New Mac Mini the closest we'll get to a mid-range desktop? (aka no more hackintosh?)

[macrumorsuser10]

For the first time in a long while, I'm actually excited about the high-end Mac Mini and may pick one up. The reason is that it's as close as I've seen to a mid-range, non-iMac desktop since .... the G4 cube(?).

I previously had a PowerMac 7100 back in the 1990s and loved it before bailing to Windows in 2000 to 2010.

Over the last few years, anyone who wanted a desktop system but didn't want an iMac (e.g. because you already had a monitor) would have to use a Mac Pro or a hackintosh. Prior to the new models introduced this week, the Mac Minis have been woefully underpowered, but now I think they are excellent mid-range desktop computers.

The high-end Mac Mini with the ATI video card looks great. Is there any reason to build a hackintosh now?

 

[jmcgeejr]

For the first time in a long while, I'm actually excited about the high-end Mac Mini and may pick one up. The reason is that it's as close as I've seen to a mid-range, non-iMac desktop since .... the G4 cube(?).

I previously had a PowerMac 7100 back in the 1990s and loved it before bailing to Windows in 2000 to 2010.

Over the last few years, anyone who wanted a desktop system but didn't want an iMac (e.g. because you already had a monitor) would have to use a Mac Pro or a hackintosh. Prior to the new models introduced this week, the Mac Minis have been woefully underpowered, but now I think they are excellent mid-range desktop computers.

The high-end Mac Mini with the ATI video card looks great. Is there any reason to build a hackintosh now?

I had a hackintosh for about 2 years, and once the 2010 mini came I actually bought it. I wanted the ability to easily do updates and all the other little things. I agree this 2011 mini really does work quite well although for the same $$$ you could build a much more powerful hackintosh.

 

[Tulpa]

With the OS only available from the App Store, is hackintoshing even viable anymore?

 

[jaykk]

I have been on hackintosh for couple of years now,but i had hard time getting upgrading it to Lion. I am ready to give up on hackintosh scene and just get a mac mini server. The trouble to get hackintosh up and running is not fun anymore.

 

[obsidian1200]

With the OS only available from the App Store, is hackintoshing even viable anymore?

Well, since hackintoshes can run SL, I'd think they could at least download Lion and make a bootable disc out of the download... glancing at some hackintosh websites, it's fully possible to upgrade a hackintosh with Lion. The only catch is you need a copy of SL to set up the system. By the looks of it, they have not figured out how to do a clean install. This might change, though.

I have been on hackintosh for couple of years now,but i had hard time getting upgrading it to Lion. I am ready to give up on hackintosh scene and just get a mac mini server. The trouble to get hackintosh up and running is not fun anymore.

I helped a friend put together a hackintosh when SL was released. I don't like how you have to put more labor time into the software side of the computer than you do with the actual building of the computer. It was really cool to see the OS run out of a cool PC tower... but after a few updates, it lost its appeal. I've told him, with the latest update to Lion, that I would not help him out anymore. It's too time consuming for my preference.

 

[iCheddar]

I built a relatively high end hackintosh a couple years ago and have used it as my main machine ever since. It was fairly simple to upgrade from 10.5 to 10.6, but I have a feeling I won't fair the transition to 10.7 well.

In any case, I've been looking to move into a relatively low power draw system for quite some time now, and have been eyeing MiniITX motherboards for a new Hackintosh, but at this rate, I might as well just pick up the Mini. I think it'll work out to be roughly $200 more to spec out the mini as I want it vs a hackintosh, but for the ability to have a real Mac and avoid all the hacktintosh headaches, it'll be well worth it.

 

[jaykk]

It was really cool to see the OS run out of a cool PC tower... but after a few updates, it lost its appeal. I've told him, with the latest update to Lion, that I would not help him out anymore. It's too time consuming for my preference.

I totally agree, its getting more painful to keep it up to date. In my case, I already have enough mac laptops, i really wanted a midrange desktop.

These new mac mini's is totally worth the price. Especially with thunderbolt port, it is exclusive to apple for now, so that way its somewhat future proof to buy a mac mini now. (Incase a cheaper thunderbolt peripherals shows up).