Chapter 9. Applications for the Mac mini

As you start to use the Mac mini, you may find that it comes with all the software you need: from an easy-to-use e-mail application and instant-messaging software to video-editing and DVD-creation tools and more. And if you need or just miss Microsoft Office, you'll find that the suite runs just fine on Mac OS X, too.

As you read this chapter, you will learn:

• About the great software that Apple includes with your Mac mini.

• How Microsoft Office on the Mac compares to the Windows version.

• About the .Mac service and whether you need it.

• About using your Mac mini to create a home media center.

Your Mac mini comes with an excellent collection of softwarein fact, you may never need or want to buy anything else. In this chapter I discuss this free software, along with other software you may want to invest in. I will also use this chapter to answer some common questions about Mac applications.

At the end of this chapter, you'll learn how you can use the Mac mini as a media center for home entertainment.