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G4 Cube or a Mini?

J

JBazz

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 14, 2006
491
2
Looking for an inexpensive desktop because my macbook has to go out for repair. Hoping to find someone who has both the mini and the cube to give me some solid (ahem) advice.

I absolutely adore the cube. I really want one of them. But when I start thinking about it being 8 years old.....

So if you wanted just a cheapo backup system desktop, which would you go for and why? Keep in mind I am a lady so LOOKS MATTER. :)
 
Get the mini since you need to use a computer.

Using a MHz machine instead of MacBook would be frustrating.

I've been there before with wanted to buy a cube or a vintage Mac, but I don't have a few hundred to burn on a well designed paper weight.
 
A G4 Cube is great if all you plan on doing is browsing the web on it occasionally. But a 450mhz G4 Cube will start to show its age doing even that, especially with the flash heavy sites used today. You'd either need to spend some money to upgrade the processor, or just go straight for the Mini.
 
CubeHacker said:
A G4 Cube is great if all you plan on doing is browsing the web on it occasionally. But a 450mhz G4 Cube will start to show its age doing even that, especially with the flash heavy sites used today. You'd either need to spend some money to upgrade the processor, or just go straight for the Mini.
Click to expand...
Know any good, reputable businesses that will do my updates? Or better yet, that sell them updated?
 
A Mini. A G4 Cube may look nice at first, but when things get screwy and slow, it won't look nice anymore.
 
I have both. I use the mini.

Just get a mini and upgrade the ram, then your done. To upgrade the cube is $$$, processor, graphics card, HD and ram. Ram for mini is cheap.

The cube is a great novelty item. Right now its a nice paperweight, as I have a mini, powermac, macbook. Going to implement it as a itunes server for a separate stereo system.
 
kellen said:
I have both. I use the mini.

Just get a mini and upgrade the ram, then your done. To upgrade the cube is $$$, processor, graphics card, HD and ram. Ram for mini is cheap.

The cube is a great novelty item. Right now its a nice paperweight, as I have a mini, powermac, macbook. Going to implement it as a itunes server for a separate stereo system.
Click to expand...

I agree with Kellen that the cube is more of a novelty. My mini runs circles around my cube.

I have a 450MHz cube with 1.25GB of RAM and it is adequate for web browsing but definitely is a bit slow. When I bought the cube I realized the limitations but wanted to have it for the cool looks. I have it set up with a 17 inch Apple LCD and like how it looks.

In summary a used mini might be initially a little more money, but will be far more usable.
 
Get a low end Mini
Get a dead Cube
Fit Mini parts into Cube (hard part but possible)
Be happy, cool and proud.
:D
 
BBC B 32k said:
Get a low end Mini
Get a dead Cube
Fit Mini parts into Cube (hard part but possible)
Be happy, cool and proud.
:D
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this !!

Owned a Cube (450MHz) for about 3 years - bought Mini (1.25GHz) and it was like night and day - now have a MacBook....

Dead Cubes are not easy to find but there are plenty of guides on how to do the surgery.
 
Well, I have time to think now. I was told my macbook would be shipped to be repaired and it would take 3 days. With the weekend approaching I had figured to get it back by monday.

Dropped it off today at 9:30 and had it back by 11. :eek:

I think I am going to get a cube and worry about upgrading at my leisure now.
 
read my lips: DO NOT GET A CUBE

they look great but it would be a total waste of money. by the time you buy, one, and upgrade it, it would be just as expensive, if not more than a low end mini. and it will still be dead slow in comparison.
 
Got my cube on eBay today. Here is the list number...

200260285003

Now if anyone wants to answer a question about a monitor? I am considering getting the old Apple acrylic 23" HD studio display. Are these life limited like a TV?
 
IJ Reilly said:
The point of this butchery has always escaped me. The G4 Cube is a classic computer, inside and out. If you want a mini, buy a mini. You don't need to destroy a Cube to get one.
Click to expand...
I dont want a mini. And modification is not the same as destroy.
 
JBazz said:
Got my cube on eBay today. Here is the list number...

200260285003

Now if anyone wants to answer a question about a monitor? I am considering getting the old Apple acrylic 23" HD studio display. Are these life limited like a TV?
Click to expand...
wow. kicking it old school! the acrylic Apple Cinema Display was actually 22"... and i'm not sure if it was 16:10 like the current ACD either. here's a listing for one at $699. now remember those had ADC cables so considering your going to update the guts for a mac mini you'll probably need a DVI to ADC adapter. they are not cheap. so you're retro desktop display will cost you $799 while you can get a refurb 23" ACD for $899. and the new ones of course have a much smaller footprint. as for your question if they are life-limited i know two people who have the 22" acrylic used everyday in a post house and they haven't died yet.
 
JBazz said:
Got my cube on eBay today. Here is the list number...

200260285003

Now if anyone wants to answer a question about a monitor? I am considering getting the old Apple acrylic 23" HD studio display. Are these life limited like a TV?
Click to expand...
The Cube is a Classic. What did it cost you? If it still boots OK, I would keep it as is for nostalgia.
Any LCD monitor has a limited life, much shorter than the old CRT monitors that seemingly last forever.
 
FightTheFuture said:
wow. kicking it old school! the acrylic Apple Cinema Display was actually 22"... and i'm not sure if it was 16:10 like the current ACD either. here's a listing for one at $699. now remember those had ADC cables so considering your going to update the guts for a mac mini you'll probably need a DVI to ADC adapter. they are not cheap. so you're retro desktop display will cost you $799 while you can get a refurb 23" ACD for $899. and the new ones of course have a much smaller footprint. as for your question if they are life-limited i know two people who have the 22" acrylic used everyday in a post house and they haven't died yet.
Click to expand...
The cinema displays are going for much less than that locally. There is a man with two of them and wants $250 apiece.

As for the adapter, the cube I got on eBay is already seriously modded so not sure if I will need to do the mac mini stuff or not. My plan is to use it and see how it goes.
 
my inlaws have a cube and it is painfully slow on most websites- I try to keep it updated and clean, but the processor AND low memory contributes to it moving through the internet as slow as molasses.

Get the mini and it will give you something you are more used to as well as the resale value if you want to dump it after a while.
 
Keep in mind if you want to use an ADC display with the Cube you will want to keep it relatively stock, with the ADC video card. That way you get use of the power button on the display, which is one of the great features of the Cube. Also be aware of the CPU upgrade options for the Cube -- which can make it completly useful without destoying it.
 
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