Prepressforums.com

posterized_child · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2005, 10:09 AM

So I'm considering buying a mac mini for home use. It seems like the most economical way to get another mac (The alternative would be trying to get a used workstation, but I'm sort of nervous about attempting that).

Anyways, I've scanned the web and read a lot of reviews. Most of them assess the Mac mini from a performance perspective. I'm okay with it's perfomance; I'm just freaked out that it's so small. Will it break easy? Will it be hard to fix?

I want to buy it for its Mac-ness; not it's smallness. I'd be more comfortable if they put the same components in the case of my old beige PowerPC G3 (Then again, some part of me would probably be more comfortable if they brought the vertical camera and darkroom back to our prepress department).

So does anyone have thoughts on the Mac mini?

Thanks,
Greg

DCurry · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2005, 11:47 AM

We got one for our preflighter a couple months ago, and it's been great. Some of the components inside are simply lifted from a laptop, so I wouldn't be concerned about its size.

My main concern would be expandability - there's no room inside to add an extra hard drive, and there's only 1 RAM slot. These may not be issues for you. I would max out the RAM from the start, though.

There were some articles in MacAddict where they went inside, and used a putty knife to open the case.

I would definitely consider getting one if I were in the market for a new Mac.

detric_1 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2005, 11:01 PM

I bought one when they came out and by god it's the best money I've ever spent on ANY Apple product to date. (and I go back to the lisa!!!

My evaluation. It's perfect for home use. You can do anything basic on it. Hell, i even do a little photoshop and Indesign stuff on it. Get the gig of ram. It's worth it. I will tell you, if your squeemish about the insides of a computer, have someone to do it for you. As you said, it's small and the stuff is crammed in there. Not to mention the blood curtling **snap** sound it makes with that putty knife. (Go to macsales.com and they've got a video you can download to see what's involved.) I do all my tasks with it except my heavy lifting stuff (image editing, indesign and video). And I love the fact that I can just throw it in my bag and bring it with me.

I could gush more...but I think you get my point. If you have any specific question, I'd be more than happy to answer.

Dave

ColourPhil · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2005, 04:43 AM

I agree with all the other posters; looks a great bit of kit. Haven't tried one myself, too much of a Powerbook lover! Looks a lot of Mac for not much cash. Would agree about maxing out the RAM though. Doesn't look too easy, what with having to use a "putty knife" to open the case.
I wonder what Apple's plans are for the mini, especially with the move to Intel. Will we see a whole new genre of minis of all shapes and sizes (Maxi's?) perhaps replacing the late great Cube? I think the G5 Tower is a great bit of kit, but a bit too big and too expensive for even many commercial users, maybe a "son of Cube" could replace it.

Just my 2 cents

Phil Cruse
http://www.colourphil.co.uk

Jalan · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2005, 10:10 AM

Going against the grain here a bit. While the Mac Mini is an amazing machine, you have to consider the price of buying a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc...
When you add that all up, along with upgrades, you could get an iMac which is more expandable than a mini.
However, if you already own all the peripherals, then it's an awesome buy. I have a monitor at home that would work great for the Mini.
The reviews have been pretty much through the roof and the fact that it's small is a good thing. I don't think they are overly fragile in comparison to other models. They actually have carrying cases for them now so you can transport them easily.

papawestray · #6 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 03:50 AM

we bought a mac mini for our chief reporter to use at home about four months ago
we filled it full of ram and installed Creative suite, broadband etc and is running tiger.

he has had no problems so far and were thinking of getting a few more for the office.

so our opinion is theyr great, thinking of getting one myself to replace my old G3

but if you do a lot of big file stuff in photoshop or video go for a G5 RAM'd out to the max with a 30" cinema screen. thats the daddy.

T · #7 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

When you add that all up, along with upgrades, you could get an iMac which is more expandable than a mini.

I don't think the imac is expandable.?? :?

I bought a mini with the highest memory and a super drive DVD burner and the thing is GREAT! It does use laptop parts, therefore it tends to over heat. But I just placed it up off the desk slightly and take a break once in a while and had no problems.

iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto & GarageBand! Fun!

Jalan · #8 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T

I don't think the imac is expandable.?? :?

Sure it is. It's expandable to 2GB of ram, twice that of a mini. Expandable to 400GB hard drive, unlike the Mini's 80GB hard drive. If it's anything like the previous iMacs, there will be even bigger upgrades in the future.
Get yourself a Mini all maxed out, which doesn't even come close in processor speeds (1.8 Ghz G5 vs 1.42 Ghz G4) and minimum Hard Drive of an iMac 160GB vs Mini's maximum 80GB.

$699 for best Mini
$300 for a good comparible flat screen monitor. 17"
$60 for Apple keyboard and mouse.
We're talking close to $1100. A iMac itself is starts at $1300.

So for $200 extra dollars, you get a hell of a lot more for your buck and it's much more expandable.

And if you want to talk desk space, the computer itself doesn't even sit on the desktop, it's in the monitor.

JoePixel · #9 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 03:00 PM

I was thinking of getting one of these for home use, just for the fun of it, so this topic and discussion is pretty helpful.

I was wondering though about buying all the other items, mouse, keyboard and monitor and usb hubs and all that crap. I have all of those items for home use for the PC. Isn't there a device that I could plug all of those items into, sort of like a switch box. When I want to use the PC I would switch the box to the PC slot and use all the items, then when I wanted to use the Mac, switch the box to the Mac setting and use all the same items. Isn't there something out there for this?

Jalan · #10 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePixel

I was thinking of getting one of these for home use, just for the fun of it, so this topic and discussion is pretty helpful.

I was wondering though about buying all the other items, mouse, keyboard and monitor and usb hubs and all that crap. I have all of those items for home use for the PC. Isn't there a device that I could plug all of those items into, sort of like a switch box. When I want to use the PC I would switch the box to the PC slot and use all the items, then when I wanted to use the Mac, switch the box to the Mac setting and use all the same items. Isn't there something out there for this?

That would be optimal. I remember reading via a link on MacBytes awhile back about such a device. However, they were just talking about using it for multiple Minis. I don't see why that wouldn't work with a PC too. I did a quick search on MacBytes and couldn't find the article. So it's all hearsay from me.