Nice, a Mac Mini section. what apps, if any, to buy first...

[macmini2]

Am a Windows guy though have ipads...too many...iphone (current gen) and now a base mac mini. Will need to do some youtube search to get the low down on keyboard commands ect. Picked up a old school large (wide) wired apple keyboard and mouse (wired also)...feels a bit weird at first with the tiny wheel/button on top. Also have the older and newer wireless mac mice and a logitech 'ipad' (maybe mac also) wirelss mouse.

Learned I needed a powered usb hub for the wired ones work (no worries). Thought I read even with the new M1 mini there might be blue tooth interference and/or lag issues now and then. Beside I sort of like this big ass wide keyboard with number keys on the side

The mini connects using hdmi cable to my 'windows' monitor. Default font sizing seems ok for the most part. Though did see this article though have not tried it https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/03/apple_m1_drivers/

Short question -

1. Wonder in the apple pc world if the mini comes with any default good planning app interface (mail, task, notes, etc). Guessing not and based on the number of apps out there for sale...seems this question would be a 'what is the best tire/oil' thread if car/bike related. Am retired from the working world so no outlook exchange interface would be needed nor am I looking for some top end app like, say, omnifocus.
2. The mini will be a 'play device' as I mainly live in the windows word with 3 to 4 panels and don't want to try to make the mini into that setup. Well...maybe a second panel would be nice if an easy fix. I am using my window panel for both windows and mac.
   Thus don't have per say a present need to load it up with all sorts of apps though if low hanging fruit apps are out there I should get (as in low cost a bonus) then I am all mac ears to hear.

I do have an ms office 365 subscription so will see if that includes licensing for mac...just need to power it up and try to log into it.

Longer asking the same thing -
Mostly I got the mini cause it was an open box for less then $600 and wanted to dip my tow into the Mac pc world. My world consist of apple OS phone with ipads with this new mac mini. Plus windows OS and a few suface devices (surface duo 2, surface pro 8, and associated Android phones (samsung s20 fe) and android tablets.

I realize if one gets an app that works with mac, android and windows the selection is more limited. Am an ms outlook user (have outlook acct), mostly just for mail purposes. Have a gmail account, of course.

Have an Opus One app on ipad (sort of a take off on the Franklin planner format). It is only $25 a year though confirming with vendor the one license allows it to snyc across all apple devices (believe it does).

Thanks all

 

[StoneJack]

Yes, Office license will allow you install on Mac, I know because I have one license (even for family, actually). The only thing is OneDrive is not yet M1 native but preview beta is out.

 

[Wando64]

Wonder in the apple pc world if the mini comes with any default good planning app interface (mail, task, notes, etc).

Yes. The built in apps (Mail, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Photos, Music, Books and Messages) are all that most people need and want.
They are (almost) perfectly integrated with the OS and with the Apple ecosystem which, as an iPhone and iPad user, you will much appreciate.

 

[Camarillo Brillo]

Yes. The built in apps (Mail, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Photos, Music, Books and Messages) are all that most people need and want.
They are (almost) perfectly integrated with the OS and with the Apple ecosystem which, as an iPhone and iPad user, you will much appreciate.

Yep! Everything you are looking for is probably already there. There’s also pages, keynote… Open up launchpad or the applications folder and check it out. No need to install Microsoft office unless you already know you need to use it for work.

 

[Wando64]

Yep! Everything you are looking for is probably already there. There’s also pages, keynote… Open up launchpad or the applications folder and check it out. No need to install Microsoft office unless you already know you need to use it for work.

Yes, of course I was forgetting Pages, Numbers and Keynote. (I use MS-Office)
You might need to install these (or are they pre-installed these days?), but they are free anyway.

 

[DisraeliGears]

I love a discussion of good/fun/interesting Mac Apps!

One that always gets recommended is Alfred, with good reason. It lets you do a lot of system utilities and functions quickly.

2 others that I’ll point out are Usage and Craft. Usage is like a higher level activity monitor that lives in your toolbar, and keeps adding cool new features. Craft is a fabulous notetaking app that was recently named Mac App of the year.

 

[ipsedixit]

None.

At least none to buy first.

Figure out how you like to work in the Apple environment, how (or if) the native Apple apps that come installed with the M1 Mini do or do not work for you.

Then go from there.

 

[JustAnExpat]

What do you want to use your computer for? A computer is a tool, and software exist to provide value. If you're a writer/ researcher, I love Scrivener ($39 USD) and Zotero (Free) myself. But I can't recommend those programs if you're not a writer.