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New Mac Mini

ParishM

ParishM

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 12, 2007
151
1
Naples, Fl
I picked up a new Mac Mini 2.0 last night and after loading Leopard (DVD insert) and playing with it for several hours I must admit I'm impressed !

I installed 2gb of memory (that was fun...NOT) and loaded
office and all my other apps and it runs perfectly. I'm using
a Dell 24" monitor and it drives that flawlessly.

So far it's handled everything I've thrown at it including MS Office, iTunes, Iphoto, iMovie, Toast8 Etc. and not missed a
beat.

I'm quite happy for the money I spent.

(still waiting on new Mac Pro)

P....
 
Enjoy that machine. I have the same setup (except the monitor is a Samsung) and I love it. I've had it since a few days after the 2.0 came out and now run Leopard on it. You'll love it.
 
Congrats! I've been doing my research on the minis..I finaly decided to go with one instead of Imac. Just like the foot print and that I can hook up any monitor.

I wanted to go with dell monitor. Have any of you heard much about this new dell model?

DELL SP2208WFP
22-inch Wide screen Flat Panel Monitor

http://accessories.dell.com/sna/pro...l.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=320-6252

Iam not sure whether to go with this model or the ultrasharp model line 20/22 inch. Anyone have any advice on that? Much appreciated.

Just curious how did you make your decision on the 24inch dell monitor?
 
I just bought a Mac Mini 1.83GHz for my mom for christmas and I think she will love it. She doesn't use Macs really, so I figure my second backup computer ;)
 
I don't understand the widespread reluctance by many--including regulars on this forum--to embrace the mini. I haven't heard many reports saying "it just didn't do what I needed" but I've heard plenty of "I'm really surprised at how well it does everything I need."
 
Kashchei said:
I don't understand the widespread reluctance by many--including regulars on this forum--to embrace the mini. I haven't heard many reports saying "it just didn't do what I needed" but I've heard plenty of "I'm really surprised at how well it does everything I need."
Click to expand...

I've heard some on this forum bash the mini as a useless machine. Makes no sense to me. I LOVE the mini I bought for my kids to use. Handles everything we'll ever need it for.
 
Brandonnn said:
Congrats! I've been doing my research on the minis..I finaly decided to go with one instead of Imac. Just like the foot print and that I can hook up any monitor.

I wanted to go with dell monitor. Have any of you heard much about this new dell model?

DELL SP2208WFP
22-inch Wide screen Flat Panel Monitor

http://accessories.dell.com/sna/pro...l.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=320-6252

Iam not sure whether to go with this model or the ultrasharp model line 20/22 inch. Anyone have any advice on that? Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

I've seen the monitor on Dell's site and have been thinking about getting it after christmas, maybe :/
But it's an awesome monitor, the camera even works with Photo Booth and iChat and iMovie. It's pretty good, especially for the price.
It even match's the mini!
 
smee said:
I've seen the monitor on Dell's site and have been thinking about getting it after Christmas, maybe :/
But it's an awesome monitor, the camera even works with Photo Booth and iChat and iMovie. It's pretty good, especially for the price.
It even match's the mini!
Click to expand...

You are right. It matches the color scheme for mini. Do you know which is a beter monitor? The ultrasharp 22wide flat screen or the Dell SP2208WFP 22 inch Widescreen Flat Panel LCD Monitor? They're both same price...
 
congrats on your new mini, i've had mine (2ghz, 1gb ram) for 2 weeks now and love it. Just going to max out the memory soon so i can run some of the more hungrier apps like photoshop.

The mini was my first step into macland and apart from a few annoying leopard bugs i like it :)
 
smee said:
I've seen the monitor on Dell's site and have been thinking about getting it after christmas, maybe :/
But it's an awesome monitor, the camera even works with Photo Booth and iChat and iMovie. It's pretty good, especially for the price.
It even match's the mini!
Click to expand...

Exept the stand then.
As with 99% of monitors the stands are ugly,this one is no exeption.
Apple's display stands and also iMac's stands are beatiful,no monitor can match that one.:D
Although Samsung makes nice one's nowadays.
This all my is my opinion though,who else?
Cheers
 
I got a 1.83 C2D refurb, and I could not be happier. I got it to use as a personal server since the world had convinced me it would not be able to run anything...

I do not do video or photo stuff, but I have yet to run into a task where I have felt the computer was unreasonably slow. Every time I upgrade my MPB parts, they go in the Mini. I am running 2GB of RAM and a 120GB 5400RPM HDD. I may buy a 7200RPM HDD for it, but have not yet felt the need.

