Apple Users

edbermac

(16,135 posts) Thu Dec 4, 2014, 07:20 PM Dec 2014

Anyone here own a Mac mini?

My nine-year-old iMac has just crapped out. I'd like to get another iMac but I have been looking at the mini which is about half the price. Since I have the keyboard and mouse from my old iMac all I would need is a new monitor.

Any noticeable differences between the iMac and the Mac Mini?

9 replies

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Anyone here own a Mac mini? (Original Post) edbermac Dec 2014 OP

Have to look, but are you doing anything other than web and Renew Deal Dec 2014 #1

Mostly doing Photoshop PS3 editing and s lot of web surfing edbermac Dec 2014 #3

I'm about to get a mini too. I think it's a great machine. But be aware that the robinlynne Dec 2014 #5

I just bought my new 2.GHz Mac Mini at Best Buy for $679 at Best Buy. n/t RebelOne Apr 2015 #9

That's silly. Atman Dec 2014 #6

I do a lot of Photo editing on my Mini, it's just fine. I pumped up the RAM to 8GIGs. alfredo Apr 2015 #7

I have a 2012 Mini NV Whino Dec 2014 #2

you mean one of these? Voice for Peace Dec 2014 #4

I just replaced the Mac Mini which I have had since 2009 RebelOne Apr 2015 #8

Renew Deal

(83,437 posts)

1. Have to look, but are you doing anything other than web and

Reply to edbermac (Original post)

Thu Dec 4, 2014, 09:07 PM

Dec 2014

Word processing? If not, it should be fine.

edbermac

(16,135 posts)

3. Mostly doing Photoshop PS3 editing and s lot of web surfing

Reply to Renew Deal (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 4, 2014, 11:58 PM

Dec 2014

I was looking to upgrade before the Mac crashed as I cannot run certain software or webinars as the operating system is fairly old and not compatible.

Looking at two minis:

1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
500GB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 5000
OS X Yosemite
For $500

And the 2.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
8GB memory
1TB hard drive1
Intel Iris Graphics
OS X Yosemite
For $700

My Old iMac was this:
iMac 17 inch 1.83 GHz 512 MB 160 GB SD/AP/BT
OS X Tiger 10.4

robinlynne

(15,481 posts)

5. I'm about to get a mini too. I think it's a great machine. But be aware that the

Reply to edbermac (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 5, 2014, 09:20 PM

Dec 2014

new mac mini can NOT ever be upgraded!!. The 2012 version can. So if you buy a mini, you need to get all the ram and speed you will ever want now. I've been reading reviews. It's good but has that limitation. (I'm going to get 16 gb ram, because I work in photoshop.)

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)

9. I just bought my new 2.GHz Mac Mini at Best Buy for $679 at Best Buy. n/t

Reply to edbermac (Reply #3)

Sat Apr 25, 2015, 09:24 PM

Apr 2015

Atman

(31,464 posts)

6. That's silly.

Reply to Renew Deal (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 11, 2014, 01:51 PM

Dec 2014

I have a Mini and run the full CS5 suite on it with absolutely no problems. I bought it after my iMac became obsolete (not exactly, but just too damned slow for high-end work). I'm currently working on a PS illustration with several dozen masks and channels. Working file is about 1.3 gb...never had a single issue opening, saving or working.

I hooked up a Samsung HD tv/monitor I happened to have laying around (it was going unused in our guestroom), and I even bought a cheap $9 Windows keyboard from Staples (re-map the keyboard to the Mac layout). It's got a 2tb WD raid array for Time Machine, and a separate 750gb portable Toshiba drive and external (obviously) Lightscribe printing superdrive. Oh, and I upgraded the RAM myself, to 16gb. It is a great machine and saved me a bundle of cash over a whole new full-size iMac.

alfredo

(60,158 posts)

7. I do a lot of Photo editing on my Mini, it's just fine. I pumped up the RAM to 8GIGs.

Reply to Renew Deal (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 22, 2015, 05:13 PM

Apr 2015

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

2. I have a 2012 Mini

Reply to edbermac (Original post)

Thu Dec 4, 2014, 11:15 PM

Dec 2014

I upgraded to 16 mgs of RAM. I do graphics on it and it works fine. My Cinema monitor crapped out a while back so I bought a 27" monitor from Staples that also works fine. It doesn't have the great resolution of the Apple monitor, but at less than half the price, I'm happy.

Voice for Peace

(13,141 posts)

4. you mean one of these?

Reply to edbermac (Original post)

Fri Dec 5, 2014, 04:06 AM

Dec 2014

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)

8. I just replaced the Mac Mini which I have had since 2009

Reply to edbermac (Original post)

Sat Apr 25, 2015, 09:20 PM

Apr 2015

with a brand-new one. The Mini is excellent if you want a desktop computer. I love it, but I can't tell you about the difference between the IMac or the Mac Mini since I have never used or owned an IMac.

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