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Will you buy a Mac Mini today?
- Thread starter iW00t
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The way I look at it is that if solid news comes out that a decent update is certain within the next 3 or 4 months for the Mac Mini, then I'll hold out and wait for the update. But, if no news on an upgrade comes about by March 1st, then I'll be springing for one then.
Knowing my luck though is that Apple will hold out on announcing an update until March 2nd, precisely 1 day after I purchase the Mac Mini. On the bright side I'd be able to return it and get the newer one the very next day. My only hope is that the update announcement would be timed right (a tall order).
Knowing my luck though is that Apple will hold out on announcing an update until March 2nd, precisely 1 day after I purchase the Mac Mini. On the bright side I'd be able to return it and get the newer one the very next day. My only hope is that the update announcement would be timed right (a tall order).
If they updated it to SR specs (X3100 video and support for up to 4 GB RAM) I'd order one right this minute. I've got the perfect application for one.
That said, I'm not holding my breath...
That said, I'm not holding my breath...
Thats what I'm hoping for. Every other Mac computer has SR now, I'm wondering what's taking so long for Apple to do the same to the Mac Mini? And X3100 is a great graphics option for the Mac Mini in my opinion.
I just bugs me that we are paying more for what is basically a discontinued computer than a new PC. Sure, the PC is bigger... but who uses the Napa chipset nowadays?
To answer your question, yes. I bought 12 of them today. =)
The mac mini really is a great machine. I'd say that the biggest drawback right now is that it can't manage 4GB of RAM. With RAM so inexpensive, I'd sure love to stuff it full.
As for an update, all of our regular supply channels for the mac mini are full right now so I'm not expecting an update for at least a couple weeks. But, as many of you have mentioned, I'd love to be surprised.
yes i will buy one, i need something to run some testing for both server 03 and leopard server for my uni course. ill be getting one soon regardless of if it gets updated or not, im not after power, just consistency.
Like a lot of people, you seem focused on the "newness" of technology, rather than it's "applicability." The average computer user who does basic computing (i.e. Apple's typical Mini consumer) won't notice or even understand the difference between Napa and SM in real-world use (i.e. not benchmarks).
Yes, you're paying for "older" technology. But, who else makes a mini-desktop comparable to Apple's mini? In short, where can you pay less for a computer that offers what the mini does in a similar form factor?
I hope that it's someday lowered to its original price points (if it makes it that long).
apple will try to justify prices by bumping the cpu, ram and hd
If I needed one, I'd definitely buy one today. That's literally why I bought my last one... I needed a computer, and it was the best deal for me, so I marched right to the local Apple store and took one home. It's served me well.
I bought one last month, and if I had to do it all over again, I would.
The mac mini is at just a low enough price point to fit a lot of light to moderate-duty applications. But the only people who really know if the mac mini is viable long term are the people who know its sales numbers. If it's a good seller, it'll continue to be sold.
One thing's for sure: in my case if I had been forced to buy an iMac or Mac Pro instead of a mini for the purposes I needed one, then I probably wouldn't have bought one for quite a while, if at all.
The mac mini is at just a low enough price point to fit a lot of light to moderate-duty applications. But the only people who really know if the mac mini is viable long term are the people who know its sales numbers. If it's a good seller, it'll continue to be sold.
One thing's for sure: in my case if I had been forced to buy an iMac or Mac Pro instead of a mini for the purposes I needed one, then I probably wouldn't have bought one for quite a while, if at all.
I bought for my mom for Christmas. It is great...its the 1.8GHz with combo drive. The only problem is that it lacks RAM. Its a pretty good machine for the price ($500)
I'm considering getting a Mini. I only need it for general computing plus someday maybe adding a Plextor ConvertX DVR. I may want to replace the HDD - can get a 250G oem from Newegg for ~$125 shipped - and bump the ram.
It'll go great with a pre-existing PC using a simple kvm switch...
EVP
It'll go great with a pre-existing PC using a simple kvm switch...
