Is the 2014 mini bad if I dont plan to upgrade?

[ricktat]

Current PC has 300GB of used storage including windows.

I just use the PC for word processing, internet, and ITunes.

I have 2 external Seagate 2TB drives. One is just back-up, the other can work as NAS.

I am also OK with purchasing something new in 3 years since I am used to my PC dying in about that time

Entry Mini is $499 and with a 10% off Best Buy coupon is $449

I am trying to justify switching my PC over and doing it cheaply. I have a MacBook Air, 5 ipads, and 2 iphones in the house.

 

[xylitol]

It's not bad, except for the ridiculous 5400rpm HDD as a boot drive. But that bottleneck can be bypassed with an external SSD.

Mac Minis don't typically die in 3 years, so you might also want to consider the resale value.

 

[MrX8503]

I bought a 2012 refurb and decided to return it in the end for a 2014 because I don't plan to upgrade it. You can swap out the 2.5 5400 rpm with an SSD if you have a T6 security screwdriver.

 

[tom vilsack]

I just use the PC for word processing, internet, and ITunes.

The base model is more then enough if these are your needs.

Heck I run Yosemite on a older 2009 macbook 2.26 with 4g ram and 320g 5400 hd and it runs just great...so a new mini should have no issues!

 

[iDento]

Not Bad!

The Mac Mini won't die in 3 years and you can sell it or use it as an HTPC or a Server, it has so many uses because of it's unique design and low energy consumption.

 

[dogslobber]

Current PC has 300GB of used storage including windows.

I just use the PC for word processing, internet, and ITunes.

I have 2 external Seagate 2TB drives. One is just back-up, the other can work as NAS.

I am also OK with purchasing something new in 3 years since I am used to my PC dying in about that time

Entry Mini is $499 and with a 10% off Best Buy coupon is $449

I am trying to justify switching my PC over and doing it cheaply. I have a MacBook Air, 5 ipads, and 2 iphones in the house.

The entry level is neutered. Remember that the 4GB has to get the OS running and it also has to supply memory for the display due to integrated graphics. It won't take you long until you hit the limitations of the base model and start to hate it.

Spend the extra 200$ for the 8GB model would be my recommendation, and 10% off 699$ comes to $630-ish.

 

[Crosscreek]

Current PC has 300GB of used storage including windows.

I just use the PC for word processing, internet, and ITunes.

I have 2 external Seagate 2TB drives. One is just back-up, the other can work as NAS.

I am also OK with purchasing something new in 3 years since I am used to my PC dying in about that time

Entry Mini is $499 and with a 10% off Best Buy coupon is $449

I am trying to justify switching my PC over and doing it cheaply. I have a MacBook Air, 5 ipads, and 2 iphones in the house.

The new Mini is what the future Minis will be with maybe an enclosure design.
The $499 is a MacBook Air without the SSD. Like the poster above stated if you want faster boots and open programs faster just add an external SSD.
It will be a fine machine for your collection and what you want to use it for.
It's cheaper than an iPad with full OS X functionality.

 

[Sun Baked]

The entry level is neutered. Remember that the 4GB has to get the OS running and it also has to supply memory for the display due to integrated graphics. It won't take you long until you hit the limitations of the base model and start to hate it.

Spend the extra 200$ for the 8GB model would be my recommendation, and 10% off 699$ comes to $630-ish.

Basically mid level 2014 Mini with a 27" matte IPS monitor from Best Buy was the route I decided on.

Pushed purchase a bit earlier than I wanted because a beastly old iMac CRT in the family died, and I certainly didn't want to pay the penalty for a new iMac right now if I donated my iMac to replace a dead machine.

So I'll use the mid level 2014 Mini until my old iMac dies or the Mini or 21" iMacs become more interesting.

But from using the machine, since it first arrived on Best Buy's sales floor, absolutely nothing wrong with it ... if you don't plan on upgrades.

---

Even the entry level machine will likely suit you fine, especially if you are satisfied with the MacBook Air performance.

 

[dogslobber]

Even the entry level machine will likely suit you fine, especially if you are satisfied with the MacBook Air performance.

MBA has an SSD whereas the 2014 Mini has a pedestrian spinner. You'll notice a massive difference once the Mini 4G starts swapping.

I thought I read that the Mini 2014 uses 1.5GB of RAM for the display by default. 2.5GB left for Yosemite + apps. Do the maths!

 

[Oracle1729]

Mac Minis don't typically die in 3 years, so you might also want to consider the resale value.

This is a good factor. Even if you don't ever plan to upgrade it yourself, the lack of upgradability will hurt its resale value. In a few years, a 4 gig machine that a buyer can upgrade to 16 would be quite useful and command a decent resale value. A machine stuck at 4 gig will be pretty useless.

 

[cinealta]

CI just use the PC for word processing, internet, and ITunes.

You'd be fine with a 2009 C2D Mini. I've got one running Yosemite on a 5400 RPM HDD with 4 GB and it's fine for general use.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're going to get a 2014 Mini, spring for the mid-model.

More "legs for longevity", so to speak...