Personal computing discussed

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Hockster
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Dad wants a Mac Mini

Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:55 pm

My Dad has always worked on Macs and so is a big fan of them. Although I am trying to persuade him to get a PC one day, he now wants a Mac Mini. He currently has a G4 Cube so I guess this seems like the next logical step. His system runs so slow at doing anything at the moment, it's unreal. I'm not sure if a reformat would improve things at all, but he is not willing to try it anyway. A new computer is the only way!

After looking at the Apple site I see that there are various upgrades you can add over the base model, so I am looking for some advice on what is worth getting. Is the faster processor a good option? What about the amount of memory? I don't think my Dad does anything too demanding, although I don't think he would mind getting the faster options either... Also, is the Apple site the best place to buy it from (I'm from the UK)?

Thanks
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Alex
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:03 pm

Minis are decent machines. If I were buying one, I'd worry less about the processor speed and more about memory and hard drive size. I'd go for the 2GB of RAM and the biggest drive Apple offers (I think its a 160GB drive, but I haven't checked lately).

The Apple site is just fine to buy from. If you don't have a Apple Store nearby, the Apple.com store is the next best thing.
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Usacomp2k3
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:06 pm

Alex wrote:
Minis are decent machines. If I were buying one, I'd worry less about the processor speed and more about memory and hard drive size. I'd go for the 2GB of RAM and the biggest drive Apple offers (I think its a 160GB drive, but I haven't checked lately).

How about doing it after the fact? Using the $600 base model, Apple wants $150 each for going to 2gb memory, and a 160gb drive. Seems like you could find those cheaper yourself.
 
Gandhi
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:09 pm

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king_kilr
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:10 pm

Usacomp2k3 wrote:
Alex wrote:
Minis are decent machines. If I were buying one, I'd worry less about the processor speed and more about memory and hard drive size. I'd go for the 2GB of RAM and the biggest drive Apple offers (I think its a 160GB drive, but I haven't checked lately).

How about doing it after the fact? Using the $600 base model, Apple wants $150 each for going to 2gb memory, and a 160gb drive. Seems like you could find those cheaper yourself.


No question you can find them cheaper, I'm not sure how easy it is to open up the mini though.
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Gandhi
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:15 pm

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derFunkenstein
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:16 pm

king_kilr wrote:
Usacomp2k3 wrote:
Alex wrote:
Minis are decent machines. If I were buying one, I'd worry less about the processor speed and more about memory and hard drive size. I'd go for the 2GB of RAM and the biggest drive Apple offers (I think its a 160GB drive, but I haven't checked lately).

How about doing it after the fact? Using the $600 base model, Apple wants $150 each for going to 2gb memory, and a 160gb drive. Seems like you could find those cheaper yourself.


No question you can find them cheaper, I'm not sure how easy it is to open up the mini though.

It's a heart-stopping experience using nothing but a spatula and teeny-tiny screwdrivers. Literally, it's one of those things where you need to look at the value of your time. Personally, I'd let Apple install the 2GB of memory and get a firewire enclosure if you need a bigger drive. 80GB is sufficient for a system drive, and if you get creative with aliases (think Windows shortcuts where folder shortcuts actually work within save dialogs and such) you have nearly limitless storage at way less $/GB.

Gandhi - on your link, I don't see a G5 mini, but I do see Mini (Intel) as the very last section on the page.
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Alex
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:41 pm

Usacomp2k3 wrote:
Alex wrote:
Minis are decent machines. If I were buying one, I'd worry less about the processor speed and more about memory and hard drive size. I'd go for the 2GB of RAM and the biggest drive Apple offers (I think its a 160GB drive, but I haven't checked lately).

How about doing it after the fact? Using the $600 base model, Apple wants $150 each for going to 2gb memory, and a 160gb drive. Seems like you could find those cheaper yourself.

It's a doable DIY memory upgrade, but honestly, it doesn't look that inviting. I'd probably just dish out the extra money and let Apple do it. Same for the hard drive.

I start asking myself if it's worth it when the needed tools list starts out with putty knife. But that's just me. I'm not a particularly adventurous Apple geek.
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tesmar
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:46 pm

Alex wrote:
Usacomp2k3 wrote:
Alex wrote:
Minis are decent machines. If I were buying one, I'd worry less about the processor speed and more about memory and hard drive size. I'd go for the 2GB of RAM and the biggest drive Apple offers (I think its a 160GB drive, but I haven't checked lately).

How about doing it after the fact? Using the $600 base model, Apple wants $150 each for going to 2gb memory, and a 160gb drive. Seems like you could find those cheaper yourself.

It's a doable DIY memory upgrade, but honestly, it doesn't look that inviting. I'd probably just dish out the extra money and let Apple do it. Same for the hard drive.

I start asking myself if it's worth it when the needed tools list starts out with putty knife. But that's just me. I'm not a particularly adventurous Apple geek.


Oh yeah, upgrading the memory in the new models involves patience and a putty knife. Do you really want to do it to save $50 or just not worry about it? :o
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flybywire
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Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:51 pm

I had upgraded the memory on my Mini myself and I have to say it's not an impossible task, but it certainly isn't for the faint of heart. All you really need is a putty knife, a little bit of elbow grease and a lot of patience. :P The initial opening is always the toughest because you're not sure of what exactly you're doing and you don't want to break anything. However, once you know what you're doing, then subsequent openings are easy as pie. If you and your dad don't like to get your hands dirty in this type of thing then it's no crime paying someone else to do it to save you the trouble.
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Hockster
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:57 am

Thanks for all the fast replys. I will let you know of any developments.
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derFunkenstein
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:01 am

Alex wrote:
I start asking myself if it's worth it when the needed tools list starts out with putty knife. But that's just me. I'm not a particularly adventurous Apple geek.

