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

Mac mini 2013/2014 refresh.

iydkmigthtky said:
850$ for...

- (outdated) integrated graphics
- old operating system
- hard drive instead of SSD
- large tower case

...is a terrible deal. there are far better options in the mac and pc world.
Click to expand...

Oh please; It has a 1GB "video card". Either it is running HD4400 with 1GB RAM or the HD4400 is disabled because it really has a dGPU. In either case it offers better video than a mini. Haswell i5 and HD4400 are both current.

Old operating system? W7 is still preferred by many users.

Hard drive instead of SSD? An easily replaceable, 7200 RPM HD is better than the mini's standard drive.

From the description the Dell looks to be a reasonably-priced, expandable machine.
 
MrGuder said:
I just got an email from Dell to get 30% off Optiplex 9020 i5-4570 Processor (Quad Core, 3.20GHz Turbo, 6MB, w/ HD Graphics 4600, Win 7, 8GB Ram, 500GB Drive 7200 RPM, 1GB video card, no monitor, total $850.10

I just don't know if I want to stay w/ Windows or just get the Mac Mini now. I really want to get a mini but this email is tempting me.
Click to expand...

A mini is going to always hold its resale value. If you want one get a refurb from Apple and you can sell it when the new Mini shows up. The Mini is low on priorities for Apple and the current ones are still in high demand. If you want to get the Dell because it has Haswell you are going to live with it for a long time and it won't have much resale value even though it is a good company. They are a dime a dozen. It's your preference.
 
Ehh, $850 for a dell configured like that with no monitor is a pretty crap price.

You should be able to find something like that for $500, then add a $200 video card to it that far outstrips the onboard, Iris Pro, or the crappy 1GB nvidia 635 they'll give you.
 
scottsjack said:
Oh please; It has a 1GB "video card". Either it is running HD4400 with 1GB RAM or the HD4400 is disabled because it really has a dGPU. In either case it offers better video than a mini. Haswell i5 and HD4400 are both current.

Old operating system? W7 is still preferred by many users.

Hard drive instead of SSD? An easily replaceable, 7200 RPM HD is better than the mini's standard drive.

From the description the Dell looks to be a reasonably-priced, expandable machine.
Click to expand...
i'm saying he should wait for the new mac mini (that's what i would do) or pick a pc with better specs or a lower price. w7 is mostly preferred by uninformed, bigoted users - win8 performs much better on many different levels (you can simply disable metro). hd 4000 vs 4400: absolutely negligible difference. a 1GB dedicated card would be ok-ish, although 2GB+ are very common. obviously it would be important to know which model.

Schnort said:
Ehh, $850 for a dell configured like that with no monitor is a pretty crap price.

You should be able to find something like that for $500, then add a $200 video card to it that far outstrips the onboard, Iris Pro, or the crappy 1GB nvidia 635 they'll give you.
Click to expand...
indeed.
 
tom vilsack said:
Refurb store just exploded with mini's...somethings up!
Click to expand...

Wishful thinking... this is standard practice; they release refurbs in batches. Too much work to do it individually!

Likewise, if you look at Amazon, you will find a new batch of brand new 2012 minis showed up.

Much as I would like a Haswell mini, all of this rumor mongering seems to be based off of one store's web site in Belgium...

-JimJ
 
jimj740 said:
Wishful thinking... this is standard practice; they release refurbs in batches. Too much work to do it individually!

Likewise, if you look at Amazon, you will find a new batch of brand new 2012 minis showed up.

Much as I would like a Haswell mini, all of this rumor mongering seems to be based off of one store's web site in Belgium...

-JimJ
Click to expand...

That's right. The new Mac Pro watchers would go crazy every time MPs disappeared from the refurb store and then went crazy all over again when a ton of them were suddenly for sale.
 
jimj740 said:
Likewise, if you look at Amazon, you will find a new batch of brand new 2012 minis showed up.

