I'm thinking of buying an Intel Mini--Pros and Cons?

[anonymouse1]

It's about time to upgrade--I'm looking to get into an Intel Mac at the best value point for my needs. My absolute maximum budget tops out at about $1,300--and I'd like to spend less, if I can meet my needs. I think I've talked myself into a Mini, and I'd like your comments, in case I've overlooked something

Currently, I'm running a G4 867 with 1.25GB RAM, 120GB internal HD, and a 300GB FW external for iTunes.

I mostly do word processing, web surfing, a bit of web design, and probably will do a little bit of iMovie editing and a little bit of Photoshop in the future--nothing professional, just amateur stuff for parties, etc. I'd really like to get my iTunes collection onto the same disk as my system disk. And I need an Intel mac to access some specific software for work--I've been using VPC, and it's slow enough to be uncomfortable. I have a 700Mhz iBook for travel, and it's fine for what I need then.

What I'm thinking of doing is buying a Mini, and then hooking up an external 500GB SATA drive to it., using one of the hardware hacks that are out there. I like the two monitor option that an iMac gives me, but what I really want for two monitors is two 20" monitors--but a 20" iMac with a 20" monitor is over my budget. And putting a larger hard drive into an Intel iMac looks like a serious PITA. And in 6 months or so, when I want a speed boost, I can drop a C2D CPU into it for maybe $200, and have a significantly faster machine.

The bottom end MacBook is appealing, but then I still have to run the system disk via a Firewire 400 connection--not optimal. And I already have a laptop....

In my price range, the choices for an Intel Mac are one of the Minis, a 17" iMac, or a 20" iMac. Looking at recent refurb prices:

1.66 Ghz C2D mini: $519

17" 1.83 Ghz C2d iMac, GMA950: $850

17" 1.83 C2D iMac, GMA950:

17" 2.0 Ghz C2D Imac, ATI X1600: $1,050

20" 2.0 Ghz C2D Imac, ATI X1600: $1,300

13" 1.83Ghz Macbook $949

Whaddaya think?

Thanks.

[SKYLANE]

There are currently no Core2Duo Mac Minis, the latest are Core Duo. Some are speculating that the next rev "may" have C2D, and they also speculate that the next rev "may" be end of March 2007.

Did someone upgrade that refurb Mac Mini with a C2D? I believe that is possible to do, however quite costly.

[elmo3]

I hate that they use integrated video card and shared VRAM.

Spring for an iMac--whoops, then you get a beautiful monitor that you end up throwing away when you no longer what the computer it's bolted to.

Can't win.

[The Grim Ninja]

I would go with the 20" iMac. With the mini, you'll *never get to have dual 20" displays. With the iMac 17", you'd need to sell the computer to upgrade to a 20". With the 20", you just have to wait for a better budget to add the second display, extra HD, ect. I'd recommend going external storage with the iMac anyway.


[quote elmo3]whoops, then you get a beautiful monitor that you end up throwing away when you no longer want the computer it's bolted to.
Damn. If only Macs didn't have such poor resale value.



*never: there is a possible workaround to allow one VGA monitor and one DVI monitor, but it's currently just a theory.

[elmo3]

[quote The Grim Ninja][quote elmo3]whoops, then you get a beautiful monitor that you end up throwing away when you no longer want the computer it's bolted to.
Damn. If only Macs didn't have such poor resale value.
That's not the point. It's NEVER good when the monitor is bolted to the computer. Eventually, NO ONE will want the computer--which means a perfectly good monitor gets thrown in the trash, increasing the whole waste problem.

And as the iMac gets older the fact that it has an attached monitor has increasingly less value, because people don't buy used computers because of the attached monitor--they buy used computers for their usefulness as computers. As the usefulness of the computer goes down, nothing about the monitor can or will change that.

Plus, the market for such a computer is by definition limited. I have all the monitors I need, personally chosen by myself for their various qualities. If I need a new Macintosh, I am not ever looking at iMacs because I don't need the monitor.

So much for resale value. By definition, the iMac resale audience is limited, which also limits its resale value.

Choice is good. It's like those cars with expensive run-flat tires that cost $300 each, minimum, to replace and for which there are no other competing brands and styles of tire. You're stuck with the one type of tire, which is a compromise and which may or may not suffice for your real needs. Give me choice every time. A Macintosh computer has to come from Apple, so there's no real choice there--but its display can come from anywhere and have any varying number of qualities that makes it more suitable for its purpose and user.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

The long term resale value of Intel Macs is questionable. I agree with the points elmo3 made. The mini has a poor graphics chip and has limited and expensive upgrae options. The iMac LCD is locked to what could be an obsolete architecture in 6 months if Intel's 45nm process comes out early like many people are predicting.

[Tommie Milwaukee]

Intel Mini with maxed out 2GB ram is a good machine for your use.

[mattkime]

Get a 20" iMac. Its the simplest route.

[5percentTHD]

Last I saw - Buy.com selling Core2Duo's at 2.4GHz for $297 in a box.

You might not need the 45% max boost, but when they come out, the originals may drop to a nice price for a Mini that would make that your computer of choice.

There are many people here who dislike the 950 video setup with 64mb of shared RAM. (Boot actually takes about 80mb for it). HOWEVER, is anyone using this set-up and are seriously disappointed by its abilities vs. other 64mb video card options of days past?

[DaviDC.]

I have a 1.66GHz Core Duo mini that replaced a maxed out Sawtooth. I hated it until I maxed out the RAM, now it's a very capable computer for what I use it for. I see now that it would be great if I could connect a 2nd monitor, but I can't. The video hasn't been an issue when editing large photos in Photoshop but it was on the Sawtooth with its original video card.

I'd love to have a 24" iMac in my living room.