Official "I Ordered an Intel Mac Mini" Thread...

[JJC80]

orderd the core duo with a mighty mouse last night.

 

[tjwett]

Excuse me, where did this fud about IIG grabbing 224mb of memory come from? Perhaps you might want to reread the MacWorld article. It is 80MB, not at least, no buts, MAXIMUM. 80MB MAX. Jeez.

um, no need to correct me. i've since read the article. as for where the 224MB number comes from, that would be Intel's spec page for the chip. it is capable of taking UP TO 224MB but Apple, as they state in the MacWorld article programmed the chip to not take any more than 64 + 16. this information was not known UNTIL that article was published, long after i made that post. cheer up man.

 

[punkmac]

I just ordered 2 gigs of RAM from other World Comp.

Can't Wait.

 

[bevo]

Congrats! Let us know how it goes...BTW, Solo or Duo?

well, it recogized and mounted 1 of my external HDs the other it won't

following some directions online to mount the other has caused the mini to lock up.

both are ntfs HDs, but for some reason 1 read its, the other is found but not mounted, osx just asks to mount it.

So I'm trying to back up everything off of it to my other HD and onto my laptop right now and then format the problem drive. Maybe split it it in 2 (ntfs and fat 32?) I dunno. I'd like to keep it ntfs for the large file size (I keep my cd restore images on there).


edit: feels a bit sluggish at times, but the cpu is never under a heavy load. Needs more ram. All I got in it is the default ram amount.

Gotta get a dvi video cable tommorow.

front row is neat!

 

[iHeartTheApple]

edit: feels a bit sluggish at times, but the cpu is never under a heavy load. Needs more ram. All I got in it is the default ram amount.

Is it the solo or the duo? When I was playing in the store on the stock duo it did have some sluggishness to it, but nothing unbearable or abnormal, i don't think...Certainly faster than the PPC mini.

 

[rgreen]

Went to the Apple Store

I went to the Apple Store to check out and possible buy a new dual core Mac Mini this evening. Unfortunately, before I got the Mac Mini, I fell in love with the 20" iMac.

Came home and ordered one with 2 gig of ram and 256 meg of vram.

Oh, am I ever gonna have credit card hangover in the morning.

 

[jsw]

Well, I swapped that stock duo I bought Wednesday (unopened) for a 1GB/100GB duo today, and took the plunge and opened it up.

It is slower than the 17" Intellimac in some ways, but, generally, feels as snappy. I am confident - after playing with 512MB versions in the Store - that 1GB is a noticeable improvement over 512MB, whereas speed isn't likely to improve much or often with 2GB (plus, I'm just rationalizing my purchase of the 1GB model they had in stock. ).

All told, it is a lovely little thing, surprisingly fast and responsive.

All those waiting for delivery or thinking of buying: you will love this. Ignore the naysayers. It's a blast!

 

[iHeartTheApple]

I went to the Apple Store to check out and possible buy a new dual core Mac Mini this evening. Unfortunately, before I got the Mac Mini, I fell in love with the 20" iMac.

Came home and ordered one with 2 gig of ram and 256 meg of vram.

Oh, am I ever gonna have credit card hangover in the morning.

Congrats!

 

[iHeartTheApple]

Well, I swapped that stock duo I bought Wednesday (unopened) for a 1GB/100GB duo today, and took the plunge and opened it up.

It is slower than the 17" Intellimac in some ways, but, generally, feels as snappy. I am confident - after playing with 512MB versions in the Store - that 1GB is a noticeable improvement over 512MB, whereas speed isn't likely to improve much or often with 2GB (plus, I'm just rationalizing my purchase of the 1GB model they had in stock. ).

All told, it is a lovely little thing, surprisingly fast and responsive.

All those waiting for delivery or thinking of buying: you will love this. Ignore the naysayers. It's a blast!

Awesome, JSW! Glad to hear you got what you wanted and had the will power to wait for it! Let us know what you think...I can't wait to hear about your experience.

