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Intel Mac Mini...what do i need to know?!

lonegeek

lonegeek

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 2, 2006
81
0
So I've finally ,almost, have enough money to buy a mac!!!

I have $465 US.. Im only 14 so i cant get money to easily...But Im at a "crossroad?".. Plan on saving for core solo...or core duo..

I really want the dvd burner and the bigger hard drive... But is the core duo worth it? Is that enough to create dvds , use garage band etc... Im mostly just a net user...

Im just a bit confused about what is right for me.... I want something that will last..This current pc is about 3 years old..It works good still..but OSX is just amazing.. I've played on some macs in the apple stores....

Any advice?

Zach
 
1) Every computer will last, in terms of, it will do what you bought it for originally, as long as you don;t want to upgrade the OS or applications or expect it to run the latest new thing in x years from now

2) No computer will 'last', in terms of being the king of the hill or the latest thing. Every computer will be 'obsolete' or superceded within 6 months, most within 3.

3) If you want DVD burning bad enough, you have to pay for it.

4) Depends a lot on wheter you already have a compatible monitor, mouse and keyboard.

5) Buy a stock config. from Apple and add more RAM yourself, for lower cost.
 
Yeah My monitor would be compatible...VGA..

I have a microsoft wireless mouse and keyboard that runs on usb so that should be good also

Is there noticable difference between the core solo and duo??
 
lonegeek said:
Yeah My monitor would be compatible...VGA..

I have a microsoft wireless mouse and keyboard that runs on usb so that should be good also

Is there noticable difference between the core solo and duo??
Click to expand...

You can always get the Core Solo and upgrade later.
 
lonegeek said:
Is there noticable difference between the core solo and duo??
Click to expand...

Depends on what you are doing. For basic web browsing and email probably nothing that is noticable. If you are playing HD movie trailers while web browsing/email or doing photoshop or development work then yes, there is a noticable difference.
 
Hmmmm Well i do convert things to xvid...burn dvds.. dabble with photoshop... attempt to make websites etc....

IS the core solo faster than an amd xp 2200+ ...(what i currently have).....

Id love to use garage band..as i attempt to play guitar lol.....
 
lonegeek said:
Hmmmm Well i do convert things to xvid...burn dvds.. dabble with photoshop... attempt to make websites etc....

IS the core solo faster than an amd xp 2200+ ...(what i currently have).....

Id love to use garage band..as i attempt to play guitar lol.....
Click to expand...


a core solo should be fine for your needs, and yes, it will be faster than your athlon.

plus as others have said its possible to upgrade the proc down the line if you wanna go dual core
 
lonegeek said:
Hmmmm Well i do convert things to xvid...burn dvds.. dabble with photoshop... attempt to make websites etc....

IS the core solo faster than an amd xp 2200+ ...(what i currently have).....

Id love to use garage band..as i attempt to play guitar lol.....
Click to expand...

The 1.5GHz Core Solo will run circles around an AMD XP 2200+.
 
Any links to benchmarks?? Hmmm Im getting very excited about a mac now..... LOL...

I run dual monitors right now... but i think ill just use synergy or something for a bit..then just go one monitor...

Ill definately be waiting a bit till i buy it still..as i have a bit more to save up...

Hopefully by then a revision b will be out and some nice speed bumps :)
 
My mini Duo

I just love my mini Core Duo, I got the 100 Gig/ 1 Gig of RAM model. The speed is amazing I can rip a DVD in Handbrake for iPod 5G in 20 - 25 minutes. It was really really worth it, and I love the new networked Front Row. I cannot applaud this machine enough, I love it!!!! I'd save up and maybe Rev B may be cheaper:)
 
dferrara said:
You can always get the Core Solo and upgrade later.
Click to expand...


that's what i'd do. go solo, but with a superdrive and RAM upgrade. if, in say 2 years, you want to upgrade, you can pull out the solo chip and put in a duo or merom, giving you a whole new computer again!
 
Something to keep in mind:

After upgrading to a Superdrive (+$50) and upgrading from 60GB to 80 GB storage (+$50), it is only $100 more for the core duo upgrade.
 
