Mac Mini

I have used Windows PCs for many many years now. I have never owned a Macintosh, an Apple, or a Mac (I did have a TI-99/4A and a Timex Sinclair though). Today I broke the mold. My bright, shinny, tiny Mac Mini came in the mail today from Amazon.

I am impressed.

The packaging was amazing, the design is stunning, and I know we have all heard this a thousand times...it just worked! I turned the thing on, it found my Wi-Fi network and made all the configurations. All it asked me for is my WEP key and what language keyboard I have. My Dell 3100CN printer installed like a champ. It happily used my Logitech wireless keyboard and my off brand LCD monitor. The only issue that I had was that it did not come with Windows sharing turned on. I ticked it on and it *almost* hooked itself into my Windows workgroup. The Mac hiccuped a bit because my workgroup is not named the standard "workgroup." I did a quick Google search and found a page that showed how to change the workgroup, and now my PC sees all the files on my Mac and vice versa. If I had not been such a twit when I named my home workgroup, it would have worked instantly.

I am not converting yet, but I do think that the Mac folks are making headway. The beauty of this thing is that it is cheap (by Mac standards, you can still get a much better equipped Dell with monitor, keyboard, and mouse, for less money), very tiny, uses all of your existing PC components, and plays nice with a Microsoft network. This thing makes it easy and painless for a PC -centric individual to venture in to Macville. Way to go Steve Jobs.

Judge "Me"

I think most of us have heard that judging others is a sin. Of course, it is not that big of a sin, right? It is probably on the order of sneaking a quick glance at the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on the magazine rack, right? Well, I hate to say it, but from what I read this morning it seems like it is a big deal to God.

Check out Romans 2:1-5:

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
(Romans 2:1-5 NRSV)

Whoa! This says that when I judge someone I "despise the riches of his [God's] kindness" and that I am "storing up wrath" for myself. That sounds pretty serious. Considering this, maybe I should give my brothers and sisters some slack and leave the judging up to God who is able to judge in "accordance with truth."

This post also appears on Digitial Devotion.