 

[jsw]

Awesome, JSW! Glad to hear you got what you wanted and had the will power to wait for it! Let us know what you think...I can't wait to hear about your experience.

I'll post a better review in a week or so - I want time to try it out, to check out the usability in the family room, etc. But... quick impression: it's a lot faster than people would expect from the doomsday reviews. Given that the whole thing is about the size of one of my Lacie d2 external drives, I'm floored. Small, fast, quiet, nice ports... I think it's a winner.

 

[plinden]

So I'm trying to back up everything off of it to my other HD and onto my laptop right now and then format the problem drive. Maybe split it it in 2 (ntfs and fat 32?) I dunno. I'd like to keep it ntfs for the large file size (I keep my cd restore images on there).

Do you need two Windows partitions? I see you have a Dell, but I formatted my external HD 1/4 FAT32 and 3/4 Mac filesystem. I use the FAT32 for iTunes and document backup that I share or may share with my Windows PC (I haven't booted into Windows since I got my Mac ... wonder how long I can keep that up), and the Mac partition for the iMac only. So you need an NTFS partition for the Dell restore CDs but can you get away with only enough space for that?

 

[tjwett]

Well, I swapped that stock duo I bought Wednesday (unopened) for a 1GB/100GB duo today, and took the plunge and opened it up.

It is slower than the 17" Intellimac in some ways, but, generally, feels as snappy. I am confident - after playing with 512MB versions in the Store - that 1GB is a noticeable improvement over 512MB, whereas speed isn't likely to improve much or often with 2GB (plus, I'm just rationalizing my purchase of the 1GB model they had in stock. ).

All told, it is a lovely little thing, surprisingly fast and responsive.

All those waiting for delivery or thinking of buying: you will love this. Ignore the naysayers. It's a blast!

where is this magic Apple Store near you that carries these CTO models in stock? that's really awesome. all three Apple Stores in my area carry only stock configurations. i'm really kicking myself for ordering online. mine still hasn't left China. i'm gonna take it by the Apple Store and see if they'll let me do an exchange for something beefier, thinking of going fully loaded. i too wonder how much 2GB will help over 1 now. before Apple divulged that they essentially put a governor on the GPU i was psyched to go to 2GB but now that i know the graphics will only take a max of 80MB away from my 1GB that doesn't seem too bad.

 

[jsw]

where is this magic Apple Store near you that carries these CTO models in stock? that's really awesome. all three Apple Stores in my area carry only stock configurations. i'm really kicking myself for ordering online. mine still hasn't left China. i'm gonna take it by the Apple Store and see if they'll let me do an exchange for something beefier, thinking of going fully loaded. i too wonder how much 2GB will help over 1 now. before Apple divulged that they essentially put a governor on the GPU i was psyched to go to 2GB but now that i know the graphics will only take a max of 80MB away from my 1GB that doesn't seem too bad.

Rockingham (Salem), NH. No sales tax, too. They carry just stock models of most things, but for a few models they also order upgraded versions - and, nicely, you can return them( standard Apple Store return model, which is pretty restrictive), unlike if you ordered it online.

If I could have felt more comfortable spending $250 and upping my mini to 2GB with 3rd party RAM, I'd've done so. But, I paid $141 more (no tax, 6% discount through my company) and got the GB and a slightly larger HD, and now I feel no need to crack it open like a little white lobster.

I am sure that 2GB will be better than 1GB at times... but I'm also pretty sure that I can keep the mini unloaded enough that 1GB will be fine (it won't be a primary machine).

 

[tjwett]

Rockingham (Salem), NH. No sales tax, too. They carry just stock models of most things, but for a few models they also order upgraded versions - and, nicely, you can return them( standard Apple Store return model, which is pretty restrictive), unlike if you ordered it online.

If I could have felt more comfortable spending $250 and upping my mini to 2GB with 3rd party RAM, I'd've done so. But, I paid $141 more (no tax, 6% discount through my company) and got the GB and a slightly larger HD, and now I feel no need to crack it open like a little white lobster.

