apple operating system.

However, I understand that mini uses a Apple OS that is based on FreeBSD
http://www.freebsd.org/ , which is a flavor of Unix, and you can install
FreeBSD on a mini. But I wouldn't try something like this unless you are a
Apple and UNIX expert.... and you make a good image backup!

Rode
The NOSPIN Group
http://www.freepctech.com/rode/


>I have been looking at the new Mac mini as my next computer.  Up to 
>this point I have only used PCs and I am wondering what if anything is 
>physically different between the Mac and  a PC.  Is it only OS software 
>or is the processor also different?  I guess my concern is that if I 
>didn't like the new Mac could I simply re-install windows XP on the Mac 
>mini?

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