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Mac mini is blazing fast

We have four Macs in the house already. I plan on buying a Mac Mini simply to hook up to my TV in the living room to play home movies and photos when our family visits, hook to EyeTv for DVR (especially to record old movies to DVD), and to act as a file server with attached firewire drives. I will probably even use it as the primary computer to import our photos and movies so I can leave all the cables in place and then pull what the wife or I want over iPhoto.

For the price, it is not a bad Media Center Mac! Look at the Media Center PCs. They come basically with crap software that you pay a bunch extra for. This thing will satisfy that need of many people.
 
sushi said:
I have, and that is why I suggested it.

Not saying they would have to use the same components either. They could use a 2.5 inch HD vice the 3.5. The memory could be socketed differently. Cooling fans, power supply, etc., could all be different.

...
Click to expand...
Ahh, but the 2.5" disk would affect performance and that's not something you really want to do. The other suggestions could make for a more expensive machine to build and probably service.

Also, I doubt there would be enough space savings to really noticeably alter the thickness of the iMac G5.

Sometimes you want them to spend the effort and cost on miniaturization (MacMini, iPods) and sometimes you don't. And sometimes it just wouldn't gain anything.
 
Bear said:
Sometimes you want them to spend the effort and cost on miniaturization (MacMini, iPods) and sometimes you don't. And sometimes it just wouldn't gain anything.
Click to expand...
Good point.

Just getting the G5 in the current iMac form was quite an accomplishment to say the least. Apple done good with both the iMac G5 and the new Mac mini. Sure like what is coming out of Apple these days! :D

Sushi
 
To the smug cynics out there who can't seem to read too well:

1. It was doing all of those tasks AT ONCE that impressed us. Not surfing the web as a single activity.

2. I explicitly said it wasn't a gaming machine or pro workstation but for 500 bucks, it was blazing fast. Try doing all over tasks on a $500 PC, and you will see why we thought it was so.

Besides being sadly obtuse, you seem to miss the point in the thread that the comment about the speed is relative to the price of the machine. Of course, a PowerMac is 50x faster.

3. Speaking of which, your smug comments about new hardware bringing out newbies is pathetic, since if you look down to my footer, you'll see I have been around awhile and am no newbie.

Plus, do you see that loaded PM2.5 I own? I know what real speed is, obviously. But, again, and try to get this this time, for 500 bucks the mini is blazingly fast. And again, as I said the last time, it's not for gamers--we all get your trolling on the video card--and not for design pros, that's what the $2,000+ machine is for.

====
Now, why this post? Not because I feel the need to defend myself believe it or not.

But as MDN pointed out yesterday, we are going to have A LOT of new people to the Mac community which need our support and enthusiasm.

I could of been a switcher. And if you have been paying as much attention to the Mac marketshare as you did the details in my original post, you probably missed the Mac marketshare has fallen below what is acceptable viability numbers. It's no shock the mini is coming out now after years of Steve saying Apple had no interest. I am sure Apple still has no interest, but frankly, they have no choice.

So anyway, try to think a little big picture here. We are going to get newbies who are simply enthusiastic. Do you really need to correct them? To show you are superior? And even worse, embarrass them? Are you really so petty that you feel the need to crush their enthusiasm?

You are only hurting yourself. Next time, bite your tongue, move on, and if you start to get this whole getting switchers is kinda important thing, type something positive and supportive. It doesn't hurt; give it a try.

This time, you got it wrong and didn't get a newbie. You got an Apple pro.

But next time we may not be so lucky. So on behalf of all of us, skip the high school juvenile behavior and welcome in the newbies. It's just more marketshare and more Macs sold, which means more innovation from Apple, more vendors supporting the platform, etc.

Next time, think big picture. It's better for all of us.
 
I would expect the Mac Mini to be fast and wouldn't knock it. Sure, it's no Dual 2.5GHz G5 but it's no slouch either.

The Mac I use (my first Mac) is the apprently "piece of crud" PowerBook 12" (rev B). It only has the "crappy" nVidai 5200 GO with 32MB VRAM and a 1 GHz G4, 4200 RPM HD and 1024x768 screen, etc, etc, but if I'd have believed all the negative comments on the specs at the time, I would have never bought it. However, it's a decent computer and, in my opinion, is faster than our Dell 2.4GHz P4 Dimension (ok so that's a bog standard bottom of the line PC but it does everything we need it to do).

