[catlady13]

HI. I want to buy some kind of mac. I want to use it to video conference with a friend who already has a mac. So far this has not worked well between the two and yes we have tried many different programs. I am wondering if there is some way I can use my pc monitor with a mac and also if I can hook it up via a KVM switch so I can easily switch from one to the other as I do with my 4 pcs now. At the moment I am torn between buying some kind of mac laptop or some kind of tower or small tower. If I could get the monitor and kvm to work I would probably go with the tower because it is less expensive ( mac mini perhaps) but if not then I guess a laptop would be the way to go. Anyone have any advice or suggestions to what would work or not or if you have tried this I would really really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Linda

[VegasACF]

I won't try to dissuade you from purchasing a Mac. Once you go Mac you never go back. You can use any VGA monitor (or switching device) you wish with a Mac, so long as you have the right adaptor(s). I was doing this loooong ago in my tech support days, sharing a (MacOS 8.X) Mac with a Windows (95, if memory serves) machine. Just throw the switch and the correct video found its way to the monitor.

But, in the interim, have you tried Skype for your videoconferencing needs? That's what we use (Mac-based) to videoconference with our family (PC-based), and it works as well as one could hope, given the bandwidth requirements of such an undertaking.

[catlady13]

HI, yes we have tried Skype and when it works it is not too bad but a lot of times it doesn't work or we are both kicked off frequently. Sometimes we can get back on but often not. So any KVM switch will work? I imagine I will have to use a mac keyboard and mouse but I have a 4 port kvm switch now so that would be good news. My friend unfortunately is not really overly pc literate and now he is not overly mac literate either. At least if I learn OSwhatever , I figure I can then help him through anything he may need help with. I figure if I could teach my self to build and fix pcs I can probably learn macs too. RIght now I am looking at a mac mini cause at least it doesn't take up much room.
thanks for the info
Linda

[ehwood]

You can use any USB keyboard and mouse, actually. You're right that learning to understand a Mac is a lot like understanding a PC. They only have different kinds of BIOS and drive formats and partitioning. No appreciable differences in basic hardware.

Why not get a Mac with a built-in iSight camera? The iMac would be a great choice, given it has one built in and it's a small machine, since it's basically an LCD monitor with a full Mac built in.

[catlady13]

Thank you ehwood, basically the problem is space. I have 5 full size towers in a very tiny space and one 20" monitor and a 27" monitor already. I am squeezing to get this mac mini in already. I am trying to keep it down right now to 2 keyboards and 2 mice. The mac will add another set because my kvm only uses ps2 mice and keyboards. I am hoping to get one of my newer logitech webcams to work with this because I have three webcams already. Two are newer logitechs one being the fusion. I know my building pcs is not going to help me at all here so I come very humbly to try and learn. I am only going to use this machine for video conferencing as I have one pc for gaming and one for video editing and one for fooling around on and one as a music "server". Eventually as Vegas said I may not go back. I spend so much time on my friend's pcs trying to get viruses out so I may have to convince all of them as well and save myself a lot of time but this is a toe in the water for now.

[catlady13]

One more important question please. I am getting a second hand little mac mini today and I have read that macs do NOT have a start button. How do I turn it off? I've looked all over the internet and I guess this question is too basic. I can't find an answer. Boy do I feel stupid. I don't want to screw it up right off the bat.

[VegasACF]

This is news to me (who has over 20 years Mac experience).

If this is the case (which I doubt), you can turn it off via the Apple menu, selecting "Shut down," or by depressing the Control key and the Eject key on the keyboard at the same time (this will bring up a menu asking what you are wanting to do).

I wonder why you'd want to shut it down, though. My MacBook Pro has only been shut down in case of me leaving town without it for days on end. Otherwise I just let it run, and put it to sleep when I am done for the day.