jowl

Just setup my mac Mini and I'm quite impressed. %12mb RAm must help cos it's not too sluggish.

But is the hard drive supposed to be that noisy? By noisy, I mean it clicks and wurrs like it's about to die?

(and why did they only put 2 USB ports on?)

ScoobyDoo555

You get what you pay for!! I've got around the lack of USB, by purchasing a hub

I love ours (1.45Ghz with superdrives and airport) Just ordering some audio interfaces for em now

Dan

IWatkins

Someone tell me more about these things. They look like an ideal tool for my studio.

I.e. all it would need to do would be able to read images from a USB card reader and display them on screen and that is about it. Prefer if it could run Photoshop at a just OK rate as well.

I understand you buy the box and then have to go and buy a screen. Any old screen do ?

(Forgive me, I'm a PC person through and through)

Cheers

Ian

SC008Y_MAD

iTrader: (5)

The Mac mini is a Mac that pc users buy if they are trying out the mac experience buy thinging 'well if the iPod is great, then maybe a mac is'.

SO the mac mini you can add your own monitor so long as it has a dvi cable, if not then i think you can buy a converter?. Also you can use you USB keybaod and mouse. and your away.

I have been thinking about getting a Mini with an apple cinema display and keyborad and mouse to try out. I would like to know if they can run photoshop cs2? if not then i shant bother, ill save up a bit more and get a powermac as i don't like the idea of the imacs. Look nice, but not for me, rather have a seperate monitor and tower etc..

Darren

jowl

The Mac mini comes with a DVI-VGA convertor.

If you get the one with Bluetooth and Airport in you could get a Mac bluetooth keyboard+mouse keeping both USB slots available. If not, get an Apple keyboard with USB ports in to plug in a mouse.

ScoobyDoo555

Ian - depends on what application it's for......

I'm using them at work for music production/audio editing (granted with external audio hardware)
Compared to my G5s, they're still in a different league (behind!), but considering the price, they're pretty good.

What did you want to use it for?

Dan

jowl

I've come from a G3 iMac for my home use so it feels much better.

Even using my customers G4 eMacs it feels much better. I assume the RAM helps.

So do you find the Hard drive 'clunky' ?

ScoobyDoo555

not really - but tbh, I haven't really noticed.....

Will check when I get back to work (Monday )

Dan

IWatkins

Thanks guys.

Dan, it will simply be used to download images from a camera and then display them on screen for checking / client viewing. Would be useful is it could also run Photoshop for minor / quick editing work. Nothing heavy in that sense.

Cheers

Ian

ScoobyDoo555

It'll work fine then Just make sure it's got plenty of ram

Dan

Thunder77

Fantastic piece of kit I think. HD is not audible on our one. Only thing I can hear is when the CD/DVD drive spins up.

Rob D

Absolutely fantastic bit of kit, like most people that buy them I wanted to try the Mac experience. Mac OS takes a while to get used to, still a bit confused with installation files but getting there. It did sit there for a couple of months unused but after exploring the video editing ability I am hooked.
Have the 1.42Ghz model with 1Gb ram, bluetooth and wireless, but I do regret not buying the superdrive to allow me to burn DV footage to DVD.

So for all u Mac experts should I buy a replacement internal slot loading DVD-RW drive or a firewire external?

Edited to say my Mac Mini is dead silent.

jowl

the External Firewire drive would be a LOT cheaper.

I'd probably go this route - as much as I hate having excess cables etc.

Rob D

Jowl, not too sure if's a lot cheaper I can get a Pioneer slot loading internal DVD-RW drive for £65, this model is the actual model Apple use as well, just means taking the mini apart again.
Or are the external drives better???

jowl

Forget what I said, get that internal drive! If you don't mind taking the Mac mini apart it would be better IMO. The drive itself may not be quite the spec of a 'normal' DVD/RW drive but you wouldn't have cables all over.

I'm tempted to upgrade my mac Mini (I'd like wireless and bluetooth) but it''s less than a month old so would like warranty a while.

Jake

So I take it you can easily open up the mini and change the drives without any special tools etc?

Rob D

Jake, all u need is a putty knife, there's plenty of PDF manuals on the web showing you how to take the mini apart.

AllanB

Just be aware if you do this you immediately invalidate all warranty. Its the only machine ine the range like that but if you've seen inside one you'll know why !

Great pieces of kit and responsible for loads of PC converts !


AllanB

Rob D

If you take the mini apart carefully it would be very difficult to prove, however I've heard on many forums Apple are quite forgiving as long as you don't damage any components inside.

Nessie

Yup got my MAC mini September and it is a love afair to remember. I have to say it is the most noiseless piece of kit I have ever had.Having said that my previous experience has been el cheepo put it together in the garden shed but totally upgradable boxes.Gets a bit hot in summer stick a few fans in kind of affair. This is the first bespoke box I have ever had and I am for one very impressed.

AllanB

Rwe the warranty I'm sure it hard to prove agree there. Apple have told us if anyone opens it, the warranty is gone, no debate.


AllanB

Rob D

That's just scare tactics from Apple to make you pay rediculous prices for their upgrades!

For example when I purchased mine I think the rate for 1Gb of ram was £350! Apple realised people were buying them for £90, didn't take long to change that price!

I've just ordered my internal slot loading DVD RW by the way!

jowl

Whats the price for the Airport/Bluetooth upgrade?

Don't suppose you can buy that anywhere else but Apple

RichB

about £70.
I notice you can only get both now where as you used to be able to get either or...

edited to say I guess you mean to have it upgraded after you bought it, i don't know the answer to that! Doh. I'll get me coat...

Markus

Have a peek here specifically note 4 at the bottom of the page: "Some of these options must be installed by Apple at the factory; the rest can be added in-store at an Apple Authorised Reseller." So I'd guess it can be done, but it's not clear what parts you have to get when you purchase it.

I'm sure I've seen discussions over here about Apple retailers having airport and bluetooth "kits" in stock, so it sounds as though it can be done post purchase.