On the G4 mini, the putty knife was the *only* tool, because the DIMM slot was perpendicular to the motherboard and therefore easy to reach. I mistakenly assumed with my Intel mini that it'd be similar...oh, that was an excruciating mistake. :lol:
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flybywire
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:11 am

Oh yeah, you have to lift the optical drive out in order to get to the dimm slots. No big deal though.
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ante9383
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:01 pm

Come on guys, don't be such wimps.

I love my mac mini and would never risk damaging it. That said, I upgraded my little darling's RAM to 2GB with [sigh] a pizza cutter and a screwdriver. No damages whatsoever, I just followed the PDF walktrough that is widely available on the web.
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tfp
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:13 pm

If he has never opened a PC case before he would be better of having Apple install the ram. Also if he likes Macs why have him change. They do what he wants that is all that matters.
 
Hockster
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:49 pm

I'm going to University in a weeks time. I was thinking of getting a laptop, but would a Mac of some sort be a good choice? A Mac Mini or Mac notebook?
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Gandhi
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:52 pm

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Hockster
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:01 pm

I guess I would be doing mainly basic tasks such as word processing and surfing the internet. Unfortunately it seems the University blocks most gaming ports, so I don't think I'll be doing much of that.
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Gandhi
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:10 pm

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Alex
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:47 pm

I'm a college student with a MacBook Pro and love it. I couldn't get through a day without the portability of a laptop. Each student's needs will vary, but for me it gives me the portability I need to take it to class and the freedom to study in the library, at home, around campus, at other people's places, etc.

If you don't think you'll be on the go that much, give the Mini or iMac a look. Both are reasonably priced and offer good space-saving dimensions.
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Gandhi
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:49 pm

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derFunkenstein
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Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:32 pm

Yes, I'm reading...:lol: If bonuses at work are anything near what they've apparently been in past years (started at this job at the start of this year), an MBP will be mine in December.

edit: oh, wait...I'm supposed to scream now, aren't I?
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Hockster
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Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:06 pm

I'm really not sure whether to get a PC or Mac... As you know, my Dad likes Macs, so he would buy me one, although he would buy me a PC if I preferred that.

I'm trying to think of reasons to get a Mac, but is there really many? Obviously Windows is the dominant platform so you know that everything will work on it. Other than looking pretty and being different, what does a Mac offer? A different OS can't give too many benefits, can it? As far as security is concerned, I've been fine with my PC all these years! Maybe a reason to get a Mac would be so that I can say I've used a different OS and that I know how to use it, although I have used Macs in the past and I guess they are easy to use anyway. Would do you think? Why should I get a Mac?

As far as the actual hardware and performance of Macs goes, I'm wondering about a few things. Are the processors exactly the same as the ones in PCs now? Would a Mac with the same speed processor and other similar specs as a PC perform at about the same speed, or would one of them be faster?

Are the various Mac products priced well for their performance compared to a PC? If I get a MacBook, for that price would I be able to get a laptop with better or worse specs/performance? Would about for the Mac Mini or iMac? Are you paying less or more for the Apple brand?

Finally, can someone tell me a bit about running Windows on a Mac, as I guess that could be one reason to get a Mac. I used some software called Virtual PC many years ago and remember that it was terriblely slow. I guess this will be completely different though - again, how would it compare to an actual PC with the same processor/specs performance-wise? Does Windows and all of its software work flawlessly on a Mac, or are there still various problems? Oh, and can a PC run the Mac OS viabley at this point in time?

Thanks in advance for any help.
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Gandhi
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Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:46 pm

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derFunkenstein
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Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:38 pm

It should be noted that while hardware in Macs is standard PC hardware, it's NOT standard desktop software. Every desktop Mac aside from the Mac Pro (which uses dual dual-core or quad-core Xeons) uses the mobile Core2 Duo and accompanying chipset. What's nice about this is that it'll draw less power even when compared to its desktop bretheren. It also has a (small) hand in the higher initial cost.
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Hockster
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Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:06 am

So in theory you could take the processor out of the Mac and stick it in a new PC? It would be exactly the same as buying the component separately when building a new PC?
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derFunkenstein
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Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:19 am

assuming you had a board with the correct socket, you bet. In fact, before the Core2 update for the Mini, people had been upgrading them with Socket 479 Core2's from Newegg without any problems or issues.
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Hockster
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:24 pm

I'm still not completely sure, but I'm considering a MacBook. The cheapest one is £700 and has a Core 2 Duo 2GHz, 1GB RAM and 80GB HDD. I think I'm only going to be doing basic tasks on it, so I am wondering whether it would be a good idea to pay an extra £100 to get 2GB RAM. Would it be worth getting the faster processor upgrade too, the Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz?

I noticed that most of the HDDs in the MacBooks are only 5400rpm - is this the same in most notebooks and does the slower speed make much of a difference? How much cache do these HDDs actually have? I wonder who makes the HDDs that Apple uses in their machines, and I wonder the same about the memory?

Finally, would I be able to get a PC laptop with a better spec than the MacBook above, for the same price?

Thanks
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derFunkenstein
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:24 pm

The 5400RPM 80GB drive from my Mini is a Fujitsu with 8MB cache. I replaced it with a 120GB from Toshiba, which went up in smoke with the rest of the machine thanks to lightning.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
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Gandhi
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Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:10 pm

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