Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

mini + 24" Monitor - Am I kidding myself?

M

milenkod

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 12, 2008
78
0
Dublin, CA
I'm on the upgrade/switcher path for my wife from a Windows PC. I'm considering an iMac 24" but that may be too much mac for her so I'm thinking a Mac mini.

One of the dilemmas is that she uses dual monitors to expand her desktop...has a browser running on her 17" laptop and an excel spreadsheet on her 19" external display. I think I can get her accustomed to a single 24" wide screen display plus Spaces. However, I don't know if the mini has enough horsepower to run a 24" display at 1900 x 1200. Any first hand experiences?
Thanks.
 
Hmm... this is a good question.
I have no first hand experience but I do have some advice.
If your wife already have two monitors you shouldn't bother getting a new 24' if you sge doesn't really need it, but that's your choice.

And at the moment the Mac Mini probably won't be able to handle it.
The high end model might be able to manage it.
If I were you and I would wait until after they update the Mac Mini because chances are it will be able to handle 24 inches, and the high end model will most likely definitely be able to.
 
milenkod said:
However, I don't know if the mini has enough horsepower to run a 24" display at 1900 x 1200. Any first hand experiences?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, a Mini can drive a 24" display. Its maximum resolution is 1920x1200.

iParis said:
And at the moment the Mac Mini probably won't be able to handle it.
The high end model might be able to manage it.
Click to expand...

If you don't know what you're talking about, then you probably shouldn't say anything. ;)
 
I run a 24" monitor on a 1.5CS mini. Works fine as long as you're running it via DVI. It runs better a notch down in resolution if you're gonna run VGA.
 
While it will be more expensive, I recommend the iMac. It just has more oomph and should last longer. You can also connect another monitor with a resolution of up to 1920x1200 to it (I had a Dell 20" on mine for a bit) so if she really must have two screens, you're covered.
 
The 24" will work on the mini, but that's pretty much the max. If she still wants a second monitor buy this and connect the 19" to it.
 
milenkod said:
I'm on the upgrade/switcher path for my wife from a Windows PC. I'm considering an iMac 24" but that may be too much mac for her so I'm thinking a Mac mini.

One of the dilemmas is that she uses dual monitors to expand her desktop...has a browser running on her 17" laptop and an excel spreadsheet on her 19" external display. I think I can get her accustomed to a single 24" wide screen display plus Spaces. However, I don't know if the mini has enough horsepower to run a 24" display at 1900 x 1200. Any first hand experiences?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Get the iMac and plug the 19" monitor she already has into it. The iMacs can run a second display too.
 
get the imac. plug another monitor into it but you wont need to. seems like the wife needs it for work anyway and the mini is really for music and surfing.
 
The mini has fast 2D graphics and it runs a 24" monitor very well. It's 3D stuff is not great, but it still much faster than my old G4 stuff. As an office machine, not much use for 3D.

The mini is quite fast and a useful machine. You could buy a current mini and a new mini (whenever it comes out) plus a good 24" monitor for about the same price as an iMac.

The iMac does come with the Apple keyboard and mouse, but I can't stand either.

If you really can't take the 'slow' mini - get a MacBook. It is about 20% faster, and can also drive a 24" monitor. Still cheaper than a new 24" iMac.
 
ADent said:
The mini has fast 2D graphics and it runs a 24" monitor very well. It's 3D stuff is not great, but it still much faster than my old G4 stuff. As an office machine, not much use for 3D.
Click to expand...
Office stuff is all she really does...oh yea, Facebook,eBay and allot of photos (simple cropping and red-correction stuff...nothing that she would need Aperture/PhotoShop).

The mini is quite fast and a useful machine. You could buy a current mini and a new mini (whenever it comes out) plus a good 24" monitor for about the same price as an iMac.
Click to expand...
That was my thought too....why buy something powerful that she can "game" with...unless Bejeweled and Sudoku need dedicated graphics.

