How much dose the apple mini really costs?

[mactastic]

Repeat after me:

I do not have to buy an Apple branded Display.

I do not have to buy an Apple branded Keyboard and Mouse.


All I need is the Mac mini, and the upgrading to a SuperDrive, larger HDD, AEcard, and Ram can be done on my behalf, it is not hard.

Only thing you might want is bluetooth as a BTO.

Well duh. I was just trying to answer the guy's question. I'm well aware of different brand monitors, mice, keyboards, etc.

 

[panphage]

I keep seeing people saying "Add a 20" Cinema for $1000 and you might as well get an iMac". But the 20" Cinema is WAY better than getting an iMac.. The 20" cinema is a far better panel than the one that comes with the iMac. But the real point that destroys the comparison is that you can use the cinema three years from now with a newer mac mini. Or a G6 tower. Or whatever. For my money the Cinema is a better deal.

 

[maya]

I keep seeing people saying "Add a 20" Cinema for $1000 and you might as well get an iMac". But the 20" Cinema is WAY better than getting an iMac.. The 20" cinema is a far better panel than the one that comes with the iMac. But the real point that destroys the comparison is that you can use the cinema three years from now with a newer mac mini. Or a G6 tower. Or whatever. For my money the Cinema is a better deal.

Why even buy the ACD for that matter? You can get as big displays for much much less.

 

[Diatribe]

I keep seeing people saying "Add a 20" Cinema for $1000 and you might as well get an iMac". But the 20" Cinema is WAY better than getting an iMac.. The 20" cinema is a far better panel than the one that comes with the iMac. But the real point that destroys the comparison is that you can use the cinema three years from now with a newer mac mini. Or a G6 tower. Or whatever. For my money the Cinema is a better deal.

The only problem is that there's no processor in the cinema display. Makes it kinda hard to run any apps...

 

[TyleRomeo]

Repeat after me:

I do not have to buy an Apple branded Display.

I do not have to buy an Apple branded Keyboard and Mouse.


All I need is the Mac mini, and the upgrading to a SuperDrive, larger HDD, AEcard, and Ram can be done on my behalf, it is not hard.

Only thing you might want is bluetooth as a BTO.

hey maya and i actually agree here. All you need is the mini, everything else apple offers can be done later, except maybe the internal bluetooth. Has anyone installed internal bluetooth themselves?

Tyler

 

[dejo]

but in reality you do end up spending more no matter how you spin it

I hook up my DVI LCD display, USB keyboard and USB mouse. Total cost more to me: $0. No need for me to spend any more no matter how you look at it.

 

[maya]

hey maya and i actually agree here. All you need is the mini, everything else apple offers can be done later, except maybe the internal bluetooth. Has anyone installed internal bluetooth themselves?

Tyler

Not possible from what I gather.

BTO or USB dongle later.

 

[maya]

The only problem is that there's no processor in the cinema display. Makes it kinda hard to run any apps...

If only your brain had a DVI port.

 

[acedickson]

If you want a wireless KB/mouse combo pickup the Logitech Cordless MX Duo from zipzoomfly for 59.99 shipped. Costs the same as the wired apple KB/mouse.

 

[cazlar]

The only thing is that I've never seen a BT keyboard with a "mouse" type device. Maybe someone should come out with a keyboard with a "thumbstick" or trackpad. That would be sweet.

It's not quite the same, but one little-used feature of MacOS since System 7 or so is "mouse keys" (where your keypad directs the mouse around) in the Universal access prefs. It's not great for any sort of precision things and will never beat a mouse for many things but I use it all the time with my bluetooth keyboard. With practice you can get quite good at using it (even drag and drop)

 

[Toppa G's]

it would be better that comes with a monitor/ mouse and keyboard, as macs normaly do this should come with everything you need out of the box.

Is it just me or have people been complaining forever that Apple bundles keyboards and mice that they don't use with their computers? Seems people are always grumbling about having drawers full of keyboards and mice that they don't have the option to refuse.

(side note: I realize that those people might be construed as "power users", obviously not the target of this particular machine)

 

[coolsoldier]

OK, folks, the Mac mini can be considered as either (a) a replacement for an existing tower unit or (b) one component of an a-la-carte computer system. The mini is not, and is not being marketed as, a complete system.

It allows people who are so inclined to buy macs with a two button mouse and/or more ergonomic keyboard and/or cheap monitor, none of which Apple makes. If they included a mouse and keyboard with the computer automatically, it would be the overpriced apple mouse and keyboard, which, from my experience, recent PC converts tend to hate.

Remember that the one-button mouse has been a turn-off for PC users (and several mac users) ever since the invention of the two-button mouse. Hence not including it

 

[Solafaa]

Remember that the one-button mouse has been a turn-off for PC users (and several mac users) ever since the invention of the two-button mouse. Hence not including it

Blah, i never use apple keyboards or mouse, i got the Logitech and a Microsoft Explorer 3.0 USB mouse. By the way whats the point of the 1 button mouse? i dont get it.

 

[gauriemma]

Merits (or lack thereof) of the new "Mini" aside, I find it amusing that so many people are apparently up in arms over the fact that a Macintosh computer is actually being sold without a keyboard and mouse.

As a Mac user from the 'old days' (read: the 1980s), I can still remember a time when such components had to be purchased separately. All you got out of the box was a CPU.

Funny how things come back around, isn't it?

