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What does everyone think of the Mac mini?
- Thread starter MAZYORA
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Jade Knight 08
Member
I never heard of "Mac Mini" ? Do you guys have the pix what the computer looks like?
Jade Knight 08
Member
Thanks, DMczaf.
That's quite sexy!!! I sure love to have one day.
That's quite sexy!!! I sure love to have one day.
Shogmaster
Member
ckohler said:
They would, wouldn't they. :lol
DonasaurusRex
Online Ho Champ
because PC's actually do things besides look sexy and sell for inflated prices.
SteveMeister
Hang out with Steve.
DonasaurusRex said:
Games. But, nobody seriously buys a Mac for games anyway, so the Mac mini is just fine for what most people want to do on a computer BESIDES games. That said, the mini WILL play World of Warcraft...
Shogmaster
Member
Dreamfixx said:I was wondering why the Shuffle was getting more attention than this
Because more rediculous the idea, more the Mac fans swoon over it! :lol
Shogmaster
Member
SteveMeister said:
No, more than games. How about capturing and then editing video via a PCI capture card. Or upgrading memory by adding more instead of replacing what it comes with. You know, practical thing.
bionic77 said:
If you just wait for folks to link you cool looking computing platforms at GA, all you'll get is MAC stuff. If you ever bothered to search out on your own, you might find a whole world of shit that looks cool and is powerful in the PC realm.
Phoenix
Member
Shogmaster said:
There are far superior capture services via firewire. In fact most good camcorders and even a most digital cameras will be plug right into the machine and transfer data without a capture card at all.
Or upgrading memory by adding more instead of replacing what it comes with. You know, practical thing.
You got me there - I know I would want more memory and since I can't order it from Apple that way... wait.
Here we go...
Marty Chinn
Member
Mac Mini is worthless without SPDIF.
Shogmaster
Member
Phoenix said:
I'm not talking capturing from DV cameras. I'm talking about capturing from broadcast TVs and other NTSC sources (like the game consoles).
Oh, so you like paying $75 for additional 256MB of PC2700? Or paying $425 for having 1GB of memory? :lol Shit, now you have a $1000 Mac Mini before monitor, keyboard, speakers, and mouse! Congrats!
Here we go...
What? Why are you smiling?
Manabanana
Member
bionic77 said:
:lol That image gets me everytime. Nice, simple, $500 computer next to a monitor AT LEAST 2X the price.
Shogmaster
Member
-jinx- said:
Self restaint? What's the fun in that? :lol
Even Apple's cheap, barebones PC (and that's what the Mac Mini is) looks HOT.
The hardware is unimpressive. The price is affordable. The styling is classic, stylish Apple. And the thing runs OSX. For its purpose and target audience, Apple nailed it.
The only thing that's dumb is the lack of USB/Firewire ports - and the costly upgrades (e.g. RAM, bluetooth, harddrive, wifi..)
The hardware is unimpressive. The price is affordable. The styling is classic, stylish Apple. And the thing runs OSX. For its purpose and target audience, Apple nailed it.
The only thing that's dumb is the lack of USB/Firewire ports - and the costly upgrades (e.g. RAM, bluetooth, harddrive, wifi..)
Remember DJ Demon J's old tag saying, "If you see this guy trolling Nintendo, PM Mike Works and get a tag of your choice?" Well, I can't hand out tags, but you can IMAGINE that you have one which says something similar about Apple. It's beyond old.
The original poster asked if anyone on the forum HAD a Mac Mini, and if so, what they thought. Since you obviously don't own one...move along.
The original poster asked if anyone on the forum HAD a Mac Mini, and if so, what they thought. Since you obviously don't own one...move along.
Shogmaster
Member
Pochacco said:
Errr... It's got USB and Firewire in the rear.
-jinx- said:
And just how many of the folks that replied in the thread have one? Hmmm? Alrighty then!
How bout this, muchachy. Why don't you stop trolling me, and just move along. :lol
i've seen some good-looking PC cases, but not much rivals Apple's hardware. Their ID team has the contemporary minimalist look fucking down. The only company that comes to mind as offering sleek (IMO of course) cases is Shuttle:Shogmaster said:
More cases here: http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/brb_default.asp
They also had a XPC case with a mirrored front, similar to the Panasonic Q. They're beautiful cases, but that logo looks horrid.
mattiewheels
And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
We get it. You hate Macs. Now you never have to post in threads like this again.Shogmaster said:
I think this mac's chance to snag a LOT of people who bought ipods but are still sticking to pc's, because it can easily coexist in the space you have for your pc. And anyone complaining about shit like upgrading, it's a computer the size of a fucking sandwich. I think they did a great job with the space they were given.
