Any BF deals on Mac mini?

[Black]

rgG wrote:
I think it is an 07, but I don't care enough to walk upstairs and look. I know it is EOL as far as upgrades because I checked a while back.

As far as needing more than the stock memory, If it can run a current browser on say ETrade and maybe have Mail open at the same time, then he is good. You would be hard pressed to find a lower power user, but his current mini is just too sluggish, even for his limited needs.

4GB will never be not enough if you plan to boot from an SSD. If you plan to boot from an HDD you probably want at least 8. If you can find a 2012 Mini you don't have to worry too much about that initially.

[OWC Jamie]

I haven't seen $100 off on the bare bones model since I bought mine just before the new ones came out in 2014. At Best Buy, which has been having deals on MBA lately ($799 or $850) rather than mac minis. (8% tax is quite the incentive to shop local) :-(

4 GB is fine.


Microcenter is $40 off right now too.

[p8712]

rgG wrote:
I think it is an 07, but I don't care enough to walk upstairs and look. I know it is EOL as far as upgrades because I checked a while back.

As far as needing more than the stock memory, If it can run a current browser on say ETrade and maybe have Mail open at the same time, then he is good. You would be hard pressed to find a lower power user, but his current mini is just too sluggish, even for his limited needs.

Fwiw firefox is a current browser that'll still run fine on an 07 mini. Toss in a $50 SSD and you might be good to go awhile longer. That's the poor man's option anyway.

[Black]

p8712 wrote:
[quote=rgG]
I think it is an 07, but I don't care enough to walk upstairs and look. I know it is EOL as far as upgrades because I checked a while back.

As far as needing more than the stock memory, If it can run a current browser on say ETrade and maybe have Mail open at the same time, then he is good. You would be hard pressed to find a lower power user, but his current mini is just too sluggish, even for his limited needs.

Fwiw firefox is a current browser that'll still run fine on an 07 mini. Toss in a $50 SSD and you might be good to go awhile longer. That's the poor man's option anyway. Uh, yeah, what about that. My '09 Mini is running 10.6.8 and I have not run into any browser inadequacies (using Firefox.) I hate to question one of the smartest people on this forum, but I don't see why this Mini needs to be replaced.

[rgG]

Black wrote:
[quote=p8712]
[quote=rgG]
I think it is an 07, but I don't care enough to walk upstairs and look. I know it is EOL as far as upgrades because I checked a while back.

As far as needing more than the stock memory, If it can run a current browser on say ETrade and maybe have Mail open at the same time, then he is good. You would be hard pressed to find a lower power user, but his current mini is just too sluggish, even for his limited needs.

Fwiw firefox is a current browser that'll still run fine on an 07 mini. Toss in a $50 SSD and you might be good to go awhile longer. That's the poor man's option anyway. Uh, yeah, what about that. My '09 Mini is running 10.6.8 and I have not run into any browser inadequacies (using Firefox.) I hate to question one of the smartest people on this forum, but I don't see why this Mini needs to be replaced.
OK, You forced me to go look at the specs. It is a 2007 version, the OS is 10.6.8, and that is as high as it can go, I just checked. It is the 1.83Ghz version with a whopping 1GB of memory. Model number is A1176.

It is probably the 1GB of memory that is slowing it down, but since I can't update Mail, and GMail isn't compatible with the 10.6.8 version of Mail, because it considers it insecure, then even if I upped the memory, it won't solve that problem.

I would rather not upgrade, but it is pokey slow, and we just got new UVerse service which is twice as fast as the old DSl, so it isn't that.

He has the most updated versions of FF and Chrome, that will run on the machine. Right now, all I can do is let him use the Google interface for getting his Gmail, and that will work, for now, but it would be nice if it would work with Mail.

I think this is the first time you guys have worked so hard to talk anyone out of buying new hardware, considering this is 8, almost 9 years old. LOL.

Plus, the man is very hard to buy for, and this would make a good Xmas present, come on!

[Black]

rgG wrote:
[quote=Black]
[quote=p8712]
[quote=rgG]
I think it is an 07, but I don't care enough to walk upstairs and look. I know it is EOL as far as upgrades because I checked a while back.

As far as needing more than the stock memory, If it can run a current browser on say ETrade and maybe have Mail open at the same time, then he is good. You would be hard pressed to find a lower power user, but his current mini is just too sluggish, even for his limited needs.

Fwiw firefox is a current browser that'll still run fine on an 07 mini. Toss in a $50 SSD and you might be good to go awhile longer. That's the poor man's option anyway. Uh, yeah, what about that. My '09 Mini is running 10.6.8 and I have not run into any browser inadequacies (using Firefox.) I hate to question one of the smartest people on this forum, but I don't see why this Mini needs to be replaced.
OK, You forced me to go look at the specs. It is a 2007 version, the OS is 10.6.8, and that is as high as it can go, I just checked. It is the 1.83Ghz version with a whopping 1GB of memory. Model number is A1176.

It is probably the 1GB of memory that is slowing it down, but since I can't update Mail, and GMail isn't compatible with the 10.6.8 version of Mail, because it considers it insecure, then even if I upped the memory, it won't solve that problem.

I would rather not upgrade, but it is pokey slow, and we just got new UVerse service which is twice as fast as the old DSl, so it isn't that.

He has the most updated versions of FF and Chrome, that will run on the machine. Right now, all I can do is let him use the Google interface for getting his Gmail, and that will work, for now, but it would be nice if it would work with Mail.

I think this is the first time you guys have worked so hard to talk anyone out of buying new hardware, considering this is 8, almost 9 years old. LOL.

Plus, the man is very hard to buy for, and this would make a good Xmas present, come on! The 2014 Minis are basically road apples, is the problem, so it's easier to get excited about souping up your 2007 than it is about buying a 2014. It'll take some work but it may be worth trying to track down a NOS/ new-ish 2012.

[OWC Jamie]

If he's been working a 2007 mini then the 2014 will be fine for his purposes.
Considering some of the compromises to the 2014, $40 off doesn't seem like enough.

The entry level 2014 may be a dog but it is still a lovable useable dog.

http://www.xmasclock.com







edit: friggin' speel-checker !

[decay]

I think you can log into Gmail via the browser and allow the "insecure" Apple Mail client to work.

http://www.ghacks.net/2014/07/21/gmail-s...le-access/

[rgG]

decay wrote:
I think you can log into Gmail via the browser and allow the "insecure" Apple Mail client to work.

http://www.ghacks.net/2014/07/21/gmail-s...le-access/

Thank you! I will have to give that a try.

Also, I wish I could find a 2012 mini, like mine for him. I tried to get him to let me buy one about a year ago, when I saw a really good deal on one, but he said his was fine. Oh, well.

[Lew Zealand]

My mom currently uses the same Mini as Mr. rgG but with 3GB and an SSD installed "for web sites and email." Certainly those updates help it be rather a fast machine for those uses but you have to consider that it is EOL at this point. My mom is one time zone over so immediate hardware assistance to replace the Mini itself is not immediately available (I'm considering replacement options at this time). You have more flexibility for quick turnaround in case of a major hardware failure.

As long as the Mini is regularly backed up, adding a 120GB SSD for $40

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820226678&cm_re=Mushkin_Enhanced_120GB-_-20-226-678-_-Product

and 3GB for $27

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20W...M2DDR3GBK/

isn't a bad investment even for an 8 year old Mini.