I am sure that 2GB will be better than 1GB at times... but I'm also pretty sure that I can keep the mini unloaded enough that 1GB will be fine (it won't be a primary machine).

no tax is awesome, i forgot about that. i wonder if Apple would allow me to swap out an unopened box from an online order. i'm not sure if they do that. most retailers would let you say swap out a catalog order in the store. on that note, i could also see Apple having some special rules as they usually do. NH rules, Live Free or Die.

 

[iHeartTheApple]

it's a lot faster than people would expect from the doomsday reviews.

I like that name...from this day forth, February 28 will be known as the Intel Mini Doomsday!

 

[iHeartTheApple]

Rockingham (Salem), NH. No sales tax, too. They carry just stock models of most things, but for a few models they also order upgraded versions - and, nicely, you can return them( standard Apple Store return model, which is pretty restrictive), unlike if you ordered it online.

If I could have felt more comfortable spending $250 and upping my mini to 2GB with 3rd party RAM, I'd've done so. But, I paid $141 more (no tax, 6% discount through my company) and got the GB and a slightly larger HD, and now I feel no need to crack it open like a little white lobster.

I am sure that 2GB will be better than 1GB at times... but I'm also pretty sure that I can keep the mini unloaded enough that 1GB will be fine (it won't be a primary machine).

Hmmm...I'm down here in Boston, so not too far away from that store. What options did they have available (above the stock model) when you visited? No tax is really nice...so is returnability. I figure even if they only have a 100 or 120 gb HDD with 512 or 1GB of ram, they will do ram upgrades inhouse (i'm interested in checking out 2GB)...Maybe I'll toss 'em a call tomorrow.

 

[jsw]

i wonder if Apple would allow me to swap out an unopened box from an online order. i'm not sure if they do that. most retailers would let you say swap out a catalog order in the store. on that note, i could also see Apple having some special rules as they usually do.

I hate to say it, but probably not.

Apple treats the Stores and the online store like completely different entities, which I think is complete crap. Who else does that? No one - like you said, most online and brink-and-mortar stores are seen as one when it comes to things like returns and exchanges. But not Apple.

 

[jsw]

Hmmm...I'm down here in Boston, so not too far away from that store. What options did they have available (above the stock model) when you visited? No tax is really nice...so is returnability. I figure even if they only have a 100 or 120 gb HDD with 512 or 1GB of ram, they will do ram upgrades inhouse (i'm interested in checking out 2GB)...Maybe I'll toss 'em a call tomorrow.

AFAIK, they have the stock solo, the stock duo, and the 1GB/100GB duo, and they have no plans to get any other configs. And remember that the returnability is "Apple" returnability (a couple of weeks if unopened, restocking fee if opened). They will do RAM upgrades... but they won't discount the 512MB that's in there (well, maybe if you beg, but it's not their standard practice), so you'd pay Apple prices for the full GB.

But, really, unless you need the 2GB - and maybe you do - the 1GB/100GB model seems to be working really nicely!

 

[iHeartTheApple]

AFAIK, they have the stock solo, the stock duo, and the 1GB/100GB duo, and they have no plans to get any other configs. And remember that the returnability is "Apple" returnability (a couple of weeks if unopened, restocking fee if opened). They will do RAM upgrades... but they won't discount the 512MB that's in there (well, maybe if you beg, but it's not their standard practice), so you'd pay Apple prices for the full GB.

But, really, unless you need the 2GB - and maybe you do - the 1GB/100GB model seems to be working really nicely!

Hmm...so did you pay right around $950 for your 100GB/1GB Duo? That's the price I'm getting on the online store for that configuration. I get a student discount so I think it ends up coming to $914, but... Good point about the price of the RAM. It should cost me about $180 for the upgrade from 1GB to 2GB. I kind of wanted the 120GB HDD, but I was planning on getting one of those NewTechnology mini stack external systems, so I guess it's not a big deal. What's the formatted capacity on a 100GB (including the OS X install, of course)?

