Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is the Mac mini a good, reliable computer?

palmerc2

palmerc2

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 29, 2008
1,625
687
Los Angeles
My fathers Acer computer just crapped out, he asked me what I recommend he gets next, and I thought the mac mini. He already has a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc...all he needs is the machine. He is a very basic user, just web, email, skype, light video editing in iMovie, and a little music.

I am just curious if the mac mini is a good and reliable machine, I'm hoping it will last him a good 3-5 years. I got my first mac 3 years ago, and love it....I'm thinking he'll love it too because he's had to have his machine reformatted a couple of times due to viruses.

thanks!
 
Yes the Mac Mini is a good reliable choice. It's one of the most reliable Macs on the market.
 
My mini has lasted for around 3 years and is still going strong, so yes they are reliable machines. Of course you always run the risk that something will go wrong, but if you buy AppleCare, that will fix any problems you might have and your computer will definitely run for at least 3 years, probably more.
 
The Mac Mini doesn't include a screen and as it's not a portable machine it doesn't have the issue of having a battery either. So it's got less components likely to fail than a laptop.

Whilst the Mac Mini is a desktop machine it uses laptop parts. The hard drive, memory and optical drive would probably be the most likely components to fail.

Getting AppleCare is a good idea in case you get very unfortunate and get a machine that fails after the 1 year warranty runs out but before the 3 years of AppleCare coverage are up.

You can buy then apply the AppleCare any time during the 12 month warranty period so you don't have to make your mind up about it straight away.
 
I've had a mac mini, 06 model.. for 4 years, coming up to 5 now.. Its never gone wrong yet. (doing music production and multi track mixing on it) The only thing that ever went wrong was the hard drive 2-3 months ago..

Its a great lil machine, should be perfectly adequate as an entrance into 'the mac experience'

:)
 
venomz said:
Yes but wait for a Sandy Bridge refresh.

C2D is long in the tooth.
Click to expand...
Hopefully there's a Sandy Bridge refresh in the next few months or so, but that's no certainty.

For palmerc2's father's basic needs the C2D would be fine. With iMovie he'd notice a difference, but if he doesn't use it that much then it's not a deal breaker. You can always leave it to do tasks overnight if you have to.
 
Thank you for all the input!

Yeah, no need to wait for the refresh. His uses will be very basic, and he needs it this week. C2D will be well above sufficient for his needs. I was just here to clarify the reliability of the mini, and I will recommend AppleCare.
 
Indeed, I have found it to me an intensely reliable little machine. Mine has been on 24/7 for the better part of the last two years (got it the day after the Nvidia minis were released in 2009), acting as my main desktop with some light server usage in the background, and it has yet to give me a single hiccup.
 
I've had mine now for 6 months. It's a fantastic computer. C2D will be fine for his application. If I was going to recommend anything I should have upgraded to the 500GB 7200 RPM drive. As a matter of fact, I've just ordered an Intel MX25 80GB solid state drive which I'll be installing this weekend...:) The faster drive will help...
 
philipma1957 said:
yes I have purchased and upgraded more then 50 2009 models.

very reliable very few problems. if you are in the states the refurbished 2009 2.53ghz is a good choice.



http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC239LL/A?mco=MTU5MTc1NjM


it is out of stock. But it could relist soon. I grabbed one to mod yesterday. your dad would not even need a mod. or just drop in a western digital 500gb scorpio black hdd.
Click to expand...

you must have grabbed the one that was in stock i saw for like 2 hours yesterday:)
 
philipma1957 said:
yes I have purchased and upgraded more then 50 2009 models.

very reliable very few problems. if you are in the states the refurbished 2009 2.53ghz is a good choice.



http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC239LL/A?mco=MTU5MTc1NjM


it is out of stock. But it could relist soon. I grabbed one to mod yesterday. your dad would not even need a mod. or just drop in a western digital 500gb scorpio black hdd.
Click to expand...

Any reason to go for the refurb 2009 over refurb 2010 if they're the same price? I know cpu speed is slightly higher at 2.53 vs 2.4. Is it more just a preference for the style of the mini? Asking as I was thinking about getting a 2010 refurb 2.4.
 
I have owned two Mac minis, which I bought used and they work fine. One I have used for over 3 years without a hitch and it was purchased by original owner in 2005 and sported a 1.42 Ghz G4.

The newer Mac mini I bought used, built in 2007 with 2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo, was one I have used for about a year and so far no problems.

Just from those two Mac minis, they pass with flying colors.

My other Macs, a 2000 Power Mac G4 which I finally gave away in 2010, had no issues. The G3 iBook which I bought in 1999 still works but the battery doesn't hold a charge anymore but that's to be expected. A replacement battery costs more than a used iBook but anyway, that's how long Macs last.
 
profets said:
Any reason to go for the refurb 2009 over refurb 2010 if they're the same price? I know cpu speed is slightly higher at 2.53 vs 2.4. Is it more just a preference for the style of the mini? Asking as I was thinking about getting a 2010 refurb 2.4.
Click to expand...

If you don't mod your computers buy the 2.4GHz

2010 mini. If you like to mod and tinker buy the 2009. The 2009 is easier to fully take apart. The 2010 is only easy to put in ram.
 
philipma1957 said:
If you don't mod your computers buy the 2.4GHz

2010 mini. If you like to mod and tinker buy the 2009. The 2009 is easier to fully take apart. The 2010 is only easy to put in ram.
Click to expand...

Thanks.. Yeah, I was thinking an SSD upgrade would be a no brainer, but the steps needed to take apart the 2010 to reach the hdd look crazy.
 
philipma1957 said:
the 2010 ssd connectors are not sturdy they are easy to break.

the 2009 has very sturdy connection for hdds. I prefer modding the 09's over the 10's
Click to expand...

Being a computer tech, and even with a very small desk in a very small room with two Mac minis, what is wrong with external storage? It's so inexpensive these days and doesn't require possibly wrecking your machine or voiding the warranty. (I was an Apple and PC warranty tech and now I have own business).
 
63dot said:
Being a computer tech, and even with a very small desk in a very small room with two Mac minis, what is wrong with external storage? It's so inexpensive these days and doesn't require possibly wrecking your machine or voiding the warranty. (I was an Apple and PC warranty tech and now I have own business).
Click to expand...

He was talking about SSDs, and there is no point to use an external boot SSD in the Mini due to the limited interfaces available.

For storage, external probably is the way to go with a Mini as you're limited to 1.5TB internally anyway.
 
philipma1957 said:
the 2010 ssd connectors are not sturdy they are easy to break.

the 2009 has very sturdy connection for hdds. I prefer modding the 09's over the 10's
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback :)

Any reason why the sata connector is not sturdy? Is it the connector itself, or the support/location it sits in?
 
I've had my 2.0ghz C2D running quietly in a warm-ish cupboard 24/7 for the last 18 months. It has been rock-solid. Nary a peep from it.

In that time I've had to replace the OWC Mercury Elite's (that's attached to the Mini) transformer block for the 2nd time. That's the 3rd PSU!. Luckily I've found a cheaper alternative to their one.
 
Generally, they are reliable, however, my 2010's HDD crapped out and Apple had the nerve to tell me it was my fault.

I don't have the 2010 anymore, as I needed the money from it, but this 2009 seems rock solid.
 
I bought mine Nov 2006~~never had it apart, never taken into the shop, still working fine...could use an HD upgrade though.:cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back