Mini Mac

[KH85]

I have been looking at the "Mini Mac" and i do really like them.

All i would use it for is doing work on, and some Photo Editing and music...

The thing is, is the Mas OS (Tiger isnt it?) actually that good?

Is it better than windows for day to day ease of use ect..

Is there an advantage over windows?

Is it easy to install software on a mac? ( i hope it isnt too much like Linux when installing stuff!)

So then, please post your views on the Mac OS, and if i should go out and buy a Mini Mac!

******************
The main thing i aim for is silence and ease of use, i love the look of the OS but havnt really tried one out!

I would still be keeping my current system, mainly as a server for all my files and the ocasional game every now and again.

One more thing, can you get the switch for mouse, keyboard and monitor to work when the mouse / Kb are running on USB? (so you only have one monitor for 2 computers?!?)

******************

TIA

KHGamez

 

[n0cmonkey]

There are USB KVMs. I like Mac OS X. It's easy. Installing software is typically as easy as dragging a file.

 

[spherrod]

You can get a USB KVM - Belkin do one which is quite reasonable I think. There's loads of comparisons between Windows and Mac OS out there - http://www.xvsxp.com/

Search these forums for more information as well

 

[KH85]

Thanks for the link, and the information on the KVM

I shall have a look around, and see if i can find any information.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Mini is hampered by a slow hard drive and poor video card. You are gonna be limited to resolutions less than 1280x1024 and only one monitor. You can improve disk performance via external firewire Hard drive. I wouldn't recommend buying a Mac Mini. You will be much better off saving up for a refurbished G5 for around $1000-1400.

 

[imported_Mags]

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
You are gonna be limited to resolutions less than 1280x1024

Hmmm... the mini supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels AFAIK.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: Mags

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
You are gonna be limited to resolutions less than 1280x1024

Hmmm... the mini supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels AFAIK.

Supports but it will be laggy

 

[n0cmonkey]

What this machine is perfect for:
email
general web browsing
putting files on that iPod
general school work

What it probably isn't great for:
hardcore "I can't get laid" style gaming
professional (or I can pretend to be a professional) photo editting
I/O heavy tasks

I think it's a great little machine though. I want one or two for silly little server-esque tasks. Maybe an IDS sensor or something.

 

[KH85]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
What this machine is perfect for:
email
general web browsing
putting files on that iPod
general school work

exactly what i would want one for.

I have my other computer for the other tasks.

In reply the resolution information, that wouldnt really bother me. I dont really run more than 1280 anyway. Thanks for teh heads up though.

And the slowness, as i wont be doing anything that will be testing the machine alot then it wont really be an issue, but i can understand the issues that may come up when/if i decide to do anything that will require anymore power.

 

[Jzero]

There will be a learning curve because it's "different" from Windows, but for the most part it is no easier or harder to use than Windows.

 

[Granorense]

Originally posted by: KHGamez

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
What this machine is perfect for:
email
general web browsing
putting files on that iPod
general school work

exactly what i would want one for.

I have my other computer for the other tasks.

In reply the resolution information, that wouldnt really bother me. I dont really run more than 1280 anyway. Thanks for teh heads up though.

And the slowness, as i wont be doing anything that will be testing the machine alot then it wont really be an issue, but i can understand the issues that may come up when/if i decide to do anything that will require anymore power.

I didn't know you were a mac guy.

 

[hopejr]

Originally posted by: Granorense

Originally posted by: KHGamez

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
What this machine is perfect for:
email
general web browsing
putting files on that iPod
general school work

exactly what i would want one for.

I have my other computer for the other tasks.

In reply the resolution information, that wouldnt really bother me. I dont really run more than 1280 anyway. Thanks for teh heads up though.

And the slowness, as i wont be doing anything that will be testing the machine alot then it wont really be an issue, but i can understand the issues that may come up when/if i decide to do anything that will require anymore power.

I didn't know you were a mac guy.

