![]() ![]() I wrote this article because many of you are going to ask “Is the mini a good machine for me?” I hope I answered some of your questions, or at least focused your attention on what questions you need to ask yourself. The G5 has better longevity: you’ll be happier using it longer as OSX matures into Tiger this year and beyond. ![]() And, for a little more you could have had the new iMac G5 with it’s better chipset and the beautiful integration of an all-in-one. If you buy the mini, add a keyboard, mouse, good 17" flat panel display, pair of amplified speakers, and a USB microphone (for iChat AV conferencing), you’d definitely spend more than you would have for an eMac. If you don’t have a Mac, but are interested in getting started, things get a little dicey. Got a blue and white G3 tower? This machine is just right for you! You’ll even get some desk or floor real estate back in the bargain. This is especially true if you already have a decent monitor which would “go to waste” if you bought an iMac or eMac. If you’re a current Mac user looking for an easy upgrade, the Mini represents a very good value. The low end Macs never made sense for professional users anyway. You might also miss the speeds of FireWire 800 and gigabyte ethernet. If you’re a graphic artist or video editor, I’d point you to a G5, since the software you’re using is probably optimized for that new chip. Is it a good value? That’s not easy to answer. They’re really trying to attract more “switchers.” At least that’s my humble opinion. Translate: Too darn expensive to switch from a (cheap) Windows PC. The less-than-obvious candidate is somebody who found the iMac ($1,299), iBook ($999), and eMac ($799) just too darn expensive. You just swap CPUs and you’re up and running in no time. The obvious candidate is someone who already has an OK monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and just wants an easy upgrade. More importantly, who’s it for? A couple of different groups fall into the target market. What’s it missing? Well, a keyboard and mouse, to mention a couple! Yes, you do need them, but they’re “optional” and add $58 if you don’t already have a set. What’s it got? A G4 processor with most of the ports you’d get in an iMac, eMac, or iBook. The Mini is a skosh bigger than that, but not much. For 2005, Apple introduced the “Mac mini.” What is it? Imagine a stack of five audio CDs. Big ones! Whether you were looking at a G5 tower or a G5 iMac with 20" integrated display, you were looking at some very large hardware. JANUARY 2005 From Maxi to Mini By Don Dickey, CMC president Last year’s rage was G5s. NEWSLETTER OF CONNECTICUT MACINTOSH CONNECTION, INC. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |