Is a mac mini enough for my needs?

[qawsalla888]

I am very tempted to buy a Mac Mini as my main everyday desktop, but I was thinking is it good at the following?

-Web Browsing
-Image Editing (Gimp, Inkscape)
-Simple Video Editing
-Running Virtual Machines (Windows and Linux guests)
-Programming (Java and Python)
-Gaming (Only Minecraft)
-Flash
-Skype

Is 2gb ram good enough for this or should I go for 4gb?

Btw I have little to none experience with Macs, I am very experienced with ubuntu/linux and windows though.

 

[GGJstudios]

The mini should easily be able to handle your needs. Buy it with 2GB of RAM and add RAM yourself, which is much cheaper than getting RAM from Apple.

• Apple does not manufacture RAM and charges more than you would pay with other reputable RAM providers.
• Some great sources for Mac-compatible RAM are OWC, Crucial and newegg.com.
• Installation of user-installable parts such as RAM does not void the Apple Warranty or the AppleCare Protection Plan, unless you damage something in the process.
  
  
• MR Guide to Buying RAM
• MR Guide to Understanding Intel Mac RAM
• MR Guide to Matched RAM on Intel Macs
  
  
• MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory
• MacBook: How to remove or install memory
• iMac: How to remove or install memory
• Mac mini: How to remove or install memory

You can find specs on all Apple products, including maximum RAM:

• By visiting EveryMac.com: Actual Maximum RAM
• By selecting your model on the Crucial Memory Advisor™ Tool to find RAM information
• By using Mactracker
• By entering your serial number here to find specs for your model.
  (Be aware that some models can use more RAM than Apple shows. Check EveryMac to verify actual usable RAM.)

 

[SR45]

What they said and don't be concerned about upgrading the ram. It is so easy to do. A simple twist and Wa La its open and do the upgrade. 4 GB is good but 8 Gb of ram is even better, not to mention, its cheap, so why not..

 

[lilsoccakid74]

Any of the new models can handle your needs, if $200 doesn't break the bank I believe the 2.5ghz amd6630 model would be very beneficial, especially in terms of longevity as more graphics power is demanded in the future. The 2009-2010 models had me bottlenecked in this department, so I have really enjoyed my new 2.5 mini.

Hope this helps.