Mini without a modern graphics is what it is. If only Apple would make a prosumer desktop......but nooooooooo!
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mac mini not a good buy?
- Thread starter Ruahrc
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Wow lots of replies in this thread now!
The issue is that while I do have a 22" dell IPS monitor already (that I run dual displays with my MBP), moving to a mini would actually net me a loss in screen space, unless I bought a new monitor. And as I intend to do photo editing on the machine, I will not settle for a cheap TN. 24" IPS would be what I am aiming for. And once you factor in that cost, the iMac just wins.
I think to wait until the next revision of iMacs, hopefully they get the screen QC issues sorted out and (in dreamland) even offer a quad core on the 21" version. The 27" model looks great and I would looove that screen res, but it is just too big I think. I could not fit my 2nd monitor on the desk next to a 27" iMac (the 27" will barely fit on the desk itself) and I would almost rather have 2 smaller displays than 1 big one, as it is useful sometimes to segregate windows and toolbars, etc.
As much as I love Apples, sometimes it is frustrating to operate under the "Apple way or the highway" concept.
Ruahrc
P.S. another layer of difficulty is that I don't think I could handle regressing to a platter HD after installing a SSD in my MBP. I wanted to take it out and put it in either the mini or the iMac because it just makes everything run so quickly. I am rapidly warming up to the idea of replacing the optical drive with a SSD, because frankly I very, very rarely use optical media and having the 2nd internal HD would be nice to store photos on.
The issue is that while I do have a 22" dell IPS monitor already (that I run dual displays with my MBP), moving to a mini would actually net me a loss in screen space, unless I bought a new monitor. And as I intend to do photo editing on the machine, I will not settle for a cheap TN. 24" IPS would be what I am aiming for. And once you factor in that cost, the iMac just wins.
I think to wait until the next revision of iMacs, hopefully they get the screen QC issues sorted out and (in dreamland) even offer a quad core on the 21" version. The 27" model looks great and I would looove that screen res, but it is just too big I think. I could not fit my 2nd monitor on the desk next to a 27" iMac (the 27" will barely fit on the desk itself) and I would almost rather have 2 smaller displays than 1 big one, as it is useful sometimes to segregate windows and toolbars, etc.
As much as I love Apples, sometimes it is frustrating to operate under the "Apple way or the highway" concept.
Ruahrc
P.S. another layer of difficulty is that I don't think I could handle regressing to a platter HD after installing a SSD in my MBP. I wanted to take it out and put it in either the mini or the iMac because it just makes everything run so quickly. I am rapidly warming up to the idea of replacing the optical drive with a SSD, because frankly I very, very rarely use optical media and having the 2nd internal HD would be nice to store photos on.
This is not true. Not all 2.5" drives are the same size. I have a 880GB drive by Seagate that is 15mm tall. This will NOT fit in the Mac Mini. It has to be the 9.5mm size. I believe the 9.5mm sizes max out at 640GB right now, but maybe 750 (I haven't kept up). The reason the 500GB size is popular is that they can be had for around 60 or so and the 640+ starts to become a lot more per GB.
Yeah, I should qualify that as any 9.5mm 2.5" SATA. That does, however, cover 99% of all 2.5" SATA drives save for the oddball 12.5mm and 15mm ones.
Earlier in the month I decided that I was ready to do some shuffling around with my Macs and after giving the matter considerable thought, went to the Apple store and brought home the 2.53 GHz Mac Mini with 4 GB RAM. Why this instead of one of the new iMacs? First of all, I was reading about far too many problems with the new iMacs and their displays. Secondly, I already had a keyboard, Magic Mouse and Soundsticks II speakers, plus a 23" ACD that I could hook right up to the Mac Mini. That more than anything else is what decided me. I unhooked my 17" MBP from the monitor and put the Mini in its place -- voila! Now my MBP is free to be carried around the house or outside the house with me without having to unhook everything and the Mac Mini does everything that I've needed: basic tasks, plus some photo editing. I am very pleased with my choice and for me at this point in time I feel it was the right one. That said, if I had NOT already had all of these things ready to connect to the Mac Mini, especially the monitor, I more than likely would have headed for an iMac......
grats. Excellent buy!
Apple has said 2010 is going to be excellent with the new Mac Products. So
hopefully a quad core mini or 3.06GHZ or something. Minis hold their value
too like someone else was saying you could sell yours and get decent money
back later. I will probably sell mine later this year and opt for a 3ghz one.
If they roll those out. They should roll a Black one out to match my desk.
ahaha
i had a hard time finding what i was looking for, in a desktop mac that is.
it would be somthing i wouldent used a whole lot....just on occasin so it would have to be decently cheap and fast as im into more photography and doing reviews and mod's so i needed somthing that could do that well, my only other machine now is my macbook air.
so i purchased the 2.26 mac mini and dropped in 2 x 30gb vertex's so photoshop would be liquid.
this setup has treated me well, i also have a fileserver that is a 1.83 mini with 3gb ddr2 its very decent for what it does.
i think they are fantastic value and will continue to purchase them.
it would be somthing i wouldent used a whole lot....just on occasin so it would have to be decently cheap and fast as im into more photography and doing reviews and mod's so i needed somthing that could do that well, my only other machine now is my macbook air.
so i purchased the 2.26 mac mini and dropped in 2 x 30gb vertex's so photoshop would be liquid.
this setup has treated me well, i also have a fileserver that is a 1.83 mini with 3gb ddr2 its very decent for what it does.
i think they are fantastic value and will continue to purchase them.
