Base Mac mini as the main Computer?

[MrXiro]

I have the base 27 inch iMac right now but have been thinking about selling it because work went dry a few months after I bought it and am in need of cash this holiday season.

I am thinking of picking up a base Mac mini and just hooking it up to a tv so that I can at least have a computer... Besides the normal basic email/word processing uses I tend to download a fair bit of hd tv shows that I convert to watch on apple tv and on my iPhone. I do some light video editing once in a while using final cut but haven't really done too much as of late.

Will it be a major downgrade for me or is the base Mac mini not too bad for my purposes.

 

[thekev]

It's going to suck any way you look at it. The extra ram doesn't count for much as it's become very cheap from third party retailers. The cheapest mini comes with 2GB of ram. Under Lion you'd want to upgrade that. You're getting a cpu and gpu setup comparable to the lower 13" macbook pros. It's not identical, but close enough for comparison. The hard drive is smaller. It's a 2.5" 500GB drive, basically a laptop drive. The machine starts at $599 new without a mouse or keyboard, with 2GB of ram. Obviously you'd need a display too. Your imac is $1419 in the refurbished Apple store with a one year warranty and basic options. By the time you do the math on what you are selling and what you intend to buy, is it really worth it?

 

[shortcut3d]

I have the base 27 inch iMac right now but have been thinking about selling it because work went dry a few months after I bought it and am in need of cash this holiday season.

I am thinking of picking up a base Mac mini and just hooking it up to a tv so that I can at least have a computer... Besides the normal basic email/word processing uses I tend to download a fair bit of hd tv shows that I convert to watch on apple tv and on my iPhone. I do some light video editing once in a whole using final cut but haven't really done too much as of late.

Will it be a major downgrade for me or is the base Mac mini not too bad for my purposes.

The screen quality will be a major step down. Also, expect to get less for your iMac than Apple's refurb online store. It may not be the best strategy to get a few extra bucks unless you iMac has insane specs. With that said, selling on eBay would like you get you the best price, but then you have to factor in eBay and PayPal fees and shipping would be insane.

I'm sorry for your circumstances.

 

[MrXiro]

It's going to suck any way you look at it. The extra ram doesn't count for much as it's become very cheap from third party retailers. The cheapest mini comes with 2GB of ram. Under Lion you'd want to upgrade that. You're getting a cpu and gpu setup comparable to the lower 13" macbook pros. It's not identical, but close enough for comparison. The hard drive is smaller. It's a 2.5" 500GB drive, basically a laptop drive. The machine starts at $599 new without a mouse or keyboard, with 2GB of ram. Obviously you'd need a display too. Your imac is $1419 in the refurbished Apple store with a one year warranty and basic options. By the time you do the math on what you are selling and what you intend to buy, is it really worth it?

You thinking it might not be worth it then?
I actually got offered 1550 selling my iMac on Amazon. I'd be getting 1450 or so after paying for shipping and paying Amazon fees. I have the choice to decline the sale which is what I'm debating right now.
But yeah... factoring in a monitor and any upgrades might not make this worth it especially with the great monitor this iMac already comes with.

I have RAM I can put it that is in the iMac right now. 2X4GB sticks, so that'll max out the Mac Mini for no extra cost. I also have a Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse, Wireless Keyboard and Wired Keyboard in my possession.

I'd probably replace the HDD with the Momentus XT 750GB when prices for HDDs come back down in a few months if I do this...

Will this change be unbearable?

Maybe I should just suck it up and tighten my belt this season and keep the iMac...

 

[robbie12345]

just keep it

the mac mini has no graphics card so even running flash will be a hard and laggy time

the processor isn't great but isn't that much worse then ur iMac but only o n single threaded tasks on multi threaded tasks it will be way worse

there iMac comes with a 1k screen and speakers and isight camera built in not to mention a keyboard and a magic mouse so by the time u have all these things it will come out to be 1.8k instead of the 1.4 for your iMac so don't sell it it will be a mistake

 

[MrXiro]

just keep it

the mac mini has no graphics card so even running flash will be a hard and laggy time

the processor isn't great but isn't that much worse then ur iMac but only o n single threaded tasks on multi threaded tasks it will be way worse

there iMac comes with a 1k screen and speakers and isight camera built in not to mention a keyboard and a magic mouse so by the time u have all these things it will come out to be 1.8k instead of the 1.4 for your iMac so don't sell it it will be a mistake

Decided to keep it. It's really not worth getting rid of. Thanks all.

