Any BF deals on Mac mini?

[rgG]

My husband's old mini, 2009 I think, needs to be replaced. It is just too slow and the OS can't be upgraded, so his browsers can't move up to the latest version. The final straw came today when I tried to add a Gmail account to Mail and Google declined because it said the software was too old and insecure.

Anyway, are there usually any mini deals on BF. The base mini will be fine for his needs as he just uses it for web sites and email.

Looks like B&H has it for $465 with no tax. If I found a refurb mini, at the Apple Store, it would be about $458, with tax. If anyone knows of anything better, please chime in.

[p8712]

An '09 Mini can run El Cap.

[rgG]

p8712 wrote:
An '09 Mini can run El Cap.

Then his must be older than that, because I remember checking that it has maxed out already, even before Yosemite.

[Black]

rgG wrote:
[quote=p8712]
An '09 Mini can run El Cap.

Then his must be older than that, because I remember checking that it has maxed out already, even before Yosemite.
'07 maxes out at Lion. I have an early 2009 and there's nothing it can't do, so far.

[Black]

Doesn't Best Buy usually have $100 off on BFF?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-mac-mi...8861012264&skuId=7814097

[Lew Zealand]

If it was bought in early '09 or was NOS, it will be a Mini2,1 which can't run more than 10.7.5.

Any of the new minis are reasonable for home use but be warned that you can't upgrade the RAM so that $499 1.4 i5 has only 4GB RAM, IMO not enough. When in stock, the Apple Refurb Store has it for $419 and even then I wonder if that's low enough to be stuck at 4GB. The 8GB version of this is $509 at the ARS but the 8GB version of the 2.6 which is the next step up model is $589 and probably the sweet spot for current generation Minis.

Just remember that current gen Minis are now 1-1.5 gens old technology, IMO not worth buying for full price.

Intel Haswell NUCs can be easily Hackintoshed and are closer in features to what the current generation Minis should be (4K/60p video from Displayport and upgradeable RAM, m.2 SSD & HDD). A 1.6 i5 is $310 at Amazon. A 2.1 i3 was $220 at Newegg today.

[Black]

Lew Zealand wrote:
If it was bought in early '09 or was NOS, it will be a Mini2,1 which can't run more than 10.7.5.

I think we've established that she has a Mini 2,1 but the part about early '09 makes no sense.

[p8712]

If it was bought in early '09 or was NOS, it will be a Mini2,1 which can't run more than 10.7.5.

Well it can , but she'll probably still want an upgrade.

[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.

[rgG]

Black wrote:
Doesn't Best Buy usually have $100 off on BFF?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-mac-mi...8861012264&skuId=7814097

I'll have to keep my eyes open for that one.