EDIT: On second thought, maybe I should bug my two local stores to see if they have any custom minis before I go to NH...38 miles...is...so...far...away... As I mentioned in a previous thread, the Chestnut Hill store carries (or carried) the "Ultimate" version of the PB's. Or at least then did when I bought mine last Nov.

 

[tjwett]

I hate to say it, but probably not.

Apple treats the Stores and the online store like completely different entities, which I think is complete crap. Who else does that? No one - like you said, most online and brink-and-mortar stores are seen as one when it comes to things like returns and exchanges. But not Apple.

yeah i'd rather suffer than mail this thing back to China and wait God-knows-how-long for my credit card to get refunded. my plan now is to just feel it out, if it ever gets here of course. then maybe next year i'll crack her open and throw in the 2GB and bigger HDD. hell maybe by then i can even drop in a faster Core Duo. i really hope that's doable and that someone cracks the software governor Apple put on the GPU. that would seriously extend the life of the mini going forward.

 

[bevo]

well, I gotta have access to it all in windows.

I decided to keep the images backups on the other external HD that is ntfs

my school external is now fat32. Not as happy, but I dont think I have a choice.

not sure if I have size issues with I use this HD as a firewire drive in mac osx

 

[yoda13]

But, really, unless you need the 2GB - and maybe you do - the 1GB/100GB model seems to be working really nicely!

Have you gotten a chance to try out any 3D games at all, even if they are lightweight?

 

[munkees]

Hmm, interesting ... Gimp.app appears to be UB, at least according to that web site. I'm downloading now. I'll agree that CS2 is smoother, I have the trial version installed, and I've played about with GIMP in Linux. But I have very little personal experience to go on here ... I'm not sure if CS2 has $600 worth of advantage over (free) GIMP for amateurs like me (who are not afraid to use X11). Actually, I lie. I am sure CS2 doesn't have $600 worth of advantage over GIMP. For me.

Edit: Wow, it's fast to load anyway ... about 5 seconds, 2x faster than GIMP on my Linux machine, and 4x faster than the CS2 trial ...

What about photosho elements, Version 4 is about to be released, it can do every thing I every needed, I make buttons, merge images and play with photos. Version 4 has the new bush feature, I think was such a great thing for tounching up photos

 

[munkees]

My life sucks.

After reading these threads, I realized even though I have a 20" iMac DC, that I want to get the mini too. I am waiting to leave the Army, I am stationed it germany. Even Though I can purchase Apple computers from 3rd party store tax free for about the same as the us store, when I move i have to wait for it to be shipped back , I will have to much seperation pain.

I am looking at getting a Max mini, (2gig ram, won't upgrate the HD, 1.67 Ghaz DC version, and an another iMac 20" DC (MAX out 100%).

I place my mac mini, on a 23/24 inch LCD monitor, with EyeTV HD, surround sound 5.1. This is going to replace my bulky TV 21". Plus my wife and use this one to surf the web. I don't need the HD because one off my iMac is going to be the Server, with 2 external firewire drives. One for scratch on projects, the other is for backup. I use the .Mac backup 3.x for backing up my data onto one drive. Plus i do all my video work of the other external, these leave my internal drive free, This way my system will not be hunkered down.

With the new ablility of sharing all movies and data across the network, it is so cool.

My new iMac will be my development machine.

Man I can't wait, it suck having to wait about 4 months.

I love this new Mac mini, it really has feeled a place I wanted to be filled, So I can move HD with out having to be over charged on a crap HDTV. The LCD monitors are of so much better quality and response times better, plus cheaper. With the mac mini, eyeTV and digital audio, a complete solution.

I put a network overview on my website http://www.planetresearch.com/Network Layout.html

What do you thing ?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It seems the core solo model has been totally forgotten when it comes to testing etc.

Seek and ye shall find (quite easily too I might add)
http://www.macworld.com/2006/03/firstlooks/minibenchmarks/index.php

iTunes encoding is abysmal on the CS model. Still, seems it will be a good model as a dedicated music server.