The iMac does come with the Apple keyboard and mouse, but I can't stand either.
Click to expand...
Neither would she. She loves her old-school Logitech trackball (Mac compatible) and her ergonomic MS Keyboard (also Mac compatible). No need for a keyboard and mouse...kids "could" use them as weapons on eachother though....I could definitely see my youngest trying to 'home-row' my middle child over the head with it

If you really can't take the 'slow' mini - get a MacBook. It is about 20% faster, and can also drive a 24" monitor. Still cheaper than a new 24" iMac.
Click to expand...
Is a 2.0 Ghz mini really that much slower than an equal speed Macbook? Seriously?
I was thinking of giving her my 2.0Ghz Macbook and upgrading to a MB Pro. I know that my Macbook hooks up to my 52" 1080P LCD TV and works pretty decently....full resolution even. I guess if it could do that, I answered my own question...
The problem is cost. A MB Pro or a 24" iMac is still int $1700+ About $700 more than I want to spend....although I could always justify the expediture for "myself" in the way of a macbook pro.
 
Chundles said:
Get the iMac and plug the 19" monitor she already has into it. The iMacs can run a second display too.
Click to expand...
The only prob is that a 20" + external wouldn't fit into her credenza/hide-away desk. A 24" would fit nicely....except for the void left in my pocketbook.
 
Slight chance...but... the rumored October update might have a new mini with a bump-up in the graphics department. The assumption is that the mini would follow the hardware advances that the Macbook is supposedly getting. Lon shot but that could tip the scales for sure.
 
Mac mini + 30" works

I know it may have been a bit much, but I purchased a 30" monitor for my 85 year old mother for her Mac mini - eventually the system will be connected to cable so she can choose to either surf the internet or watch tv. So far, no complaints from her.

I'm wondering now, did I do her an injustice by buying such a large monitor?
 
macfeever said:
...t I purchased a 30" monitor for my 85 year old mother for her Mac mini...
Click to expand...

Wow. Who's yer Grand-Daddy? Me! (PM me for delivery instructions.)

To the OP: WHile I tend to agree with the iMac recommendations, let me answer your actual question. I ran my 1900x1200 Dell 24" off my 1.66 CD mini for a month while my MBP was in the shop, using CS3 for a lotta Photoshopping and layout work, and I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked. QT video playback (HD and SD) worked just fine, even while working.

HTH
 
I run my 1.83Ghz C2D mini on a 23" LCD of that resolution. It works wonderfully. I have no graphics issues at all. I recently put some more ram in (a pain...) and it has pepped it up. As such I'd be tempted to order with 2GB. These C2D chips are really a 'good job'.
 
brad.c said:
To the OP: WHile I tend to agree with the iMac recommendations, let me answer your actual question. I ran my 1900x1200 Dell 24" off my 1.66 CD mini for a month while my MBP was in the shop, using CS3 for a lotta Photoshopping and layout work, and I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked. QT video playback (HD and SD) worked just fine, even while working.
HTH
Click to expand...
Great. That's reassuring to know. This may be my best option. Is it easy to upgrade the internal HDD or do I need special tools and David Blaine's finger dexterity to open it up?
 
leighonigar said:
I run my 1.83Ghz C2D mini on a 23" LCD of that resolution. It works wonderfully. I have no graphics issues at all. I recently put some more ram in (a pain...) and it has pepped it up. As such I'd be tempted to order with 2GB. These C2D chips are really a 'good job'.
Click to expand...
She'll defiantly be runnung VMWare so I need as much RAM as possible. I know that the newest Macbooks can accept 4GBs. Does the mini share the same architecture or am I limited to 2GB addressable, 3GB unpaired possible?
 
milenkod said:
She'll defiantly be runnung VMWare so I need as much RAM as possible. I know that the newest Macbooks can accept 4GBs. Does the mini share the same architecture or am I limited to 2GB addressable, 3GB unpaired possible?
Click to expand...

The Mac Mini's currently only support 2gb of 667mhz memory. Although unofficially you can fit 3gb in there. But you loose your dual channel support.
 
TraustiB said:
The Mac Mini's currently only support 2gb of 667mhz memory. Although unofficially you can fit 3gb in there. But you loose your dual channel support.
Click to expand...

You can put 4GB in, you get 3.3GB (or something) but you keep dual channel. Apple won't do this for you though. Currently I have a 2GB and an original 512MB stick in mine. Works better than it did with 1GB. Owing to the hassle of opening the computer though, go all the way to 4 if you do it yourself. If you put in just three it will address it all, and lose dual-channel.

Another option would be to scout around for a 17" white imac (perhaps there are still some at a reseller, refurbed, discounted, whatever) which would be as fast, then plug in one of the existing monitors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back