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Might be getting a Mac Mini (questions)

Alvi

Alvi

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 31, 2008
1,210
311
Mars
Hi guys I might get a :apple: Mac Mini soon, i might wait for an update on the 27th to a Core i5 but if it won't get updated I'll get the Core2Duo one, so i have several questions:
Is the 2,53 GHz way faster than than the 2,26 GHz one, would you feel the difference?
How hard is it to change the RAM/Hard Drive, will that void my warranty?
Are they good?.... I had an iMac which brokedown after 2 and a half years so i want to know if it's worth it to get the Apple Care Plan...
 
Alvi said:
Hi guys I might get a :apple: Mac Mini soon, i might wait for an update on the 27th to a Core i5 but if it won't get updated I'll get the Core2Duo one, so i have several questions:
Is the 2,53 GHz way faster than than the 2,26 GHz one, would you feel the difference?
How hard is it to change the RAM/Hard Drive, will that void my warranty?
Are they good?.... I had an iMac which brokedown after 2 and a half years so i want to know if it's worth it to get the Apple Care Plan...
Click to expand...

The 2.53GHz version isn't way faster, but it is a somewhat faster because it has more ram and a bigger hard drive making it faster. I don't think the Mac Mini with be updated with the new Intel chips on the 27th because it was just updated. Changing the RAM/hard drive is easy after you get the case off and it wont void your warranty unless you break something. Yes, Mac Mini's are good and get Applecare for peace of mind.
 
I just got my Mac mini yesterday and I love it. It is nice and portable (I went from my upstairs desk to my basement easily). I have the 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo model and I find it to be really quick with the 4GB of RAM. Of course you probably will have a smaller speed jump than me since I am coming from the world of Windows. I am just going to buy the AppleCare before the factory 1-year AppleCare runs out just for the extra peace of mind. I know that everyone says that the Quad-Core is good, but many sites suggest that the average user barely takes advantage of a dual-core processor, let alone all 4-cores of the i5. Hope that helped :apple:
 
The Mac mini just had an update, there is no reason to wait i5 will not be coming for a while to the mini. In my opinion the small difference in processor speed is not worth the price. The lower end model should be fine.

Now, here is what I see. You would consider paying $800 for the higher end mac mini, and you would be willing to pay for apple care which is $150. Keep in mind the mini does not come with a keyboard, monitor, mouse, or speakers. So by the time you pay for all that you wont be far from $1200, which is the price of the low end imac, which comes with keyboard, mouse, and speakers. As well as (obviously) a screen. So why not go with the 21.5 inch imac?

Anyway, in my opinion a $150 extended warranty is not worth it for a $600 computer. Enjoy your mac!
 
ARF900 said:
The Mac mini just had an update, there is no reason to wait i5 will not be coming for a while to the mini. In my opinion the small difference in processor speed is not worth the price. The lower end model should be fine.

Now, here is what I see. You would consider paying $800 for the higher end mac mini, and you would be willing to pay for apple care which is $150. Keep in mind the mini does not come with a keyboard, monitor, mouse, or speakers. So by the time you pay for all that you wont be far from $1200, which is the price of the low end imac, which comes with keyboard, mouse, and speakers. As well as (obviously) a screen. So why not go with the 21.5 inch imac?

Anyway, in my opinion a $150 extended warranty is not worth it for a $600 computer. Enjoy your mac!
Click to expand...
Well, i think It's worth it since i had some issues with Apple Computers before and i realized that even a hard drive failure would cost you $150 and also, some issues like Graphics cards, sound and so on cost you 400$ to fix, so for my peace of mind i will prefer to get apple care, regarding the specs, I will get the 599$ one and in case a hard drive i own fits I'll replace it, if it doesn't i might get one if i need it, same with the ram, and i basically have the Apple keyboard, mouse, and speakers, the 21.5 iMac is great but i like to be able to carry my desktop in a small bag
 
I just got one of the new 2.26 mac mini's and only after an ssd upgrade do I now think this is possibly the best computer I've ever used. I was just using the new i5 imac and my mac mini with ssd is way faster. I did void my warranty but it was so worth it. I will say the 5400rpm drive it came with is slow. It needs an upgrade, but I think that of and spinny drive. My new thing now is just put and ssd in it!
:apple:MacMini 2.26mhz/2 GB/NVidia/OCZ 60GB SSD/Optibay 500GB 7200 Storage Drive. External Superdrive.Magic Mouse
 
Btw, does someone know what's the actual size of the HD in the mini, i wonder if i could upgrade it with a 500GB 7200rpm
 
2.5" laptop drive 9mm tall.

I would wait - they may announce iLife 2010.

I don't own the latest gen mini, but I would not call changing the hard drive easy on the G4 or the original intel mini easy. Not hard, but not easy. Memory was easy on the G4, and not easy on the intel. There are videos out there that makes it clear what to do.
 
I am lookig at the 2,53 GHz 4GB one with a wireless keyboard and magic mouse and either one 24" screen or two! or for 300 euros more I can get a 15" so i am not sure what to do any advise?
 
