Mac Mini...Many Decisions...Help!

Not having the DVD burner can be really annoying once you find you want it. You can always get a external one later, but they don't work so well with iLife apps or at all in some cases. Not sure the processor means very much really. Memory is more important, you can upgrade the memory for less on your own and it will be cheaper that way. Its not as easy as doing it on allot of computers, but if you read up on it you should be able to handle it. Do you plan on doing anything extremely graphics intensive? If so you might not like the Intel Integrated Graphics in the Mini. That being said its a awesome little computer and can do quite a bit. Just not so good at Games and such. Might look at the lower end iMac too.

 

I bought a new Mac mini Core2Duo 2.0GHz 1GB/120GB/SD five weeks ago and have no regret at all. First I was running different Leopards builds on my x86 but now I am happy with my Mac. It works a lot better and I don't have to do a kernel hacking anymore. I bought Leopard last friday on a local Apple store and couldn't wait to install this big cat. Now I am running Leopard and everything works like a charm, I couldn't be happier. It's stabel, fast and works smooth.

I don't know on a 1.83GHZ but on mine there's a Superdrive onboard witch can burn duallayer DVD's. If you want to edit movies I think you better buy an iMac bycose the videocard inside isn't strong enough (64MB) to do big things. I hear about these thing but I didn't try it. The only thing I use, about video, is iLife '08 and that's working great. To edit pictures with Photoshop CS3 is no problem and multimedia also but running programs such as Premiere??? I don't know.

 

Any intel processor will handle Leopard just fine for years to come. Anything over and including 1GB will also be fine for Leopard, though more memory is never a bad decision.

 

Display

I have an older core duo 1.6mhz mac mini. I bought it expecting to upgrade the chip right away. But it's been powerful enough for most stuff and after nearly a year I'm still on the old chip. I do a bit of video editing. FCP works great but I don't think Motion would work.
Max the ram! BTO might be the best bet. Leopard works great.
You mentioned Dell Display. I have a 28 inch dell and the mini looks great on it! 1920 * 1200.
I think the low end model is enough but you will never regret buying the better model.

 

check apple refurbs on-line

if you check early in the am, the apple refurb store is selling the 2.0 core 2 duo mini's for $679. The 1.83 Core 2 Duo's are $499. Go for the 2.0 if you can swing it, but even the 1.83 Core Duo would be "good enogh"

 

Im a little worried that my mac mini, 1.5 GHz core solo, will not be very good with the new OS installed.


Does anyone know if it will be alright or will i have to get a new mac.

 

A quick note if you didn't catch it, the 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo has 2MB of cache, while the 2GHz has 4MB. Your choice.

 

True, true, and for more speed, upgrade the hard drive to 7200 RPM 200GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145160
or you might wait for the new Aluminum and glass Mac-Mini
http://machappens.com/2007/09/17/aluminum-and-glass-mac-mini/
SWEET!

 

Mine runs Leopard just fine thank you!

 

I'm running leopard on a 1.5 core solo, with 512, it does all the basic stuff very decently.

It needs no argument that a faster processors or more memory makes the OS smoother, but on all accounts it works fine (for me)