Why get a mac mini? - Hardware & Software

people with small desks or cluttered desks. [editline]01:05PM[/editline] I rather have a smaller case than have a some big ass case, but that's me.

[QUOTE=Makol V2;22007449]I have no clue how Apple made the Mac Mini, must be one tiny ass motherboard.[/QUOTE] Apple design their own motherboards for stuff I think. or have someone build a specific product for them. I think the only reason there are any low voltage C2D's at all is cause Apple wanted a tiny processor for the Macbook Air, and Intel regarded Apple as a big/important enough customer to fab new chips for them. Same deal with hardware virtulisation, every processor used in a Mac has it, even if they processor normally doesn't support it (I think)

[QUOTE=Maccabee;22007680] You can get mac mini's for the a little more than pc desktops, but they perform better.[/QUOTE] Can't outperform my $350.00 windows desktop that runs Crysis: warhead on enthusiast mode. :colbert: [editline]01:35PM[/editline] Just sayin. :razz:

[QUOTE=Magman77;22008586]Can't outperform my $350.00 windows desktop that runs Crysis: warhead on enthusiast mode. :colbert: [editline]01:35PM[/editline] Just sayin. :razz:[/QUOTE] > Buying a mac for gaming :colbert: [editline]01:35PM[/editline] Just sayin :razz:

Perhaps people enjoy apple products for design and need it to be easily transportable?

[QUOTE=Dr Egg;22008572]Apple design their own motherboards for stuff I think. or have someone build a specific product for them. I think the only reason there are any low voltage C2D's at all is cause Apple wanted a tiny processor for the Macbook Air, and Intel regarded Apple as a big/important enough customer to fab new chips for them. Same deal with hardware virtulisation, every processor used in a Mac has it, even if they processor normally doesn't support it (I think)[/QUOTE] Doesn't Foxconn make Apple's motherboards?

[QUOTE=Makol V2;22008944]Doesn't Foxconn make Apple's motherboards?[/QUOTE] They do manufacturing, not design. Asustek used to do the polycarb MacBooks, for example.

[QUOTE=HubmaN;22008991]They do manufacturing, not design. Asustek used to do the polycarb MacBooks, for example.[/QUOTE] that what I meant to say, Foxconn manufactures them.

[QUOTE=doonbugie;21996478]Apple sucks is why. [highlight](User was permabanned for this post ("Idiot" - birkett))[/highlight][/QUOTE] Ahaha my little bro got perma'd. [editline]04:09PM[/editline] [QUOTE=HubmaN;22008870]> Buying a mac for gaming :colbert: [editline]01:35PM[/editline] Just sayin :razz:[/QUOTE] Never said I used my windows computer for gaming. I'm just saying that its fast. :fuckyou:

[QUOTE=Magman77;22011765]Ahaha my little bro got perma'd.[/QUOTE] I would be embarrassed if that was my little bro, no offense but seriously he's a bad poster. Also don't log out or the IP banner will fuck you over.

My dad bought me one, I have no real use for it. But it makes a great torrent box. [editline]08:27PM[/editline] But since I leave it on 24/7 I use it to browse the web when I don't feel like starting up my pc

Cheap way to get OS X without hackintosh.

For the longest time I've been contemplating which Mac I'd get when I actually decided to get one, and these little boxes kept coming up. They're Apple's cheapest computer, they're about as good as a standard MacBook, and I can get a cheap monitor, keyboard, and mouse and still have the build cost under $1000. The problem is, will they perform good enough for me. It seems like an interesting little thing to use as a secondary computer, media centre/server, or for light gaming and net browsing. The problem arises with the HDD, mainly, not large enough really to bootcamp. This is one of the reasons, well, that and the hardware update, that drew me more towards looking at getting a MacBook Pro when I can. the MPB may cost more, but it's IMO more worth the money for what you're paying. That, and I want to bootcamp and try to use it as a "primary" computer, meaning it needs to run my games decently, and this little thing just can't do that, but even the lower end MBPs can. They may not be as good as what I've got now, but the battery lasts a long time and they'll run them decently enough. The exception is the i5/i7 MBPs, they blow my PC out of the water. The main thing holding me back is cost, I know Apple could release these cheaper, and Hackintoshes are easily doable now, but it won't run as well, of course, as the real MBP. As to the argument about making a "good looking" small computer, that's all opinion. Some people find some of the cases for ITX desktops cool and Mac Mini's case bland and dull, it's all a matter of opinion when it comes to looks.