He's not, but he is willing to try

Mac mini would be fine if that's all you want to do. It's slightly better than my iBook G4, which is fine for me (atm it's my main computer because my PC died of old age a couple of months ago). I'd recommend getting it with 512MB RAM though, or you'll find it very chuggy.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Don't buy the ram from apple. It's too expensive there.

 

[Aenslead]

Originally posted by: KHGamez
I have been looking at the "Mini Mac" and i do really like them.

Yeah, they are cute.

All i would use it for is doing work on, and some Photo Editing and music...

The thing is, is the Mas OS (Tiger isnt it?) actually that good?

Lots of hype there (and here). Its "en boga".

Is it better than windows for day to day ease of use ect..

Is there an advantage over windows?

Only in some very specific professional software. On a 99.9% everyday use, no, there is no advantage whatsoever.

Is it easy to install software on a mac? ( i hope it isnt too much like Linux when installing stuff!)

So then, please post your views on the Mac OS, and if i should go out and buy a Mini Mac!

If you have spare money and don't care geting very expensive box which does not match the hardware installed in it, will use it as a secondary computer and is just for teasing around, yeah.

The main thing i aim for is silence and ease of use, i love the look of the OS but havnt really tried one out!

You'll miss the task bar and start menu.

 

[imported_Lucifer]

You will not miss the taskbar or the start menu. You can minimize your windows into the dock. You have your applications down on the dock. Or if you you really miss the start menu, drag the applications folder into the dock, and right click on the folder. You now have a menu just like the start menu with the list of all your programs.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Aenslead

Originally posted by: KHGamez
I have been looking at the "Mini Mac" and i do really like them.

Yeah, they are cute.

All i would use it for is doing work on, and some Photo Editing and music...

The thing is, is the Mas OS (Tiger isnt it?) actually that good?

Lots of hype there (and here). Its "en boga".

Is it better than windows for day to day ease of use ect..

Is there an advantage over windows?

Only in some very specific professional software. On a 99.9% everyday use, no, there is no advantage whatsoever.

Is it easy to install software on a mac? ( i hope it isnt too much like Linux when installing stuff!)

So then, please post your views on the Mac OS, and if i should go out and buy a Mini Mac!

If you have spare money and don't care geting very expensive box which does not match the hardware installed in it, will use it as a secondary computer and is just for teasing around, yeah.

The main thing i aim for is silence and ease of use, i love the look of the OS but havnt really tried one out!

You'll miss the task bar and start menu.

I haven't missed the start menu.

And, IMO, there are better alternatives to the task bar. Of course, the dock ain't one of them.

 

[Aenslead]

Interesting opinion... What is the best alternative for the taskbar, then, in your opinion?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Aenslead
Interesting opinion... What is the best alternative for the taskbar, then, in your opinion?

I get by without a taskbar in my favorite environments using multiple desktops and forgetting about the stupid idea of maximizing windows. I also keep things from overlapping too much (with the aid of multiple desktops), so I can see everything I need without having to click on a button on the bottom of the screen.

 

[Childs]

Buy a 1GB DIMM from Newegg or some place and I would recommend the mini. With 512MB its usable, but still feels a bit sluggish when you try to use it as a real machine. When I went to 1GB it finally started to feel like a regular G4 1.25Ghz machine.

Anyways, I don't use it anymore because I decided to go really portable/convienent and got the 12" Powerbook. Its a good starter machine tho, just get the 1GB dimm. In fact I think newegg has a Cosair 1GB PC3200 DIMM for under $100 right now.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Childs
Buy a 1GB DIMM from Newegg or some place and I would recommend the mini. With 512MB its usable, but still feels a bit sluggish when you try to use it as a real machine. When I went to 1GB it finally started to feel like a regular G4 1.25Ghz machine.

Anyways, I don't use it anymore because I decided to go really portable/convienent and got the 12" Powerbook. Its a good starter machine tho, just get the 1GB dimm. In fact I think newegg has a Cosair 1GB PC3200 DIMM for under $100 right now.

Send yours to me. :gift:

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Childs
Buy a 1GB DIMM from Newegg or some place and I would recommend the mini. With 512MB its usable, but still feels a bit sluggish when you try to use it as a real machine. When I went to 1GB it finally started to feel like a regular G4 1.25Ghz machine.