I use my 12" PB for the usual web/writing/iTunes tasks but I do sometimes edit video with Final Cut Express and use Photoshop and iDVD and I'm not exactly tearing my hair out. The Minis are faster than my computer at a third of the price (ok you need keyboard, mouse and screen though).

The Mac Mini is great and perfectly adequate for 95% of consumer uses. They will still be really good for editing video, just not as good as a G5 dual. My only concern is the RAM - they should have included 512MB standard (and bump up all the other Macs while they're at it), or have the slot user-accessible.

But it's still a great computer for the price and nothing to be knocked at.
 
of you entire list the only thing that has a chance of slowing down the computer was the installtion of ilife. everything else so low on how had they are on the computer that is does not really matter and take next to no power for the computer to run.

I have to agree with the picture posted earilier
 
Has anyone run a cinebench test on the mini just to find out how the processor and the video card stand up? (Yes I know cinebench sucks (it doesn't make use of Altivec very well) as a bench mark too, but it is a better reference on just the processor side of things than xbench imo)
 
BWhaler said:
To the smug cynics out there who can't seem to read too well:

1. It was doing all of those tasks AT ONCE that impressed us. Not surfing the web as a single action.

2. I explicitly said it wasn't a gaming machine or pro workstation but for 500 bucks, it was blazing fast. Try doing all over tasks on a $500 PC, and you will see why we thought it was blazingly fast.

Besides being sadly obtuse, you seems to miss the point in the thread that the comment about the speed is relative to the price of the machine. Of course, I PowerMac is 50x faster at most things.

3. Speaking of which, your smug comments about new hardware bringing out newbies is pathetic, since if you look down to my footer, you'll see I have been around awhile and am no newbie.

See that loaded PM2.5 I own? I know what real speed is, obviously. But, again, and try to get this this time, for 500 bucks the mini is blazingly fast. And again, as I said the last time, it's not for gamers--we all get your trolling on the video card, and not for design pros, that's what the $2,000+ machine is for.

====
Now, why this post? Not because I feel the need to defend myself believe it or not.

But as MDN pointed out yesterday, we are going to have A LOT of new people to the Mac community which need our support and enthusiam.

I could of been a switcher. And if you have been paying as much attention to the Mac marketshare as you did the details in my original post, you probably missed the Mac marketshare has falled below what is acceptable viability numbers. It's no shock the mini is coming out now after years of Steve saying Apple had no interest. I am sure Apple still has no interest, but frankly, they have no choice.

So anyway, try to think a little big picture here. We are going to get newbies who are simply enthusiastic. Do you really need to correct them? To show you are superior? Do you really feel the need to crush their enthusiasm.

You are only hurting yourself. Next time, bite your tongue, move on , and if you start to get it, type something positive.

This time, you got it wrong at didn't get a newbie. You got an Apple pro.

But next time we may not be so lucky. So on behalf of all of us, skip the high school juvenile behavior and welcome in the newbies. It's just more marketshare, which means more innovation from Apple, more vendors supporting the platform etc.

Next time, think big picture.
Click to expand...

Nice reply, and I'm glad you said it because it really needed to be said.
It seems recently that some of the more regular posters, a real minority I might add, have forgotten to take their happy pills.
Constructive advice/help seems to be slowly giving way to smartar$e put-downs or dismissive comments...I really thought better of MR.
 
For those bashing the speed and "ancientness"

I have a new PB 1.33 (with 1.25 RAM). To me, this is blazing fast. I never feel like I'm waiting for anything. To some people, "the fastest you can get" is extremely fast: for people like me, once you get up to a certain point, you're perfect.
 
crap freakboy said:
Nice reply, and I'm glad you said it because it really needed to be said.
It seems recently that some of the more regular posters, a real minority I might add, have forgotten to take their happy pills.
Constructive advice/help seems to be slowly giving way to smartar$e put-downs or dismissive comments...I really thought better of MR.
Click to expand...


amen!
 
BWhaler said:
...
But next time we may not be so lucky. So on behalf of all of us, skip the high school juvenile behavior and welcome in the newbies. It's just more marketshare, which means more innovation from Apple, more vendors supporting the platform etc.

Next time, think big picture.
Click to expand...

Well said, BWhaler.
 
