Mac Mini & iMac Questions

[Adrianus]

Ok. For a while i was thinking about getting a new MBP to replace my iBook G4. Then decided that instead of selling my iBook to get the money to do so i could go for the cheaper alternative of keeping my laptop and buying a new desktop. So here go a few questions about the Mac Mini and the iMac.

iMac:

1. I would definitely go for the cheapest alternative of 20 inch, 2.4 GHz. The thing i would like to know most is: When running Boot Camp, is the iMac good for gaming?

2. Is it worth getting the optional 2GB RAM with it. ( For gaming it probably is, right?)

Mac Mini:

1. Is it worth getting the 799$ version? (I don´t need a larger hard drive because i already have a 250GB external HD. )

Also any advice or suggestions appreciated

 

[JG271]

1) Yep its just like running windows on a PC.
2) Yeah, but it is a lot cheaper to buy the RAM third party and install it yourself instead of from apple.

1) Wait until upgraded/new ones most likely get released in a few days! The current ones aren't worth it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Adrianus]

Ok thanks.

Any idea if a new Mac Mini is coming soon?

The iMac is still more appealing because it has a screen. keyboard etc... and a faster processor.

I´m pretty sure by the time you buy all that stuff the Mac mini adds up to about the same and it still has lower specs.

 

[JG271]

Ok thanks.

Any idea if a new Mac Mini is coming soon?

The iMac is still more appealing because it has a screen. keyboard etc... and a faster processor.

I´m pretty sure by the time you buy all that stuff the Mac mini adds up to about the same and it still has lower specs.

Yep, the macworld expo is on the 6th I think, so new mac minis seem likely then. I agree about the iMac too - essentially you get more for your money. I bought a mac mini 2 years ago, but by the time i bought extra ram, screen, keyboard and mouse i was pretty close to a macbook cost wise so I sold it later and bought a macbook instead.

So wait and see what happens at macworld.

 

[zap2]

Did you think about buy a MacBook(and selling the iBook)

If you're going to be picking up a iMac or Mac Mini, a MacBook would be similarly priced

 

[Adrianus]

Did you think about buy a MacBook(and selling the iBook)

If you're going to be picking up a iMac or Mac Mini, a MacBook would be similarly priced

Yeah i actually thought of that first. But that´s when i thought the price on the MB was lower than it really was. Then decided i can get an iMac with much better tech specs and still be able to use my laptop for holidays etc...

 

[abluefish]

I have one of the first generation MacMini's and it's slow and stutters. I'm sure the newer ones are better but I would definitely go for the iMac. Also you don't have to worry about peripheral connections with the iMac. In the end you might wind up spending more if you get the MacMini.

And...if you're leaning towards the MacMini...just get a laptop!

 

[Hellhammer]

Ok. For a while i was thinking about getting a new MBP to replace my iBook G4. Then decided that instead of selling my iBook to get the money to do so i could go for the cheaper alternative of keeping my laptop and buying a new desktop. So here go a few questions about the Mac Mini and the iMac.

iMac:

1. I would definitely go for the cheapest alternative of 20 inch, 2.4 GHz. The thing i would like to know most is: When running Boot Camp, is the iMac good for gaming?

2. Is it worth getting the optional 2GB RAM with it. ( For gaming it probably is, right?)

Mac Mini:

1. Is it worth getting the 799$ version? (I don´t need a larger hard drive because i already have a 250GB external HD. )

Also any advice or suggestions appreciated

1. There will be new ones just around corner so wait. The cheapest is not good for gaming becouse it has only 128mb of video card memory and that's not enough for any game.
I'm quite sure that the entry level iMac will dissapeare like in MB's, so the cheapest would be like 1200€.

2. Don't buy it from Apple, it's so expensive.

1. If you have a good monitor you would buy a mini but without monitor it price will be almost the same as iMac.


So wait few days for new Macs and lets see what happends...

 

[Rizvi1]

...

Mac Mini:

1. Is it worth getting the 799$ version? (I don´t need a larger hard drive because i already have a 250GB external HD. )

Also any advice or suggestions appreciated

Have you considered going the used route for a Mac Mini? I remember a few years ago I got a Mac Mini pretty damn cheap off of Craigslist. I'm comfortable buying something like a Mac Mini used, but not a laptop - I'd buy it refurbed from Apple at best.

I myself am currently debating on a 1.83ghz Mac Mini C2D that I can get on Craigslist for $400. I've been wanting to pick one up for our den as a passive computer that we'll use once in a while. The person selling it has upgraded the RAM to 3GB and the hard drive to 200gb 7200 rpm HDD. He bought it in October so the warranty is good til October 2009. He wanted $850 for it, but I told him I was looking to spend $400 since new Mac Minis are around the corner and that a refurb 1.83gz goes for $499 on Apple's site. He's agreed to $400 but I wanted to make sure that it was a good price with the new Mac Minis acoming.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[rs13]

Have you considered going the used route for a Mac Mini? I remember a few years ago I got a Mac Mini pretty damn cheap off of Craigslist. I'm comfortable buying something like a Mac Mini used, but not a laptop - I'd buy it refurbed from Apple at best.

I myself am currently debating on a 1.83ghz Mac Mini C2D that I can get on Craigslist for $400. I've been wanting to pick one up for our den as a passive computer that we'll use once in a while. The person selling it has upgraded the RAM to 3GB and the hard drive to 200gb 7200 rpm HDD. He bought it in October so the warranty is good til October 2009. He wanted $850 for it, but I told him I was looking to spend $400 since new Mac Minis are around the corner and that a refurb 1.83gz goes for $499 on Apple's site. He's agreed to $400 but I wanted to make sure that it was a good price with the new Mac Minis acoming.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

if he has opened it up to put more ram and a new hdd in there he has voided the warranty but then again that is a very good price for one of that age i my self have one.

 

[Cave Man]

if he has opened it up to put more ram and a new hdd in there he has voided the warranty

No, he hasn't. It's only voided if you break something.

 

[ADent]

When the Mac mini's were still competitive I got them instead of an iMac. I am not a big fan of the all-in-one thing and a Mac mini and 24" monitor was a LOT less than a 24" iMac.

Today I probably would go with a MacBook to be used like a mini - ie closed and plugged in a 24" monitor and non-apple KB & mouse.

I hate Apple mice and replaced the free Apple keyboard that came with my eMac so the KB and mouse that comes with the iMac doesn't save me any money.

I hope Tuesday I can say I would go with the mini again (and may - since upgrading will be the price of a mini plus DVI adapter, but if I had a 24" iMac upgrading would be $$$)