-JimJ
Click to expand...

amazon.com only has the base model in stock. both i7 models are out of stock for some time now. I think that's a good sign for haswell minis!
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
goatghost said:
I believe that listing (even though it is Amazon Prime eligible) is from an Apple reseller and not directly from Amazon. :D
Click to expand...
Note: Free shipping when purchased from DataVision Computer Video. Not eligible for Amazon Prime.
:confused:
 
goatghost said:
I believe that listing (even though it is Amazon Prime eligible) is from an Apple reseller and not directly from Amazon. :D
Click to expand...

Amazon never had any stock (ships and sold by amazon.com) for a long time except a couple of them popping up occasionally.
I see this DataVision and J&R been there always..
 
Can I use the included HDMI to DVI Adapter that comes with the Mac Mini to hook up my older flat screen Dell Monitor or do I need to purchase the $29.00 Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter? My older dell monitor already uses the DVI that I connect to my dell tower so do I need to purchase another adapter or can I use the one that comes with the mini?
 
MrGuder said:
Can I use the included HDMI to DVI Adapter that comes with the Mac Mini to hook up my older flat screen Dell Monitor or do I need to purchase the $29.00 Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter? My older dell monitor already uses the DVI that I connect to my dell tower so do I need to purchase another adapter or can I use the one that comes with the mini?
Click to expand...

You can use the one that comes with the mini if you already have a dvi cable. If you want to use the HDMI for your tv in addition you can purchase less expensive adapters from Amazon.
 
Thank you

I have one more question, if I get the 256GB Solid State Drive and I already have a 500GB WD external drive, can I put my iTunes library (that is 95 GB) on the WD external drive or do I have to have my iTunes library on the internal 256 SSD drive?

I'm planning to upgrade ram myself but adding another internal drive is out since i'm not that tech savy. I'm debating the Fusion or the SSD.
 
MrGuder said:
Thank you

I have one more question, if I get the 256GB Solid State Drive and I already have a 500GB WD external drive, can I put my iTunes library (that is 95 GB) on the WD external drive or do I have to have my iTunes library on the internal 256 SSD drive?

I'm planning to upgrade ram myself but adding another internal drive is out since i'm not that tech savy. I'm debating the Fusion or the SSD.
Click to expand...

You can keep all your data files on external and all applications on your SSD.
It's not a problem at all.

The fusion and ssd is more or less a personal choice. I personally like ssd others like fusion.
 
MrGuder said:
Thank you

I have one more question, if I get the 256GB Solid State Drive and I already have a 500GB WD external drive, can I put my iTunes library (that is 95 GB) on the WD external drive or do I have to have my iTunes library on the internal 256 SSD drive?

I'm planning to upgrade ram myself but adding another internal drive is out since i'm not that tech savy. I'm debating the Fusion or the SSD.
Click to expand...

You can put an "iTunes Library" on any connected (internal or external USB, FW or network etc.) drive. There are several ways to do it but that's for another thread. I have my iTunes library connected via network and resides on NAS and part of it local to the Mac Mini.
 
Excellent, thanks. I really am leaning toward the SSD since I have an external already. I wish the mini could be ordered with a 512GB SSD as an option.
 
MrGuder said:
Excellent, thanks. I really am leaning toward the SSD since I have an external already. I wish the mini could be ordered with a 512GB SSD as an option.
Click to expand...

Well there is a solution to that. You can get a Samsung 840 evo 500gb to put in it for not much more than Apples 250. If you don't feel comfortable installing your self you can find a local Apple service center and have them put it in. It's really a easy job. Take the internal spin drive and buy a external enclosure for time machine backup.
 
well....

Oil on fire...

It seems that the mini's BTO in The Netherlands both customised with SSD of FD disks suddenly got a delivery time of 2-3weeks. Last few week it was 3-5 days.
 
RDoe said:
Oil on fire...

It seems that the mini's BTO in The Netherlands both customised with SSD of FD disks suddenly got a delivery time of 2-3weeks. Last few week it was 3-5 days.
Click to expand...

same here in Austria (probably the same for all apple online stores)
could be another good sign!
 
Same in the UK.

Also over the last 2-3 weeks the refurb store has been awash with Mac Minis. Same set of models re-appearing. Prior to that it was like the odd one or two now and again.
 
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