Brand new, fresh out of the box computer. What do I need to install?

A leaked and torrented copy of GTA4.

Some form of instant messenger. I'm a fan of Pidgin, personally.

Nothing. Oh wait, you didn't get a Mac?

@The Shifty: Incidentally, I'm watching the GTAIV review on Gametrailers, and they're basically giving it a big, sloppy BJ.

@Soulcamp: Shut it. I didn't feel like spending twice the money for 1/4 of the possible games.

Eh. Happens. It does look pretty tasty, though.

@Corey: A Mac mini costs $599. Since the cheapest 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo costs $157 on NewEgg (we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and not use a mobile chip, though you won't be able to compete on machine size), that means the rest of the computer is going to have to cost you -$7. Good luck.

Though the mini is no gaming machine - I'll give you that. So let's go with a 20" iMac - $1499. 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo ($244) + Radeon 2600 Pro ($83) = FAIL.

Maybe you're talking ultra high-end. How about the Mac Pro @ $2799. Two 2.8GHz Xeon Harpertown processors ($715 each) = $1430. Doh!

Whatever you're smoking, I want some. ;^p

@Corey: BTW, when come down off of whatever high it is that your riding, you'll realize that $157 only included the processor. You'll still need a motherboard (with onboard video), RAM, power supply, chassis, drives, and an OS.

i love my mac. but i hate this kind of bullshit. i have a mac because it does what i need it to do. in the end, it is a tool.

Linux, with Cedega for the games.

although, on second thought, i guess it wouldn't really be "installed".

"I guarantee I can build a pc for at least 25% less than a mac, with similar specs. For the price of a mac, I can build something twice as good."

@Corey: This statement is patently wrong, and I proved it above. Your information is simply bad. While I don't discount your theory that for what YOU'RE looking for in a computer, you can build a PC cheaper (again, ignoring labor - I've built many, many a PC in my life, and if you can pull if off in less than 2 hours, with OS installed and running, you should be working in a factory in China). And I'm no Apple fanboy - I swear at my Mac more times an hour than an Italian mobster with Tourret's. But the statement that you can build a machine that is twice as good as a Mac for less is flat out bullshit. Bullshit, I say. There is no fact to that statement, whatsoever. Utter bullshit. You're wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, with a steaming pile of bullshit on top. If you can prove that statement, I'll video myself dropping my Bondi Blue iMac from a tall building and post it on YouTube. But you can't, because you can't.

(I am supposed to be doing my taxes, but I think it's blatantly obvious to everyone that I procrastinating.)

@Combustible: Sorry to dick up your thread with my inane boredom. I will move it along now...

Linux no longer requires being a l33t hax0r. It lets you be one if you want though.

LOL @ centropomus. heh.