Purchasing Mac Mini advice

[tonyy]

Is there any models of mini's that I need to watch out for? I plan on buying a mini on CL with the following specs:

2009 model
Core 2 Duo 2GHz
Upgraded from 2GB to 4GB
120GB HDD
Running snow leopard

Would this be a good purchase and last me for the next few years? I'm not new to Apple products but new to mini's. I sold my MacBook and ordered the new iPad so I a mini would be logical.

Or would it be outdated and too slow to handle Lion and whatever updates coming in the future? Thanks

 

[martinm0]

Is there any models of mini's that I need to watch out for? I plan on buying a mini on CL with the following specs:

2009 model
Core 2 Duo 2GHz
Upgraded from 2GB to 4GB
120GB HDD
Running snow leopard

Would this be a good purchase and last me for the next few years? I'm not new to Apple products but new to mini's. I sold my MacBook and ordered the new iPad so I a mini would be logical.

Or would it be outdated and too slow to handle Lion and whatever updates coming in the future? Thanks

If I were you I wold troll the Apple refurbs and wait for the last gen before Thunderbolt. I picked one of these up for $469, and unless you got the 2009 for like $300 I'm not sure that would be the best purchase. My 2009 2.2GHz mini fried itself out of nowhere (not that I think it was faulty or the newer ones are better). I will state the newer form factor is also nicer with no huge powerbrick and an HDMI port (plus MDP/Thunderbolt).

 

[tonyy]

If I were you I wold troll the Apple refurbs and wait for the last gen before Thunderbolt. I picked one of these up for $469, and unless you got the 2009 for like $300 I'm not sure that would be the best purchase. My 2009 2.2GHz mini fried itself out of nowhere (not that I think it was faulty or the newer ones are better). I will state the newer form factor is also nicer with no huge powerbrick and an HDMI port (plus MDP/Thunderbolt).

Thanks for the input. I offered $300 for it and the guy accepted. Im just lookIng for a system that I can do heavy word processing with and the little things an iPad can't do.

 

[bigfatipod]

nice job

I think $300 is a very good price. If you can spend a little more, maybe grab a small ssd or a momentus xt drive and you should have a very nice machine.

 

[tonyy]

I think $300 is a very good price. If you can spend a little more, maybe grab a small ssd or a momentus xt drive and you should have a very nice machine.

Thanks, any recommendations as far as SSD drives?

 

[martinm0]

Thanks, any recommendations as far as SSD drives?

SSDs are getting reasonably cheap these days. I've got a Crucial M4 due to their overall stability, but not the fastest (still snappy though). Sounds like a lot of folks like the OCZ Agility series (some issues, but most like it) and Mushkin has been popping up as a pretty darn fast SSD.

I'd look at those and also check reviews (and look at reviews from people that have had it more than a few weeks). From there, lots of good info in the forums here!

Oh, and congrats on the offer being accepted. That's a fair price.

 

[tonyy]

Thanks for the help. Just picked up the mini and it's great. Got an Apple BT keyboard and magic mouse on the way.

The Crucial M4 looks to be a good upgrade. I'd rather have stability over anything else.

 

[MattA]

I have that same mini. I upgraded it with a 750GB 7200rpm HDD and 4GB of memory. I used it for 3 years with no issues. It's a great little machine, and the only reason I upgraded was I needed some better video performance. As for normal day-to-day stuff, it was great.

Enjoy the mini!