 

[TranceClubMusic]

You can't add up, or just lazy?

Find a monitor, get price
Find a keyboard, get price
Find a mouse, get price

Mini + monitor + kbd + mouse = cost

LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[coolsoldier]

Now, to actually answer the question:

Assuming one does not own a mouse, keyboard, or monitor, and also that one buys the cheapest available peripherals from walmart.com, one can get a complete computer system priced as follows:

Mac Mini, $499-$599
CRT Monitor, $119
USB Keyboard, $19.88
USB Mouse, $11.98
-----------------------------------
Complete System $649.86-$749.86

Alternatively, one could take advantage of macmall's free keyboard&mouse promotion and buy just the monitor, bringing the total system price down to $618-$718.

Of course, a great many people already have monitors (Fewer have USB mice and keyboards, although dual PS2 to USB cables can be purchased for considerably less than the price of a mouse-keyboard set)

 

[TrenchMouth]

so i am thinking about getting one of these. i think i will go witht he slower model and throw in the 512 and get a superdrive.

i found a pretty good 15 lcd for $250 and i think that will due until i get some more spair cash for a bigger monitor.

my question is, i know this thing will be fine running Tiger, but will it be Core capable? I remember seeing a list of GPU's that were Core compatible, but i dont remember seeing the 9200 as one of them. that would be sort of a let down if it wasnt. but i guess i can deal with that. it is still a huge jump from what i have now lol.

 

[oingoboingo]

Merits (or lack thereof) of the new "Mini" aside, I find it amusing that so many people are apparently up in arms over the fact that a Macintosh computer is actually being sold without a keyboard and mouse.

As a Mac user from the 'old days' (read: the 1980s), I can still remember a time when such components had to be purchased separately. All you got out of the box was a CPU.

Funny how things come back around, isn't it?

Macs were being sold without keyboards or mice much later than that. I was flipping through an old copy of MacUser (from 1996) and noticed that many of the Performas did not include keyboard/mouse in the base price. And in those days, you couldn't just plug in any standard USB peripherals...it had to be ADB.

So yeah...we've come full circle.

 

[oingoboingo]

so i am thinking about getting one of these. i think i will go witht he slower model and throw in the 512 and get a superdrive.

i found a pretty good 15 lcd for $250 and i think that will due until i get some more spair cash for a bigger monitor.

my question is, i know this thing will be fine running Tiger, but will it be Core capable? I remember seeing a list of GPU's that were Core compatible, but i dont remember seeing the 9200 as one of them. that would be sort of a let down if it wasnt. but i guess i can deal with that. it is still a huge jump from what i have now lol.

Apparently Apple has removed the list of supported GPUs from its Core Image web page, but the Radeon 9200 was not on the previous list of supported GPUs. However, you will still be able to run Core Image-based applications; extra details like certain animations will just be scaled down or not used.

 

[Toppa G's]

Apparently Apple has removed the list of supported GPUs from its Core Image web page, but the Radeon 9200 was not on the previous list of supported GPUs. However, you will still be able to run Core Image-based applications; extra details like certain animations will just be scaled down or not used.

Here's an old thread (from last July) that talks about CoreImage compatibility and issues with older GPUs. Enjoy!

Core Image Compatability

EDIT: Forgot to mention that a list of supported cards is in the thread.

 

[Mechcozmo]

Most PCs (especially outdated ones) ship(ped) with a PS/2 mouse and keyboard, so really a majority of the so-called target consumers will have to get a keyboard and mouse anyways.

A lot still ship with them... sad, very sad. PS/2 should die and be replaced with extra USB ports, but then again, what would I do with all those extra keyboards I have?

 

[maya]

what would I do with all those extra keyboards I have?

Buy converters.

 

[takao]

ordered mine (1.42 80gb,superd. 512 mb,bluet. airport) together with an apple keyboard (i really like the slim design of them and the 2 usb ports and of course it's a little bit nostalgy since i've been playing warcraft 2 at my friends house in the old days)

732.48 € with edu discount and without taxes (sadly 20% VAT is added here on top of that price)

i'm _really_ happy that it doesn't come with a keyboard and mouse
i wouldn't liked it to pay with my money for a bundled mouse i would never use...

it still is the most expensive PC i've every ordered but it is still cheaper than the iBook with which i wouldn't be much happier (actually: less because of lacking superdrive)
but it is worth every cent

(i've got an KVM switch,3,5 hd enclosure,usb2 hub,wireless router,ipod mini on my wishlist...in that order............. and of course money for mac os x 10.5 and for the iWork version when it has spreadsheet functionality )

 

[dejo]

PS/2 should die and be replaced with extra USB ports

Yeah, it's strange. Even the cheap Dells come with 6 USB ports (along with mini-DIN ports for keyboard and mouse). 6 should be plenty for keyboard, mouse, and various other USB devices, especially for their target market.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Merits (or lack thereof) of the new "Mini" aside, I find it amusing that so many people are apparently up in arms over the fact that a Macintosh computer is actually being sold without a keyboard and mouse.

As a Mac user from the 'old days' (read: the 1980s), I can still remember a time when such components had to be purchased separately. All you got out of the box was a CPU.

Funny how things come back around, isn't it?

I've been buying Macs since 1985, and I can't remember buying a single one without a keyboard and mouse. Is my memory really so riddled by age and excess alcohol consumption?