Mac Mini -- Windows Only

[j3tang]

I'm currently considering a purchase of a mac mini.
I currently enjoy my mac setup, but sometimes there is a need just flick my old PC back on. Lately, I've been thinking that it might be time to replace the old PC (it's actually about 7yrs old .. hehe)

My needs really do not call for a high performance PC, and so I was thinking about getting one of those tiny PC cases just to have a piece of "more recent" technology. I checked out some of the prices and was shocked to see how much it would cost for me to basically build a 'back-up' computer system.

The next thing that came to mind was that maybe I could just purchase a used mac mini (intel), and have it run windows entirely (since I've got a separate mac setup). Then even my "PC" will look nice with the rest of my mac setup Now I won't have to hide the "PC" in another room .. hehe

I was wondering if this is possible? and if it is, is it worthwhile? how would i go about formatting the hard drive to install windows? I only plan on running windows XP on it, so I would appreciate some recommendations for specs for the mac mini as well.

 

[Eraserhead]

Yes it'll work, though its probably worth having a (very small) OS X partition for firmware updates. (Then you can just use Bootcamp)

 

[Satori]

If your main mac has an intel processor, it would be much cheaper to purchase parallels desktop and install XP through that.

 

[j3tang]

thanks for the quick reply!

Yes it'll work, though its probably worth having a (very small) OS X partition for firmware updates. (Then you can just use Bootcamp)

That sounds like a good idea. I haven't really looked at Bootcamp lately, but last i looked around, there were still a lot of bugs? But I guess for really basic Windows usage, it probably shouldn't be a problem I guess, not to mention many of the problems may have been ironed out already.

I see this on apple's site:

"Once you’ve completed Boot Camp, simply hold down the option key (that’s the “alt” key for you longtime Windows users) at startup to choose between Mac OS X and Windows. After starting up, your Mac runs Windows natively just like a PC. Simply restart to come back to Mac."

.. but is it possible to make windows the primary boot up partition in the system prefs or is that not how bootcamp works? or is the keypress always necessary to boot up into windows?

If your main mac has an intel processor, it would be much cheaper to purchase parallels desktop and install XP through that.

Although I've been contemplating installing a usb hacked windows on to a 3.5" drive and putting it into an external drive, I'd like to make use of my monitor and everything else with the mac mini.

 

[flopticalcube]

thanks for the quick reply!



That sounds like a good idea. I haven't really looked at Bootcamp lately, but last i looked around, there were still a lot of bugs? But I guess for really basic Windows usage, it probably shouldn't be a problem I guess, not to mention many of the problems may have been ironed out already. It is still in public beta currently, right?

Is it possible to make windows the primary boot up partition? or is a keypress necessary to boot up into windows, and if not pressed, it will boot into OS X?



Although I've been contemplating installing a usb hacked windows on to a 3.5" drive and putting it into an external drive, I'd like to make use of my monitor and everything else with the mac mini.

Bootcamp is still in public beta and is fairly stable now. You can make Windows startup automatically (no key press).

 

[SpookTheHamster]

I haven't really looked at Bootcamp lately, but last i looked around, there were still a lot of bugs?

I've had Boot Camp since it was first public, and I've never come across any bugs, maybe people were confusing faults in Windows with Boot Camp bugs?

 

[j3tang]

ok .. bootcamp sounds good then ..

i see the current gen mac mini 1.66GHz stock components going for $680 on apple's site.

edu discount brings it down to $658.

a local store closing and clearing stock is selling it for $680-$80, and using a Visa card discount coupon, i get another 10% off, bringing it down to $540.

all prices CDN.

ram boost necessary (stock is 512mb)? is there something else out there that I could be happy with, cheaper?

 

[72930]

I've had Boot Camp since it was first public, and I've never come across any bugs, maybe people were confusing faults in Windows with Boot Camp bugs?

Previous versions of Boot Camp could be buggy...version 1.2 seems stable though