OP:
The Minis you should be considering:
EIther this midrange one:
http://apple.portableone.com/Apple-Mac-Mini-Z0R7-Customize
NOTE: you need to choose the 1tb fusion drive from the popup "storage" menu -- final price will be $876
or the top-end model (fusion is standard with this one):
http://apple.portableone.com/Apple-Mac-Mini-Server-i5-8GB-1TB-Flash
If you don't understand what is a fusion drive is, best to learn before you order.
A Mac with a fusion drive actually comes with TWO hard drives inside:
1. A small SSD (usually 128gb)
and
2. A platter based HDD (usually 1tb).
They are "merged together" in software (called "CORE storage") so that the two drives appear on your desktop as ONE drive icon.
The OS and apps (and other frequently-used files) get stored on the SSD portion of the drive, while less-often-used stuff gets moved off onto the HDD portion.
Thus, you get speeds that rival that of an SSD, but have plenty of cheap storage space by virtue of the HDD portion.
Also, the factory-installed SSD on the 2014 Minis is a PCIe "blade drive" that is VERY fast. These are more expensive to add later on, than they are to buy "up front". Worth paying $$$ for.
The Minis you should be considering:
EIther this midrange one:
http://apple.portableone.com/Apple-Mac-Mini-Z0R7-Customize
NOTE: you need to choose the 1tb fusion drive from the popup "storage" menu -- final price will be $876
or the top-end model (fusion is standard with this one):
http://apple.portableone.com/Apple-Mac-Mini-Server-i5-8GB-1TB-Flash
If you don't understand what is a fusion drive is, best to learn before you order.
A Mac with a fusion drive actually comes with TWO hard drives inside:
1. A small SSD (usually 128gb)
and
2. A platter based HDD (usually 1tb).
They are "merged together" in software (called "CORE storage") so that the two drives appear on your desktop as ONE drive icon.
The OS and apps (and other frequently-used files) get stored on the SSD portion of the drive, while less-often-used stuff gets moved off onto the HDD portion.
Thus, you get speeds that rival that of an SSD, but have plenty of cheap storage space by virtue of the HDD portion.
Also, the factory-installed SSD on the 2014 Minis is a PCIe "blade drive" that is VERY fast. These are more expensive to add later on, than they are to buy "up front". Worth paying $$$ for.