You know, it IS possible to discuss the positives and negatives of various operating systems or hardware without it becoming a p*ssing match. Of course, I can't say I've seen it happen that often....
One comment I wanted to make was regarding using this Mac mini as a "media center" sort of unit. The main drawback I see in this use is the storage space. This tiny box uses a 2.5" (laptop size) hard drive, so the max capacity of the internal is 100GB right now I think (maybe 120GB now or soon?) and Apple will only sell up to 80GB anyway. Essentially infinite storage can be added by plugging in FireWire external boxes, but too much of that would destroy the advantage of the nice small box. You could still keep things pretty small if you keep it to one external HD.
Apart from the limitation of the internals, there really isn't anything it couldn't do in this regard, at least nothing that I can think of. It would take a lot of optional software and probably a couple of hardware dongly things to do all the media center-type stuff, but then it isn't billed out of the box as such a thing. I'm not entirely familiar with all the features that Microsoft's Media Center solution provides, but I'm pretty confident there isn't anything that can't be done in Mac capable software and hardware that would work with this box. Will it be done for less money? Don't know. More elegantly? Maybe sometimes, but it's really subjective from what I see around here. One person's "easier" is another's "clunky" it seems, and who am I to argue that they're "wrong"? The experience is in the eye of the beholder. Yes, some of it may be simple unfamiliarity, but that doesn't mean there is no valid criticism. This holds true from either side. Both are equally prone to standing on ridiculous bias.
BTW, the RAM on the mini is likely to be user upgradable, even though the official line is you shouldn't do it. When you open the unit, apparently the RAM is easy to get to, and this process won't void the warranty. The HD, however, is behind too many things, and this will be against the warranty.
Disclaimer: My bias is that I prefer Macs, and I have one as my desk computer at work in addition to the ones I have for personal use. I try not to jump on anyone for choosing or not choosing a given OS.
