Laptop vs Minimac

[Elizabeth]

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/worshippy.gif Hello graphic brothers and sisters:

I have a big dilema, right now i have a Powerbook G4 (Mac OS X, Version 10.3.5, Processor 400 MHz , Power PC G4, Memory 384 MB SDRAM, 17", 10GB) and i'm interested in the mac mini. I love my laptop, really, really lovehttp://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/wub.gif.This week I read about the Mac Mini, andI got excited.For all power they put inthat little square spacehttp://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/specool.gif(1.42GHz: 80GB, $599.00 1.42GHz PowerPC G4, 256MB, DDR333 SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9200 with 32MB DDR video memory, 80GB Ultra ATA hard drive, Combo drive, DVI or VGA video output, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth optional .

If i want to buy it,I will have to sale my laptop http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/weep.gif .

I have two questions:

1.- Do you thing is a good idea?
2.- How much can i ask for my laptop? Is an estimate because i live in Mexico. Here Mac, are expensive.

Thank You http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/thumbsup.gif

[D-Frag]

you don't want my opinion, mine would be to spend that much money on a PC with 3 times the power.......my 2 cents.

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[Elizabeth]

Ok,

I want to read you opinion. Is importante becasuse i like MAC and my job parther love PC.
I going to buy the mac, because three of my clients bring me document for mac and where i print, they are mac users.
What will be the perfect PC in youre opinion.
I'm going to sell tha one i have to buy another pc.

Thanks

[TBdesign]

I would say save and keep your laptop, your going to miss it
Save your money and get the mac mini, and buy on older used screen if money is really tight.
Apple Loan might help you out.

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[morea]

What ^ he said.

I would not give up the freedom of a laptop for a mac mini.

Power to the Old Schoolers! and btw, if you can't say something nice, shut the hell up.

[D-Zine]

Me neither. Could end up being a piece of junk...just like the Cube. What a piece of work that was *grumbles*

Power to the Oldschoolers

[Patrick Shannon]

Depends. I had a 400mhz G4 PowerMac that I recently sold to get an eMac 1.25ghz machine. While you might think that's a bit of a downgrade, I'm very pleased with my purchase and it's perfect on my art/drawing table. Not to mention a lot more pleasurable to work on graphics and video with. I even got adventurous and opened it up and added a 160GB hard drive and a DVD burner, though I don't recommend the average user doing this.

But we're talking about the Mac mini, a machine that is 1.42ghz...obviously a lot faster than the aging Powerbook G4 400mhz. You're going to have to think about what portability means to you, and if you're willing to give that up. If you find you don't carry your laptop anywhere anymore, then so be it. As far as expandability goes, both a laptop and Mac Mini are limited in that area, so I guess that's no real argument. I would most definitely up that RAM to at least 512MB, you do not want to be doing complex things in OS X. My eMac came with a lousy 256MB, and my Adobe Suite perked right up when I bumped that to 712MB. With the Mac Mini, you're also going to have to factor in a keyboard/mouse and a monitor with the price, too (unless you already have them).

It's tempting, but stay away from Apple Loan, the APR is totally ridiculous.

I seem to remember some website that told you the value of Apple products, but I can't remember what that was for the life of me. I had a disagreeable experience selling my Powerbook G3 laptop on Ebay last year, the user kept having problems and problems with it (always worked just fine and dandy for me). I think FedEX kind of screwed it up somehow with their specialized 'laptop' package (pfft). I finally got fed up with dealing with the guy (who was a virgin to OS X) and didn't want negative feedback on my account, so I just refunded his money and got the laptop back. I did fix it, but these days I rarely use it at all. I might go for a 12 inch iBook or Powerbook one of these days since I like portability.

> Could end up being a piece of junk...just like the Cube. What a piece of work that was *grumbles*

There was nothing wrong with the Cube except for it's ridiculous price. I personally think the Mac Mini is what the Cube should have been, it's certainly at a sweet enough price point to lure impulse computer buyers. I might have gone with this instead of the eMac had it been available a year ago, but the fact that you can only get an 80GB hard drive is kind of a bummer. (I think the Mini uses laptop hard drives)

Patrick Shannon

'Dear valued customer, go home and die. Signed, your friendly graphic artist.'

