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iMac vs Mac Mini

Thanks for all your comments so far. I have turned down the offer of the G5 iMac...however, since looking at the photo above, I do love the look of the iMac. Is that a 24" version? It does make the Mac Mini look tiny lol.
 
MacFanUK said:
Thanks for all your comments so far. I have turned down the offer of the G5 iMac...however, since looking at the photo above, I do love the look of the iMac. Is that a 24" version? It does make the Mac Mini look tiny lol.
Click to expand...

Yup, that is in fact the 24" edition. The 20" looks big too, but obviously not as monstrous.
 
MacFanUK said:
Thanks for all your comments so far. I have turned down the offer of the G5 iMac...however, since looking at the photo above, I do love the look of the iMac. Is that a 24" version? It does make the Mac Mini look tiny lol.
Click to expand...

Go for it, you won't regret it. If you are debating between the 20" and 24", note that once you factor in the upgrades to the RAM and Hard Drive, the difference is only $125 for the 24". The quality of the 24" screen is also superior to the 20".
 
Thanks. I will be plunging for a 24" iMac when they are updated and that will become my 'Work' machine which will be used for everything from Web Development to Video Editing. Still debating the Mac Mini though for the time being. Is there much performance difference between the 2GHz Mac Mini and the 2.26GHz 13" Macbook Pro or the 2.13GHz 13" Macbook?

With HE Pricing, my options are looking like:

1) 2GHz Mac Mini, 1GB Ram (will upgrade later), 120GB Hard Drive (will upgrade later) @ £449.65
2) 2.13GHz Macbook, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive @ £664 (with 8GB ipod Touch after rebate, making Macbook £499)
3) 2.26GHz Macbook Pro, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive @ £792.80 (with 8GB ipod Touch after rebate, making Macbook Pro £627.80)
 
MacFanUK said:
Thanks. I will be plunging for a 24" iMac when they are updated and that will become my 'Work' machine which will be used for everything from Web Development to Video Editing. Still debating the Mac Mini though for the time being. Is there much performance difference between the 2GHz Mac Mini and the 2.26GHz 13" Macbook Pro or the 2.13GHz 13" Macbook?

With HE Pricing, my options are looking like:

1) 2GHz Mac Mini, 1GB Ram (will upgrade later), 120GB Hard Drive (will upgrade later) @ £449.65
2) 2.13GHz Macbook, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive @ £664 (with 8GB ipod Touch after rebate, making Macbook £499)
3) 2.26GHz Macbook Pro, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive @ £792.80 (with 8GB ipod Touch after rebate, making Macbook Pro £627.80)
Click to expand...

I strongly recommend the Macbook Pro. The performance is the best you listed, plus it has a phenomenal battery life and is very portable. The Unibody Design and Glass Trackpad make it even better and you get an iPod Touch.
 
MacFanUK said:
Thanks. I will be plunging for a 24" iMac when they are updated and that will become my 'Work' machine which will be used for everything from Web Development to Video Editing. Still debating the Mac Mini though for the time being. Is there much performance difference between the 2GHz Mac Mini and the 2.26GHz 13" Macbook Pro or the 2.13GHz 13" Macbook?

With HE Pricing, my options are looking like:

1) 2GHz Mac Mini, 1GB Ram (will upgrade later), 120GB Hard Drive (will upgrade later) @ £449.65
2) 2.13GHz Macbook, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive @ £664 (with 8GB ipod Touch after rebate, making Macbook £499)
3) 2.26GHz Macbook Pro, 2GB Ram, 160GB Hard Drive @ £792.80 (with 8GB ipod Touch after rebate, making Macbook Pro £627.80)
Click to expand...

Well if you just need a computer to hold you off until the next iMac revision, get the Mac Mini if you already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If not, the Macbook or Macbook Pro would be fine.
 
Sorry to be asking so many questions but as this is my first Mac purchase, I want to make the right decisions.

