Macintel Prime

Ove the past month, I've spent quality time with all three of Apple's Intel-based Macs: the iMac, the MacBook Pro, and now the Mac Mini. Contrary to what some Mac experts advise, I am enthusiastically "full speed ahead" in recommending an Intel-based Mac to anyone thinking of purchasing a new Mac system. The new Macs are very fast, reliable and in all respects, inside and out, as much a Mac as anything that has come before. They are evolutionary, not revolutionary, and as such, if you buy one, you will "merely" be getting a newer, faster Mac, nothing more, nothing less.

There are only two groups of people who I would tell to stay away from an Intel-based Mac right now:

1. Professional artists or video editors who depend on PowerPC-optimized applications (like Photoshop) and high-end peripherals (like scanners of expensive printers) with their own custom drivers.

and

2. Those who make extensive use of the Classic (MacOS 9) environment, which is not available on Intel Macs. There are not many of these folks left, but you know who you are.

If you don't fall into one of these groups, go ahead and buy a new Mac without fear. All the stuff you do -- surf the web, check email, write papers in Word, edit photos in iPhoto, burn CDs and DVDs, listen to music, and print on your consumer-level printer will work great.

You don't need to run out and buy an Intel Mac if you are satisfied with what you have -- like I said before, these are merely faster versions of existing Macs, they are not revolutionary -- but if you are in the market already for a new Mac, go ahead and buy without fear.