10 replies to this topic

[JUS_SAURON]

This topic is simple ...
Looking at the sleek designs of Apple .. That overpriced company eveyone loves and hates

The New Mac mini ( without any DVD drive) is probably the only one I can affort

So do you own one and is it worth it ? .........
VS getting an Imac for more $$$$$


You MUST actually OWN ONE .... I base reviews on REAL experiences

[Phil]

[Note: if you really only want advice from people who own the latest generation of the Mac Mini you'd probably be better off asking at MacRumors or another Apple-centric site.]

My first question is: why? Why a Mac Mini / iMac and not any other PC? Design of the machine? Running OS X?

I don't own a Mac Mini myself, but here's a good review by my favourite tech site: Ars Technica Mac Mini Review. It looks like a decent little machine, but only if you don't want to use it for high-end purposes.
I seriously wouldn't recommend the new generation of iMacs if upgrading components is ever a going to be an issue. You'll have to tear off the glass and take the whole thing apart just to upgrade RAM. Together with the lack of optical drive and slow 5400 RPM hard drive (in the lower configuration) it doesn't give you enough value for money.

If you just want to run OS X, you can also build your own PC and run OS X on it as a "Hackintosh". I did that about two months ago and while I was sceptical at first I'm really impressed by how fast and stable it is. It runs better than Ubuntu and feels more natural than Windows.

[Pasidon]

Well hold up. Ron, if you're looking for a nice portable device you'll be using around for media based tasks, then that might be your best choice. Macs are garbage on all accounts, except when it comes to media-based work. The OS operating system should only be considered if you're doing sound design, film editing or web design. It also has a tendency to have better wireless support hardware / software than PCs. But if none of this is appealing to you, just avoid all disappointment and get something cheep that works well, like HP. Or be super-duper smart and do what Phil said and build your own. I built mine for under 600 bucks and it's top of the line.

[duke_Qa]

It is said that if you can build something more powerful at a cheaper price than a HP computer, they will hire you. Generic bullshit, but it makes the point that HP machines are cheap and powerful, probably market-leading.

[Pasidon]

Only problem HP Laptops seem to have, from experience, is that they tend to malfunction horribly after a good amount of time. It always seems to start with the scroll function on the touch pad breaking to the clock breaking to having power issues. My current HP laptop is now at the stage that has unusually little battery time, and if things go like my last, it won't be able to turn on after awhile. There are quite a few bad programming problems on HPs... screw Windows 8... fix your ef'ing programming mistakes before you market more crap.

Mac laptops though... I just hear people regretting them constantly. Everyone I know with a Mac has the Windows OS as well. That's just silly.

[duke_Qa]

"A good amount of time" should be plentiful

And yeah, since mac got popular the quality have proportionally gotten worse. There is a median somewhere where quality = goodSize - (size * -1)

[JUS_SAURON]

A hackintosh seems like the perfect idea
Thanks man

[Phil]

Mine is working great. You just need to be careful with the parts you select to make sure they're as compatible as possible. I can recommend tonymacx86.com to get you started.

[Beowulf]

Don't you really need a motherboard with an EFI or UEFI BIOS? or am I mistaken?

[Phil]

No necessarily, no. There's a workaround (DSDT) that apparently works pretty well. However, getting a UEFI motherboard is advised because it'll work out of the box then.

[Beowulf]

Huh... so I could technically turn my current box into a Hackintosh then. I've got a UEFI BIOS. Neat.