Some advice please

[solideliquid]

Need some advice - is it worth it to buy a mini these days or to go with the 20" iMac?

My options are a mini with Bluetooth KB/M and a fee iPod nanos, or an iMac or Macbook pro 13".

 

[MacMini2009]

To be honest, I would get a Mac Mini. Even if you don't have a monitor, you can get the Mac Mini + a nice Dell or HP monitor for about $150-$200, which comes out at around $700-$800. Still cheaper than an iMac but less power. Unless you really need the power of an iMac or the portability of a Macbook Pro, the Mac Mini, in my opinion is a good choice.

 

[solideliquid]

To be honest, I would get a Mac Mini. Even if you don't have a monitor, you can get the Mac Mini + a nice Dell or HP monitor for about $150-$200, which comes out at around $700-$800. Still cheaper than an iMac but less power. Unless you really need the power of an iMac or the portability of a Macbook Pro, the Mac Mini, in my opinion is a good choice.

Thanks for the reply! To be honest I already have a benq 22" flatpanel. I won't be doing any video editing. Other than that, processor wise what is the iMac capable of that would give a mini a hard time?

 

[MacMini2009]

Thanks for the reply! To be honest I already have a benq 22" flatpanel. I won't be doing any video editing. Other than that, processor wise what is the iMac capable of that would give a mini a hard time?

Since you already have a monitor and don't do anything intensive, the Mac Mini is the better choice. The iMac is basically the Mac Mini with a screen, slightly faster processor, and a desktop hard drive. The high end models of the iMac come with a dedicated graphics card, but you most likely wont need it. The Mac Mini already comes with the 9400M which is great. My Mac Mini, even with the base specs does everything I need it to do.

 

[indg]

if your mac develops a problem, which would you rather do....
lug a 20-25lb mac to the apple store or a 3lb one?

as a current imac owner (imac5,1) i would never buy an all-in-one like the imac ever again. i've learned my lesson.