I love my mini

[ToomeyND]

I previously had a 2007 2.4 GHz Core2Duo 20" iMac. I bought my late 2012 2.5 GHz Core i5 Mini and dropped a Crucial M4 256 SSD in it about 1.5 months ago.

I'm currently handbraking a couple seasons of The Wire so that I can have them on iTunes instead of on a disk. This thing is so much faster than my iMac, and also so darn QUIET! I have it sitting next to me, laying on a side with the bottom case open to keep it nice and cool during the handbrake. It's still silent.

I was really debating waiting for Haswell. Then I was debating getting the i7. But after reading a lot of threads on here (thanks to you all), I just got the cheapest one. I figured it was cheap enough that it's okay if it doesn't last or I could sell it in a couple months when Haswell comes out.

I don't know now when I'm going to need a new computer. I'm not a power user of any kind, but it handles internet, Word, heavy Excel, all my media needs, and handbraking very well. On top of that, I don't have an apple tv (yet), but it is a synch to unplug my mini and bring it downstairs to connect to the big screen for watching anything I want. It's portable enough that I sometimes bring it on work trips with an hdmi cord and just connect it to the tv in the hotel room.

If you are debating on a mac mini, then it's probably an appropriate computer to handle your needs. Pull the trigger.

 

[50voltphantom]

I have similar story. Pair it with a quality monitor (or two) and you're in business.

-inexpensive
-user upgradable/repairable
-small
-still has FireWire if you need it
-plenty of power for your average user

I was in the market for a new 21.5" iMac but I refuse to pay Apple their price for 16GB RAM.

 

[rumbletum]

Another Mini lover here, went from a high spec (for its time) 2007 Mac Pro to a base model mini (only RAM upgraded) a few months ago, and love it. Runs soo quietly, couldn't believe it at first after the noise from the Pro

 

[opinio]

It worries me about this secret mini lovefest going on. It is destroying the moral fiber of our society. Are your partners all aware of this secret love for another?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

It worries me about this secret mini lovefest going on. It is destroying the moral fiber of our society. Are your partners all aware of this secret love for another?

Be on the right side of history! Mini love is not wrong!

 

[borostef]

Hey... I love my Mini and I want the whole world to know it...

 

[Omnius]

Another Mini lover here, went from a high spec (for its time) 2007 Mac Pro to a base model mini (only RAM upgraded) a few months ago, and love it. Runs soo quietly, couldn't believe it at first after the noise from the Pro

I remember going from my G4 PPC windtunnel to my 2007 mac mini. I realized i was getting headaches less often while doing work on the computer.

 

[Biff...]

I'm proud to say I'm a mini lover as well. I just put in a second ssd, upped the ram to 16gb, and connected a TB display. Best machine I've ever had.

 

[yanki01]

bought a mini in 2007, loved it! moved out and gave it to my parents after i got my MBP. they love it as an average user. great little machine. i feel people don't give it a chance?

 

[DrakkenWar]

Could not agree more!

My love of minis started with a G4 PPC mini I was given for free from a friend. It sat there in my desk above my DA dual/533 and Dual G5 2.0. It sat there for about six months before my DA died on me. I was blown away at what that little machine could do.
That lead to my 2011 that is in my sig. Since then I have added a 2007 and 2009 mini to the collection, with plans for a few more. They are just awesome lil machines.

 

[Fishrrman]

I moved from a 2004-vintage g4/DP MDD (used it 9 years!) to a 2012 i7 2.6 Mini.

The Mini is faster, cooler, quieter (the g4 roared like a jet). I added an IBM 520 SSD as an "external booter" (sits in a plugable.com "lay-flat" USB3 docking station). No problems with the external setup at all, and I didn't have to mess with opening the thing up.

I don't miss the slots at all.

Did I say the Mini was _quieter_ than the g4?

 

[AQUADock]

I also like the mini, my first mac was a 2006 CD mini which i really liked and i recently upgraded to an i5 mini which i like even more. The only problem with the unibody minis is the lack of grip on the bottom, they slide around too easily.

 

[scottsjack]

Totally love mine too, a late 2009 2.66 C2D, 8GB RAM, WD 7200 RPM 750GB HD running Mountain Lion. It sits on a desk under which hangs a 2010 Mac Pro 3.2 quad with 24GB RAM, 16TB of disk space and Blu-ray.

The Mac Pro is super but there is just something perfect about the mini. When it is time to replace it I don't think I'll even sell it. It's worth far more to me than the almost nothing resale price I could get.

 

[Cape Dave]

My mini is fast, silent (except when I rev up the fan) and small. I LOVE IT! I am a big fan of this little computer! I have 16GB and 512GB SSD.

Ans still I cannot wait for the next model

 

[Volkstaia]

I love my Mini! He's so resillient, although I need something a little more powerful and I'm planning to get an iMac, he'll always be part of the family! His name is Reggie.

 

[phrehdd]

I appreciate the Mini even with video short comings. It serves me very well and replaced an older Mac Pro. I have NAS hung on my network and the Mini does exactly what the Mac Pro does in terms of most applications and of course access to the NAS. My present Mini has 16 gigs RAM and SSD as upgrades.

My next purchase will be either a Mini or the new Mac (Mini) Pro which to me has far more in common with the Mini than the MP of present. It should work well for photo work, some light video and audio work. The present Mini will be most likely relegated to HTPC work exclusively at that time.

As the iMacs have become more and more locked down (not easy to upgrade), the Mini and of course the Mac Pro are the best options for folks like myself.

 

[Santabean2000]

My mini is the nerve centre of my network. So small, so capable. Fantastic little thing that it is!