I have to also agree with BWhaler. I tried one at the Apple store today expecting it to be OK, but not great. I was pleasantly surprised! For the price, this is a really nice computer. I have a friend who's been wanting a Mac for a long time, but due to prices couldn't afford one. He's buying a Mini with his tax check. This is the one that made him switch. For that we should all love the Mini!
 
BWhaler said:
To the smug cynics out there who can't seem to read too well:

1. It was doing all of those tasks AT ONCE that impressed us. Not surfing the web as a single action.

2. I explicitly said it wasn't a gaming machine or pro workstation but for 500 bucks, it was blazing fast. Try doing all over tasks on a $500 PC, and you will see why we thought it was blazingly fast.

Besides being sadly obtuse, you seems to miss the point in the thread that the comment about the speed is relative to the price of the machine. Of course, I PowerMac is 50x faster at most things.

3. Speaking of which, your smug comments about new hardware bringing out newbies is pathetic, since if you look down to my footer, you'll see I have been around awhile and am no newbie.

See that loaded PM2.5 I own? I know what real speed is, obviously. But, again, and try to get this this time, for 500 bucks the mini is blazingly fast. And again, as I said the last time, it's not for gamers--we all get your trolling on the video card, and not for design pros, that's what the $2,000+ machine is for.

====
Now, why this post? Not because I feel the need to defend myself believe it or not.

But as MDN pointed out yesterday, we are going to have A LOT of new people to the Mac community which need our support and enthusiam.

I could of been a switcher. And if you have been paying as much attention to the Mac marketshare as you did the details in my original post, you probably missed the Mac marketshare has falled below what is acceptable viability numbers. It's no shock the mini is coming out now after years of Steve saying Apple had no interest. I am sure Apple still has no interest, but frankly, they have no choice.

So anyway, try to think a little big picture here. We are going to get newbies who are simply enthusiastic. Do you really need to correct them? To show you are superior? Do you really feel the need to crush their enthusiasm.

You are only hurting yourself. Next time, bite your tongue, move on , and if you start to get it, type something positive.

This time, you got it wrong at didn't get a newbie. You got an Apple pro.

But next time we may not be so lucky. So on behalf of all of us, skip the high school juvenile behavior and welcome in the newbies. It's just more marketshare, which means more innovation from Apple, more vendors supporting the platform etc.

Next time, think big picture.
Click to expand...

Right on! If I had a dime for every complaint about VRAM, HDD, or something that the mini was missing; I would have been able to pay for an Mac mini already.

Some forget that many "professionals" are still using far slower G3 and G4 systems on a daily basis.

To be honest, there are those out there that feel only the best is needed. Sort of like when I got my Subaru. I got comments that I should have done the turbo or H6 engine. Never mind that the standard 4 is plenty fast for my needs.

Not everyone that buys a home system wants to play games. And it could be argued that dedicated games systems might be a better choice there too.

If the system starts up "fast", apps open "fast", and the apps work or appear to work "fast"; that is all a consumer that buys the Mac mini is looking for. They have heard about the experience of the Mac, now they can afford one.

There are those like me that are counting the days till Tiger is released so that we can get our Mac mini. Some like myself looked at the benchmarks and tried in the real world the G5 iMacs. But compared to the 1.33 and 1.5 G4s, there is not much of a difference to warrant the steeper price.
 
johnnyjibbs said:
I would expect the Mac Mini to be fast and wouldn't knock it. Sure, it's no Dual 2.5GHz G5 but it's no slouch either.

The Mac I use (my first Mac) is the apprently "piece of crud" PowerBook 12" (rev B). It only has the "crappy" nVidai 5200 GO with 32MB VRAM and a 1 GHz G4, 4200 RPM HD and 1024x768 screen, etc, etc, but if I'd have believed all the negative comments on the specs at the time, I would have never bought it. However, it's a decent computer and, in my opinion, is faster than our Dell 2.4GHz P4 Dimension (ok so that's a bog standard bottom of the line PC but it does everything we need it to do).

I use my 12" PB for the usual web/writing/iTunes tasks but I do sometimes edit video with Final Cut Express and use Photoshop and iDVD and I'm not exactly tearing my hair out. The Minis are faster than my computer at a third of the price (ok you need keyboard, mouse and screen though).

