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Why Mini over iMac?

Simple

  1. The low-end Mac mini is half the price of the low-end iMac*
  2. I don't like to be forced into a display size because of my CPU/GPU choice
  3. I don't like glossy displays
  4. I can upgrade the display whenever I want without having to change the whole computer
  5. More portable if you have a spare LCD at the other place where you're going (ex: work vs home, home vs friend's house, etc)

* Even if you take a mouse, keyboard and display into account, nobody's forcing you to buy Apple peripherals, especially the display. You can get a USB mouse for 10$, USB keyboard for 15-20$ and there's always an LCD display on sale somewhere for around 75-150$. The philosophy of the Mac mini, however, is that you probably already have at least a USB mouse and DVI/HDMI display if you're a potential switcher. Strangely USB keyboards are still semi-rare for some weird reason.
 
Yvan256 said:
Strangely USB keyboards are still semi-rare for some weird reason.
Click to expand...


Seriously, PC makers should pushing these more aggressively, but they keep the old ports on the computers and many continue to use their old keyboard. I work in technology services for a University and WOW are we bad with non-USB keyboard and mice.

Whenever we put out a new machine or replace the keyboard/mouse we only put out USB keyboard/mouse, but we just don't have the time or resources to replace all the keyboard/mouse in an universal method.
 
Ok, I registered because of this thread. I am undecided about getting a mini or iMac, but what I am surprised at is of the current offerings no one mentioned one being more resourceful or robust in computing power than the other.

I look at the 2.7 GHz i5 dual core mini for $799 and when I add in an optical drive, keyboard, mouse, and non-Apple 27" monitor I am approaching $1400+tax.

No educational discount on the mini on the Apple website, but the 27" iMac is $1600+tax (Ed. Disc.), which is $200 difference.

Both would receive the same 3rd party RAM upgrade to 8GB, but the difference is dual vs. quad core i5 (both at 2.7 GHz). Would this matter in the CS5 department (personal use, not professional)?

I get the personal aesthetics pro's and con's already mentioned, the economics of re-using KB&M, etc., but I wonder if this is enough for a 1st time Apple computer user.
 
I use Adobe's CS and it was the reason that I went with the iMac. I am sure the the mini would be fine but the iMac offered me a more robust machine for essentially the same price (if you purchase all of the components from Apple). IMHO. I actually started this thread because I will be purchasing a new iMac when it is redone in '12 but should Apple happen to kill the iMac, which I don't think that they will, I would then consider a Mini or MBP.
 
BarkingGhost said:
No educational discount on the mini on the Apple website, but the 27" iMac is $1600+tax (Ed. Disc.), which is $200 difference..
Click to expand...

You sure you were looking at the prices via the education section? I bought my mac mini recently in NZ and got an education discount, and the US Apple store shows a discount on the mini in the education store. Granted it isn't much of a discount, but it's not a lot of money for the mini anyway.

iMac does get more juice as far as overall stats go, but when I was considering what to buy, I had to remind myself that both the mac mini or the new iMac would both blow my 5 year old iMac out of the water. I think the real beauty of the mac mini is in how replaceable it is. As others have said, it's easier to sell it and upgrade to a newer one. This means you can afford to take advantage of new technology if and when it makes an appearance, rather than holding on to a more expensive all in one because it hasn't given you your moneys worth yet.

I have a new mac mini, I got myself a new thunderbolt display, I've kept my keyboard and mouse from previous computer and bought a new trackpad. I'll be upgrading ram when I can and then will be looking around for an external thunderbolt SSD. I decided to make the jump from all in one to separate components because I believe I will get far better value for my money in the long term and that it is less wasteful to simply replace and update the components that actually need it while keeping the parts that are still just fine
 
I've been using the same great, non-reflective, giant screen since 2007; now with the fifth Mac. I get a new Mac nearly every year and keep my monitors for much longer.
 
I was wondering...
Isn't the Mac mini a dual core, and the Imacs a quad core?

I was thinking of getting a mini but I also started to add the monitor, optical drive, keyboard, etc, and it was getting expensive...
 
Last edited:
Yvan256 said:
Strangely USB keyboards are still semi-rare for some weird reason.
Click to expand...

True but the mini also works fine with a 10$ PS/2 to USB converter. I used one for years with a KVM switch that only did PS/2.
 
TuiSong said:
You sure you were looking at the prices via the education section? I bought my mac mini recently in NZ and got an education discount, and the US Apple store shows a discount on the mini in the education store. Granted it isn't much of a discount, but it's not a lot of money for the mini anyway.
Click to expand...
When I go to the American Apple website, select Educational Pricing I see the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and the iMac with available educational pricing. If I've missed something, please enlighten me accordingly. :)
 
A lot of people, like me, dislike the imac design.

I already had a monitor I liked so when I switched from a Windows desktop computer to a Mac desktop computer, I opted for the MacMini as my main computer.

In addition, a lot of folks may prefer to have a 24" monitor wich is not available in the current imac line up.
 
zap2 said:
Seriously, PC makers should pushing these more aggressively, but they keep the old ports on the computers and many continue to use their old keyboard. I work in technology services for a University and WOW are we bad with non-USB keyboard and mice.

Whenever we put out a new machine or replace the keyboard/mouse we only put out USB keyboard/mouse, but we just don't have the time or resources to replace all the keyboard/mouse in an universal method.
Click to expand...

This is a pet peeve of mine too. No one likes to have to restart the computer to unplug and plug in a ps/2 mouse and keyboard.

I used to get so mad at our purchasing department for being dumb, altering IT's order, and getting the "cheaper" keyboards and mice.
 
LeandrodaFL said:
A lot of people, like me, dislike the imac design.

I already had a monitor I liked so when I switched from a Windows desktop computer to a Mac desktop computer, I opted for the MacMini as my main computer.

In addition, a lot of folks may prefer to have a 24" monitor wich is not available in the current imac line up.
Click to expand...

A lot of people may have a much better display than what is available on an imac. It's basically a decent consumer grade display on what is designed as a consumer grade machine, so it's logical, but I still don't care for it. I'd be happier with a mini if it was more like a headless imac internally in terms of processor, gpu, and ram options. The gap between the mini server and the top imac is still a bit steeper than I'd like.

chrono1081 said:
This is a pet peeve of mine too. No one likes to have to restart the computer to unplug and plug in a ps/2 mouse and keyboard.

I used to get so mad at our purchasing department for being dumb, altering IT's order, and getting the "cheaper" keyboards and mice.
Click to expand...

Purchasing departments do some really stupid things to make their numbers look better even if they are false economy.
 
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