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I just wanted to make sure that someone didn't rush out and buy the wrong type. You are correct, 99% of the time, this isn't even an issue....
Thats what I was asking, I am probably going to get a 13 inch macbook pr MBP and get an external monitor when I can save up for it. The portability is a factor. Thanks for the info though
Is that desk from wally world? I think I saw it online but the reviews were terrible; they said that it was very undsturdy. Do you like it?
I just purchased a Mac Mini (base model, upgraded to 4gb ram) and I could not be happier. I have it hooked up to a 23" Samsung SyncMaster HD so OSX looks pretty sweet on it. I already had a keyboard, but I did get a magic mouse (multi touch is very smooth). The Mac Mini more than meets my needs. I got all of this (minus the display) for $780.
I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it, but -
I use the mini at my work, currently driving two monitors (one a 24" dell lcd). It is great and not a heat-producing problem unlike, say, a mac pro would be (for much more power, of course).
If you want a setup with two identical LCDs - which you have or plan to get - it seems well suited to driving them (one as DVI, the other VGA). It works well, but yes you'll want external storage.
I use the mini at my work, currently driving two monitors (one a 24" dell lcd). It is great and not a heat-producing problem unlike, say, a mac pro would be (for much more power, of course).
If you want a setup with two identical LCDs - which you have or plan to get - it seems well suited to driving them (one as DVI, the other VGA). It works well, but yes you'll want external storage.
If you go High-end the Mac Mini is not a good buy, but the Mini SHOULD have the same specs as the low end iMac and in that case it would be a good buy since if your iMac screws up you lost your screen, webcam, speakers and everything, if your mini screws up you don't
I bought a Mac Mini last Friday. It replaced an old iMac I was using as an entertainment center in front of our treadmill. Getting the iMac fixed would have been $800. A new iMac is $1200 or less if a refurb shows up. However the basic Mac Mini at $600 was an obvious win since I had the iMac's keyboard mouse and remote control and also have a spare LCD monitor.
The high end Mac Mini is great buy! It comes with 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive so you don't have to open it up and upgrade it. Saves time and money.
I bought a Mac Mini last year. I bought the entry level 120GB HDD 1GB memory for $600. I upgraded the HDD to a 320GB 7200 rpm and put 4GB of memory in it. It's been perfect.
The reason I went with the mini was because I have 2 x 20" Cinema Displays that were on my powermac. The mini fits comfortably under one of the displays. It runs rings around the G5. I honestly think it's a bargain, especially if you do your own upgrades.
The reason I went with the mini was because I have 2 x 20" Cinema Displays that were on my powermac. The mini fits comfortably under one of the displays. It runs rings around the G5. I honestly think it's a bargain, especially if you do your own upgrades.
I like it, I am outgrowing it quickly though. It is pretty sturdy, no movement
whatsoever. As long as you build it correctly. I will be getting something
different later, but until then I think it was 50 bucks well spent. Or whatever
I paid for it. =)
I bought a Mac Mini last year. I bought the entry level 120GB HDD 1GB memory for $600. I upgraded the HDD to a 320GB 7200 rpm and put 4GB of memory in it. It's been perfect.
The reason I went with the mini was because I have 2 x 20" Cinema Displays that were on my powermac. The mini fits comfortably under one of the displays. It runs rings around the G5. I honestly think it's a bargain, especially if you do your own upgrades.
Thats a sexy setup! I totally agree too. I went back to a 5400 drive though
because of the head parking of my wd scorpio black. Did you get a quiet
7200? If so what make and model? =)
The upgrades are really fun too.. especially the first time you pop the case
off, when you think it's gonna break but it pops out =p ahaha
I thought about it and your comment made me think it might be too small as well. I went with the L desk and flopped it... its nice! I paid double what you paid though :/
Next month my beautiful i5 will be replacing my Hp HDX16/32 Westinghouse combo... cant WAIT.
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Just bought a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo mini ..... upgraded the HD myself, with a Seagate Momentus Gforce 500GB 7200RPM, and it's running perfectly. Not noisy at all.
Yeah, I would go with a 5400 rpm drive now, just because of the head clicking every once in awhile. It's not horrible, but it's annoying. I have a Seagate 320GB drive in it. I had started with a WD drive, and it clicked so much I exchanged it for the seagate.
I actually did accidentally break the temp sensor on the HDD when I upgraded. I had to order a new cable, but in the meantime I had temporarily fixed it. The new cable is still sitting in a drawer, as my temp fix is still working a year later!
The ACDs are great, but you can tell they're getting a bit old. One of them is starting to buzz if it's not turned up all the way on brightness. The other one is still perfect, but I'd give them both up for the 24" LED display.
I think the Mac Mini is a great buy. I love it. I already had a 23 inch LG monitor. And a Logitech Keyboard and mouse.
Sure man, let me know. Whatever I'm doing uses up quite a bit of memory as well, 4Gigs is definitely not enough for me.