Well With osx 10.5 coming this summer? Ill just save until that comes out..ITd be silly to buy it knowing ill have to spend anothet 100 or so in just a few short weeks :)

So...I suppose ill just save until that... or revision b of the intel mac mini.. :)
 
im only a year older than you, and trust me, dual core IS the future. right now im about 100 away from my macbook pro (i havnt bought anything since my ipod mini last january) and having dual core will greatly increase your productivity while doing things such as say, a research paper while surfing macrumors. Apparantley, the new mac minis and imacs have a swappable processor, so it is probable that with the 1.5Ghz core solo, a core duo could be put in later, but i doubt apple will do this for you. if you do not want to open up your mini (easier said than done) to change the processor or replace with a new hdd or ram down the line, i would say go for the duo, but if not try the solo.
 
Here's a relevant thread. I'm trying to decide too, and think I'll wait for Merom/Conroe (whichever goes into the Mini). The reason is that the Core Solo and Core Duo use Yonah, which is 32-bit only. Merom and Conroe will be 64-bit and 32-bit. Not that that's entirely useful on the desktop, other than a few relatively minor performance gains, but it's conceivable that once all Macs are 64-bit, Apple will eventually develop 64-bit OS X only, and end support for 32-bit OS X, as Microsoft is doing with Vista. That may take more years than the lifespan of any Mac purchased this year, though as hardware gets more powerful, PC lifespans increase, and only artificial means like Windows no longer supporting old hardware can curtail them.

Also, Merom and Conroe will have Virtualization technology built in, though that will only matter to you if you're a hacker/developer or want to run virtualized Windows or Linux on your Mac.
 
lonegeek said:
Well With osx 10.5 coming this summer? Ill just save until that comes out..ITd be silly to buy it knowing ill have to spend anothet 100 or so in just a few short weeks
Click to expand...

10.5 probably won't ship until late this year or early next year. It will be much longer than a few weeks.

Another thing you should consider is ram, upgrading to a gig or more makes a huge difference in performance on the minis.
 
lonegeek said:
IS the core solo faster than an amd xp 2200+ ...(what i currently have).....
Click to expand...

<geekspeak>
Since the "2200+" refers to being about as fast as a 2.2 GHZ Pentinum chip, theoretically, no. However, since that chip is at least several years old (if it is the stock chip) There probably will be updates in the chip itself (65 nm process, etc.) that will enable it to run modern apps faster.
</geekspeak>
 
NerdBoy said:
<geekspeak>
Since the "2200+" refers to being about as fast as a 2.2 GHZ Pentinum chip, theoretically, no. However, since that chip is at least several years old (if it is the stock chip) There probably will be updates in the chip itself (65 nm process, etc.) that will enable it to run modern apps faster.
</geekspeak>
Click to expand...

"2200+" means its about the equivalent of a 2.2Ghz Pentium 4. The Intel Core chips have a way higher performance to CPU cycle ratio than the Pentium 4s.
 
Yeah... Im just gonna keep saving i guess... Maybe wait for revison b of the mac mini...

Well if i were to build a new windows computer...id be going dual core..So i suppose i should go dual core mini....

How soon do you think 64bit cpu will be in the mini?
 
lonegeek said:
Yeah... Im just gonna keep saving i guess... Maybe wait for revison b of the mac mini...

Well if i were to build a new windows computer...id be going dual core..So i suppose i should go dual core mini....

How soon do you think 64bit cpu will be in the mini?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about 64 bit. It won't make much difference beyond 4+ gigs of ram, and that's overkill for most mini users.
 
milo said:
10.5 probably won't ship until late this year or early next year. It will be much longer than a few weeks.

Another thing you should consider is ram, upgrading to a gig or more makes a huge difference in performance on the minis.
Click to expand...

Where does everyone get this idea that 10.5 will be ready in less than a year?
 
Well thanks to apple bootcamp...its basically made me decided that i have no reason to get an apple :) I should definately go dual core... I want something that will last ..Plus apple computers have great resale value...So if i have that dual core for about 2-3 years i can almost be guarrented to get at least 500 from it..I would think..

You cant say the same about a home built pc or even a dell... I couldnt imagine buying a used dell or home built pc.. But i have definately thought about buying a used apple ... Its kind of weird...
 
lonegeek said:
Well thanks to apple bootcamp...its basically made me decided that i have no reason not to get an apple :) I should definately go dual core... I want something that will last ..Plus apple computers have great resale value...So if i have that dual core for about 2-3 years i can almost be guarrented to get at least 500 from it..I would think..

You cant say the same about a home built pc or even a dell... I couldnt imagine buying a used dell or home built pc.. But i have definately thought about buying a used apple ... Its kind of weird...
Click to expand...

Yeah, the resale value rocks! And $500 is realistic. I think you made a great decision. :)
 
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