Hi Guys! I need your help(s). I've been using pcs' all along and I'm just getting so sick of MS windows. I'm an engineering student , and I want to do a full migration to mac.
Now, my needs are to run :
(1) Enginnering software like matlab, pspice, multisim, mathcad . I need windows for them. I'm aware that mac can run windows on it at the same time using bootcamp.
(2) Programming software like MS Visual C++ , Java2 and etc.
(3) I would like to have a 20" LCD monitor to view all my simulations.
(4) I play moderate games like ragnarok, A3-MMORPG.
(5) I use Office suites to edit and types my reports.
(6) Surf the net and chatting
(7) Watch movies and listening to music.

Is it okay to get a mac mini+20" LCD monitor or will it be better to get an imac or do you have any other better suggestions?

Thanks a lot.

76radius
Thanks 76radius. Ur rite. Basically it boils down to budget. Think that I'll get a mac mini , beef up the memory , and get a nice 20" LCD monitor to admire .

ChopSuey
Thanks for the advice , ChopSuey. . I have 3 pcs in my house and I have a toshiba laptop. And err..... i dun think i need umm... another pc la . . Been using windows for the past 10 years. I'm a faithful linux user. Been using SuSE, Mandrake(now its mandriva), and tested plenty of others like ubuntu, corel/ debian, Redmond , redhat and etc. . After reading about mac and doing some research i found it to be better in hardware. =). Think I'm beginning to fall in luv with macs. I've going to divorced pcs and marry macs.

Unlike PC freaks, macintosh doesn't need constant hardware upgrading. This is due to the fact that Mac O/S is constructed in a way that it has a better system architecture that utilizes system resources in a more efficient way. e.g. Windows only makes use of 75% - 85% over all resources compared to a mac utilizing 100% resources. . This is the main reason why many ppl keep on upgrading their pc and sometimes it just doesnt seem to improve. Many people just compare the hardware aspects of a PC with Mac and consider value for money. This is when one makes a mistake that a PC may be better than a Mac.
Consider this senario, in :
Cloned PC : we just go to the computer shop, select the best appealing hardware and get them to fix it for us or we fix it ourselves. But don't forget there are many intermediate steps needed to test each speed channeling and compatibility. This is critical to eliminate bottlenecks.
Branded PC : A bit better. But basically we are paying extra for the brand name. But still its a pc. And windows have their limits.
As for macs: the engineers have tested and constructed it well. Futhermore the o/s is more efficient, thus allowing the machine to work better.

I disagree with those who says that windows work better on PC's. Test windows on a PC and a MAC. Many peeps only look out for the performance(speed) issues. But THEY forget about stability issues.

Like radius said , mac mini is upgradable, only VGA isn't . Well, I don't intend to use it for games, hence it churning extremely hot frames isn't really important to me.
Thanks radius76. All the best to MAC owners and mac enthusiasts.