Question by Tommy227: Is the Mac Mini really necessary in the Mac line-up? I was doing tab-by-tab comparisons of all the macs on the apple store through configuration, trying to figure out which one was better. Even though I noticed some are definitely better than others, I realised every Mac has a purpose to be there. Except one. The MacBook Pro - great laptop, great value for money, simple The MacBook Air - Compared to the MacBook Pro, it's crap. But when you realise the customer buying has probably got a desktop at home and needs something light weight and quick to grab and go, use portably, etc.it works The iMac - the default of all macs, has the best features and lastest hardware innovation, simple The Mac Pro - for developers, servers, the computer is all about power and speed, and does the job. But the Mac Mini... that is the question... The Mac mini is a one piece machine to do your work, simple. But you have to buy a monitor. Being Apple's way, you have to spend 899 on a 27" display no one really wants. Now you've already gone over the price of the iMac, which is an all in one and doesn't need a monitor because it IS one. But wait, it doesn't stop there! The iMac also comes with a FREE wireless keyboard and a FREE magic mouse or trackpad. The same stuff you have to pay 100 for depending on your options. On top of that you get something like a 2.3 GHz processor and 500 GB hard drive space. Both are half of what the iMac offers. There are more technical specs but I don't wanna go into them. Total - 27" iMac - 1399 - Mac Mini ( with the most possible upgrades to match the iMac including 27" display) - 1999 doesn't make since to me, honestly. Anybody own a Mac Mini? Why? Best answer for Is the Mac Mini really necessary in the Mac line-up?:
Answer by Jacques
We, the school where I work, has 12 of them, they're cheaper to get our hands on(in South Africa) and you don't need to buy apple products to work with them. It's an easy transition for our students who are used to working with pc. Also the size is small enough to be out of the way when we need to lock them up over extended holidays. I suppose we would fall under the people that need mac mini.
Answer by Adam
Mac Mini's sell better than Mac Pros - both of which lack compared to the iMac sales. You can use any DVI, VGA or Display Port monitor with it (so pretty much all of them made in the last 10 years) and connect it via HDMI to a TV as well as using non-Apple USB or bluetooth keyboard and mouse with it you like. It may not have the same lure to switchers that it once had in Apple's line up, but that is why its there. In terms of performance they can handle pretty much anything except things that demand high graphical performance. CPU intensive stuff these days meaning things just take longer rather than being prohibitive. A lot of people use them for as media centers, they get used for servers - racks full of them, development systems - as a lot of web development doesn't require the performance offered by a Mac Pro.
Apple's new Mac Mini answers a lot of the issues that have plagued the series over the years. An HDMI port helps it fulfill its potential as a living room system. An SD card slot gives a nod to digital photographers. A removable panel on the bottom provides user access to the system memory for easy upgrading. We like all of those additions, as well as the sleek, new design. HTPC enthusiasts and the value conscious will find the 9 Mac Mini too expensive for what it offers. They'll also miss Blu-ray. We expect those reservations won't prevent design fans and the Mac faithful from loving the changes Apple has made to both the form and the function of its tiniest Mac. Say what you want about the new Mac Mini's features or its price, but the new chassis further secures Apple's standing as the best enclosure designer in the computing business. The new aluminum case carries with it all of the uber-industrial charm common to t he iMac, the MacBook Pro, and the iPhone 4. At 1.4-inches thick, and 7.7-inches square, the new case takes up slightly more desktop real estate than the older 6x6-inch model, but it's also shaves half an inch off its height. Its dimensions also match those of the Apple TV and Apple's Time Capsule networked data backup device. The old Mac Mini was always a living-room-friendly device due to its size. Despite its new measurements, the new model retains that same appeal. A few features and design adjustments push the Mac Mini-as-HTPC concept further. Chiefly ...
bestcomputersprices.blogspot.com Apple Mac Mini (Spring 2010) first look
Apple has announced pricing and availability of its new operating system. Image: Apple. Apple has announced the price and launch date for the next version of its Mac OS X operating system which runs on its MacBook, Mac Mini and iMac computers. Apple announces Mountain Lion price & launch date
If you have not seen the newest addition to the Macintosh line, it is worth taking a look. It is a very small computer that is only 6.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches. The Mac Mini is about the size of one of those internal CD-ROM drives you install into a PC. By far one of the smallest computers you can buy. And its relatively in expensive, the base model costs only $ 499. Additionally, you need not buy a new monitor, mouse or keyboard. It is 100% compatible with PC monitors and PC USB keyboards and mice.