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Political incorrectness reinvented.

[D-Zine]

I definately agree with Patrick on the Apple loan. They rape you. I got a loan from them when I was in college so I could work on my projects at home bc the labs were always full and when I wanted to work they were closed. So it was for convenience. The APR is completely rediculous.

Power to the Oldschoolers

[TBdesign]

My APR was pretty good, could have done a little better but wasnt complaining, what did you guys have for it?

Also think your minimac is going to be pretty portable also, if your traveling and know there is a screen and a keyboard to where you are going that little thing is not much to carry around.

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[1984]

you do realize the mini mac has no monitor, keyboard or mouse, so sell the laptop if you need, but remember the $599 doesn't cover everything. And also, i 'built' one up just for goofs the way i would really want it, and it came to almost $900!!

So yeah, it's small and cute, but really look at what you need and get, and remeber that small sometimes means less expansion...

Big Brother is Watching

[D-Zine]

I have no idea what my APR was...that was in 1995!!! 10 years ago! LOL
I bought a Dell laptop this time around /emoticons/smilewinkgrin.gif

You are always better to stay away from getting credit tho, IF you can.

Power to the Oldschoolers

[TBdesign]

Most people that are looking to buy a minimac, or any one that is this business has a mouse or keyboard, mouse and keyboard are not much at all. Depending on what you want for a screen if you dont already have one will be a little more. Dont upgrade on apple they charge ridiculous amounts for ram, it will be an outrageous amount just to get it to 1gig. anywhere from 100 to 400 dollars extra dependnign how much you want.

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[Patrick Shannon]

Think mine was in the 26% range....I got lucky and Mom was informed that there was unclaimed money left behind from my deceased father, so she split it with me and I paid the debt off with that.

Patrick Shannon

'Dear valued customer, go home and die. Signed, your friendly graphic artist.'

http://www.patrickshannon.com/mwwc_sm.gif
My War With Culture (http://www.mywarwithculture.com)
Political incorrectness reinvented.

[TBdesign]

wow that is outrageous mine was not half that. I dont know how but it was. credit card are cheaper than that.

Had a freind a few years ago get one of the imacs, the ones with the white round base when they came out, he used the apple loan I thin or something from wherever he ordered it from, Im pretty sure it was apple, but when they shipped it out and he got the computer open the receipt the balance said paid in full!!! FREE computer, what a gift huh!

... Have no fear of perfection - You will never reach it ...

[D-Zine]

LMAO @ Patrick!
My dad took care of the remainder of mine!
Thanks goodness bc it was in the closet torn apart well before it was paid off..LOL

Power to the Oldschoolers

[morea]

d'oh! I hate it when that happens!

Power to the Old Schoolers! and btw, if you can't say something nice, shut the hell up.

Not to start a Mac vs PC debate, oh hell who am I fooling.

D-frag how in the world can you get 3x the power of a mac mini for $599.00 in the PC world. Alone on software the Mini smokes any PC option. Please explain this to me old PC foe?

Graphic Design Heroes! Call me Captain Type Caster. I’ve fought off “The Evil Cosmic Sans” for year but it seems “Dr. Extreme Untalent” keeps bringing him back. I must find a way to defeat this evil creature.

Capt. Creative bring me those comps…

[Patrick Shannon]

Benjo:

It's quite possible, but not to the layman. It's easy to build a strong PC for that price if you know how to build them yourself. However, most people do not and choose to buy your eMachines, Dells, and whatnot.

Frankly the truth is that unless you're a gamer, computers (with enough RAM, that is) are so fast these days that Ghz speed is less of an issue. (Once again, unless you're a gamer....)

But you are correct when it comes to included software, can't get any better deal than the Mac Mini.

Patrick Shannon

'Dear valued customer, go home and die. Signed, your friendly graphic artist.'

http://www.patrickshannon.com/mwwc_sm.gif
My War With Culture (http://www.mywarwithculture.com)
Political incorrectness reinvented.