Shogmaster
Member
Pochacco said:....would ruin the styling of the mini
So does adding keyboard, mouse, speakers etc. unless you buy matching Apple stuff, in which case you can kiss goodbye the $500 ish price tag. :lol
mattiewheels
And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
I thought it came standard with bluetooth...
Outcast2004
Banned
You'll actually have one USB left... the mouse plugs into the USB port on the keyboard.
But yes, It' still doesn't have enough.
As a whole I'm not liking OSX. We got it a work and nothing but problems.
But yes, It' still doesn't have enough.
As a whole I'm not liking OSX. We got it a work and nothing but problems.
Shogmaster
Member
aoi tsuki said:
Well that's the crux of it, isn't it? Doing good looking stuff is easy when you go minimalist. Those of us in the Industrial Design field often joke about Apple's "incredible industrial design". It's all about stripping down design to the bare minimum, then outfitting it with the highest quality (read expensive) material that there is, damn the cost. Not really real world for the rest of us. It's not really about the skills of the design staff, but of the marketing folks. :lol
But you can't be minimalist and also have wealth of functionality as Apple have demonstrated over the years so perfectly. So in the end, you have to choose: Minimalist or functionality. I choose good looking functionality. Much tougher to do, and won't look good as minimalist, but much more satisfying to use.
doesn't come with bluetooth standard.
$500 is a great price for apple hardware, even if doesn't come with their highest tier technology... but why not try to get it for free?
http://www.freeminimacs.com/
shit, if you want to try to help a brother out, you could use my referral link .
oh, and i've been using os x for a years now at work and home, and i almost never have problems. then again, i don't have many problems with my PC's either, besides the ridiculous amount of maintenance time i've clocked in.
$500 is a great price for apple hardware, even if doesn't come with their highest tier technology... but why not try to get it for free?
http://www.freeminimacs.com/
shit, if you want to try to help a brother out, you could use my referral link .
oh, and i've been using os x for a years now at work and home, and i almost never have problems. then again, i don't have many problems with my PC's either, besides the ridiculous amount of maintenance time i've clocked in.
Shogmaster said:
Who's trolling what now? A tricked out Mini with a copy of Final Cut is a pretty budget-conscious way of getting your DVD authoring on. Hell, the thing comes with iDVD for free if FC Express is a little too rich for your blood. It's obviously not what you're going to use for full-on, broadcast level cuts, but for quick jobs, it's fine.
Not to mention the myriad Firewire solutions for importing video signals. They range from cheapo, sketchy consumer gear that takes composite signals, to pretty-hot-shit things that can do a little bit more.
But yes, to echo the sentiments of nearly everyone else in this thread:
We get it, you don't like Macs, mostly because you think they're overpriced. Hey, great, awesome, might I be so bold as to tell you to get over yourself.
Shogmaster said:
With the Mini, no, you can't have full-blown "functionality," the computer's designed to be more a casual-use machine. If you want to get "serious" work done on an Apple platform, you obviously need to step up to the plate and get a tower. As a sidenote, I think the G5 towers are the damned epitome of minimalist design and functionality pushed into one (expensive) package. They can't do games, but as far as my experience with Macs goes, they can do everything (else) a PC can do.
Manabanana
Member
Outcast2004 said:
Keyboards have 2 ports in them, so you've got 2 open ports after mouse and keyboard.
Phoenix
Member
Shogmaster said:
There are external firewire devices that handle that as well. I have one plugged in downstairs to capture demos of wireless applications from a camcorder that doesn't have firewire and the occasional show. Comes right into DVD Studio Pro as if it were coming from a camcorder. Next?
Yes but that invalidates your entire "can't" argument. I could also run out to Microcenter and grab a stick and put it in there myself if I wanted to do it cheaper. Next?
What? Why are you smiling?
Because i enjoy fighting off your jihad against Macs. Always enjoyable. I myself am not a shuffle fan, never was before they released and won't be now that they are released.
I played with one of these things at an Apple Store, and I've got to own one. I may wait for OS 10.4 though, as it's going to have some upgrade for HD playback and I'm planning to hook it up to my HDTV in the living room(I'm cheap, I don't want to pay for the upgrade later). It's probably just a matter of time before Apple has some type of download service for HD movies. If that ends up happening the Mac Mini could be the living room iPod.
Not all keyboards come with built-in USB hubs, unfortunately.
It's a minor gripe anyway.
One thing I find funny is that one's iPod potentially has more GBs than the Mac Mini.
E.g. If an iPod user buys a Mac Mini so that she can use iTunes on OSX, she might run into some problems if she, for example, has a 40GB iPod and gets the 40GB Mac Mini...
It's a minor gripe anyway.
One thing I find funny is that one's iPod potentially has more GBs than the Mac Mini.
