Thinking of going to a Mac mini - pros and cons of Superdrive over Combo?

[tahoedrew]

I'm going to trade in (i.e., sell) my dual 867 MDD and buy a mini. I don't use the expansion that the MDD gives anymore - my PCI cards are just extra FW and USB2 cards and I've got so many external cases that I have half a terabyte in external cases . I also have a ministack V2 from OWC.

I need opinions on whether to go with the refurbed Gen 1 1.66MHz with SuperDrive or an EDU Gen 2 (for which I am eligible) 1.66GHz with combo drive. I already have an OWC case with a NEC "superdrive" in it, and will most likely upgrade it to the best dual-layer burner in another month or so.

I'm leaning toward the Gen 2. as I can get the EDU discount and Max the RAM straight from Apple for $804. The bigger HD on the refurbed Gen 1 doesn't mean much since I'll use it as music storage only and run the system off my ministack.

For me, a mini will be fine. It will allow me to offload the tower, move to intel where my most used apps will be quicker (iLife suite and other native Apple software), and my non-intel apps (occasional Adobe CS2 Premium and Microsoft office) should still run nearly as quick on the dual core intels since they're 2x faster than my G4 tower (and since I'll max out the RAM to 2GB ).

Thanks for the thoughts and opinions, especially from you intel Mini owners!

~A

[pinkoos]

Definitely go for the gen 2 low end mini. Since you have been (and will be) using many external components, an external superdrive will surely beat the pants off whatever superdrive Apple supplies in the gen 1 high end mini.

Also, didn't the early stock of the gen 1 minis have BT/AP problems? May not be worth the hassle if you happen to get one that was never "fixed."

Again, I'd go for the gen 2 low end mini.

[Jimmypoo]

If you already have an external unit and aren't going to be moving it, doesn't seem like it would be worth the extra $$, unless it is minimal. OWC has units for $99, if I recall correctly, and as much as I wish I had a Super in my Mini, I'm probably never going to do the upgrade.

Especially when, 4 months after I bought it, Frys had the same Mini, but with the faster HD, better video, 2x the RAM and a SuperDrive/Airport/Bluetooth, for $90 more than I paid, and I have a combo and no wireless (and 256mb).

$804 for 2GB of RAM? And a combo? Is that a Core Solo or Duo? Either way, I'm sure it is a nice unit -- but when it starts getting close to $1000, I'd start looking at MacBooks in the refurb store.

[SteveJobs]

Or, the iMacs, IMO.

[Jimmypoo]

that too. You get an LCD screen.... for $1100 - on some of the core duo 1.83s, with all the other bells and whistles.

I guess it depends on your desk space and if you already have an LCD.

[tahoedrew]

Already have the 20" Dell widescreen - and I'm hoping to go MacBook Pro in about a year, so an iMac makes less sense for me right now than a mini (plus I'll upgrade the mini with a better processor and fine a use for it, like attached to the HD TV, in another year or so since the mini's proc is socketed).

~A

[RAMd®d]

[rexrzer]

i'm leaning toward the Gen 2. as I can get the EDU discount and Max the RAM straight from Apple for $804.

If that Intel Core Duo Intel Mini fits your bill (especially with 2GB RAM) then go for it, and don't even blink about the so-called "SuperDrive" (td) in the higher end model. The optical drive in the Minis is a terrible thing, a MatsuSHITa drive, that's a complete waste of money. Over at Ripdifferent.com/MTR Forum, I'm always advising owners of those MatsuSHITa drives to go external, and get a nice Pioneer or NEC optical drive in a premium aluminum case like this one:
http://www.directron.com/me340u2f.html

You can use the pop-up menu to select one of some 60 or so optical drives, (I always advise to select the Pioneer DVR-111DBK or the NEC3500A models), and you're all set with a super case and drive for less than $80 shipped.

Good luck, and have fun once you unload the big MDD tower!B)-

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