mac mini regret

[MarcoCapa]

Hello everyone
Yesterday I have ordered a mac mini (2,8 ghz with 256 pcie)
I can always void the order and today is growing on me the regret of not having bought a retina iMac
I will use my mac mini as a media center attached to a 32 inch full hd tv... It would be attached 24/7 or something like that
Do you think I have made the right decision?
It was a gift for a graduation from mom and dad... I have some money to add to that purchase if I had to buy the iMac, but yesterday I was more convinced than today...
Please expose me your opinion if I have made the right thing or not

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Why would you hook an iMac up to a TV?

 

[sonicrobby]

is your aim to get a mac for computing purposes mainly? or for media consumption?

 

[nate16]

If you are looking to have a Mac hooked up to a TV and use it as a media server than a Mac Mini is the right choice. I agree that hooking a 4K iMac up to a TV doesn't make a lot of sense. Now if you are going to use the iMac as the media center and the screen, then it makes sense to go with the iMac.

 

[Celerondon]

Yesterday I have ordered a mac mini (2,8 ghz with 256 pcie)...
I will use my mac mini as a media center attached to a 32 inch full hd tv... It would be attached 24/7 or something like that
Do you think I have made the right decision?
...Please expose me your opinion if I have made the right thing or not

is your aim to get a mac for computing purposes mainly? or for media consumption?

Say MarcoCapa, how much RAM does this machine have? (4,8, or 16GB?) I think that sonicrobby asked the right questions but it would be good to also know how much memory your 2014 Mac mini has installed.

 

[MarcoCapa]

Sorry for the lack of informations!
8 gb of ram
For productivity I already have a late 2013 retina MacBook Pro ( 256 pcie, 8 gb of ram) so the Mac mini is only a media consumption device and some light work standing in front of the tv ( is wall mounted with a library under the tv)
Of corse the iMac would probably be positioned on the desk and an hdmi will carry the video...
The mini is probably the right choice for an home theater I know, it also has the ir receiver, but Today some stupid thought about skylake versus haswell and a more future proofness of the iMac began to appear in my mind


P.S. I have added a pic of the setup with the mini of my father.... Now I have a Windows tower machine and is a bit loud ( not really loud, but coming from a MacBook Pro is loud even though is liquid cooled)

 

[Celerondon]

You have ordered a fine computer for your purpose. Since you already have a mini in your family, you know some things about these small Macs. Expect the 2014 to be capable, quiet, and energy efficient in your media center role. I don't put much faith in "future proofing" but this machine certainly has enough power and expandability to perform other duties if you change your mind in the future.

Relax MarcoCapa, you did good!

 

[MarcoCapa]

You have ordered a fine computer for your purpose. Since you already have a mini in your family, you know some things about these small Macs. Expect the 2014 to be capable, quiet, and energy efficient in your media center role. I don't put much faith in "future proofing" but this machine certainly has enough power and expandability to perform other duties if you change your mind in the future.

Relax MarcoCapa, you did good!

Infact in THE future( after the three years of Apple care) I will probably add a larger or faster ssd and a 4tb hdd
Do you suggest me the Apple remote or a Logitech remote?
And finally do you think I would be able to play some games ( like AAA titles from 2010 or something similar)?

 

[Partron22]

What you've ordered will do what yo want now.
It'll continue to do that 10 years down the road.
I've a 2005 mini that's still good for music, drafting and writing, which is most of what I bought it for.
No matter what you buy, Apple will keep updating OS' until they no longer run on your machine, and security updates will no longer appear. When that happens, you either disconnect from internet, or figure how to patch in thru a modern machine that runs whatever passes for secure software in 2019.
Your current choice is fine, and by the time replacement time actually comes around, retina will likely be obsolete.

 

[MarcoCapa]

What you've ordered will do what yo want now.
It'll continue to do that 10 years down the road.
I've a 2005 mini that's still good for music, drafting and writing, which is most of what I bought it for.
No matter what you buy, Apple will keep updating OS' until they no longer run on your machine, and security updates will no longer appear. When that happens, you either disconnect from internet, or figure how to patch in thru a modern machine that runs whatever passes for secure software in 2019.
Your current choice is fine, and by the time replacement time actually comes around, retina will likely be obsolete.

Good point!
Probably by 2019 8k would be already obsolete you are right like everyone saying me this thing!

 

[tibas92013]

I bought the exact same MM Specs only it was Refurbished last June and it is a real performer in which I have now burned around fifty(50) DVD's from my 2000 Plus DVD Collection Library.

 

[Celerondon]

Do you suggest me the Apple remote or a Logitech remote?

I have never tried the Logitech remote but the Apple remote might be too inexpensive and reliable to ignore. We have two of these rock simple Apple remotes and they have never caused any trouble. Perhaps someone else can provide information about the alternatives but the metal Apple control seems like a good deal for less than $20.

 

[Meister]

Any mac mini 2010 and newer makes an excellent media center.

 

[Fdefulvio]

"... but Today some stupid thought about skylake versus haswell and a more future proofness of the iMac began to appear in my mind."

I was ready to buy a new 27" Retina iMac and couldn't bring myself to spend over $2000 because of the half hearted Skylake implementation by Apple. Maybe next year Apple will take full advantage of the new architecture. I decided to go with a refurbished Mac mini and a 1440 25" display. Not quite retina, but better than 1080, and gets me into OSX for half the price.

 

[MarcoCapa]

I was ready to buy a new 27" Retina iMac and couldn't bring myself to spend over $2000 because of the half hearted Skylake implementation by Apple. Maybe next year Apple will take full advantage of the new architecture. I decided to go with a refurbished Mac mini and a 1440 25" display. Not quite retina, but better than 1080, and gets me into OSX for half the price.

Definitely the lack of usb c and thunderbolt 3 is very annoying... and those bezels!!!
I also have learned that my mini will be capable of running a 4k panel at 30hz... enough for some movies when oled 4k will become cheaper ( maybe 4/5 years from now)
For the external storage on the mini I'm thinking about a samsung D3 4tb at 120€ on amazon ( i already own 2tb desktop expansion from seagate)... Any suggestion on reliability about those drives?