E.g. If an iPod user buys a Mac Mini so that she can use iTunes on OSX, she might run into some problems if she, for example, has a 40GB iPod and gets the 40GB Mac Mini...
Shogmaster
Member
xsarien said:
You can't be trying to tell me that the Firewire/USB solutions for TV capturing and PVR is gonna be as good as the PCI solutions, are you? Come on now! Or maybe you didn't read that far before pushing the reply button.
But yes, to echo the sentiments of nearly everyone else in this thread:
We get it, you don't like Macs, mostly because you think they're overpriced. Hey, great, awesome, might I be so bold as to tell you to get over yourself.
Me hate Macs? I don't know hwat you're talking about dear fellow! :lol
To tell you the truth though, it's not that I hate Macs as much as I really enjoy getting you guys so riled up.
I don't think I hate Macs at all like when I use to work with them back in the day. Talk about hate, I REALLY hated Macs back in OS7 and 8 days. Cursed them daily.But now since I have parted ways with Macs for a good while, I have made peace with them. Infact, I right now in the process of getting a patent for a iPod accessory so I can make some $$$ off of you guys. :lol
Well that's the problem I see. To get functionality, you have to spend minimum of $1500, while the same line of functionality is available for PC buyers at around $500 and up. I think Mac Mini might be a jeopardy to Mac marketshare in the long run when it illustrates that problem so succinctly to the new PC buyers that it will attract.
Oh christ..... You don't want me to repeat my loathing of the G5 case design again here, do ya? You know... Size of a full tower with one fucking 5.25" bay, etc..
aoi tsuki said:i've seen some good-looking PC cases, but not much rivals Apple's hardware. Their ID team has the contemporary minimalist look fucking down. The only company that comes to mind as offering sleek (IMO of course) cases is Shuttle:
More cases here: http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/brb_default.asp
They also had a XPC case with a mirrored front, similar to the Panasonic Q. They're beautiful cases, but that logo looks horrid.
Those are nice, but neither looks half as nice as that mini Mac.
I wish Apply would just quit and start making PC's.
Shogmaster
Member
Phoenix said:
Firewire and USB TV capture and PVR solutions are lower end in quality and functionality then the PCI counterparts. NEXT!
You do it yourself, and you've just voided the warranty (see Apple's warning at the site). NEXT!
My jihad is for the good of the people! Long live sanity!!!
Shogmaster said:You can't be trying to tell me that the Firewire/USB solutions for TV capturing and PVR is gonna be as good as the PCI solutions, are you? Come on now! Or maybe you didn't read that far before pushing the replay button.
Most Firewire 400 boxes manage to shove full-frame, composite or s-video signals through a Mac without skipping a beat. Even video directly over Firewire through compatible decks and recorders. Either try it for yourself, or quit harping on something you have no intention of using anyway. I can't speak for raw RGB signals, I've never bothered looking for Firewire boxes that did that.
To tell you the truth though, it's not that I hate Macs as much as I really enjoy getting you guys so riled up.
Then maybe you should be forced to use OS X for a few months. Maybe a year. It's a completely different animal than OS 9.
You'll have to pry my Gravis G-Pod from my cold, dead hands.
The Mac Mini couldn't be more obviously designed as an entry level Mac to PC users and first time computer owners. If it's a jeopardy to anything, it'd be the iMac that would have to watch its back. It's something to get your feet wet; iDVD will graduate people to FC. Even though they've probably got enough horsepower to handle the real stuff, I wouldn't try it unless I've stuffed it with 1GB of RAM.
Your opinion is just that. You say it's ugly, I say it's great. Neither of us is lying or telling the truth. Funny, that.
Shogmaster
Member
xsarien said:
I never said they couldn't do those things. I just said that the better PVR capture solutions are left up to the PCI.
Either way, incredibly moot point since 1.25~1.42Ghz G4 is way too weak to encode 640x480 DVD quality MPEG2 in realtime, even with "hardware" encoders like the Hauppage PVR 250 (which uses up 85% of the CPU cycle form a 1.9Ghz Barton to do the same job smoothly).
I know all about the goodness of OSX. Used it lightly for a bit. Never had complaints. Never said bad things about it either.
Like I said, I really don't hate Macs per se, but the Mac marketing philosophy and the Mac evangelists.
What doe sit do? Is it cool? Mine makes coffeee and does the dishes.
I wouldn't do any vid editing on a machine with less than 1GB of RAM as well. And that's why Mac Mini is such a apoor solution for it. iRonic that Mac Mini comes with iLife 05 as one of the apps to show off the system.
More than just my opinion. All that space and only on 5.25" bay? no external 3.5" bays? only 2 internal 3.5" bays? These all add up to crap functionality, NOT just IMO.
I never said anything negative about it's looks. Just functonality.
But one of us is delusional. Hint: it's not me.
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