EVP
Just curious which KVM switch do you plan on using? I'm looking into getting one for my setup when I get my Mac Mini...
Yes, just bought one a month ago. Great performance, wonderfully quiet, excellent form factor.
I used to be one of those angry people complaining about no midtower. I'm not a gamer, so the video is not a problem. The mini is really very underestimated. For example, I encoded a one hour video and burned to a DVD in one hour, very acceptable (especially compared to my dual 1ghz QS). Avoiding the iMac as I have several LCDs, and just can't deal with the glossy screen.
I bought the 1.83 and upgraded the combo drive with a Pioneer superdrive, works excellent. So, I'm hoping a bump in specs tomorrow and if so, I'll be buying two, and replacing my QS and a PC (and just use Fusion for XP stuff). Down the road, the cpu is upgradeable as is the hard drive, so I'm happy this will be a long term purchase.
I used to be one of those angry people complaining about no midtower. I'm not a gamer, so the video is not a problem. The mini is really very underestimated. For example, I encoded a one hour video and burned to a DVD in one hour, very acceptable (especially compared to my dual 1ghz QS). Avoiding the iMac as I have several LCDs, and just can't deal with the glossy screen.
I bought the 1.83 and upgraded the combo drive with a Pioneer superdrive, works excellent. So, I'm hoping a bump in specs tomorrow and if so, I'll be buying two, and replacing my QS and a PC (and just use Fusion for XP stuff). Down the road, the cpu is upgradeable as is the hard drive, so I'm happy this will be a long term purchase.
Just curious which KVM switch do you plan on using? I'm looking into getting one for my setup when I get my Mac Mini...
I forget which I have - either a Linksys or a Belkin. I'll have to rummage in my big box of cables and stuff to find one. My big concern, however, is that my KVM switches use PS2-type connectors and that means I have to find my PS2-usb adapters as well...
EVP
I forget which I have - either a Linksys or a Belkin. I'll have to rummage in my big box of cables and stuff to find one. My big concern, however, is that my KVM switches use PS2-type connectors and that means I have to find my PS2-usb adapters as well...
EVP
I use a Iogear 2 Port Compact USB KVM Switch (GCS632U) to switch between my Mini and Shuttle PC. Uses USB KB and mouse (my MS wireless mouse and keyboard work fine) and even switches sound connections to speakers.
It worked fine for months with a 20.1 in Viewsonic LCD at 1680 x 1050 resolution...the only glitch I picked up recently is I switched to a Soyo 24" LCD with 1920 x 1200 resolution. My PC handles it fine, but the Mini will boot up at 1920 x 1200, but if it goes to sleep, it wakes up with the monitor at 1600 x 1200 and there is no choice in the display prefs to set it back to 1920 x 1200...I have to restart it (sometimes several attempts) before I can get back to 1920 x 1200. I finally broke down and hooked up the Mini to the monitor via DVI and the PC via VGA and use the KVM to switch the KB, mouse, and sound, and use the monitor menu selections to switch between DVI and VGA inputs.
Couldn't agree more. I have a 3+ year old PowerBook that I love (even with it's memory slot defect). The mini is a great little machine for serving up a website, web browsing, e-mailing, word processing, etc. I bought one at the end of November without hesitation. Sure there will always be the latest and the greatest and a price drop would be nice, but it if works just fine for your purposes and you are ready to buy a new computer, why wait?
I got mine yesterday!
My 12" PB is three years old and going strong but I wanted Leopard and iLife '08. It seemed silly to spend over $200 for those when for another $400 I could have a new computer.
I've never been an early adopter, I've read too many horror stories and the early models don't have all the bells and whistles. The Mini as it now stands is perfect for my needs.
My 12" PB is three years old and going strong but I wanted Leopard and iLife '08. It seemed silly to spend over $200 for those when for another $400 I could have a new computer.
I've never been an early adopter, I've read too many horror stories and the early models don't have all the bells and whistles. The Mini as it now stands is perfect for my needs.