The Mac Mini is great and perfectly adequate for 95% of consumer uses. They will still be really good for editing video, just not as good as a G5 dual. My only concern is the RAM - they should have included 512MB standard (and bump up all the other Macs while they're at it), or have the slot user-accessible.

But it's still a great computer for the price and nothing to be knocked at.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I bought this piece of crud too. What was I thinking? :D

To be honest though. If I hadn't bought a second hand eMac (1.25ghz, 7200rpm HDD), I would not had seen the benefit of added HDD speed. Small, but noticeable on program launches. Not much else for the way I work. So the 5400rpm HDD would have been nice. But even if the 4200rpm's are all they offer when I buy my mini (with Tiger installed); I will still be happy.
 
I could of been a switcher. And if you have been paying as much attention to the Mac marketshare as you did the details in my original post, you probably missed the Mac marketshare has falled below what is acceptable viability numbers. It's no shock the mini is coming out now after years of Steve saying Apple had no interest. I am sure Apple still has no interest, but frankly, they have no choice.
Click to expand...

dont think because apples marketshare is falling that apple isnt getting bigger, because its not true. infact apple are selling more and more units but there marketshare is still falling

the mini might pull them bag onto a level pegging (in a unit vs marketshare sence) but i doubt it

the sad fact is that most people think windows is all there is, also they are cheep initial cost - thats all
anyway blah - off trak

the mini, thanks for the review - for the money it is a belter and if it had a 5200 in it i would be using it know, im not slagging apple for putting the 9200 in there but the 5200 is the absolute bottom line for me and my uses - however if they did put the 5200 in there i would have hurt imac sales but boosted mini + 20 inch sales

meh

anyway

thanks for the reiew
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
But there does not seem to be any better benchmarking tools around. Otherwise so m any would not be turning to it.
Click to expand...
So because there isn't any good benchmarking software that makes the only one on offer (never mind if it IS actually any use or not) good?

:confused:
 
edesignuk said:
I wouldn't imagine there's *that* much speed difference between CPU's, but, I'd have thought the BUS speed, HDD speed, and video would have made a difference. I suppose I just depends what you're doing. We all know xbench is s*** anyway :D
Click to expand...

Please , someone give my a good bench mark, give me at least Cinebench 2003 benchmark, Please bench the mac mini with cinebench 2003. . .
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
Some forget that many "professionals" are still using far slower G3 and G4 systems on a daily basis.
Click to expand...

No doubt. The entire graphics department at the agency I work at max's out at 450mHz G4s. I'm the only one running OSX. We've had a spending freeze for years. I'd LOVE one of these machines except for the fact I've got a dual monitor set-up to properly goof off with...
 
WELL SAID BWHALER!!

Well said Bwhaler! I, too, am shaking my head at the critics who do nothing but complain about the Mini's specs. This entry point device is just what Apple needed to for added market share, & I look forward to seeing many switch over to what is the most intelligent & easiest to use computing platform available TODAY!
 
mian said:
Here's a comparison.

http://www.macintouch.com/perfpack/comparison.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great link.

It does show that the performance issues that some have stated about the Mac mini would probably been less if they had used the 5400rpm drives. But still not bad performance overall.

It does show that those that want the absolute best performance, the Mac mini is not the way to go. But hey, who would not want a $500 that even came within 20% of the G5 PM's in the hardest of tasks.

I am also seeing the Mac mini concept as a disposable computer. Keep it two years or so and get the next best thing for those of us that might want something better as time marches on.

Other point, what to do with all these older computers? Set them up for the MR Fold@Home effort!
 
In regards to people who think the mini is not powerful enough, etc:


Think of the price point of this computer- $500-$600
Its obviosuly marketed to consumer users and not professional graphic designers and video editors. Surfing the web, listening to music, using iChat, etc are what most consumers use. They do not need to have the latest and greatest for what they are doing. Most likely they are not using FCP, Photoshop, etc.

For $500 this is an awesome deal. An iMac 1.6 is more than twice as much and powermac 1.8 is 3 times as much. Although there are some differences between the two systems obviosuly, you cannot admit this is too slow.
 
EJBasile said:
Although there are some differences between the two systems obviosuly, you cannot admit this is too slow.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone said it was too slow, as much as it is in no way, shape, or form anywhere near what a sane person would call 'blazingly fast.'
 
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