View Full Version : Mac Mini or something else
Mikbuster
04-14-2008, 20:54
i am looking to buy a mac mini, i am in need of a new, and portable cpu..but i was just wondering if anyone can give me some statements on how good or bad this mac mini is. Is it worth it??
basically im looking for a computer that can handle, music, internet browsing, movies. just the basic stuff..but i want a fast one.
should i just buy a laptop?? or is the mac mini right for me??
MATRIX 2
04-14-2008, 21:13
How much can you spend on the computer?
Mikbuster
04-14-2008, 21:16
600-800 $$
the higher the price is the longer i have to wait..but i'm patient
Don't buy just yet. The MacBook and MacBook Pro's were just updated with the Penyrn CPU's and Intel really wants to get rid of the old ones. Apple should be updating the Mac Mini's/iMac's sometime soon as they both use the same parts in the MacBook/MacBook Pro. Hopefully they will update them soon as they are both over there average period for updates.
GuitarrassDeAmor
04-14-2008, 21:46
Don't get a MAC! Mac=yuck.
Buy a nice DELL or LENOVO laptop (preferably LENOVO).
Mikbuster
04-14-2008, 21:48
ya i was thinkin of getting a dell laptop too, but i usually use my current laptop through out the whole day, and it gets so hot, so i was thinkin getting a cpu might just be more safe using for long periods of time.
GuitarrassDeAmor
04-14-2008, 22:03
Depends. Just get a cooling pad for it or something, and some fans or such....there are some god ones out there.
I still wouldn't get a Mac....
Don't get a MAC! Mac=yuck.
Buy a nice DELL or LENOVO laptop (preferably LENOVO).
What the heck is a Lenovo?
ya i was thinkin of getting a dell laptop too, but i usually use my current laptop through out the whole day, and it gets so hot, so i was thinkin getting a cpu might just be more safe using for long periods of time.
I just bought an HP laptop. It's nothing too fancy, but it gets the job done. It's $800 normally, but I got it on sale at Best Buy for 650. You might be able to find something similar online.
But yeah, if you're going graphic heavy, you might want to stick to some sort of Mac desktop.
Don't get a MAC! Mac=yuck.
Buy a nice DELL or LENOVO laptop (preferably LENOVO).
I'm sorry but Mac OS X>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Windows. I haven't touched my PC since getting my MacBook, I just can't use Windows lol. That's my opinion of it so far, I haven't had any freezes or crashes yet like I have had with Windows. Another thing to look at is customer service as well. I know that Apple is alright but sometimes are bad, Dell is pretty horrible at customer service (last time I checked) and I'm not to sure on Lenovo.
I'm sorry but Mac OS X>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Windows. I haven't touched my PC since getting my MacBook, I just can't use Windows lol. That's my opinion of it so far, I haven't had any freezes or crashes yet like I have had with Windows. Another thing to look at is customer service as well. I know that Apple is alright but sometimes are bad, Dell is pretty horrible at customer service (last time I checked) and I'm not to sure on Lenovo.
It's all preference. If you know how to take care of your computer, you'd be fine with anything. I've been using Windows XP on my new laptop and I haven't had a problem with it yet. Heck, if you want to get really stable, go install Windows 2000. It's probably the best version of Windows yet.
People always say Macs never crash.. we have a few Macs at work that have gone down a few times. I don't know, they're nice computers, but they haven't shown me anything that would make me recommend them over anything else.
It's all preference. If you know how to take care of your computer, you'd be fine with anything. I've been using Windows XP on my new laptop and I haven't had a problem with it yet. Heck, if you want to get really stable, go install Windows 2000. It's probably the best version of Windows yet.
People always say Macs never crash.. we have a few Macs at work that have gone down a few times. I don't know, they're nice computers, but they haven't shown me anything that would make me recommend them over anything else.
It's true that it's all preferences. Hell, shouldn't Windows 2000 be out of the extended period by now? I know some people that still use Windows 95 :-?. I know how to take of my computer because I've worked at a local computer store for school and computers are what I'm getting into. But still, sometimes I'll have a random freeze, or program randomly shutting down with Windows. I'm using Windows XP until Microsoft get's something better then Vista.
I also know some people who don't have any virus/spyware protection. I don't know why they don't, probably because they weren't told they needed it or something.
I have a Mac Mini for my daughter and it's a good basic computer. It's cheap too b/c you need to provide your own monitor and mouse/keyboard. But it also comes with built in wifi.
Leopard is a great OS too.
I'd say my Macs freeze up once a month whereas every PC I have ever had with Windows freezes up/needs to be rebooted at least once a week and sometimes every day. And when my Macs freeze up it's when I am using MS products (Word for Mac, etc.).
I switched to Apple b/c I was having too many problems with my PCs.
