Need help deciding between Mac mini M4 and Mac mini G4

[MisterAndrew]

They're telling me my Mac Pro I got new just a couple years ago is obsolete, so like for many in my shoes it's time for a new Mac. I know a lot of people are choosing a Mac Studio, but I think a Mac mini might be a better fit. However, I just can't decide between the M4 and G4.

I know the M4 is faster, but the G4 offers user-upgradeable memory and storage, and is available with a SuperDrive. If I choose the M4 I can't just pop in my favorite Enya CD or a Milo & Otis DVD. The M4 also can't dual-boot Mac OS 9 and Snow Leopard, so I would need to use an emulator to play Sim City 2000 and I'd miss out experiencing the best OSs Apple ever offered. I know the M4 costs less than a new G4, but it just seems like the G4 offers a better value.

 

[SnowPenguin]

Unless running old software is your main goal, get the M4 Mac Mini, then use it to emulate all the old stuff you want.

 

[!!!]

Unless running old software is your main goal

What if his main goal is buying a computer that won't become bricked at some indeterminate time, dependent on how long it takes for the RAM and/or SSD to fail?

 

[theluggage]

I know the M4 is faster, but the G4 offers user-upgradeable memory and storage, and is available with a SuperDrive. If I choose the M4 I can't just pop in my favorite Enya CD or a Milo & Otis DVD.

I think the G4 is the obvious choice, really.

The M4 Mini is far too small and too easily mislaid on a crowded desktop. You have to pay a massive premium to get the more sensibly sized & hefty Studio. The G4 is far bigger and weightier, so its obviously better! Plus, it's got that cleverly weighted external power supply to keep it anchored on windy days. You can't beat the G4 on price-per-cubic-centimetre.

The G4 also has those vital ports like Firewire 400 and DVI - if Steve Jobs were still around he'd never have removed the modem port. Also, USB 2 doesn't interfere with Bluetooth the way USB 3 does.

The single-link DVI connector supports 1920x1200 which avoids all of those complicated scaling issues with 4k and 5k displays, and with only one of them you save the expensive temptation to get a dual display setup.

Also, don't be taken in by those meaningless marketing buzzwords like "Pro", "Max", "Giga" or "Tera" - the figures say that the G4 comes with 256 RAMs which is clearly better than the 16 RAMs in the M4. Also, did you know that the M4 uses "LPDDR" RAM? The "LP" stands for "low power". The G4 uses the original, full-power kind, so don't let anybody try to tell you the G4 is less powerful.

The G4 is also completely immune to the virus known as Windows (which, unfortunately, has now been ported to ARM so the M4 isn't safe), there's something called SoftWindows that, in theory, run Windows very, very slowly - but it now takes so long to boot that it is literally impossible for it to finish booting before the next forced Windows update arrives, so you are totally safe from thet scourge. It can also dual-boot a version of Linux called "Yellow Dog" which is so bug-free that it hasn't been updated since 2012!

Incidentally, can anybody remond me what the interface socket that looks like an teeny-tiny USB-C port is used for? I think it was called "Kensington" or something. I did find an old cable (unusually thick and heavy bearing in mind the tiny port) and plugged it in, but it didn't seem to do anything and now I can't get it out - looks like it needs a special tool.

(Seriously, I must plug my old G4 in someday and see how many capacitors explode...)

 

[weckart]

I really think you should be a little patient and wait for the Mac Mini G5.

 

[splifingate]

I think the G4 is the obvious choice, really.

The M4 Mini is far too small and too easily mislaid on a crowded desktop. You have to pay a massive premium to get the more sensibly sized & hefty Studio. The G4 is far bigger and weightier, so its obviously better! Plus, it's got that cleverly weighted external power supply to keep it anchored on windy days. You can't beat the G4 on price-per-cubic-centimetre.

The G4 also has those vital ports like Firewire 400 and DVI - if Steve Jobs were still around he'd never have removed the modem port. Also, USB 2 doesn't interfere with Bluetooth the way USB 3 does.

The single-link DVI connector supports 1920x1200 which avoids all of those complicated scaling issues with 4k and 5k displays, and with only one of them you save the expensive temptation to get a dual display setup.

Also, don't be taken in by those meaningless marketing buzzwords like "Pro", "Max", "Giga" or "Tera" - the figures say that the G4 comes with 256 RAMs which is clearly better than the 16 RAMs in the M4. Also, did you know that the M4 uses "LPDDR" RAM? The "LP" stands for "low power". The G4 uses the original, full-power kind, so don't let anybody try to tell you the G4 is less powerful.

The G4 is also completely immune to the virus known as Windows (which, unfortunately, has now been ported to ARM so the M4 isn't safe), there's something called SoftWindows that, in theory, run Windows very, very slowly - but it now takes so long to boot that it is literally impossible for it to finish booting before the next forced Windows update arrives, so you are totally safe from thet scourge. It can also dual-boot a version of Linux called "Yellow Dog" which is so bug-free that it hasn't been updated since 2012!

Incidentally, can anybody remond me what the interface socket that looks like an teeny-tiny USB-C port is used for? I think it was called "Kensington" or something. I did find an old cable (unusually thick and heavy bearing in mind the tiny port) and plugged it in, but it didn't seem to do anything and now I can't get it out - looks like it needs a special tool.

(Seriously, I must plug my old G4 in someday and see how many capacitors explode...)

I was all ROLF! until I got to "thet" 😈

Thank you for the *chucks*

 

[splifingate]

They're telling me my Mac Pro I got new just a couple years ago is obsolete, so like for many in my shoes it's time for a new Mac. I know a lot of people are choosing a Mac Studio, but I think a Mac mini might be a better fit. However, I just can't decide between the M4 and G4.

I know the M4 is faster, but the G4 offers user-upgradeable memory and storage, and is available with a SuperDrive. If I choose the M4 I can't just pop in my favorite Enya CD or a Milo & Otis DVD. The M4 also can't dual-boot Mac OS 9 and Snow Leopard, so I would need to use an emulator to play Sim City 2000 and I'd miss out experiencing the best OSs Apple ever offered. I know the M4 costs less than a new G4, but it just seems like the G4 offers a better value.

As an aside: the waste-management features of SC3000, alone, would easily get me to upgrade.

 

[jz0309]

They're telling me my Mac Pro I got new just a couple years ago is obsolete, so like for many in my shoes it's time for a new Mac. I know a lot of people are choosing a Mac Studio, but I think a Mac mini might be a better fit. However, I just can't decide between the M4 and G4.

I know the M4 is faster, but the G4 offers user-upgradeable memory and storage, and is available with a SuperDrive. If I choose the M4 I can't just pop in my favorite Enya CD or a Milo & Otis DVD. The M4 also can't dual-boot Mac OS 9 and Snow Leopard, so I would need to use an emulator to play Sim City 2000 and I'd miss out experiencing the best OSs Apple ever offered. I know the M4 costs less than a new G4, but it just seems like the G4 offers a better value.

April 1st would have been a more appropriate day to post this ...