Regarding, the Mac Mini, is the GPU relative to the amount of Ram in the computer? Basically, what I'm wondering is if I buy the low end Mac Mini and then upgrade the Ram, will I get the 256MB Shared GPU that the high end Mac Mini has?

Also, can 2 monitors be used in Dual Display configuration with the Mac Mini having a Mini DisplayPort and Mini DVI?

Thanks for all your help so far guys.
 
MacFanUK said:
Sorry to be asking so many questions but as this is my first Mac purchase, I want to make the right decisions.

Regarding, the Mac Mini, is the GPU relative to the amount of Ram in the computer? Basically, what I'm wondering is if I buy the low end Mac Mini and then upgrade the Ram, will I get the 256MB Shared GPU that the high end Mac Mini has?

Also, can 2 monitors be used in Dual Display configuration with the Mac Mini having a Mini DisplayPort and Mini DVI?

Thanks for all your help so far guys.
Click to expand...

Yes, if you install 2GB+ on your Mac Mini, the VRAM will automatically allocate to 265MB.

Yes, the Mac Mini comes with a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, so you will need a Mini-Displayport to VGA or DVI adapter for your other monitor.
 
MacMini2009 said:
Yes, if you install 2GB+ on your Mac Mini, the VRAM will automatically allocate to 265MB.

Yes, the Mac Mini comes with a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, so you will need a Mini-Displayport to VGA or DVI adapter for your other monitor.
Click to expand...

Lol that's just my luck lol. I acquired a Min-DVI to DVI adapter in a bag of cables. Coudn't have worked the other way round could it lol.

Is there any difference between the 2 Mac Mini's then apart from Ram and Hard Drive?
 
MacFanUK said:
Lol that's just my luck lol. I acquired a Min-DVI to DVI adapter in a bag of cables. Coudn't have worked the other way round could it lol.

Is there any difference between the 2 Mac Mini's then apart from Ram and Hard Drive?
Click to expand...

You still need a Mini-Displayport to DVI or VGA adapter, the Mac Mini already comes with a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter.

No difference at all. The high end model is not worth it.
 
MacMini2009 said:
You still need a Mini-Displayport to DVI or VGA adapter, the Mac Mini already comes with a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter.

No difference at all. The high end model is not worth it.
Click to expand...

Thanks again. One more more question. Is the upgrade to the 2.26GHz CPU worth it? (It costs £108).
 
MacMini2009 said:
Yes, if you install 2GB+ on your Mac Mini, the VRAM will automatically allocate to 265MB.
Click to expand...

Are you 100% sure about this bit? I have just asked 2 seperate Apple people on the online chat and they both said this wouldn't happen. :(
 
MacMini2009 said:
Oops I meant 256MB not 265MB. I am 100% sure it will automatically allocate to 256MB when 2GB+ of RAM is installed.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll trust you over the Apple Sales Team :) The first person tried telling me the Mac Mini wouldn't run CS4.
 
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MacFanUK said:
Thanks MagicBoy. I'll definately be going for the low end Mac Mini then within 2 weeks will hopefully upgrade the ram and Hard Drive. Is it a standard 2.5" Laptop SATA?
Click to expand...

Yep. Make sure it's a 9.5mm high drive - some of the bigger capacity drives (eg 500GB) are 12mm and won't fit.
 
MagicBoy said:
Yep. Make sure it's a 9.5mm high drive - some of the bigger capacity drives (eg 500GB) are 12mm and won't fit.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks, I'll be extra careful when looking :)

Would you say it's better to have more hard drive space (i.e. 500GB instead of 320GB) or a faster drive (i.e. 7200rpm instead of 5400rpm)?
 
MacFanUK said:
Ok thanks, I'll be extra careful when looking :)

Would you say it's better to have more hard drive space (i.e. 500GB instead of 320GB) or a faster drive (i.e. 7200rpm instead of 5400rpm)?
Click to expand...
Depends on what you plan on doing and if you need the extra space or not.
 
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