Mac Mini 2012 w/ Windows 7

[suiathon]

I'm currently in search of a replacement computer. I currently own a laptop running Windows Ultimate 64 bit. I've decided to try and look for a more mobile device for travel purposes. Because of my unfamiliarity with Mac Products I will have several questions regarding Windows 7 on a Mac Mini.

Assumptions running Windows:
1. Can it run well - lags, etc.?
2. Are there support issues I should be aware of with USB, HDMI, ect?
3. Can it run games smoothly - examples Team Fortress 2, Civ 5, Fable 2-3, Mass Effect 1-3?
4. What hardware updates can I make?
5. How is it in comparison to an first gen i5 processor, 8 GB memory?

Assumption running iOS:
1. Do Adobe Programs run fairly smooth?
2. What adapters might I need for switching from PC to Apple hardware?

Other:
1. Does dual boot act as if these are two separate computers - that is, will one operating system affect how the other acts?


Any help on these matters would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[MrGIS]

I'm currently in search of a replacement computer. I currently own a laptop running Windows Ultimate 64 bit. I've decided to try and look for a more mobile device for travel purposes. Because of my unfamiliarity with Mac Products I will have several questions regarding Windows 7 on a Mac Mini.

Assumptions running Windows:
1. Can it run well - lags, etc.?
2. Are there support issues I should be aware of with USB, HDMI, ect?
3. Can it run games smoothly - examples Team Fortress 2, Civ 5, Fable 2-3, Mass Effect 1-3?
4. What hardware updates can I make?
5. How is it in comparison to an first gen i5 processor, 8 GB memory?

Assumption running iOS:
1. Do Adobe Programs run fairly smooth?
2. What adapters might I need for switching from PC to Apple hardware?

Other:
1. Does dual boot act as if these are two separate computers - that is, will one operating system affect how the other acts?


Any help on these matters would be appreciated! Thanks!

1. Yes it will run Windows very well. In my experience there are no noticeable lags.

2. Not aware of support issues. Apple provides drivers for those who want to install Windows.


3. I don't game, so can't offer comment, except that the mini is not a gaming computer. It is great for many things, but gaming isn't one of them.

4. You can update RAM to 16GB very easily, and if you're not afraid of performing a little surgery you can upgrade the HD. Can you say SSD? If you buy a dual drive model, upgrading the second (top) drive requires more time and skill. No other updates are possible.

5. A little faster, offers USB 3 vs 2, HD 4000 graphics vs 3000. Otherwise identical.

1b. I'm assuming you mean OS X, but abobe software runs great.

2b. You may need mini displayport/thunderbolt to DVI/HDMI/Displayport/VGA adaptors depending on your existing peripherals. You may require an external USB DVD/BR drive. Check out Apple.com and or monoprice.com/ and or owc.com for options.

1c. Dual boot works the same as is does on a PC. NO effect on other OS. In my opinion a more integrated option is to run windows in a virtual machine via Parallels or VM ware fusion. I use fusion, and for what I do (no gaming), performance is excellent.

If you use multi threaded apps (Abobe Photoshop perhaps), get a quad core model.

Cheers.

 

[suiathon]

1. Yes it will run Windows very well. In my experience there are no noticeable lags.

4. You can update RAM to 16GB very easily, and if you're not afraid of performing a little surgery you can upgrade the HD. Can you say SSD? If you buy a dual drive model, upgrading the second (top) drive requires more time and skill. No other updates are possible.

1b. I'm assuming you mean OS X, but abobe software runs great.

2b. You may need mini displayport/thunderbolt to DVI/HDMI/Displayport/VGA adaptors depending on your existing peripherals. You may require an external USB DVD/BR drive.

Cheers.

Thanks for the quick answer!

4. I'll research the SSD part for future use. I'm not sure the current model - 500GB - that I'm looking at will be enough, but it's currently in my price range.

1b. Yes, that's what I meant. Like I said, I'm not familiar with Apple systems.

2b. I currently have an Asus Monitor with DVI/HDMI/VGA support. I should be able to use HDMI directly, correct? Otherwise I'll go with the VGA adapter.

Thanks again!

 

[MrGIS]

Thanks for the quick answer!

4. I'll research the SSD part for future use. I'm not sure the current model - 500GB - that I'm looking at will be enough, but it's currently in my price range.

1b. Yes, that's what I meant. Like I said, I'm not familiar with Apple systems.

