Mac Mini - A Few Questions

[kendo26]

I'm currently mac-less

I've been spending the last couple of months re-evaluating my computing needs versus my electrical usage. I've also have had several machines (Both Windows and mac) at the same time.

I had a Revision B iMac G5 that I sold about three weeks ago. The electrical usage came about after building a Pentium D based system that ate electricity like crazy. I have since replaced that with a Compaq laptop that has taken care of the electrical costs but my heart is with OS X.

I've had a mini when they first came out (the old $499 model) and I feel that the $599 model can fill my basic needs but I have a few questions.

1) How much space is free on the 60gb harddrive? I tend to store a lot of photos and music on my systems.

2) If I buy an external dvd burner to suplement the combo drive does iLife 6's versions of iMovie and iDVD support it without a hack?

3) If I only use universal binary software and nothing that requires rosetta will the base 512mb of ram be sufficient?

Thanks in advance.

 

[FFTT]

The default install for Mac OSX is about 12.5 GB plus room for formatting the drive.

I always run a custom lean install on notebooks with these smaller HD's

You can free up a good 5GB just deselecting all the extra printer drivers, language
translators, garageband demos, iDVD themes, iWork and MS Office demos and so on.

My daughter's 60 GB HD on her iBook ended up wiith just under 40 GB available
after I installed all her applications.
Her OS install was about 7.4 GB

You should have an external storage drive for back-up anyway, so I wouldn't
worry too much about upgrading.

 

[Josias]

I had 42 GB left on my 60 GB MacBook HDD after removing office and iwork trial.

Don't buy an external burner. Just pay $50 to get a 8x DL Superdrive.

I'd still recomend you paying $100 to get 1 GB. It will last much longer that way.

For $750 you'll get a Mini with:
1.66 GHz Core Duo.
1 GB RAM.
8x DL SuperDrive.
60 GB HDD.

A goo deal.

 

[kendo26]

Josais: Unfourtantly Apple no longer allows to configure the base model with the superdrive. I do have a 250gb drive that i can pull from the pentium d beast.

 

[FFTT]

Just watch the refurbs every day until you see the new Core Duo top of the line mini up for grabs.

 

[Josias]

Oh, sorry. Well, itøs only $75 to get 1 GB RAM. Just get an external burner allright.

 

[kendo26]

I'll be on vacation in a week or so, and that's when I'm planning on picking a mini up. I'd be surprised if they show up on the refurb list that soon. I'd definitly keep an eye open though.

 

[FFTT]

The refurbs of the latest model will show up soon enough and if you're on a tight budget this is the best way to go.

You also stand a 50/50 chance of getting your refurb with a 1 GB RAM upgrade
at no charge because most people order them with at least 1 GB.

 

[kendo26]

FFTT: that's good to know! I'm have mac withdrawl syndrome