Getting a Mac Mini advice needed

[LostintheNW]

I guess I could always get one and then if i dont like take the thing back!

If i do like at least I know i can get a G5 at some point in the future

[Visibleman]

Abit off topic, but there was a review of the mac mini in the new issue of sound on sound (music mag) - but basically the reviewer compared it to a G4 and a ibook, and his final thoughts was that it wasn't anything special for the money.
He said that the 256mb ram will need upgrading ASAP if you wish to do anything half fancy with it (which is expensive as you only have one dimm slot + it isnt easy to do yourself). And like others have said, as soon as you start to add options it can easily cost you a few quid short of a grand - at which point it makes you wonder if its worth getting a powerful second hand G4 or a bottom end G5.

Also remember it only has 32mb of video ram, so graphics arnt going to be anything special. Plus video/music editing isn't too hot on them and the mac mini comes off worse than some apple ibooks

However, they are nice little machines which can be placed neatly out of the way and are a great introduction to the world of macs for computers users
And from personaly experience, i would recommend them for everything apart from gaming (as limited games are available). Plus the mac OS (9 and OS X) isnt as bad as windows people think and you get used to the one click mouse and apple key etc etc.
Although they arnt rock solid stable as people think though - ive managed to have a mac os9 go down on me a number of times. But i would agree that it was a once in a blue moon moment

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Visibleman

<snip>
However, they are nice little machines which can be placed neatly out of the way and are a great introduction to the world of macs for computers users
And from personaly experience, i would recommend them for everything apart from gaming (as limited games are available). Plus the mac OS (9 and OS X) isnt as bad as windows people think and you get used to the one click mouse and apple key etc etc.
Although they arnt rock solid stable as people think though - ive managed to have a mac os9 go down on me a number of times. But i would agree that it was a once in a blue moon moment

On OSX, if you use a PC mouse with two or three buttons and a scroll wheel, then the right mouse button and scroll wheel actually function as they would on a Windows PC..

As for reliability. Yes, OS 9 was terrible. OSX is excellent.

[punky]

Apples would be a hell of a lot cheaper if Jobs would stop being a mega-lo-maniac ****hole and release Apple for x86 processors. Legend has it he has compiled it onto x86 (not that difficult, its based on freebsd anyway) and refused to let it out. If he did, everyone could have Apples for 90 quid and an old donor PC.

He wants to bleed people dry selling over-priced piece of aryllics.

Don't anyone say anything bad against my Alu powerbook though, that is actually sweet and very well designed.

Originally Posted by punky

Apples would be a hell of a lot cheaper if Jobs would stop being a mega-lo-maniac ****hole and release Apple for x86 processors. Legend has it he has compiled it onto x86 (not that difficult, its based on freebsd anyway) and refused to let it out. If he did, everyone could have Apples for 90 quid and an old donor PC.

He wants to bleed people dry selling over-priced piece of aryllics.

Don't anyone say anything bad against my Alu powerbook though, that is actually sweet and very well designed.

Back in the day when Apple had problems there was a secret internal build of Mac OS for x86 processors. Apple were worried that there processor partner (motorola) would back out and that Apple computers would cease to exist so the OS was made. I believe it was called Markler or something. The build was almost finished when intel and apple made the G5. The project was canned.

You can, if you look hard enough, find some versions of it on the net. The project hasn't been heard of since but no one believes it is totally canned. It is rumored (and highly likely) that it is in top secret development still. Wether this is a x86 release candidate or simply a back up strategy 'just in case' we dont know.

However one of the things that make the mac a mac is the combination of mac os and apple computers. They are built for each other. It means excellent compatibility and speed. It also means apple can try out new technologies easier. Firewire comes as standard on all macs and is excellent. Apple hardware is all signing and all dancing. Bluetooth in most models as standard, they were the first to drop floppy disks. Apple do usually go first with the innovative and best technology and usually keep them as standard.

Releasing the software would put pressure on their hardware business and apple may stop making hardware all together. This would not be good . I also use a powerbook and i love it. Cheapening the OS by having it on all computers reduces the effectiveness of both the OS and the hardware. Although Steve Jobs is about hardware and is likely never to release the software as he loves the hardware aspect. When Steve jobs owned NeXT he company was failing, he had a chance the license the software and make his money and save the company. He chose to keep making hardware. The company disappeared.

Apple make excellent hardware and software. They work better together. A mac is a mac and the whole experience is the combination not individual elements

[bdav]

I've just got a Mac Mini - and love it! Its just the 1.2Ghz version, but percievable speed is fine. I believe this is comparable to a 2.2 intel P4. I have recently installed Tiger, which has made it much faster again.

Memory is a breeze to retrofit. There are many sites clearly showing how this is done.

[quadplay]

I have only three words to say: Go For It!

I bought a G4 iMac about a year ago, and it's awesome. Best computer I've ever owned (and I've owned LOTS of computers). They really are infectious.

[punky]

Sorry to go through the old rant again, but it does gripe me. I want a proper Apple desktop, but I just can't afford to buy yet another computer. I have plenty of old PCs around though. Lew said Tiger runs well on an old G3, so I might raid ebay for a 600mhz G3 or something.

I think the Apple hardware is over engineered though (with exception to the powerbooks, they are nice... but the price reflects that.)

I was actually toying with the idea of buying a Mac Mini in the US and bringing it home. I might do that next time.

[LostintheNW]

OK I am still thinking about this and i do want a mac as I have had pcs all my life and I do want a change, they can be networked together any so I will be using both....how much are iBooks then, what are they like when compared to the mini? I dont want to spend a bomb though

[punky]

Originally Posted by LostintheNW

OK I am still thinking about this and i do want a mac as I have had pcs all my life and I do want a change, they can be networked together any so I will be using both....how much are iBooks then, what are they like when compared to the mini? I dont want to spend a bomb though

Ibooks aren't bad. If you do go for one though, you might want to consider a powerbook. They are much slimmer and normally have much better functionality, including things like a backlit keyboard. They are more expensive naturally, but normally are worth considering.

[LostintheNW]

I always thought an iBook and powerbook thing were the same pc lol oops my bad on that one!

Whats the diff with them then? processors better in one than the other?

[Stuart]

The iBook is smaller, cheaper, lighter and less powerful. It comes in quite a cute iPod style white case.

The Powerbook is larger, heavier, more expensive and more powerful. Powerbooks are also sleeker, and come in a brushed aluminium case.

[LostintheNW]

I thinks I might just stick with the mac mini, going for one of the powerbooks is like shelling out for a g5 going off the prices of the things! I am gonna see what deals they have on a g5 though while i am out and about and may end up with one of those....dont want one of those ones where its all build into the monitor though, far too freaky

don't the G5's look like breeze blocks?

[Stuart]

No more so than PC tower cases...