Mikbuster
04-14-2008, 23:50
I have a Mac Mini for my daughter and it's a good basic computer. It's cheap too b/c you need to provide your own monitor and mouse/keyboard. But it also comes with built in wifi.
Leopard is a great OS too.
I'd say my Macs freeze up once a month whereas every PC I have ever had with Windows freezes up/needs to be rebooted at least once a week and sometimes every day. And when my Macs freeze up it's when I am using MS products (Word for Mac, etc.).
I switched to Apple b/c I was having too many problems with my PCs.
thats cool, i already have all those peripherals, my monitor is hooked up to my ps3, but its in a dvi input, if i did get a mac mini i can just use the analog input.
Yes wait for a mini refresh, which by all reports "soon".
The mini is nice for what it is. quiet, powerful, an small. Also very low wattage usage. When i had a brown out my computer tv and even the fan wouldn't turn on, but the mini worked! Gigibit ethernet and firewire is a plus, for those that need them(like me)
It is also has wifi, BT, IR so makes for a perfect HTPC. It weighs about 4lb so take it anywhere, even the packaging box double as a carry on.
The down side is that apple is scrooge-ly with only the high end model burning DVD(which may change in the refresh)
The only thing I would consider is if you have an apple store in visiting distance. Because apple stores really make apple products shine. I hate calling customer support and shipping, and RMAs etc. Apple store, you can directly go "fix this" for every minor thing(under warrenty) for those lucky to have one nearby.
I'll say that's the concrete big difference between a whitebox PC and apple. Apple Store advantage makes a lot less headaches. OS and stuff are preferences.
amdprophet
04-15-2008, 08:33
Get the Mac, you'll love the OS X operating system. I started off using DOS over 17 years ago and stuck with Microsoft 100% up until XP. I started using Linux and XP (Whenever I needed games) after that. Since then I have bought a Macbook and I won't be using Windows again until Microsoft either releases some amazing service pack for Vista or Windows 7 comes out. Mac OS X has all the power, security, and speed of UNIX while having a very user friendly UI. You won't be disappointed with a Mac Mini, and if you are for some reason you can always return it. However, like the other people suggested, wait for the new revision that should be coming out over the next few months because it should be getting a nice overhaul.
Mac mini is a cool option, but they are updating all of their products.
This means you can buy a Mac mini for cheap when the the new ones are released.
and you will have enough power inside it + software is backwards compatible, not like Windows.
So if you go for very cheap w8 until they update the mini's and buy the "old" model or you can go for the newer model but you pay $100 or 200 extra.
MATRIX 2
04-15-2008, 20:48
600-800 $$
the higher the price is the longer i have to wait..but i'm patient
Okay then, to hell with the mac mini.
get this:
http://www.slickdeals.net/?permadeal=12213#direct_deal_12213
Okay then, to hell with the mac mini.
get this:
http://www.slickdeals.net/?permadeal=12213#direct_deal_12213
But he wanted a portable cpu...
MATRIX 2
04-16-2008, 02:08
laptops
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcat17080&type=page&qp=crootcategoryid%23%23-1%23%23-1~~q70726f63657373696e6774696d653a3e313930302d3031 2d3031~~cabcat0500000%23%230%23%2311a~~cabcat05020 00%23%230%23%23o~~f510%7C%7C44656c6c~~f534%7C%7C31 352671756f743b202d2031362671756f743b~~f115%7C%7C57 696e646f777320566973746120486f6d65205072656d69756d 207769746820535031~~nf551%7C%7C496e74656cc2ae&list=y&nrp=15&sc=abComputerSP&ks=960&usc=abcat0500000&sp=%2Bbrand+skuid&list=y&iht=n&st=processingtime%3A%3E1900-01-01
What the heck is a Lenovo?
AKA ThinkPad, for laptops. IBM sold off their laptop division to Lenovo. Still make awesome laptops.
If you want a cheap and pretty solid computer, the Mini is awesome. I have three of them, and I know a guy using a couple as web servers.
amdprophet
04-16-2008, 06:49
I know a few large websites that run their web servers on redundant mac minis. If you end up getting one let me know and I'll tell you a few tips and tricks for OS X.
Mikbuster
04-16-2008, 06:54
sure will, still having second thoughts though..but whatever
AKA ThinkPad, for laptops. IBM sold off their laptop division to Lenovo. Still make awesome laptops.
If you want a cheap and pretty solid computer, the Mini is awesome. I have three of them, and I know a guy using a couple as web servers.
Ah, gotcha. My boss has a ThinkPad. Seems like a nice laptop, though not a fan of the trackpoint mouse, or whatever you call them. I'm also not a fan of touchpads, but that's why I use a real mouse with my laptop. ;)