I'm thinking of getting a desktop so it's going to be either the mac mini or the imac. I'm going to use it for my work (website designing) as well as recording some songs of my own. Which one do you think i should get?

go for IMAC....is cool...and the specs are more worth it for themoney

ah... imac was my priority at first but then i thought that if i need to do any upgrades in the future i would have to sell the whole thing away. But with the mac mini, i could just sell the mac mini and get a new mac mini with the latest upgrade. Erm... get what i mean ma?

I have a Mac Mini. I like it because I can upgrade the CPU when those Merom chips are cheaper.

On the other hand, the iMac comes with a built in iSight. It also uses a standard 3.5" drive so you can get a 500GB drive in there. One very important consideration for me is that the iMac will have way fewer cables lying around. It's also somewhat portable.

Personally though, I would suggest that you get a Macbook.

unfortunatly macbook is not in the list. So tishaban, if you have to make a decision strictly between the mac mini and imac, which one would you choose?

can the mac mini motherboards support MEROM CHIPS"?

anyways, i think the imac is a better buy. i dunno about you but there seems to be a slight lag in mac mini due to 1) slower proc 2) using notebook hdd, slower. 3) smaller L2 cache

wow i didn't know there are so many disadvantages of mac mini. Thanks for the info carpathia

Yes, the Mac Mini can support Merom CPUs. People have done the upgrades before. Note that the iMac CPU is soldered, you cannot upgrade them.

#1 is very true unless you upgrade your Mac Mini CPU of course
#2 is true unless you use an external firewire enclosure. More cables
#3 is only true for 2GHz and faster iMacs.

With widescreen 19" LCDs going for RM700 nowadays, a Mac Mini + LCD is still 20% cheaper than an iMac although all else being equal, it's probably 10-20% slower on CPU intensive stuff than the iMac. However, that extra money can easily bump up your RAM to 2GB and partially buy an external firewire drive for faster/bigger storage.

However the Mac Mini will be messier than the iMac. I bought a Mac Mini myself but only because I usually need 2 computers, a portable that I carry around and a desktop for other stuff. If I were limited to 1 computer only, I would still buy the iMac because I like a neat, low maintenance desk

This post has been edited by tishaban: Mar 15 2007, 03:08 PM

im just wondering -- --
1) how much will it cost to upgrade to merom, 2gb ram, hdd on the mac mini

2) is it possible to replace the primary hdd in the mac mini with a faster 7200rpm hdd ?

For webdesign and music recording, I'd recommend the iMac or an old G5 Powermac.

Merom is still too damn expensive for now. Newegg lists the 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo for US$300, the 2.33GHz goes for $600. Wait for Intel to reduce the pricing before upgrading. Besides why void your warranty now...

2GB RAM is around RM500.

It is possible to replace the internal drive. However, you'll be hard pressed to find large 2.5" SATA drives in LYP. Even 5400rpm 120GB SATA models are rare, don't dream of finding 7200rpm ones External 3.5" 250GB firewire drives will be around RM500 or less.

Despite all this, if this is your only machine, I'll still recommend the iMac.


This post has been edited by tishaban: Mar 15 2007, 03:22 PM

I meant replace the primary 2.5 hdd with a 3.5 type . possible ?

No, not possible.

Google for a Mac Mini image. It's very tight in there, it's physically impossible.

If you're into modding though, google for the Mac Mini eSATA hack. Cool stuff

ah i guess majority agrees on buying an imac. No supporters for mac mini ma?

i know a few graphic designers use either a PB, MBP or iMac....and they carry it around with them....even the iMac....

as some people sayd, although the iMac is bigger in size than then mac mini, it is much more portable than the mac mini.....

and for your line of work, i dont think the mac mini can do what u are asking for......

carrying the imac around... wow... i didn't know people actually carry their imacs.

Ah...so a hack is possible...so this changes everything. but a mac mini, hack the hdd, replace with merom and max out the memory and get a 24" display from Dell.

Go for iMac, you'll get everything that MacMini does not have
Oh yes, except Mac Mini have more wires than iMac.

This post has been edited by vandetta: Mar 15 2007, 06:02 PM

just get an imac! 24" !

Go for iMac. Mac mini is quite limited for website desgining and audio recording. That two functions you required clearly show Mac mini wont be sufficient.