Anyways, I don't use it anymore because I decided to go really portable/convienent and got the 12" Powerbook. Its a good starter machine tho, just get the 1GB dimm. In fact I think newegg has a Cosair 1GB PC3200 DIMM for under $100 right now.

Send yours to me. :gift:

hahahaha....going to box it back up and give it to mom for her birthday.

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: KHGamez
I have been looking at the "Mini Mac" and i do really like them.

All i would use it for is doing work on, and some Photo Editing and music...

The thing is, is the Mas OS (Tiger isnt it?) actually that good?

Is it better than windows for day to day ease of use ect..

Is there an advantage over windows?

Is it easy to install software on a mac? ( i hope it isnt too much like Linux when installing stuff!)

So then, please post your views on the Mac OS, and if i should go out and buy a Mini Mac!

******************
The main thing i aim for is silence and ease of use, i love the look of the OS but havnt really tried one out!

I would still be keeping my current system, mainly as a server for all my files and the ocasional game every now and again.

One more thing, can you get the switch for mouse, keyboard and monitor to work when the mouse / Kb are running on USB? (so you only have one monitor for 2 computers?!?)

******************

TIA

KHGamez

I bought my Mac mini in late January for the very purposes you describe (basic photo editing/management, tunes, paper writing, internet) and find it to be a fine machine. The main reason I bought it to use was for trying out OSX and for the noise factor. I already have a much more powerful windows machine, but in many ways I find OSX to be more refined. And the mini is indeed very quiet, making it a great machine for a student.

However, you might also want to take a look at the revision A iMac G5s. With student discount and a $100 rebate they can be had from apple for a paltry $800 for the low end model and $900 for the high. In quite a few ways this is a fair step up from the mini, although it also carries with it a bit more noise.

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU

Originally posted by: Mags

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
You are gonna be limited to resolutions less than 1280x1024

Hmmm... the mini supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels AFAIK.

Supports but it will be laggy

I run my mini at 1600x1200 over my 2001fp. The main problem with the lack of video RAM is that expose gets choppy. Speed wise expose stays constant, it just simply drops frames with more than a few windows open. The hard drive is a bit slow, but I honestly haven't found it to be much of an issue thanks to OSXs excellent caching (but I use 1GB of RAM). The mini also does not support GPU accelerated core image, but this isn't a huge issue yet, and it can still fall back on altivec if need be.

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Aenslead

Originally posted by: KHGamez
I have been looking at the "Mini Mac" and i do really like them.

Yeah, they are cute.

All i would use it for is doing work on, and some Photo Editing and music...

The thing is, is the Mas OS (Tiger isnt it?) actually that good?

Lots of hype there (and here). Its "en boga".

Is it better than windows for day to day ease of use ect..

Is there an advantage over windows?

Only in some very specific professional software. On a 99.9% everyday use, no, there is no advantage whatsoever.

Is it easy to install software on a mac? ( i hope it isnt too much like Linux when installing stuff!)

So then, please post your views on the Mac OS, and if i should go out and buy a Mini Mac!

If you have spare money and don't care geting very expensive box which does not match the hardware installed in it, will use it as a secondary computer and is just for teasing around, yeah.

The main thing i aim for is silence and ease of use, i love the look of the OS but havnt really tried one out!

You'll miss the task bar and start menu.

I haven't missed the start menu.

And, IMO, there are better alternatives to the task bar. Of course, the dock ain't one of them.

Quicksilver comes to mind. I've also found spotlight to be a handy application launcher too.

 

[w9design]

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU

Originally posted by: Mags

Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
You are gonna be limited to resolutions less than 1280x1024

Hmmm... the mini supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels AFAIK.

Supports but it will be laggy

I run 1600x1200x32 on my Mac Mini with no lag, and no slowdown; I'm not sure what you're talking about in terms of lag. I just recently threw a WD1600JB into a FireWire enclosure and have been booting off of that; the hard drive boost is a big performance jump.