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Buy a new Mac Mini or a new Macbook?

MacMini2009

MacMini2009

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 22, 2009
1,728
0
California
I'm seriously stumped. I don't know what to choose. I have the previous generation 2GHz Mac Mini and I have been thinking about getting the new Mac Minis or the new Macbooks. I can't decide! I already have a decent HP 2009M monitor, an Apple Keyboard and a Logitech VX Nano. I first thought no brainer, just sell my current Mac Mini and buy the high end 2.53GHz version. But, I always find myself using my crappy Dell E1705 Laptop. I love the mobility of using a laptop anywhere in the house. I could sell all my peripherals and just buy the new Macbook. I also have the option of just upgrading my current Mac Mini to 4GB of RAM and a faster hard drive as it would be cheaper. I'm on a really tight budget and I don't know if I should even be buying a new computer. Maybe it would be better choice just to upgrade the specs of my current Mac Mini. AHH! If you were in my position, what would you do? Oh and if there are any owners of the new Macbooks out there, is the screen really "that dark?"
 
Well, from your username, you'd get a Mac Mini. But from reading your post, it sounds to me that if money wasn't the issue you have already decided on a MacBook. See if you can afford it. You can get 4GB of RAM and a big hard drive in the new white MacBook.
 
I would go with a macbook. Like you stated the joys of being able to move the macbook around with you is so worth the extra money you need. If you need more screen space just add an external monitor then you got the best of both worlds. Lloyd
 
...I'm not sold on the built-in batteries... they have the 2.13 Ghz nVidia whitebooks in the refurb section now for $749 and...

I don't think there's anything currently that much better about the new whitebook that would cause me to get a Rev A item before at least Rev B of the uWB comes out with the 2.0 Ghz nVidia whitebook I currently have...
 
If cost is the primary consideration, bump up the ram of your current mini and stick in a nice fast hard drive to recapture some new car smell.

If it's mobility you're after, the new MB looks pretty good, provided you don't have to have firewire.
 
Here is the lowest price I found from a trusted site on the NEW MacBook. No tax or shipping!

http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=10681508

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You're not going to get much for your Mac Mini and its peripherals. If you intend to upgrade to a Macbook, your out-of-pocket cost will likely be 600-700 bucks. Since your Mac Mini is fairly recent, I suggest you just spend $100-$150 to max out your Mac Mini (4GB memory, and 500 or 640GB HDD). Just like buying a new car, every time you upgrade to a new Mac you're gonna have to pay for the immediate depreciation value, even if there is not a significant boost in performance in the new Mac. If you stick with your Mac Mini, it'll likely be as fast, if not faster, than any Mac Mini/Macbook you'll upgrade to.
On the other hand, if portability is what you crave, then it's time to save up for the Macbook/Pro.
 
to me the macbook will be more useful, and if you keep the minis peripherals then you can have a desktop by hooking your macbook up too... the best of both worlds
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Well it would definitely be cheaper to just upgrade the specs of my current Mac Mini. I just love having portability. I'm still thinking this out.
 
On engadget the white macbook was getting scratched to hell in one day.
i'd save a little more and get the next 13 macbook pro next year.
 
updating your mini to a new one would in most cases now show you any speed improvement in day to day use. it would be a waste of money.
 
Wirelessly posted (Nokia 5800 Tube XpressMusic : Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.4; U; Series60/5.0 Nokia5800d-1/21.0.101; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 ) AppleWebKit/413 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/413)

I'd save more money and get what you actually want.
 
I think I'm just going to upgrade the specs in my current Mac Mini as I don't really need a new computer and it is much cheaper. I will also buy the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse. Is this a good plan?
 
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