Women in Technology

Article:		Mac Mini Eye for the Linux-Windows Guy
Subject:		suspicions confirmed
Date:		2005-04-20 01:54:58
From:		jwenting
When the MacMini was first announced and the pricepoint given I thought it a nice addition to my computer collection as well to try a Mac without spending a fortune. But as you I found that after adding all the extras I'd need to actually use it it was still a quite expensive machine and decided to defer purchase until maybe some later time. At the moment a new Windows based notebook has higher priority, probably this coming summer, to replace the (by now) 6 year old behemoth.

Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.

• suspicions confirmed
  2005-04-20 02:16:39  Todd Ogasawara | [View]
  
  
  Hi, jwenting: There are some less expensive paths to take than mine. For example if you existing desktop PC running Microsoft Windows or Linux uses a USB keyboard and mouse, you can opt to use a USB KVM. I saw one at the local Apple Store that also switches the audio/speaker. But, every Mac expert I've heard or read advices to bump the RAM up to at least 512MB. If you plug your Mac mini into a wired LAN (instead of my 802.11g route), you can save up to $100 there too.
  
  You might want to take a look at the iBook G4 with 12" LCD. I'm amazed by its battery life. On the WinTel, side, the new Dell Lattitude X1 looks very nice at 2.5 lbs.
• suspicions confirmed
  2005-04-22 05:12:19  jwenting [View]
  
  
  Got a USB wireless set sitting idle at the moment, hope it still works (threw the receiver at the wall out of frustration when it wouldn't work with my MX700 :)).
  Wires forever, must have 50m of the stuff running around the house.
  
  Main factor in price is the extra RAM and harddisk space plus extra software (Photoshop ain't cheap and uses a LOT of RAM) and of course a good screen for it (17" TFT).
  
  In all I'd end up more than doubling the €500 pricetag.
  
  I'm actually looking at an Inspiron 6000 at the moment. Slightly larger but more economical. What I get will depend on which models are discounted around the time I get the funds together :)
• suspicions confirmed
  2005-04-27 06:36:33  qka [View]
  
  
  jwenting:
  I think you missed the point of the Mac mini. It's an entry level machine. Yes, it should have shipped with 512 MB of RAM. But it is Apples's entry into the low end market.
  
  You want</it> to run Photoshop on the mini? Would you run Photoshop on a low-end PC with a Celeron? Considering the money for the 17" screen and PS software, you would be better served by an iMac G5. Photoshop on a mini would be penny wise and pound foolish. Don't know what you would wind up paying where you are, but in hte US the start at US$1300 from the Apple online store. And that's for much more computer power, with 17" screen, keyboard & mouse.
  
  todd:
  Another thank you for a great article! And a thnak you to everyone who posteded to the follow-up. That was as useful as the article