[QUOTE=Magman77;22011765]Ahaha my little bro got perma'd. [editline]04:09PM[/editline] Never said I used my windows computer for gaming. I'm just saying that its fast. :fuckyou:[/QUOTE] > Now assuming you buy a Mac for speed :allears:

You buy a Mac Mini because you need to develop for an Apple platform but Hackintosh doesn't work and you don't want to fork out serious cash for a real iMac.

[QUOTE=Dr Egg;22008572]Apple design their own motherboards for stuff I think. or have someone build a specific product for them. I think the only reason there are any low voltage C2D's at all is cause Apple wanted a tiny processor for the Macbook Air, and Intel regarded Apple as a big/important enough customer to fab new chips for them. Same deal with hardware virtulisation, every processor used in a Mac has it, even if they processor normally doesn't support it (I think)[/QUOTE] I'm near to almost more than certain that Apple uses the exact same same CPU than those in other laptops... Atleast the i5/i7, and newer laptops.. That's why MBP runs hot; not many holes to enhance airflow VS same chip as in other laptops with decent airflow..

its basically a small computer used for browsing the internet. [editline]01:00PM[/editline] i had to use this piece of shit to play games on before i got a real computer.

[QUOTE=Magman77;22011765]Ahaha my little bro got perma'd. [editline]04:09PM[/editline] Never said I used my windows computer for gaming. I'm just saying that its fast. :fuckyou:[/QUOTE] But can you put it in a bag?

[QUOTE=johanz;22020875]But can you put it in a bag?[/QUOTE] Probably... But why would he? Btw: You would have to bring a monitor too..

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;22020819]I'm near to almost more than certain that Apple uses the exact same same CPU than those in other laptops... Atleast the i5/i7, and newer laptops.. That's why MBP runs hot; not many holes to enhance airflow VS same chip as in other laptops with decent airflow..[/QUOTE] Read what I said. In pretty much every case where Intel disabled VT on the chip for other OEMs, they enabled it specifically for Apple. Other than that the chips are the same.

[QUOTE=compwhizii;22012140]I would be embarrassed if that was my little bro, no offense but seriously he's a bad poster. Also don't log out or the IP banner will fuck you over.[/QUOTE] If I use any other computer or browser on my network or not other than my mac in firefox which I'm guessing has some cookies it needs or something it says someone with my ip has been banned in the last 3 months.

[QUOTE=Ub0nic;21996562]some people don't need a powerful computer, just one to check email, and browse the web and such. the mac mini accomplishes that.[/QUOTE] I'd just get a net book. Cheaper, smaller and you can relax on a sofa while chatting on MSN.

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;22026592]I'd just get a net book. Cheaper, smaller and you can relax on a sofa while chatting on MSN.[/QUOTE] But not as powerful and has a small screen, and runs windows. [editline]10:34PM[/editline] INB4: Hackintosh. Your average mom or working man would have no clue how to do it, even if it seems easy for some of us.

What's wrong with it running windows?

[QUOTE=~ZOMG;22044289]What's wrong with it running windows?[/QUOTE] Well, seeing it can't compete with the Mac mini in that regard...

Technically one might argue that the dell hybrid fills a similar niche and looks better. Same goes for the eee box (though that one definitely doesn't look better). It's basically a small-form pc which is applicable for people who don't need a strong pc. Most folks just want to browse the net, watch movies and make documents. They don't need strong hardware. Plus they also don't require the portability that a netbook gives so they get one of these. And Mac vs Windows is still a preference. Hell if you gave your average computer user who has never used a pc before basic instructions and either OS x, Windows or some nix distro like Ubuntu or Mint and a small scale pc like this, they would see no difference in running them and would most likely adopt them just as easily.

I love the fact than anyone could grab their mac mini, and shove it into their backpack. Now also pack a 10.1 inch (16:10 widescreen) LCD, a mini USB KB+wireless mouse, and you have a [I]truely[/I] portable desktop.