Yes you can!

Alvi said:
Btw, does someone know what's the actual size of the HD in the mini, i wonder if i could upgrade it with a 500GB 7200rpm
Click to expand...
I Have a 500GB 7200RPM Seagate in my mac mini. From Newegg. You can get a 640GB Western Digital but is 5400RPM. The first one is the best.
 
Look at iFixIt.com to get sense of what is involved in opening the Mini. Good manuals, if you decide to go that route.

I will agree with the poster above, wait 'til after the January event. I highly doubt there will be new Minis announced, but I suspect new software. Might as well take advantage of the opportunity.

I own two minis... love them. Never had a problem with them. I've graduated to a Mac Pro, but I use the new mini as a juke box for iTunes, and I'll figure something to do with the old one.
 
Mac mini 2.53Ghz

I think the 2.53Ghz model is worth the extra cash for a quicker processor and more ram. It depends on your previous set up. I had a ACD and external iSight I used with my powerbook, so for me buying a mac mini was a great choice. If I didn't have these, I would have certainly gone the iMac route.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN4VvyorLKw&fmt=18
 
the 2.53 is more then worth the extra money. Personally, I would get the 2.53 upgrade and anything else you are going to get, and do any HDD and Ram upgrades yourself. Save yourself some money. What Apple charges you for ram, you can get two of on newegg.
 
i just upgraded my mac mini with dual vertex ssd's

its crazy fast now, photoshop is amazing on it :D

i would recommend a ssd with your mini.
 
nullx86 said:
pics or gtfo. besides are ssd's like 11 to 16mm thick? Mac Minis only support 9mm thick 2.5 drves
Click to expand...
I have a Mac Mini and yes Soild State Drives are 2.5inch, 9mm drives that can replace the regular spin drive. I have a 60gb OCZ in my Mac Mini and yes it's super fast now. Although it was $230.00 u.s. it was worth it!
Now for storage the Mac Mini has 2 SATA connetors in it, one for the drive and the other for the Superdrive. So I swapped the Superdrive with a "OptiBay" kit which allowed me to put in a 500GB 7200RPM 2.5inch drive in the place of the dvd.
So now OSX and all my Apps are on the ssd and my music(itunes)40GB, photos60GB, movies200GB, and downloads go the the 500GB Drive.
All in all this is one of the best upgrades I have found for any mac since you can buy the "Optibay" for any Mac, imacs, Macbooks and yes Mac Mini's.
Just make sure to read all the reviews on which ssd is right for you.
Mac Mini 2.26 core 2 duo. 2GB Ram. Nvidia 9400. 60GB OCZ SSD, 500GB 7200RPM HDD. External usb Superdrive.
 
nullx86 said:
pics or gtfo. besides are ssd's like 11 to 16mm thick? Mac Minis only support 9mm thick 2.5 drves
Click to expand...

wow...you really need to do research.

mini's can take 2 2.5" drives at 9.5mm(removing optical drive) , 95% of ssd's are 9.5mm i have never heard of 11mm or even 16mm....there either 12.5 or 9.5.

i have hand made cables to adapt the second ssd , or you can "fit" the optibay in it with modification like stated above.

here
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/680228/

read my extensive thread on this....come back...and we will have intelligent conversation about this.
 
ARF900 said:
The Mac mini just had an update, there is no reason to wait i5 will not be coming for a while to the mini. In my opinion the small difference in processor speed is not worth the price. The lower end model should be fine.

Now, here is what I see. You would consider paying $800 for the higher end mac mini, and you would be willing to pay for apple care which is $150. Keep in mind the mini does not come with a keyboard, monitor, mouse, or speakers. So by the time you pay for all that you wont be far from $1200, which is the price of the low end imac, which comes with keyboard, mouse, and speakers. As well as (obviously) a screen. So why not go with the 21.5 inch imac?

Anyway, in my opinion a $150 extended warranty is not worth it for a $600 computer. Enjoy your mac!
Click to expand...
Well, what if the OP already has a keyboard, monitor, mouse, and speakers? They're not hard to obtain, and you don't HAVE to have the aluminum keyboard. I like my Microsoft $5 keyboard just fine, and use it for our mini without any problems.

So because I, like the OP, may already have all of the external crap, it's cheaper to just go for the damn little box.

Plus the mini is small, it fits anywhere.

I don't understand why if someone is happy with a certain computer, others must push them to purchase something else.

Minis are great, cheap little computers.
 
hide him under the desk with this mount kit...it also mounts the power supply,

i have it on both my desktop mini and server mini
 

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Getting an iMac instead of a Mini is always a great choice, especially if you don't have a display, since getting "The Perfect" Mac Mini set will take you to probably 2,000$
2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel)
Apple Magic Mouse
Apple Wireless Keyboard
$1,936.00
But the advantage is that if a new one comes up or you want a Mac Pro you just have to get a new 599$ computer, not a 1,599$ iMac or something like that
 
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