iMac or New Mac Mini

gixxersean · gixxersean #1 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 03:06 PM

So my brother has a 20" G5 iMac. It's 2.0ghz 512mb of RAM and 250 gb hd. He is going to sell it to my mom for $500 because he just got a Macbook air. My mom was going to buy the low end Mac Mini, but she's not too sure which would be better. I was thinking the iMac because it has a screen and a larger hard drive, but the Mini has more ram and an intel processor. Also it has warrantee and the iMac doesn't

Which should my mom get? the computer is just going to be used for word processing, internet, and iChat. I might install Photoshop on it, but not sure yet.

Oh and the iMac has Tiger and obviously the Mini will have leopard.

jamieandhismac · jamieandhismac #2 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 04:12 PM

I would go for the iMac, you can always upgrade the RAM if you really need to. The Mac Mini costs $600 by itself, so add the price of a screen etc...the iMac works out a lot cheaper.
And for word processing, internet and iChat; you don't really need a load of RAM.
Leopard costs $130, if you feel the need to upgrade, but again for what she is looking to use it for it's not a must have.
As for the warranty, she would have to decide whether she is likely to break it...I can't say

, you could buy Apple Care anyway for the iMac anyway.

gixxersean · gixxersean #3 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 04:37 PM

can you buy apple care even if it's out of warrantee already? The computer is about 3 years old so I know it is definitely out of warantee.

Also, the computer has a lot of junk on it so I was wondering if I could reformat the hard drive without removing the OS. We don't have any of the disks.

And with the mini the keyboard, mouse and screen isn't a problem because we have all of that at home.

jamieandhismac · jamieandhismac #4 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 05:06 PM

I'm pretty sure you can purchase Apple Care outside of the warranty.

As for reformatting without the disks I'm not sure...Someone else might be able to answer that. You could always manually delete the junk, as long as your careful what folders and files you delete. Im guessing there is just iTunes, Documents, Apps, Photos and Videos you might want to discard.

It all comes down to; Is storage and RAM more important? Or the OS?

You could always give Apple a call, or drop in to one of their stores. You could also use their online chat through their website, but they read from a script so its pretty much limited to purchases related questions.

BlueMac · BlueMac #5 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamieandhismac

I'm pretty sure you can purchase Apple Care outside of the warranty.

Afraid not.

http://www.apple.com/support/products/faqs.html

Third one down.

gixxersean · gixxersean #6 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 06:12 PM

I think I'm gonna tell my mom to go with the mini. Can you update the RAM on the mini?

gixxersean · gixxersean #7 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 06:13 PM

haha i meant upgrade

jamieandhismac · jamieandhismac #8 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 06:15 PM

Yes, theres a load of tutorials online ie YouTube is good. But as far as I'm aware it's fairly difficult. As opposed to an Apple notebook.

BlueMac · BlueMac #9 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gixxersean

I think I'm gonna tell my mom to go with the mini. Can you update the RAM on the mini?

You can upgrade RAM on it, of course.

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #10 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 08:15 PM

You can upgrade the RAM in the Mini but for sure check out one of the tutorials first as it's a pain to get the case off.

Here is my favorite in Video form.

http://media.macsales.com/videos/min...l/highres.html

gixxersean · gixxersean #11 (**permalink**)

09-15-2008, 09:33 PM

cool thanks a lot

KeithTeeple · KeithTeeple #12 (**permalink**)

09-16-2008, 08:15 PM

Id go for the Mac Mini, you can always get a cheap screen. Also I would suggest that you get a wireless keyboard and mouse with that because it will be a lot more efficient, plus you can't bear Leopard.

gixxersean · gixxersean #13 (**permalink**)

09-17-2008, 05:52 PM

Yeah I have I wireless microsoft keyboard and mouse already that my mom will be using. I hate it, but she seemed to like it on the G5 when we were using it.

shfle · shfle #14 (**permalink**)

09-18-2008, 03:24 AM

I would definitely go with the mini for your mother's needs.

Although the iMac G5 is still a nice machine, if and when Apple drops PPC (G4, G5 etc.) support (Rumoured to be with next year's Snow Leopard) then you will be stuck at Leopard for ever and will not be able to install any Intel only apps.

