Which mac mini would be adequate for my needs?

[crazyfortech]

Hi,

Right now I"m coiming from a powermac g4 dual 500mhz, 512 MB ram, I really love tiger and all of apples things. I got into macs in august of last year. I'm in the need for a "NEW" computer! I think a mac mini would be the best choice for me. I am now thinking which one I should get?

Mac mini G4 1.42/1.5 ghz 1gb RAM
Mac mini intel Core Single 1.5 7?? MB RAM
Mac mini intel core duo 1.66 512 RAM

Price is a factor, I really think a mac mini intel core single would be good for me. I don't think my old powermac is THAT slow, it's actually pretty nice. I know if I kicked it up to 1gb it would be alot faster. I haven't tried using iLife applications now so I'm not sure how they would preform on my old computer. THE MOST I CAN SPEND IS $800.00, and even that is way high. I don't want to waste all my money on some computer, but I'm really not sure what to do. I hope to get about 350.00 for my powermac. Then I have some money besides that, SO i assume everything to be about 600.00! If alot of people recomend the core dou I could maybe get some more money, some how>

My tasks

iLife 2006
IM
internet
documents (word, powerpoint)
slight final cut express
a lil bit of photoshop

thats about it, I don't need my comptuer to be extremely fast, but not nessiarly SLOW, for prices the G4 would be best for my budget, but I do like the new intel technology and front row. I would like maybe sometimes to hook it up to our 46" Toshiba DLP.

SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?>

 

[crazyfortech]

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[direzz]

i'd get the imac.. its just 500 more and its beautiful and it far exceeds the mac mini. u never kno if you gonna need more power.


the solo would probbaly be good for you tho. not to sure how fast final cut would work tho

 

[nospleen]

I would go for the duo mini. I know price is an issue, but it is definitely worth the extra cash...

 

[miniConvert]

Mhm, you want the Core Duo really, or you wont forgive yourself for moving to a single-CPU machine. If you could find a way to push the RAM up to a GB then it'd really help you out with applications running under Rosetta. I know that long term everything will become Universal, but RAM is always a good thing to have.

Of course, the G4 mini would be great at running your existing PowerPC apps... so it's really your call I guess.

 

[dmw007]

Out of the three models, I would go with the 1.66GHz Core Duo Mac Mini. Although, the 1.5GHz Core Solo Mac Mini would work fine for your stated uses.

As miniConvert has stated, going to 1GB+ of RAM would definitely be recommended- regardless of which machine that you choose to buy.

 

[khisayruou]

My two cents...

Seems like you have your heart set on a mac mini, so I will stick to those.
From the reviews I have read, the Core Single is underpowered for its price. I also remember reading somewhere that Final Cut will not install on the Core Single because it doesn't meet the specs (might want to check on that). 1080 HD trailers also don't run smooth and since you have a Toshiba DLP, I would aim for the Core Duo. Personally I wouldn't get anything PPC unless it was dirt cheap especially since intels come with frontrow/remote...the intels are just screaming to be hooked into your DLP.

I know your finances is a big deal, but I would wait and save to make up for the $200 difference.

Good luck in your mac mini purchase!

 

[dmw007]

I also remember reading somewhere that Final Cut will not install on the Core Single because it doesn't meet the specs (might want to check on that).

I believe that this is the case- good catch khisayruou.

 

[milo]

Definitely rule out the G4, it wouldn't be any faster than what you have now.

The duo is quite a bit faster, but the apps you list should run fine on one core.

If you have a monitor and want as cheap as possible, the iMac doesn't really make sense, you don't get that much more for the money.

Whichever one you get, you should definitely consider going to a gig of ram, it makes a big difference in performance.

At this point, we don't know if any of the final cut apps will install on either of the minis, hopefully that will be cleared up ASAP.

 

[MacSA]

i'd get the imac.. its just 500 more and its beautiful and it far exceeds the mac mini. u never kno if you gonna need more power.

JUST 500 more? lol

 

[Demon Hunter]

i'd get the imac.. its just 500 more and its beautiful and it far exceeds the mac mini. u never kno if you gonna need more power.


the solo would probbaly be good for you tho. not to sure how fast final cut would work tho

He doesn't have a spare $500, and he wants a Mac mini.

