iMac vs. Mini

[roland.g]

How much of a difference would I see in editing iMovie HD or Final Cut Express HD between a 1.66 or 1.83 Mini with 2GB of RAM writing to a FW400 7200 RPM 16MB HDD (not the internal 5400) vs. a new 24" iMac with 2GB RAM & 7600GT 256MB VRAM?

Is the GPU the difference maker? Or is it more the 2.33 Core 2 over the slower Yonah?

I'm wondering about encoding mpegs into dv to use as clips, applying effects and transitions, and burning to iDVD. What about the speed of iPhoto for that matter.

Seeing that it's a $2,000 price difference...

 

[MacSA]

Is there really a $2000 price difference? Add up all the extras that would make the mini perform as you want and see if theres much of a price difference - 24" display (23" Apple display $1000) for a start and the 2GB RAM ($250). Of course you'll have to exclude the better core 2 duo chip and dedictaed graphics card the iMac offers you as those arent available in the Mini.

 

[roland.g]

Is there really a $2000 price difference? Add up all the extras that would make the mini perform as you want and see if theres much of a price difference - 24" display (23" Apple display $1000) for a start and the 2GB RAM ($250). Of course you'll have to exclude the better core 2 duo chip and dedictaed graphics card the iMac offers you as those arent available in the Mini.

For $1,100 to $1,400 I can either get a used 1.66 Mini off eBay or a new 1.83 Mini EDU, then add 2GB RAM myself, a newertech miniStack v2 case and a 320GB drive, a BT MM & Keyboard, & Applecare.

For the iMac I would max it out: 2.33GHz, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 7600GT 256MB VRAM, BT MM & Keyboard, & Applecare. The iMac is about $3,000 EDU. Yes the Mini doesn't come with a screen but I have a 19" LaCie CRT.
If I get the Mini I wouldn't upgrade the display till the offer built in iSights.