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advice for mac mini vs imac

P

photo121

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Which is better

mac mini this generation
specs 2.0 ghz 120 hd
for 549 USD


or Imac previous generation
specs 2.4 gz 250 hd, 20 inch
for 849 USD

thanks
 
brad.c said:
iMac.
Click to expand...

I concur. The iMac is faster, comes with a screen, keyboard, mouse, and larger hard drive. You might be able to find all that for 300 dollars, but it'd take a while to get it all together and the effort I don't think is worth it. If you have all of the extra stuff already, and don't care about CPU speed, then go for the mini. (don't forget you most likely need an adapter to plug a monitor in)
 
I would go for the iMac as well.

Especially if you don't have a monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse for a mac mini. Buying all that stuff will bring the price near the iMac's price--making the iMac a better deal because it has more power as well.

EDIT: cawesjmu beat me. I spent way to long writing my response 🙂 .
 
budget range

approx around 500-900 USD

other factors
I already have a pc: keyboard, monitor and mouse.
I plan to run cs4 design premium on it

the graphics card will would be nvidia 9400 (mac mini) vs ati 2400xt 128 mb
(imac)

thanks
 
photo121 said:
approx around 500-900 USD

other factors
I already have a pc: keyboard, monitor and mouse.
I plan to run cs4 design premium on it
Click to expand...

Sounds like you do photography and you get academic pricing? I'd skip the iMac altogether, if so, since it has a crappy TN panel. For $900, I'd go with:

Mac Mini = $549
4 gb RAM = $65
Firewire 800 Enclosure = $60
Samsung 1TB hard drive = $100
Total = $775
 
I'm actually in the EXACT same situation right now. I've decided to sell my current Mini and replace it... I was GOING to get the new Mini, but the iMac just started making more and more sense. I've decided to get the $999 refurbished iMac - it has 2 GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, and 256 MB Radeon card.

Cave Man said:
Sounds like you do photography and you get academic pricing? I'd skip the iMac altogether, if so, since it has a crappy TN panel. For $900, I'd go with:

Mac Mini = $549
4 gb RAM = $65
Firewire 800 Enclosure = $60
Samsung 1TB hard drive = $100
Total = $775
Click to expand...

If our OP needs a monitor, this won't help him at all. Yeah, the TN panel in the iMac isn't great, but its better than nothing. 🙂
 
Mini, you don't need to buy another screen, keyboard and mouse and besides, the Mini is the best computer Apple make.
 
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