 

[MattA]

just keep it

the mac mini has no graphics card so even running flash will be a hard and laggy time

the processor isn't great but isn't that much worse then ur iMac but only o n single threaded tasks on multi threaded tasks it will be way worse

there iMac comes with a 1k screen and speakers and isight camera built in not to mention a keyboard and a magic mouse so by the time u have all these things it will come out to be 1.8k instead of the 1.4 for your iMac so don't sell it it will be a mistake

The info about the graphics card is untrue. Even the base Intel chipset will run flash just fine. I've been using a 2009 Mac Mini for 3 years, and the only application I've run across that doesn't work perfectly fine is Star Wars: The Old Republic.

People like to tell others how bad the Mini is, but they never ask what you're going to do with it. The Mac Mini is fine for 99% of everything your iMac was.

That said, by the time you factor in cost of the computer, HDD upgrade, and possible monitor upgrade, you're at the cost of a lower end iMac anyway. If all you're going to get out of this is a few hundred bucks, you're better off keeping what you have.

 

[gigaguy]

If I was out of work and needed cash, no way I would keep a $1500 mac if I could easily pocket $1000 and buy a $500 Mac Mini. I've used my Minis all hooked to Sony HDTVs and it has been great. You started this post talking about needing money. That's what I'd do. plus I hated sitting at a desk to do AV stuff, now I use my TV. good luck.

 

[thekev]

Will this change be unbearable?

Maybe I should just suck it up and tighten my belt this season and keep the iMac...

It looks like you decided to keep it. My suggestion was to calculate the total cost to do the transition. I thought the mini took different ram for some reason, but it looks like they're both using similar SODIMMs. I just think it's important to compare final cost to final cost. Add in any tax/peripherals (mouse, keyboard, whatever) and base it on that, but you do take a loss.

I don't understand why you wouldn't look at the refurb section minis or one of the third party Apple retailers that charges less if you're trying to save money. I'd always look at one of those options. The mini you want isn't in the refurb store right now, but the mini server is $849 there compared to $999. It's just important to recognize which ones are worth buying at those prices (sometimes the previous generation ones aren't smart purchases).

 

[alstrike]

I have a Mid 2011 Mac mini (base model) hooked up to a TB Display. To be honest I don´t need anything else computer wise, it does everything I need it to do.

On top of that I received today 8Gb G.Skill 1333 RAM, the mini feels snappier and the GPU memory went up to 512Mb

I don´t know who was the genius who said the Intel HD3000 couldn´t even handle Flash. Well mine is running 2 1080p movies while I´m typing this, go figure... Yes I know is sounds stupid to be watching 2 movies at the same time but it is just to prove a point.

 

[wrinkster22]

I am glad you decided to keep and I am sorry about the problems you are having.
I know this is none if my business but you said you have several apple mice +keyboards... those sell for like 40$ each or more (used)

Just a thought

 

[David085]

Hope you can solved your problem with the iMac, Glad you decided to keep it is a great system still, When is working right

 

[MrXiro]

Yeah I decided to keep it. I have the mouse and keyboards etc but after a monitor upgrade and an HDD upgrade I would be spending over 1000 dollars and only making 350 or so and have a computer and monitor nowhere near the quality of the iMac's.

Ironically I noticed yesterday that my iMac was getting the screen smudging underneath the glass and I took it in to get fixed at the apple store.

 

[MrXiro]

I am glad you decided to keep and I am sorry about the problems you are having.
I know this is none if my business but you said you have several apple mice +keyboards... those sell for like 40$ each or more (used)

Just a thought

Well I have 1 trackpad, 1 magic mouse, 1 wireless keyboard and one wired. I at least need 2 of those items.

 

[MrXiro]

I am glad you decided to keep and I am sorry about the problems you are having.
I know this is none if my business but you said you have several apple mice +keyboards... those sell for like 40$ each or more (used)

Just a thought

Well I have 1 trackpad, 1 magic mouse, 1 wireless keyboard and one wired. I at least need 2 of those items.

----------

It looks like you decided to keep it. My suggestion was to calculate the total cost to do the transition. I thought the mini took different ram for some reason, but it looks like they're both using similar SODIMMs. I just think it's important to compare final cost to final cost. Add in any tax/peripherals (mouse, keyboard, whatever) and base it on that, but you do take a loss.

I don't understand why you wouldn't look at the refurb section minis or one of the third party Apple retailers that charges less if you're trying to save money. I'd always look at one of those options. The mini you want isn't in the refurb store right now, but the mini server is $849 there compared to $999. It's just important to recognize which ones are worth buying at those prices (sometimes the previous generation ones aren't smart purchases).

I prefer Amazon's main store. No tax, no recycle fee, free delivery. No hassal until they have to submit to California's BS tax rule next year.

 

[cathy88]

I recently just got a Mac Mini base model.
Upgraded it with a Crucial 128gb SSD + 8GB ram.
I must say it was worth it.

If you dont need graphic card get the base model, if you do get the next one up.

Im currently doing dual screen with Dell 23".

I wish one day to do Dual Apple Thunderbolt Display lol