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Chance of a Mac Mini update?

A

Architect4122

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 2, 2007
172
24
All the rumors have been around the ultraportable, and the overdue Mac Pro updates. However, any news on the Mini? Sad thing is, with the mini, aside from upgrade news, the other predictions involve its demise.

I'd like to get one for the parents. I'm tired of fixing their PC/XP issues, I think OSX may actually be suited more to them, and thus I want to get them something not too pricey. Mini with Leopard, external HDD for time machine...a few lessons on how things work, and hopefully I'm in the clear!

Jan 15th would be the next date right?
 
...And rightfully so. You're better off finding a 17" iMac on ebay... Mini's are crap...
 
Actually, I am surprised to report that Minis are pretty good. A 2.0 C2D Mini with 3GB is a pretty nifty machine, and can drive a lot more than a little 17".
 
It really has been left behind in the hardware stakes. No wireless n, and it still has the mediocre GMA 950 graphics. At least it has core 2 now though.
 
I mean the mini at $600-700 is pretty rediculous... You can find an intel iMac at that!;)
 
For basic home or office use the Mini is a fine machine. I bought one for work, and I love it.

The graphics accelerator is perfectly adequate for most purposes (just don't expect it to be a hardcore gaming machine).
 
Architect4122 said:
I'd like to get one for the parents. I'm tired of fixing their PC/XP issues, I think OSX may actually be suited more to them, and thus I want to get them something not too pricey.
Click to expand...

Ignore the piffle about it being c**p. A Mini would be perfect for your parents needs, especially as the biggest reason why you want to buy seems to be ease of use.

There is a lot of negative feeling about the Mini on these boards, but you have to take these opinions with a pinch of salt, as a lot of people here want the biggest, fastest and best all the time, without considering an individual's needs.

I bought one for my Mum a year ago, and the little machine is still going strong. It is a due a bit of an update, so you might want to wait and see if there's anything in January, but otherwise it would be a good investment for them, especially if your considering reusing the monitor, keyboard and mouse from their old XP machine.

Kinda guessing that your parents just want to use it for web-browsing, email, word processing and some photo work? If so, the Mini is perfect. If they want to play hard-core shoot-em-up games, create motion graphics, edit high-resolution imagery, build web sites etc etc. (I'm guessing perhaps not!), then a Mini isn't for them.

Like I say, its about individual needs here, and for you a Mini sounds great.
 
I am almost absolutely sure that Apple is going to do a Desktop upgrade at Macworld, with upgrades to both the MacMini, Mac Pro and perhaps another desktop machine (perhaps replacing the Mac Mini altogether). Still speculation though, but I'm pretty confident it will happen only because in all the Apple stores I've been to, the MacMini and Mac Pro are all hidden in the corner with only one unit being shown for each. That and the MacMini at a top speed of 2.0ghz is not a machine to survive in the industry (hence why I believe Apple is going to beef up the mini in some way or another).
 
Unless I'm going mad the C2D mini will take 4gb of RAM (2x2GB) but will only use 3.2 GB, hence 3 (1+2) is your best bet.

I have a 1.86 C2D mini and it's fairly splendid. I have only the stock 1GB RAM and that is a drag. Plus, the number of hard disks I have strung off the thing (ok, two) and the 23" S-IPS screen I just bought makes me think perhaps I should have just bought an iMac and avoided this 'cost saving exercise'.

However, it works well. It's a lot faster than my old MDD powermac (and massively quieter!) and my iBook G4. I'm fairly 'heavy' on the apps and I still use photoshop 7 (rosetta, but still perhaps faster than on the G4s).

Recommended.
 
je1ani said:
...And rightfully so. You're better off finding a 17" iMac on ebay... Mini's are crap...
Click to expand...

Hmm...Somehow the 17" iMac wouldn't look as cool below my TV as a Home Theater PC... Everything has it's use and it's place - don't knock stuff for no reason.

(Love my Mini!)
 
I personally wouldn't buy anything smaller than a 24" screen, but a 20" is not too bad. 17" is way too small for normal use.

Mac mini + 24" = $500 + $300 (what I paid, retail is more like $565+$350). A 24" iMac is $1800. For the extra grand you get a CPU 33% faster, more disk space, gamer graphics, and a superdrive.

The superdrive is a sore point on the mini, cause Apple could throw one in for a few extra bucks - but externals are $50-$75. I don't burn many DVDs.

I got a 500GB external for $100 - works great with Time Machine and more space than the iMac comes with. Still would want an external on the iMac to cover the backup/Time Machine angle.

I have not had a problem with the GMA950 graphics, but I have yet to run a game.

In 2 years when the new Core 3 Duo comes out with USB 3, I can throw the mini in the trash, buy a new one and still pay less than the iMac. More than likely the current mini would be moved to the main HDTV and act as an AppleTV like item.

When the backlight goes on my monitor - go down and pick one up for $200 (or whatever they sell for in 3 years when the warranty expires). iMac becomes a giant pain with a dead screen.

Bottom line - The mini is a Mac bargain with a couple of limitations and sucks if you are gamer. The iMac is somewhat better if you like an all-in-one (I don't), but still sucks as it is un-upgradeable and costs $500-$800 extra. A good Mac is the MacPro, but is too much $$ for me, but only an extra $700 from the iMac.
 
Grab a refurb 1.83 C2D. I did intending to use as a home server, and I fell in love with it. I have mine hooked up to a 23" ACD (had already, not the monitor to get with a mini, more than the computer. lol), and I end up using it more at home than my far more powerful MPB.

I would absolutely upgrade the RAM (OWC has 4GB for around $120, how can you pass that up?), but other than that, I think it is a fantastic computer, and I am waiting to see what apple comes up with to upgrade/replace it.

The all in one design is not attractive to me either, and I think the mini or something like it adds a lot of value to the mac line, and makes perfect sense in a case like the OP's.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I was/am a long time PC user who builds their own machines. Built the family comp, still running 7 years later (with just a MoBo upgrade and an added HDD).

Built the bro a pretty nice gaming rig for around 600 for a bare bones gaming rig (processor, gpu, memory...he already had monitor and what not).

I build them, install all the hardware, and the software. I install the apps and set all updates and virus settings and firewall...etc. etc. etc. you get the point.

I recently came over to the Mac side for a couple of reasons. However, I am still going to build me a nice Quad gaming rig in the future (PC).

However, upon using my Mac and trouble shooting issues on the family comp and on my brothers, whether user issues, or software/hardware issues, I just find it a comforting environment that I feel hard to mess something up in.

They would only be using it for e-mail, internet, Word, and storing and organizing photos. Their extent of photo editing would be the tools within iPhoto. Maybe there is a Solitaire widget :p .

But I think now I'll wait and see what comes out.

Thanks again
 
Architect4122, i think that a cheap PC with Ubuntu or other LinuxOS would be enough for them. But that is just my idea.
 
opeter said:
Architect4122, i think that a cheap PC with Ubuntu or other LinuxOS would be enough for them. But that is just my idea.
Click to expand...

Hehehe, no.

I absolutely love Ubuntu, but I must say, it is one of the hardest OSes to work with and get used to. XP isn't great either, and a cheapo 300$ PC isn't going to be very good at all.

Get a refurb mini or a refurb 17' iMac. Make sure either are Intel though, PPC support is going down the drain.
 
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