Mac Mini (versus iMac) - Quiet and Fast?

[The Hammer]

I will definitely let you know how my testing goes.. I ran the same iPhoto test on my wife's 2 year old Macbook and it does the same thing, which tells me it is probably performance related with the mini...

As I think about this, it should not be a big deal as a little stutter with presenting full screen images is not a dealbreaker, right? The problem is if it is having a very minor problem NOW with smooth transitions of photos, how will it run in 1-2 years with new versions of iphoto, more resource intensive software, higher pixel images, etc... I am getting the feeling that if I invest in the current mini I am getting a graphics card that will get me by now versus a graphics card that more than I need now and is ready for the next 3 years...

I will do some additional testing (hopefully this weekend) and provide an update...

Here's a review I came across http://www.techtree.com/India/Reviews/Apple_Mac_Mini_253GHz_Review/551-108498-621-1.html

 

[batistuta]

Have the 2009 base Mini (2 GHz) upgraded to 4GB RAM and a 64GB SuperTalent SSD - not the fastest SSD around (it's almost a year old), but the difference from the stock 5400rpm drive was just staggering!
I do everything on the Mini, connected to at 30" Dell (2560x1920 resolution); work using rdc or citrix, iphoto, itunes, tv - have an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid, so I can watch and record cable-tv, including HD channels; most of the time everything works just fine. Machine is super quiet (the ssd certainly contributes to that) and very stable.
Bootcamp for Windows with a few games, but for newer titles I use my PS3 hooked up to the Dell through HDMI.
I would like more cpu power for converting media files and the like, but I am afraid i5/i7 wont be coming to the Mini just yet. The update frequency on Minis have been very uneven, so you never know. Otherwise it is my best computer ever.

Would also like to store all my files on the Mini, but SSDs are just too expensive to do that...yet.
A Mini i7 with a Crucial Realssd of 256gb is what I dream for within the next half year.

 

[MrCheeto]

This is exactly why I would never get an iMac. The Mini , not being tied to a display, just makes the most sense. If the display goes bad, why the f*** would I want to send out my whole system (with my data!) to get repaired.

I know, the iMac is just awful. One component goes wrong and you have to send the whole thing in. Golly, I'm glad I never have to do that with my laptop...oh wait...

 

[AlexH]

I know, the iMac is just awful. One component goes wrong and you have to send the whole thing in. Golly, I'm glad I never have to do that with my laptop...oh wait...

Yeah, that would be a pain, but to play the other side (just for kicks), you can always hook up an external display and copy the data and erase it from the mac...