2b. I currently have an Asus Monitor with DVI/HDMI/VGA support. I should be able to use HDMI directly, correct? Otherwise I'll go with the VGA adapter.

Thanks again!

The mini has a HDMI port built in and supports up to 1920x1200 resolution. Higher resolutions requires you do a thuderbolt to XXXX setup. I would avoid VGA.

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Thanks for the quick answer!

4. I'll research the SSD part for future use. I'm not sure the current model - 500GB - that I'm looking at will be enough, but it's currently in my price range.

1b. Yes, that's what I meant. Like I said, I'm not familiar with Apple systems.

2b. I currently have an Asus Monitor with DVI/HDMI/VGA support. I should be able to use HDMI directly, correct? Otherwise I'll go with the VGA adapter.

Thanks again!

Regarding hard drive space, if you need more you can always attach an external drive via thuderbolt/USB 3/Firewire

 

[suiathon]

[/COLOR]

Regarding hard drive space, if you need more you can always attach an external drive via thuderbolt/USB 3/Firewire

Oops, I suppose that was my original plan, I just forgot it. I have a few hard drives I can use. Do you think 80 GB is enough for OSX, with roughly 420 GB for Windows 7 would be a good setup? I plan to use Windows 7 for daily use. OSX... I'm not quite sure yet.

 

[MrGIS]

Oops, I suppose that was my original plan, I just forgot it. I have a few hard drives I can use. Do you think 80 GB is enough for OSX, with roughly 420 GB for Windows 7 would be a good setup? I plan to use Windows 7 for daily use. OSX... I'm not quite sure yet.

The partitioning balance you suggest would work fine in a scenario where you don't use OS X for much. But I have to ask, if you're not committed to OS X, why buy a Mac? There are other small PC's on the market. If you want to see what OS X is like, you can look into going the hackintosh route. I suggest to you that paying the premium for a Mac is only worth doing if you plan on using it like a Mac! I know they are beautiful machines, but even I am not that much of a fanboy to recommend paying that kind of money for the shiny box.

That said, my expectation is you'll learn to love OS X and you'll at one point or another find yourself dumping Windows for all but the must have apps.

 

[suiathon]

But I have to ask, if you're not committed to OS X, why buy a Mac?

It's a little bit of everything - the quality, size... And I'm also looking to see if I can grab one for 30-50% off. We'll see. At that price, it's close to 60% the cost of my current 3 year old laptop, but with higher specs and hardware capabilities. I'm more of a tech enthusiast than Apple/PC fan boy. I purchase according to my current needs.

I did research small PC models, but I could not find one that reached my expectations. So for now, the Mini will have to do.

 

[MJL]

... But I have to ask, if you're not committed to OS X, why buy a Mac? There are other small PC's on the market. ....

The Mac mini is silent, is small enough to take with me and hook up to a TV / monitor at destination, does not get damaged by idiots stowing their gear in the overhead locker in the plane, has two hard disk so I can restore the partition with winclone and can reboot in OS X in a hurry if Windows was to fail to get out of a trade that I am in urgently. No need to carry other peripherals for rebuilding, restoring etc. Wireless KB and mouse in checked luggage. Ability to run more than one display at 2560 x 1440?

Worldwide repair service.

Please, oh please tell me what other similar powerful, physical sized and quiet computer is available to do that and at a comparable price? And that can be repaired in almost every country? I love to know.

 

[suiathon]

Please, oh please tell me what other similar powerful, physical sized and quiet computer is available to do that and at a comparable price? And that can be repaired in almost every country? I love to know.

Yes, that's what I've found. I may not like the price, but it does give a lot for its size. I'm still contemplating, however.

 

[MJL]

Yes, that's what I've found. I may not like the price, but it does give a lot for its size. I'm still contemplating, however.

Price is relative - the first x86 IBM PC's cost as much as a decent new car. The first Compaq "lugables" were as much as a years salary. I used to buy high end laptops for my business and they were 4-6.5K ea. 10 years ago, you could buy a reasonable small secondhand car for that. Doubt you can buy much in a car for the money these Mac mini's cost today. Grunt is more than plenty and if it is not then there is something wrong in the programming (quality has gone downhill with sloppy programming), heck most desktops these days have more grunt that the "super computers" that costs tens of millions back in the 80's. Ah... them days that a C or Pascall compiler would fit on a 5 1/4" 360K floppy together with the data or the reel to reel tapedrives.