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Tell me about the Mac Mini
Posted on 7/14/14 at 9:29 pm
Posted on 7/14/14 at 9:29 pm
Does it have all the same capabilities as a regular mac book? I understand you need your own monitor and peripherals. Does it still have mac staples such as Garage Band and imovie?
It seems like it may be the best value as far as a mac goes.
It seems like it may be the best value as far as a mac goes.
4
Posted on 7/14/14 at 11:05 pm to juice4lsu
It's got laptop parts inside of it, so it's very comparable to a MacBook in performance regards. The "Mac staples" you mention are features of OSX, not of the individual machines. Every machine running similar versions of OSX has the capability of using these programs you're talking about. So, in other words, this year's Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro could all be using AirPlay across a house to an AppleTV, and you could be controlling them with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, and, aside from performance differences when doing tasks you almost certainly won't even be attempting, you wouldn't know which one you were using.
Either the Mac Mini or the MacBook Air can be debated as the best value product. The Mini really does a good job of competing against similarly priced desktops of similar size (the itx/HTPC niche). I actually did just recently do some serious delving into itx small chassis builds, and its performance can definitely be topped per dollar, but you cannot top it with anything that runs OSX or any off-the-shelf system.
quote:
may be the best value as far as a mac goes.
Either the Mac Mini or the MacBook Air can be debated as the best value product. The Mini really does a good job of competing against similarly priced desktops of similar size (the itx/HTPC niche). I actually did just recently do some serious delving into itx small chassis builds, and its performance can definitely be topped per dollar, but you cannot top it with anything that runs OSX or any off-the-shelf system.
Posted on 7/14/14 at 11:12 pm to Hopeful Doc
quote:
but you cannot top it with anything that runs OSX
You ever looked into the "Hackintosh" process?
Posted on 7/15/14 at 12:31 am to ILikeLSUToo
The last time I seriously read about them was '09-10 or so. I got the impression that the hardware options were limited and the OS experience wasn't full (there were non functioning parts). OSX itself isn't really appealing to me outside of pre-Mavericks support for the Presonus Firebox and GarageBand. I seem to remember not having FireWire support on the Hac, but i could be wrong.
If you feel like scrutinizing compatibility, a Pentium g3258 (~60) with the ASROCK 1150 h81 (~60) powered by the 150w picoPSU (~75-85. Cheaper if you have 12V power brick already) with HyperX Blue 2x4gb 1333 ddr3 (~75) in a Wesena ITX-2 (75) +SSd and optical (optional...can go for a case without one but it's roughly the same price...this case specifically mentioned because of its similarity to a Mac mini). When tinkering with specs, if you up the CPU to the 4130T and drop the PSU some, you'll offset some of the cost of the upgrade and switch from a 65w to 35w CPU, giving slightly better integrated GPU (unfortunately, I haven't found a way to keep a machine like this small, inexpensive, quiet, and fit a GPU in that would be worth using), but I think that's where the value of upgrades really stops (unless you just really need a 4770T. But I'm convinced that thing is powered by witches. You shouldn't be able to get that much out of a 45w CPU). So if that's compatible, you could theoretically have a cheaper, better Hac Mini, but I think I have strayed from the intent of the OP's question.
If you feel like scrutinizing compatibility, a Pentium g3258 (~60) with the ASROCK 1150 h81 (~60) powered by the 150w picoPSU (~75-85. Cheaper if you have 12V power brick already) with HyperX Blue 2x4gb 1333 ddr3 (~75) in a Wesena ITX-2 (75) +SSd and optical (optional...can go for a case without one but it's roughly the same price...this case specifically mentioned because of its similarity to a Mac mini). When tinkering with specs, if you up the CPU to the 4130T and drop the PSU some, you'll offset some of the cost of the upgrade and switch from a 65w to 35w CPU, giving slightly better integrated GPU (unfortunately, I haven't found a way to keep a machine like this small, inexpensive, quiet, and fit a GPU in that would be worth using), but I think that's where the value of upgrades really stops (unless you just really need a 4770T. But I'm convinced that thing is powered by witches. You shouldn't be able to get that much out of a 45w CPU). So if that's compatible, you could theoretically have a cheaper, better Hac Mini, but I think I have strayed from the intent of the OP's question.
This post was edited on 7/15/14 at 12:32 am
Posted on 7/15/14 at 12:57 am to Hopeful Doc
I was just asking if you'd ever looked into it, because I actually don't know a whole lot other than the limited list of compatible motherboards as you said.
Nope, not that small. That's why I've never been interested in any case that's too small to accommodate a 10"+ video card and an internal PSU (likely SFX form factor). Once I get some money that doesn't immediately get taken away by medical expenses, I want to do a proper steam box build with a custom loop. Would be a nice change from my usual motto of "there's no such thing as a case that's too big."
quote:
I haven't found a way to keep a machine like this small, inexpensive, quiet, and fit a GPU in that would be worth using
Nope, not that small. That's why I've never been interested in any case that's too small to accommodate a 10"+ video card and an internal PSU (likely SFX form factor). Once I get some money that doesn't immediately get taken away by medical expenses, I want to do a proper steam box build with a custom loop. Would be a nice change from my usual motto of "there's no such thing as a case that's too big."
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:09 am to juice4lsu
Great little machine. But do not buy one anytime soon. There should be a refresh this fall. It hasn't been updated in nearly two years.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 6:56 am to ILikeLSUToo
quote:
You ever looked into the "Hackintosh" process?
I built a Hackintosh a few years ago. The problem is that you have to purchase specific hardware to do the builds and updates are a huge pain in the arse. It was fun to build and get running though.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 8:04 am to juice4lsu
quote:
It seems like it may be the best value as far as a mac goes.
It definitely is. I have one that I use as a Mac testing unit but have it running as a productive Windows machine most of the time. Yeah you can do that with the other Mac's too, but the form factor and price make it hard to beat in the Mac world.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:12 pm to Hopeful Doc
quote:
Either the Mac Mini or the MacBook Air can be debated as the best value product.
I have both of these and have my Mac Mini hooked up to my TV and use it as a HTPC. I got it a few years ago and instantly upgraded to 8 GB of RAM (it only came with 2 for some dumbass reason). Great for watching movies (Torrents using VLC, will play any movie).
Macbook air is just great to have around the couch area. Super lightweight and the battery is phenomenal.
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