Buying a mini new or used?

[Droidrage729]

Ok so I sold my mini 2007 model to upgrade to a newer version. I'm on a budget so I'm leaning more towards getting a used mini. What is the difference if any between a 2011 mini and a 2012? The 2011 minis are significantly cheaper and I also need a keyboard and trackpad. My 07 mini was used and I have nothing but great things to say about it.

[philipma1957]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC...-intel-core-i5

1 year warranty 2 weeks to return but you will need to add ram 4gb or 8gb.

the refurbs sometimes have extra ram by luck.

it really sounds to me like this is good for you.

[Droidrage729]

I think you are right what stinks is with a keyboard and trackpad 70 bucks a pop I'm kinda at what a new one costs. 469 + tax plus both keyboard and mouse ill be past 600. I tried to soften the blow by the keyboard and mouse by checking amazon and eBay nothing worthwhile. I may go generic on the keyboard and just eat the price of the trackpad

[Che Castro]

If the 2012 Mac mini refurb is not available

These are the cheapest alternative

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...G&A=details&Q=


http://www.macconnection.com/IPA/Sho...e04e49300013df


Which site do you guys recommend ordering from ?

[designs216]

Originally Posted by Droidrage729

I think you are right what stinks is with a keyboard and trackpad 70 bucks a pop I'm kinda at what a new one costs. 469 + tax plus both keyboard and mouse ill be past 600. I tried to soften the blow by the keyboard and mouse by checking amazon and eBay nothing worthwhile. I may go generic on the keyboard and just eat the price of the trackpad

But remember the new model doesn't come with mouse or keyboard either. You may want to check to see if you can get last year's model at B&H or Amazon. Sometimes the tax free angle beats the refurb price. Sometimes you can find mouse and keyboard on Craigslist as well.

[philipma1957]

logitech makes a decent wireless keyboard mouse combo

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wirel...wireless+combo


it uses 1 usb slot for the keyboard + mouse

[Colchiro]

I picked up a HP wireless keyboard/mouse at Walmart for about $30. I like it.

[Droidrage729]

I went with the one on Mac connection reasonable price plus the new minis were only on apples refurb site for a blink i must say I've hated this week without my Mac can't wait for it to come in. My wife's windows 8 pc is just yuckie.

[foofan]

2011 have usb 2.0 - 2012 have usb 3.0
2011 max out at 8gb ram - 2012 max out at 16gb ram

[Droidrage729]

Originally Posted by foofan

2011 have usb 2.0 - 2012 have usb 3.0
2011 max out at 8gb ram - 2012 max out at 16gb ram

Glad I went with the 12 then

[Omnius]

Originally Posted by foofan

2011 have usb 2.0 - 2012 have usb 3.0
2011 max out at 8gb ram - 2012 max out at 16gb ram

2011 maxes at 16gb...

[Colchiro]

I have 16 gb on my 2011.

[cjgonzales1900]

2011 Intel HD 3000
2012 Intell HD 4000
lol But seriously its always better to throw in a couple of extra bucks and get the newer one. I got a new 2012 base model for $499 at my local best buy. Love it, spent the $100 I saved and ordered 16gb ram for $80.

[foofan]

Originally Posted by Omnius

2011 maxes at 16gb...

apple's specs say 8gb, unless i'm reading wrong.
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP632

[philipma1957]

Originally Posted by foofan

apple's specs say 8gb, unless i'm reading wrong.
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP632

There are many confirmed users of 16gb in all sandy bridge model 2011 minis.

Apple specs are pretty much classic "Scotty" As in;

" I can't captain , I hav'nt got the power "

[Mike Valmike]

Originally Posted by Droidrage729

Ok so I sold my mini 2007 model to upgrade to a newer version. I'm on a budget so I'm leaning more towards getting a used mini. What is the difference if any between a 2011 mini and a 2012? The 2011 minis are significantly cheaper and I also need a keyboard and trackpad. My 07 mini was used and I have nothing but great things to say about it.

Here's the thing. If you're not going to get a 2012 Mini, you're best off getting a 2010 Mini, because of what you get back:

2009 - Older design, no HDMI out, won't run Mountain Lion, but very cheap.
2010 - has DVD-RW drive, base OS is Snow Leopard, has mini display port + HDMI + USB2.0
2011 - No optical drive, base OS is Lion, has Thunderbolt port + HDMI + USB2.0
2012 - No optical drive, base OS is Mountain Lion, has Thunderbolt port + HDMI + USB 3.0

Between 2010 and 2012 is the big leap; all 2011 gives you is a TB port most people don't use, and you lose out on being able to run SL and having an optical drive. The 2011 is good on its own merits for the right price mainly because it represents a big CPU power jump over 2010, but for the kind of duty you're likely to use a Mini for, raw horsepower usually isn't the dealbreaker versus the peripherals and other aspects of the 2010 and 2012 models.

[jchase2057]

You can always get the older style apple keyboards for pretty cheap. I still use the keyboard from an old eMac. As far as mice go, apple has never made one worth using imo.

[Omnius]

In terms of specs, the 2009 and the 2010 are basically the same thing in a different case. The 2009 needs 2 hdmi adapters to run 2 hdmi cables whereas the 2010 needs one.

[tbobmccoy]

Honestly, I'm keeping with my 2011 because of the graphics card... Having a dedicated gpu is quite handy. If Apple hadn't nixed that option in the 2012, it would tempt me more...

[motrek]

Originally Posted by Droidrage729

Ok so I sold my mini 2007 model to upgrade to a newer version. I'm on a budget so I'm leaning more towards getting a used mini. What is the difference if any between a 2011 mini and a 2012? The 2011 minis are significantly cheaper and I also need a keyboard and trackpad. My 07 mini was used and I have nothing but great things to say about it.

Biggest difference to me is USB 3. That allows me to use a cheap external SSD as a boot drive and get good performance, not to mention every small portable external drive you can buy at stores now is USB 3, so using those (for backups, etc.) is several TIMES faster. Everything is moving to USB 3 if it isn't there already. No reason to be stuck with USB 2.

[Droidrage729]

Got my 12 mini today haven't booted it up yet but ill set it up later.