Final Cut needs a Core Duo, otherwise I'd go with the Core Solo.

 

[Peyton]

JUST 500 more? lol

I know, the person said they had $800 in a stretch! Anyway, I'd go with the duo if you can, or a solo with more ram. You can upgrade the chip later, but that would be annoying to me, so I would go with the duo.

Get the education discount (if you can) and maybe you can squeeze in a gb of ram into the duo...?

luck

 

[khisayruou]

I also remember reading somewhere that Final Cut will not install on the Core Single because it doesn't meet the specs (might want to check on that).

Well, not entirely true I have finally found, not sure how this will relate to Final cut express (universal)...

Final Cut Studio is not supported on Mac Mini (Early 2006)
Intel Mac mini's integrated graphics chipset obviates Final Cut Studio support

 

[crazyfortech]

well if I even use final cut, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE EXPRESS! well why wouldn't the single work, if I wanted to the final cut express right now would work wiht my powermac

 

[dr_lha]

Mhm, you want the Core Duo really, or you wont forgive yourself for moving to a single-CPU machine.

Funny I managed to forgive myself!

Definitely needs to be pushed up to 1Gb though (which I did).

That said, I've been writing a paper with Word tonight with the Mini Core Solo and its fair to say that Word is a little unresponsive compared to my Powerbook. Not unresponsive, just a little "sluggish". Its pretty useable however, but might get annoying if you have to use it a lot.

Almost enough to make we want to try Pages.

 

[khisayruou]

well if I even use final cut, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE EXPRESS! well why wouldn't the single work, if I wanted to the final cut express right now would work wiht my powermac

You have to take into account that the mini now has an integrated graphic chipset. Your powermac, Im sure has a better graphics card and Final Cut Express is running natively on the PPC architecture. If you were to run that in Rosetta on a mini, then your probably asking for trouble.

There are no benchmarks out that I know of, that tests how well the Universal Final Cut runs on a single or duo core.

 

[The Mad Kiwi]

If I was you I'd wait and save a bit extra and get a core duo with 1g ram, it's a computer that'll last you a while.

The duo's are really quick machines and most software that'll come out in the future will use this power as well as be designed for dual processors since almost all macs now have dual processors, with the single you could find obsolesence just around the corner.

I know waiting for new gear when you want it sucks, but it's better to wait save a bit more and buy the right computer.

 

[trainguy77]

I would wait until you can afford the Duo.

 

[dr_lha]

The duo's are really quick machines and most software that'll come out in the future will use this power as well as be designed for dual processors since almost all macs now have dual processors, with the single you could find obsolesence just around the corner.

Almost true, but remember the Core Solo can be upgrade to a Duo, so you can buy cheap now, and then later on upgrade to the Duo when the prices come down a bit or you have some more money.

That said, its hard to recommend a Mini to people who want to run Pro Apps, but then I'll never understand those who run $500 apps on a $600 computer.

 

[Demon Hunter]

Funny I managed to forgive myself!

Definitely needs to be pushed up to 1Gb though (which I did).

That said, I've been writing a paper with Word tonight with the Mini Core Solo and its fair to say that Word is a little unresponsive compared to my Powerbook. Not unresponsive, just a little "sluggish". Its pretty useable however, but might get annoying if you have to use it a lot.

Almost enough to make we want to try Pages.

I would blame Word for that. It's more inefficient than Congress.

 

[dr_lha]

I would blame Word for that. It's more inefficient than Congress.

True, but I'm afraid Word is much more usable on my 1Ghz PB than on my 1.5Ghz Core Solo, ineficiencies or not. The Duo probably helps I'd guess, but there's no substitute for running native Intel code.

 

[ftaok]

I would like maybe sometimes to hook it up to our 46" Toshiba DLP.

Keep in mind that Toshiba goes out of their way to state that computers are not to be used on any input. This is stated in several places in the manual. Unless they've recently changed their stance.

I suspect that the Mini will work fine with the Toshiba DLP, assuming that you have the right cables. It's probably a disclaimer for Toshiba to refuse service calls asking why someone's PC won't work with the DLP.

ft