I have it hooked up to a 23" ACD (and the only thing I really long for is to be able to hook it up to two) and it runs everything beautifully. I end up using the mini more than my more powerful computers when I am home. I can hardly ever hear that it is even on...
 
mmm, I would love a mini... if only it didn't have integrated graphics I'd but one right away... but that's pretty much a deal breaker for me (i have a macbook with the GMA 950 now, so I know just how awful it is) :(
 
I, on the other hand, am ok with the GMA 950.
It runs Vista Home Premium just fine. On Halo, I can almost max out the settings, and it's runs pretty smooth. I also play Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed with maxed out settings, and my trusty Logitech wheel without a hitch :D

It handles things better than I expected.
And I play the games while keeping the mini's proc under 130F. :cool:

It's just s'mee....
 
Dell SP2208WFP=not good

Just bought one of these monitors. Hooked it up to my Mini and the text looks terrible. Graphics, images, colors all look OK -- but text is splotchy and almost pixelated and this is at the native resolution.
 
I have my 1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo Mini hooked up to a 17" Formac which looks stunning! I also have a 20" Formac in route via UPS due here on Thursday. In my opinion the Formac TFT screens blow away both Apple and Dell displays.

The only problem is finding a Formac here in the states, which is not easy.

http://www.formac.com/webapp/products_displays_overview.php
 

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Congrats on your new purchase. Mine's four months old now and blows every other computer I've ever had away (including a dual G5 Power Mac). What GPU? Since I don't play games I don't care what kind of graphics the mini has. My only complaint is that my low end model didn't come with a DVD burner. So I bought an external one for $65 and upped the mini's RAM to 2GB for about $75. Great machine!
 
dwl017 said:
I have my 1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo Mini hooked up to a 17" Formac which looks stunning! I also have a 20" Formac in route via UPS due here on Thursday. In my opinion the Formac TFT screens blow away both Apple and Dell displays.

The only problem is finding a Formac here in the states, which is not easy.

http://www.formac.com/webapp/products_displays_overview.php
Click to expand...

Hey, what speakers are those? They love so flushed you could wall mount them.

I'm not sure if I would agree with you on the monitor. It looks very avant garde.

Eh, congrats on the Mini. I'm thinking of picking one up to use as an HTPC as well.
 
Webcam not working?

Please tell me how to get the webcam operation off the Dell?

I have Apples DVI connector to Dell's DVI cord. And a mouse/keyboard connected to the MacBook via USB. And I'm testing via Photo Booth.

What am I doing wrong getting the webcam to work??
Thanks.
 
witsendinc said:
Please tell me how to get the webcam operation off the Dell?

I have Apples DVI connector to Dell's DVI cord. And a mouse/keyboard connected to the MacBook via USB. And I'm testing via Photo Booth.

What am I doing wrong getting the webcam to work??

Thanks.
Click to expand...


did you connect the built in USB hub in the 2208 to the Mac ? the web cam uses a USB connection.

is there a OS-X version of the Dell webcam software, OSX may not have the drivers for the web cam.




P....
 
im not sure if i should get into this thread after last time i got into another mac mini thread:rolleyes:. So ill try not to bring up my argument from last time, but i think its just going to come out, my point, i never though mac mini's were good machine's (here we go again:p), but all this talk that they are lovely, are just going inside me finally (ok, im finished), but (oh man, its coming out again:D), my 2.8 imac has something that the mini hasnt, other than the obviousness that its faster (ok, no im really getting into it), the fact that everything is built into it seemlessly, the mini is a seperate lovely machine (i think im finished with it:)), but im not sure about the process of picking another machine, but i hope i didnt start the "bluedoggiant mini argument", but overall, have fun!!!! mac pro is a bear, im guessing your mini is for little tasks and for basic use, but have fun, its an awesome, as with any other mac:apple:
 
i too always thought the Mini was a little underpowered POS until i tried one.

i sold my G5 tower that was an animal and while waiting for the new Mac Pro's i decided to try a Mini.
I figured if i didn't like it i could always return it but to my surprise it works just great. obviously normal thinking people won't buy a Mini with the intentions of doing heavy 3D graphics or HD movie projects but for everyday average use it's perfect and unlike the iMac i also tried i can use any monitor i want.

it does everything i need for every day use

  • email
  • web browsing
  • online banking
  • video chatting
  • instant messaging
  • average gaming
  • office projects

and most anything else i throw at it.


my advice to anyone is to try one out before passing on it.



P....
 
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