The Mini is therefore more future proof if she is intending to update the OS and/or any applications in the future.

fishepa · fishepa #15 (**permalink**)

09-18-2008, 05:41 PM

I love my mini.

dtravis7 #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca. Posts: 25,816 Mac Specs: iMac C2D Late 2007 20" with 10.8.3, Macbook Santa Rosa 4GB Ram OSX 10.8.3	09-15-2008, 08:15 PM You can upgrade the RAM in the Mini but for sure check out one of the tutorials first as it's a pain to get the case off. Here is my favorite in Video form. http://media.macsales.com/videos/min...l/highres.html ...Dennis Mac-Forums Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

KeithTeeple #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 02, 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario Posts: 450 Mac Specs: 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM MacBook, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo	09-16-2008, 08:15 PM Id go for the Mac Mini, you can always get a cheap screen. Also I would suggest that you get a wireless keyboard and mouse with that because it will be a lot more efficient, plus you can't bear Leopard. Press any key to continue, or any other key to cancel. There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who don't.
	QUOTE Thanks

fishepa #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 23, 2008 Location: Hoover, AL Posts: 81 Mac Specs: Mac Mini	09-18-2008, 05:41 PM I love my mini. War Eagle!
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Running Windows on a Mac: A Switcher's Guide	cwa107	Running Windows (or anything else) on your Mac	276	04-20-2013 11:28 PM
Penryn iMac and Mac mini a few weeks away?	ibookmobile007	Apple Rumors and Reports	5	03-13-2008 06:24 PM
iMac vs. Mac Mini which would be better?	MeAmS	Apple Desktops	18	09-01-2007 03:22 PM
iMac/ Mac mini	zap2	Community Suggestions and Feedback	15	06-17-2005 08:46 PM

iMac or New Mac Mini

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

gixxersean #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 13, 2008 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 145 Mac Specs: ::24" 2.8ghz iMac w/ nVidia 8800GS::2.4Ghz Unibody Macbook::	09-15-2008, 03:06 PM So my brother has a 20" G5 iMac. It's 2.0ghz 512mb of RAM and 250 gb hd. He is going to sell it to my mom for $500 because he just got a Macbook air. My mom was going to buy the low end Mac Mini, but she's not too sure which would be better. I was thinking the iMac because it has a screen and a larger hard drive, but the Mini has more ram and an intel processor. Also it has warrantee and the iMac doesn't Which should my mom get? the computer is just going to be used for word processing, internet, and iChat. I might install Photoshop on it, but not sure yet. Oh and the iMac has Tiger and obviously the Mini will have leopard.
	QUOTE Thanks

jamieandhismac #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 6	09-15-2008, 04:12 PM I would go for the iMac, you can always upgrade the RAM if you really need to. The Mac Mini costs $600 by itself, so add the price of a screen etc...the iMac works out a lot cheaper. And for word processing, internet and iChat; you don't really need a load of RAM. Leopard costs $130, if you feel the need to upgrade, but again for what she is looking to use it for it's not a must have. As for the warranty, she would have to decide whether she is likely to break it...I can't say , you could buy Apple Care anyway for the iMac anyway.
	QUOTE Thanks

jamieandhismac #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 6	09-15-2008, 05:06 PM I'm pretty sure you can purchase Apple Care outside of the warranty. As for reformatting without the disks I'm not sure...Someone else might be able to answer that. You could always manually delete the junk, as long as your careful what folders and files you delete. Im guessing there is just iTunes, Documents, Apps, Photos and Videos you might want to discard. It all comes down to; Is storage and RAM more important? Or the OS? You could always give Apple a call, or drop in to one of their stores. You could also use their online chat through their website, but they read from a script so its pretty much limited to purchases related questions.
	QUOTE Thanks

gixxersean #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 13, 2008 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 145 Mac Specs: ::24" 2.8ghz iMac w/ nVidia 8800GS::2.4Ghz Unibody Macbook::	09-15-2008, 06:12 PM I think I'm gonna tell my mom to go with the mini. Can you update the RAM on the mini?
	QUOTE Thanks

gixxersean #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 13, 2008 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 145 Mac Specs: ::24" 2.8ghz iMac w/ nVidia 8800GS::2.4Ghz Unibody Macbook::	09-15-2008, 06:13 PM haha i meant upgrade
	QUOTE Thanks

jamieandhismac #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 6	09-15-2008, 06:15 PM Yes, theres a load of tutorials online ie YouTube is good. But as far as I'm aware it's fairly difficult. As opposed to an Apple notebook.
	QUOTE Thanks

gixxersean #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 13, 2008 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 145 Mac Specs: ::24" 2.8ghz iMac w/ nVidia 8800GS::2.4Ghz Unibody Macbook::	09-15-2008, 09:33 PM cool thanks a lot
	QUOTE Thanks

gixxersean #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 13, 2008 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 145 Mac Specs: ::24" 2.8ghz iMac w/ nVidia 8800GS::2.4Ghz Unibody Macbook::	09-17-2008, 05:52 PM Yeah I have I wireless microsoft keyboard and mouse already that my mom will be using. I hate it, but she seemed to like it on the G5 when we were using it.
	QUOTE Thanks

shfle #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 23, 2007 Location: Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 305	09-18-2008, 03:24 AM I would definitely go with the mini for your mother's needs. Although the iMac G5 is still a nice machine, if and when Apple drops PPC (G4, G5 etc.) support (Rumoured to be with next year's Snow Leopard) then you will be stuck at Leopard for ever and will not be able to install any Intel only apps. The Mini is therefore more future proof if she is intending to update the OS and/or any applications in the future.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)