Another basic computer needed

[Satch]

What do we think of the Mac Mini to provide essential stuff like emails, surfing, word processing & music?

 

[bolide]

The original G4 Mac Mini was cheap & cheerful and refurbed ones from Apple or Cancom were great value. The Intel-based ones have a higher spec and they're not nearly as good value for money

I'd get a refurbished 17" or 20" iMac and use the saving for a 3-year AppleCare program and a bit of RAM. The twin-processor Duos are turning up in the Refurb store now and they are great. For my money the 20" smokes the 17" - bigger, brighter screen - but it adds a couple of hundred to the price

Of course they all have Tiger and it's a great OS

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
www.pvision.co.uk

 

[gaz_l]

Guess what I'm writing this on...

I bought mine when they first came out. I still rate it, plenty fast enough for general use, very small and almost silent. OS X is much nicer to look at than windows and hardly ever crashes.. maybe once or twice in all the time I've owned it.

As Bolide says, the newer ones aren't such good value but I'm sure eBay could turn up an early model at a bargain price. Happy hunting!

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[LastMinute]

I've heard they're a b***** to get into to upgrade/replace components. You either pay the nice person at Apple, who has the special tool, or risk breaking the plastic cover doing it yourself with a couple of wallpaper scrapers.

 

[bolide]

Getting in needs a wallpaper scraper, yes, but it's not brain surgery. Took me about 5 mins to put in a stick of RAM

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
www.pvision.co.uk

 

[sym]

What do we think of the Mac Mini to provide essential stuff like emails, surfing, word processing & music?

Perfect for that .... I've gone a bit Mac crazy recently, and if I didn't have to use my windoze machine for work, would have as little to do with MS as possible !

Recently got rid of 2 x personal Windows laptops and replaced with a new MacBook Pro - incredible machine. I know the Intel processors have been commented on above as more expensive, but hey, you can even run Windows on a Mac now if you want to (why ????!!!) .. and as soon as my Windows Desktop kicks the bucket, I won't be making any effort to upgrade / repair it ! Mac Mini will be top of the list instead.

For what you are looking for, you shouldn't have any compatibility issues, and I bet you find the Mac much nicer to use if you go for one.

Worth trying to find an apple store and having a play with one though - if you live close to one - you can then make up your own mind up before parting with any cash.

S.

 

[bolide]

The later Mac Minis are more expensive because of standard Bluetooth, WiFi & etc, not because of the Intel processor

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
www.pvision.co.uk

 

[blackscooby]

I've got a MacBook at home plus 2 XP boxes. If I didn't have to use the XP boxes to take video streams from the video camera and convert to DVD for our in-car motorsport stuff I wouldn't use the XP's. Sadly the Macbook just isn't powerful enough to do this... but then that wasn't what it was bought for.

OS X is brilliant and is a joy to use ! Looking forward to Leopard

If you look hard enough you'll find PDF documents which describe how to dis-assemble the Mini's and change components. I think they're called "Service Source" documents. I found the Service Source doc for my MacBook although it did take some finding.

 

[blackscooby]

This is a useful site if you need to take your Mac to bits.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/

 

[blackscooby]

Double post !