Another advise: Don't buy both first. Both are phasing out and getting an upgrade sooner or later. Wait at least until Leopard is released except you want to get it for cheap.

ah that's a good tip youngkies. When do you think i should get it then? Any idea which month the leopard will be release?

Some rumours stated it *might* release next month. As a matter of fact, no one knows when. Apple just stated that it will release in spring season(21 March-21June) Right now, the Leopard beta version still got ton of buggs..

right so basically what i need to do now is sit here and earn more money to buy the 24" imac. Thanks guys for helping me out to decide.

Ooooohhhhh dear lord! Buying a Dell monitor for a Mac? That's blasphemous. The cheapest of the El Cheapest cheapested cheapo brand called Dell mixed with a 1337 brand called Apple? That's like buying a Porsche n then using local Fung Keong retreaded tires man.

This post has been edited by ianho: Mar 16 2007, 12:34 AM

u know what? i was planning to get ur apple cinema display if they were to advice me to get the mac mini.

Which ACD? The 20" or the 30"? I don't think the mini can tahan a 30" ACD.

the 20". Are you selling ur 30"?

Guess this might able to help you.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

woo.. thanks for the link seydee

relax la....i know there are a lot of purist here. Its not necessarily a porsche + fung keong combination. go and check out+compare the mac 23" display and dell 24" display specs and then tell me why you want to pay RM3999 instead of RM2599 .

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/c...dhs1&l=en&s=dhs

http://www.macasia.com.my/hardware/displays/index.html

This post has been edited by carpathia: Mar 16 2007, 08:47 AM

Dell aint tat bad.. even Kevin Rose in Diggnation recommend it and he is a mac fans...

with the price and the quality... it is more value than ACD FYI

Quality? Have u seen all those never ending complaints about Dell monitors in forums all over the world? Where's the quality then? About "value for $", that I agree. Dell is all about value for $. However most ppl who buy Apple dont buy coz it's value for $. We buy Apple because it's like looooooooooooooove. A love for the looks, quality, n brand. It's like how come ppl spend a thousand bux on Tod's loafers. The Bata loafers may look just as good at rm100 but who wants a Bata loafer eh? That's what I'm talkin about.

This post has been edited by ianho: Mar 16 2007, 02:37 PM

I own a Dell monitor and personally, in terms of build, quality and image quality, no fight against the ACD. Seriously, I think it is worth the money invested.

Shh... Sounds like a fanboy to me Any hardwares sure got complains and problems.. Apple products as well Eg: MB/MBP (1st batch)

you own the 24" monitor?


no, im not aware of the issues with dell monitors. my theory is that sells waaaay more monitors than anyone else, so u probably get more people griping about issues. I have YET come across any major news (engadget, cnet) on dell monitor defects. unless ianho can prove it to us ?

buy imac
buy imac
buy imac

Say something more substantial than that, this is considered SPAM. And it's very clear what you're trying to do is to increase your post count.

If you have already own a full rig, i suggest you get a mini to save cost (just plug the mini to your existing monitor). But if you are patient.. get the iMac!

It is quite a dilemma isn't it?

I almost got myself the mac mini, but on second thought, I would wait a little longer for Leopard to release first.

The 24" imac is very tempting too, great display, neat machine, what a superb industrial design.

On the other hand, if you already have some cool hardware like big LCD screen & etc, mac mini would be a wiser choice, don't forget the 24" imac would cost more than double the cost of mac mini.

If not mistaken, I did saw 30" ACD attached to a mac mini in LYP apple store a while back.

Of course 24" imac will be ideal, mac mini is not too shabby either for web designing and stuffs.

i think right now i have my heart set on waiting for the Leopard to release. Then only i can decide. But what you say is right insomnia, a 30" ACD + mac mini is definitely tempting.

---

Added on March 25, 2007, 10:49 pmi have a question regarding the imac. Let's say i create a psd file in a computer that runs windows. Will there be any compatible problem when i open it in mac? Same goes for macromedia dreamweaver and adobe illustrator.

This post has been edited by BlueSilver: Mar 25 2007, 10:49 PM

Its universal dude , I can open any files in Mac , windows files , what-so-ever. There is even a Compatibility check as well

that's great news to me. Thanks for the input prasys.