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Looking to buy Mac mini as a desktop replacement

S

snarestud940

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 3, 2012
517
28
Hey guys

I'm looking to buy a Mac mini as a desktop for my house. I currently have a 13 inch aluminum MacBook that was released in late 2008. Still runs great like the first day I got it. I also have an iPad 2 and an iPod touch 2nd generation.

For a desktop at my houses have a dell Inspiron tower that I paid about 250 dollars for. I'm looking to get a Mac desktop because I love macs all around and wanted to know if it is a good deal. I don't feel like spending more than 599 for a Mac mini so I would just like a little input.

My needs would just be, Microsoft office for college work, music arranging with Sibelius 7, music and maybe even syncing my iPad and iPod to that instead of my MacBook (if that would be too much, I would keep it in my MacBook), and basically just basic web stuff like surfing, Facebook, YouTube, and aim. It would be like my dell desktop in the fact that I would leave it in a lot of the time and not turn it off.

Would this work and be enough? My dell tower is two years old and already lagging. Thanks in advance guys!!!!!
 
snarestud940 said:
Hey guys

I'm looking to buy a Mac mini as a desktop for my house. I currently have a 13 inch aluminum MacBook that was released in late 2008. Still runs great like the first day I got it. I also have an iPad 2 and an iPod touch 2nd generation.

For a desktop at my houses have a dell Inspiron tower that I paid about 250 dollars for. I'm looking to get a Mac desktop because I love macs all around and wanted to know if it is a good deal. I don't feel like spending more than 599 for a Mac mini so I would just like a little input.

My needs would just be, Microsoft office for college work, music arranging with Sibelius 7, music and maybe even syncing my iPad and iPod to that instead of my MacBook (if that would be too much, I would keep it in my MacBook), and basically just basic web stuff like surfing, Facebook, YouTube, and aim. It would be like my dell desktop in the fact that I would leave it in a lot of the time and not turn it off.

Would this work and be enough? My dell tower is two years old and already lagging. Thanks in advance guys!!!!!
Click to expand...

Base Mini with 8Gb ram will keep you happy for awhile. Apple is expensive. Amazon sells 8Gb for like $39. I got it on sale for $29.
 
Changed out my Home built system for a MacMini and will not go back to windows. You will be paying a bit more than $599 OP, since there is Taxes, and may I suggest upgrading the 2 GB installed to 4 GB (8GB if you can swing it) that one can get, and install easily for a very small amount.

Good luck with the new system ;) :apple:
 
Are any of u familiar with the Sibelius software? Will it run well? And on my 13 MacBook, I topped it out when I bought it. I paid 1700. It isn't a pro, but it has 250 hard drive, and 2gb ram. Back in January of 09 it was a great deal. And I think that is very fast. Will this mini be the same?
 
snarestud940 said:
Are any of u familiar with the Sibelius software? Will it run well? And on my 13 MacBook, I topped it out when I bought it. I paid 1700. It isn't a pro, but it has 250 hard drive, and 2gb ram. Back in January of 09 it was a great deal. And I think that is very fast. Will this mini be the same?
Click to expand...

in my opinion the i5 makes the once great core 2 duo feel ancient, i do video conversion. I HIGHLY reccomed the 8gb ram increase.
 
My Dad has done this. Replaced a PC with a Mac Mini about 3 years ago. Now he's moved on to an iMac.

For basic use you probably won't need 4 gigs. But it's 100 bucks more. Actually it should only be about $30.

You might need a external disc drive (usb) because there is no cd/dvd drive. Go for it! :)
 
thanks greatly for the help guys. I honestly don't know how I would install the extra ram. I'm not smart in that aspect. Why does apple charge 300 to get the 8 gigs? and its only 45 on that website?
 
Installing RAM sticks is pretty easy: Just screw off the bottom cover, open two clippers for each RAM stick, pull out the stock RAM sticks one at a time, and insert the replacement RAM sticks one at a time.

There is instruction video on the OWC website, http://www.macsales.com.
 
Can I upgrade my macbook aluminum from 2 GB to 8 GB as well? for this price?

and how come apple charges so much more? is it better memory?
 
snarestud940 said:
Can I upgrade my macbook aluminum from 2 GB to 8 GB as well? for this price?

and how come apple charges so much more? is it better memory?
Click to expand...

Goto macsales.com and look up whatever model of Mac you have, it will tell you anything you can possibly need to know about RAM. Including the OEM brand that is likely in your Mac now, so if you want to stay with "Apple's" RAM, you can.

Apple charges based on round numbers. $100 is generally the price for an incremental upgrade for RAM, despite going rates. Few ever pay Apple for additional memory, esp near the end of a product cycle.
 
I got the latest Mini the month it came out; it should fit your needs just fine. Make sure to upgrade the RAM though, as 2GB isn't enough for much more than basic web surfing and maybe iTunes under Lion. 4GB should suit your needs, but consider that 8GB will be a good investment as well at under $40 from third parties
 
I did the same, replaced my aging PC wth a Mac Mini. Glad I did, will not be going PC ever again.

I have 4GB of Ram, and a 500GB HD. Will probably eventually add more ram.
 
I can say that this new mini will suit your need quiet well. I have an early 2009 mini and it has been working 24/7 as a media center for almost 3 years. I have even played all hl2 episodes and portal 1 and portal 2 (though I had to turn off anti-aliasing to make it playable). I installed win 7 via bootcamp on it to play other games like bioshock2 and arkham asylum that weren't available for osx and they played nicely. I have it set up with eyetv as a dvr and plex media server to serve all my other computers in the house. It also syncs my iPhone and iPad wirelessly, automatically when I charge them anywhere in the house. It does all this and more with no viruses or anti-virus software slowing it down. And this is a three year old mini. The new one will easily handle your needs.

Also, the stock 2 gigs will be fine to start, as I know you are looking to save money and your needs aren't very demanding. When you have the money though (extra $30-40) get an 8gb kit and pop it in. Easiest memory upgrade you will ever do. Twist off the bottom cover, swap simms, twist cover back on. Done.
 
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