![]() (To be fair, eMachines’ $400 system sans monitor includes Microsoft Works and Microsoft Money. (That is, unless your only purpose for buying a computer is to type word processing documents, check email, and surf the Web in that case, you’ll probably be happy with a bare-bones Dell so long as the first thing you do is install Firefox, Thunderbird, and some anti-virus software.) Sadly, the Dell’s software bundle is typical of “budget” Windows PCs, which generally come with some sort of word processor and then a bunch of free, trial, or, at best, “starter” editions of other software. So to make the Dell “comparable” to the Mac mini, you’ve also got to add a bunch of software. ![]() (The Dell also includes a trial version of Corel Paint Shop Pro, but neither side gets credit for trial versions.) ![]() On the other hand, WordPerfect doesn’t include the other modules provided by AppleWorks. The only application included with the Dell that really competes with the Mac mini’s software is WordPerfect. Acrobat Reader 6.0ğree for both platforms.I hope to rectify that today, as I compare the software bundles that come with the Mac mini and the Dell. Accordingly, many fans of the Mac mini took me to task for “ignoring” its bundled software. Not only that, but in the long run it may make the Mac mini less expensive - the more good software a computer includes out of the box, the less money you’ll have to spend later to get the software you need. But the truth is that for many buyers the software that comes with the Mac mini will be a significant benefit because it makes the mini more functional than similarly configured (hardware-wise) Windows PCs. ![]() The trial is free, though, and the app costs $20 to purchase.Įditors' note: This is a review of the trial version of iStumbler for Mac software? Although in the original article I mentioned the Mac mini’s excellent software bundle, I didn’t spend much time on it because I wanted to focus on more tangible feature comparisons. The presentation and thoroughness of information is definitely a plus, although the crashing and inability to close are issues that may make you think twice about a purchase, especially since the nagging pop-ups make it so hard to get a feel for the program. IStumbler for Mac is a good tool for helping you find open Wi-Fi networks nearby. Multiple attempts were unsuccessful, and then it finally crashed on its own. Trouble closing: This app failed to close during testing, and it blocked our computer from shutting down as well. At the beginning, this happens every few minutes, but it becomes more and more frequent until the pop-ups are appearing less than a minute apart, which is pretty excessive and actually interferes with your ability to test the program. ConsĬonstant prompting: The trial version of this app produces nearly constant pop-ups asking you to make a purchase. Other options include Bluetooth, Bonjour, and locations. More than Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is actually only one of four different sections this app contains and that you can move between using tabs on the left-hand side of the screen. Good data: In addition to signal strength and security settings, this app also gives you information on various other network characteristics including signal, noise, channel, frequency, and protocol associated with each network detected. There is a ton of information supplied about each network in this program, and the list is constantly updated in real time, so you'll always know exactly what you're dealing with. IStumbler for Mac scans for Wi-Fi networks in your area and then presents them to you in a list, so no matter where you are, you'll always be able to connect.
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