Questions on the Mac mini...

[motc777]

I don't own a Mac, but I am getting one in the next month or so. I wanted to get a MacBook Pro because I want to start designing websites using a Mac. However, I see the mini now comes with the Intel chip. As for my experience with a Mac, I would say I'm a borderline novice to imtermmediate user of Macs.

Therefore, cost and power factor into this as well as functionality. My question is, would I best be served in getting a mini to learn my way around and get some basic experience and then someday move up the scale on equipment, or just go ahead and get the MacBook Pro?

 

[Eidorian]

What application(s) would you plan on using for web design on the new Mini?

 

[motc777]

What application(s) would you plan on using for web design on the new Mini?

Photoshop, and I heard you can use iLife 06 as an HTML editor...

 

[Eidorian]

Photoshop, and I heard you can use iLife 06 as an HTML editor...

Eh, iWeb is best when paired with a .Mac membership for easy web creation. Photoshop isn't universal yet but Rosetta is rather good for light use. Are you planning this web site for personal or professional use?

http://www.apple.com/ilife/iweb/

 

[motc777]

Eh, iWeb is best when paired with a .Mac membership for easy web creation. Photoshop isn't universal yet but Rosetta is rather good for light use. Are you planning this web site for personal or professional use?

http://www.apple.com/ilife/iweb/

Personal initiall, but I want to start using it as a startup to designing websites as a side business. I think mostly I would be using iLife from the sounds of it...

 

[Eidorian]

Personal initiall, but I want to start using it as a startup to designing websites as a side business. I think mostly I would be using iLife from the sounds of it...

iWeb is mostly a drag and drop application for the easy web publishing of your iLife content. (Music, movies, pictures, etc.) With a .Mac account it's one touch publishing to your .Mac website. Otherwise you can export the files and host them on your own hosting service.

It's also a Universal application so expect good speed on it. On a side not do you plan on watching high definition video or gaming?

 

[motc777]

iWeb is mostly a drag and drop application for the easy web publishing of your iLife content. (Music, movies, pictures, etc.) With a .Mac account it's one touch publishing to your .Mac website. Otherwise you can export the files and host them on your own hosting service.

It's also a Universal application so expect good speed on it. On a side not do you plan on watching high definition video or gaming?

Not really looking for high definition video or gaming...Is there some type of HTML editor you can use on the Mac that id decent? Sorry to ask such simple questions, but again, I'm a moderate novice...

 

[Eidorian]

Not really looking for high definition video or gaming...Is there some type of HTML editor you can use on the Mac that id decent? Sorry to ask such simple questions, but again, I'm a moderate novice...

Well then the Solo Core Mac Mini would work fine for you. Make sure you get 1 GB of RAM for it. Rosetta and Tiger will be faster. Sadly, I don't really know of any plain HTML editors for OS X. I've heard good things about BBEdit from the members of my Mac User Group.

http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.shtml

 

[jsw]

Well then the Solo Core Mac Mini would work fine for you. Make sure you get 1 GB of RAM for it. Rosetta and Tiger will be faster. Sadly, I don't really know of any plain HTML editors for OS X. I've heard good things about BBEdit from the members of my Mac User Group.

http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.shtml

I second the vote for BBEdit - as long as you understand that it's a text editor (with ability to show your web pages as you alter them) - not a WYSIWYG editor like iWeb (well, iWeb's pretty low end, but still...).

One question: have you considered a 17" iMac? It's as powerful as a $2K MacBook Pro, faster in real world use actually, and it allows a second monitor to be connected. Also, disk sizes are larger than on a mini (or MBP). A mini solo would likely serve your purposes, but, if you need to add a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, it approaches iMac prices, and the iMac would be much faster than the mini solo, and, graphically, faster than the mini duo.

 

[Eidorian]

I second the vote for BBEdit - as long as you understand that it's a text editor (with ability to show your web pages as you alter them) - not a WYSIWYG editor like iWeb (well, iWeb's pretty low end, but still).

*drool* The education price is good too. I've wanted a good text based editor but the lack of previewing really discouraged me.

I was going to mention the need for input devices and the monitor but it was really brought up in the first post. The Duo Core version will last a lot longer and give you more power but you'll also have to pay for a monitor. That brings it close to the 17" iMac. Do you already have a monitor or would you be buying one?

 

[Bibulous]

.

 

[jsw]

*drool* The education price is good too. I've wanted a good text based editor but the lack of previewing really discouraged me.

Play with TextWrangler (free) - it has the same "feel" as BBEdit, but no HTML preview.

 

[Eidorian]

Play with TextWrangler (free) - it has the same "feel" as BBEdit, but no HTML preview.

Ooo, very nice too. I'll try it out.

 

[motc777]

I second the vote for BBEdit - as long as you understand that it's a text editor (with ability to show your web pages as you alter them) - not a WYSIWYG editor like iWeb (well, iWeb's pretty low end, but still...).

One question: have you considered a 17" iMac? It's as powerful as a $2K MacBook Pro, faster in real world use actually, and it allows a second monitor to be connected. Also, disk sizes are larger than on a mini (or MBP). A mini solo would likely serve your purposes, but, if you need to add a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, it approaches iMac prices, and the iMac would be much faster than the mini solo, and, graphically, faster than the mini duo.

I haven't considered an iMac, because I have limited space at this point. My first idea was the laptop so i could move around in my house on a wireless network. I'd get the iBook or Powerbook, but it doesn't have the Intel processor and I don't know if they are adding that soon if ever. If they did, I would likely get one of those...

As for input devices, would I need a Mac keyboard really? I thought that a PC keyboard would work if it had a usb connector on it? When you refer to disc sizes, are you referring to HD or something else?

 

[Eidorian]

I haven't considered an iMac, because I have limited space at this point. My first idea was the laptop so i could move around in my house on a wireless network. I'd get the iBook or Powerbook, but it doesn't have the Intel processor and I don't know if they are adding that soon if ever. If they did, I would likely get one of those...

As for input devices, would I need a Mac keyboard really? I thought that a PC keyboard would work if it had a usb connector on it? When you refer to disc sizes, are you referring to HD or something else?

You can use any keyboard with a USB port. He's talking about the faster CPU, bigger hard drive, and DVD burner on the iMac. What kind of budget are you looking at? Do you really need a portable computer?

 

[jsw]

If you don't need a portable, or want a portable but want Intel (ruling out cheaper ones like the iBook and smaller PB), then the MacBook Pro is a pretty expensive purchase, and the mini is no more portable than the iMac (less so, because of the separate monitor) and takes up more room (again, because of the external monitor). Just a thought. The iMac is decidedly faster in graphical instances, and the stock 512MB iMac is faster than the stock mini due to the overhead imposed by the integrated graphics.

I love the mini, and I love the iMac. The mini is perfect for certain situations. But, in almost all others, the iMac is clearly a better choice (my personal opinion).

Edit: I should note that I have a 17" Intellimac (2GB RAM) and a mini duo (1GB RAM). I think they're both great. But, if there was a fire and I could save but one, it'd be the iMac.