But what exactly can you do with this mini computer? Quite a bit! The base model comes with more than enough features for most computer uses. It is a full fledge Macintosh, nothing small about this machine except its physical size.
In this article I will talk about three main uses for the Mac mini. First, I will discuss what Macs are known for; their audio and video capabilities. Secondly, I will discuss general Internet uses such as browsing, email and chat. Finally I will discuss word processing. These three are some of the most common tasks for most computer users.
Digital Video, Photos and Music
Music has become what Apple is known best for. Who has not seen one of their iPod music players? The Apple Macintosh comes with iTunes, which allows you to play MP3 music, as well as purchase legal copies of songs directly from the iTunes music store. Songs only cost ninety nine cents, and the selection is huge. If you have an iPod you can attach it to the Macintosh and use it directly with iTunes.
The Mac Mini also comes with iMove and iDVD. These two applications allow you to edit and burn your home movies to a DVD. However, if you want to record your own DVD's you will need a Mac Mini with the optional DVD burner, which adds $ 100 to the price of the Mac Mini. If you have a digital camcorder you can transfer your movies directly into the Mac Mini.
Digital Video has become very easy with the Macintosh. Just d rag clips from your video together and make a complete movie. If you are like me, your home video includes many scenes where the camcorder is not pointed where it should be. The video editing software makes it very easy to remove such footage from your movie.
If you have a video camera you can use iPhoto to download and organize your digital photos. The iPhoto application allows you to quickly move your pictures from your digital camera to the computer. Photos can be organized into catalogs and printed.
Browsing, Email and Chat
The Mac Mini comes with both Internet Explorer and the Safari browsers. Internet Explorer is provided for sites that require it for compatibility. You can also use the built in Macintosh browser Safari. Safari works very much like Internet explorer, only with many additional features and fewer security issues. Safari supports tabbed based browsing, which allows you to open multiple websites and quickly switch between them.
Email can easily be setup on a Mac with iMail. The iMail application will connect to your mail provider and allow you to send and receive mail messages. Chat is provided by iChat which allows you to use your existing instant message accounts to communicate with your friends. Additionally, most of the major chat networks have chat clients that can be downloaded free of charge for the Macintosh.
Word Processing
The Mac Mini comes with Apple Works. Apple works is a full featured office automation product, similar to Microsoft Office. It can open files created with Microsoft office. Apple Works comes with all of the standard "office applications" that you would expect. It includes a word processor similar to Microsoft Word. Additionally, Apple works includes a database application, similar to Microsoft Access. Spreadsheet functions are provided as well, similar to Microsoft Excel. Finally, a presentation application is also included, similar to Microsoft Po werpoint.
The word processor is full featured and includes all of the tolls you have come to expect. Files created with Microsoft word can be opened. Additionally, you can save your files as Microsoft Word documents. Whether you are writing a report for school or a resume for a new job, Apple Works is ready.
Conclusions
The Mac Mini is a very powerful computer, despite its small physical size. The Mac mini also comes with a great deal of software already loaded. The only add-on that I discussed in this article is a $ 100 DVD burner, if you want to record your movies to DVD.
Using a Macintosh is very similar to Windows. The average Windows user will soon be right at home with a Macintosh. Many things are actually much easier on the Macintosh. The Macintosh operating system is based upon the industrial strength UNIX operating system. This makes for a very stable operating system, without many crashes. If you are thinking of trying something othe r than Windows, the Mac Mini is a great option.
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