Hi everyone,

I noticed that my sister is becoming quite hand with a PC and she loves to do photo and video editing. The first thought that came to my mind is that maybe I should invest in a Mac for her. Since she is still quite young, I was looking more towards a Mac Mini.

Since I am a total noob when it comes to Macs, I need some advise from the gurus out here in regards as to how good a Mac Mini (the basic one) would be when it comes to editing photos and videos? I saw from the Apple website that it has the iLife software?

All help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Mavik,
hMmm..... Mac mini for lil sister?! Er, Can I be ur little sister too?! Except I want the MBP *grins*

Depending on requirements, and your budget you may consider getting something that's 'upgradeable' or something with a little 'higher specs'. Wanna copy the specs you have in mind for us?

I think all Mac machines come standard with their bundled software and iLife makes part of the bundle

Well right now I am trying to budget some things and see if I can get it for her birthday by July this year. Roughly in the region of RM3k though.

Mavik,
To begin with on a Mac Mini might be a pretty good idea. Keep fingers crossed though by then you'll be able to get at least a C2D Mac Mini. Er, speaking of which, u'll need a monitor too, ain't it?

Oops, I'm really not the best person to be asking about Mac's but if I could get a MB at about RM3.5k, I'd suggest the MacBook instead.

So, anymore vacancies for sisters?!

I dun think MINI worth the money. But recently I had the chance of experiencing a macbook plugged into a 32" SONY LCD TV. And the end result is impressive. U can sit on your sofa and edit the photos with a wireless mouse and keyboard...That is COOL...and that is MAC!

Well I have a monitor already and I checked the price for the C2D Mac Mini and it is around 2k to 3k if I am not wrong.

macbook and mac mini too me make no diff...both quite similar in hardware spec...i hv both of them...but the mini is a good mac starter...so small and so quiet...if u want to do editing work...better upgrade the ram too...

Mavik,
I'll say go for it then since it's a gift, plus it's within your allocated budget. I don't see what's wrong starting with the 'basics'? Bsides, a Mac mini as a 'basic' machine's comparatively 'above' basic

Er, I think U know what I mean. I'll say keep a look out at prices just in case new specs are being launched, and the older ones are going off at a 'good discount', just like the recent Core Duo MacBooks


macball,
Your purpose vs Mavik's purpose is different. You need to look at it from HIS perspective, not urs!

This post has been edited by tinkerbel: Jan 8 2007, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the advice tinkerbel. I will plan to save until my sister's birthday and then get it for her then. Hopefully by July, how knows that the price might drop or the specs might get better.

Mavik,
Yup, just keep a look out for 'stock clearances' esp when higher specs products are being introduced. If u get one at a good price, perhaps u can consider getting it and giving her an early birthday gift

to threadstarter,

mac mini = the most affordable mac ever

go ahead and buy this thing and plug it to a HDTV or apple cinema display... u will sit down and satisfied...

for video editing? Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Quicktime HD etc etc... impressive...

for image editing? Adobe Photoshop, Apature etc etc... again impressive results...

Regards,

This post has been edited by apisgogo: Jan 9 2007, 10:57 AM

MAC Mini is powerful and cheap- so why not? i've seen people running garageband and itunes/iphoto/safari open at the same time using mac mini also ( CPU Intensive? yup!) .

Just wanna double check - output of MacMini can be to any monitor?

Mac Mini output = DVI output & VGA connector (adaptor included)

so technically can plug to any vga monitor... Can use DVI for maximum resolution and quality.... for HDTV connect can use DVI-to-HDMI cable..

in my office we have a mac mini connected to normal Samsung Syncmaster LCD using VGA connector...pretty neat


Regards,

This post has been edited by apisgogo: Jan 9 2007, 11:38 AM

AhHh in that case it wouldn't be a problem output-ing that MacMini. Maybe I should just get myself a Mac Mini and a 42" Plasma TV for my room instead of the Mac machine I had in mind....

Then again, dat's not too portable... danG...

