04-11-2005, 07:05 PM

Just might make the switch in a month or 2 --- but as I'm a student now $$ are an issue

My computing uses are pretty mainstream - email - web - ripping and burning CDs - digital photos - word processing / spread sheets - Palm user -not a big gamer.

The Mini-Mac should handle all this -- but I also want to run ACID Pro and be able to lay a guitar track down and do some VERY simple music creation - Is this little bugger up for that -- I could use the firewire input to get the audio in

Thanks for you help

04-11-2005, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by PC_Puke

Just might make the switch in a month or 2 --- but as I'm a student now $$ are an issue

My computing uses are pretty mainstream - email - web - ripping and burning CDs - digital photos - word processing / spread sheets - Palm user -not a big gamer.

The Mini-Mac should handle all this -- but I also want to run ACID Pro and be able to lay a guitar track down and do some VERY simple music creation - Is this little bugger up for that -- I could use the firewire input to get the audio in

Thanks for you help

the mini would be great for these needs.. and no need for additional software to lay a guitar track down...just use the software that comes with iLIFE garageband 2.

also you do want to upgrade the ram to 1 gig ( max on the mine)

04-11-2005, 07:43 PM

If you need a program like acid go gargeband but if you need acid go acid(i they real alike,Rigth?

they have acid for mac,you learn something new eachh day,id still rather use garageband

04-11-2005, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by xthisisRomancex

also you do want to upgrade the ram to 1 gig ( max on the mine)

If you do upgrade to 1 Gig, don't do it through Apple, they are about $175 too high. From crucial you can get a 1 gig dimm and install it yourself for $150. Apple wants $325 for a factory installed 1 gig chip.

The case is a bit of a pain to get open, but once you do the memory switch out is pretty easy.

04-11-2005, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by dan828

The case is a bit of a pain to get open,

It is actually pretty easy to get open if you don't mind scratching the case

A memory upgrade for the Mac Mini is a must, I went with 512mb but now I wish I had a GB. Memory is getting really cheap.

04-11-2005, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by mynameis

It is actually pretty easy to get open if you don't mind scratching the case

A memory upgrade for the Mac Mini is a must, I went with 512mb but now I wish I had a GB. Memory is getting really cheap.

I did kinda shave off a bit of plastic while opening the case, but it's only on the bottom so no one will see. What I meant by it being a pain was that it's not the nice easy open type thing that other computer manufacturers are making these days. I had to use a putty knife to get the danged thing open.

04-11-2005, 09:59 PM

Thanks for all the info ------- sounds very promising. With $$ being an issue I'll buy it with 256MB and do the switch to 512MB my self. On a PC 512MB is more than enough to run XP -- is the Mac more memory needy ???

Also how does OS X handle things like external USB2 hard drives as far as mapping and access ?

I would probably run a USB2 hub off of each port

Looks like I'll make the move in June ---- you guys can keep building the knowledge base on the Mini

04-11-2005, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by PC_Puke

Thanks for all the info ------- sounds very promising. With $$ being an issue I'll buy it with 256MB and do the switch to 512MB my self. On a PC 512MB is more than enough to run XP -- is the Mac more memory needy ???

Also how does OS X handle things like external USB2 hard drives as far as mapping and access ?

OS X is a memory hog, just like pretty much every Mac OS. If you are using 512mb to its full extent on a PC, you'll want more than 512mb on your mac, which in the case of a mini will mean 1gb. Like I said about, memory is getting cheap, below is a link where you can get 1GB of memory for your Mac mini from a reliable retailer for $85 after rebate.

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/439...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

USB Drives just plug and play, very easy.

04-11-2005, 11:25 PM

Although with my mini, 512 is more than enough to keep me happy. I just do e-mail, surfing, music, and word processing. For your uses i think that 512 is probably the perfect amount, right in the sweet spot.