Yess!!! your mac mini can become HTMM (Home Theatre Mac Mini ) i plugged my iMac G5 to my Samsung R7 32" HDTV using Apple mini vga cable and the results was impressive... it became my dvd player


mobility? aha, get mac book pro... Dual-Link DVI for maximum resolution and impressive images and the best thing is parallel dekstop... neat that is


Regards,

apisgogo,
I got those information oredi - been collecting information here since Dec '06 but ah well, have no idea when I'll be a *proud* owner of a Mac machine

Maybe I'll just carry the G5's home from the office tonight?!

MacMini RRP - 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo, RM3199 & 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo cost about RM2399
u can get better deal than that i presume...

u mentioned abt your concern abt mobility... i propose that you get a MacBook... RRP - 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook cost around RM4,399.00 (spec quite similar to MacMini) and a bit higher spec for mac book - 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 1gb RAM RM5,299.00... both have DVI output (MacBook has Mini-DVI output whereas you need Apple MiniDVI cable sold saperately, can get easily at mac store) of course if you have RM to spend, go for MacBookPro

dont la carry office ones but if u can stand any longer, what the heck
in time u will be 'the proud owner'

Regards,

apisgogo,
Thanks for the input but we're really getting OFF THREAD here. Mavik's gonna have our heads off if we went on about the rest of the Mac machines here.

I oredi got sufficient info and know what I want. I'm just uhm...... well, waiting...

PS: Carrying the office G5 home wouldn't make me a "proud owner" ...

This post has been edited by tinkerbel: Jan 9 2007, 12:46 PM

oh ya... sorry threadstarter... but i hope our 'off thread conversation' will give a clearer picture about MacMini, thus to all apple product line

no worries on Mac... its easier than windows... dont hasitate...


tinkerbel : still waiting? finance matters? or wait for new OS Leapord aka Mac OS X 10.5

PS: not 'proud owner' but 'the chosen one' hehe

Actually i have been comparing...

if u take iMAC and mini..with the price tag, i still think iMAC is more worth it. The reason is that iMAC gives u lots more spec than mini.

Unless you are treating mini as an independent media center, than MINI will be veri handy.,..!!~!~

True, iMac worth more than MacMini... but if u plan to hook up to HDTV, MacMini is more value for money...

macball,
Read TS question carefully. He intends to get it as a gift for his sister - and he's got a budget, hence i think the MacMini's a pretty good pick to start off with. I mean, come on, wouldn't U want someone to give u a MacMini?!!

apisgogo,
Yeah, I'm still waiting... Er.. finance's always a problem but in this case it isn't the *main* problem, I think!

then the main prob is?

*this thread gonna be way off

This post has been edited by apisgogo: Jan 9 2007, 04:57 PM

apisgogo,
*OFF TOPIC* .... heh heh

Er due to some unforeseen circumstances *sigh*


--Ooops, emoticon came out wrongly--AND it's still WRONG!!!! ArGhHhH.....

This post has been edited by tinkerbel: Jan 9 2007, 05:06 PM

No no no, please continue your discussions here. I feel a little more enlightened. I am also considering the possibility of an iMac as well.

Still need to do more research and finding out a price which is reasonable as well.

Mavik,
Oh... In that case there are plentiful threads here which u can refer to . And for someone who's looking to purchase something in Jun/Jul, u sure start ur research prettty early

tinkerbel - unforseen circumstances? mind to share? we can help

Mavik - iMac? ok, since im an iMac user, i must say it is suits me and able to deliver what i need. My use my iMac for video, image editing & light Maya modelling... its has few firewire connection that i can hook up to my DC CAM for video and etc etc... basically its able to cater more than ur sister needs... Mac OS X able to handle more than one program in a time... so, i would say iMac 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 17" with ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 SDRAM and 1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) priced at RM 4,799 would be best choice...(my opinion) plus u dont have to buy saperate monitor for MacMini...

so, you have some options now.... u can go for MacMini + other brand lcd monitor, or if you have extra bucks, iMac... or u concern abt mobility, go for MacBook... if you really have many buck, buy MacPro

is it you? u gonna get your mac in jul/jun?

apisgogo,
It's beyond anyone's help..... So I'll just haf to bear wif it.....

tinkerbel - ok, let me know if u need my help then

Mavik - best if u state your budget then...