Just Added a Mac Mini to the Collection!

Just purchased one of the 1st generation G4 Mac Mini's yesterday for $125 bucks.

It's the G4 1.42ghz model with the 80 gig hard drive. Came with the original box, install disks, manuals, and the even the DVI-VGA adapter. Very clean and well cared for. I would have preferred an "Intel" Mac Mini...but for $125.00 I couldn't pass it up.

The plan is/was to figure out a way to get a Macintosh into my kitchen. Originally I was going to try to put one of my old iMac G3's in the kitchen...but they are just too bulky. As with most kitchens there isn't much spare space, so the Mac-mini will fit much better than the iMac G3.

The "kitchen" Mac-mini will be used mostly for internet browsing, e-mail, and looking up recipes.

Just wanted to share my purchase & plans for it, in case anyone had similar ideas.

- Nick

p.s. If my counting is correct...this Mac-Mini is the 17th Macintosh computer I currently have...from a 1985 vintage "Mac 512" to a "2006" Mac Pro.

Wow, nice price. If you come across another one at that price, let me know - I could use another G4 box to put my other license of OSX server on =)

Nethfel said:

Wow, nice price. If you come across another one at that price, let me know - I could use another G4 box to put my other license of OSX server on =)

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Yeah...$125 for any Mac-mini seemed like a more than decent price to me...so I couldn't pass it up...plus I had a purpose for it (putting it in the kitchen).

Originally the seller was selling the Mac-mini, a keyboard, mouse, and a 15" LCD monitor for $250. I asked how much for just the Mac-Mini, and he said $150. I offered $100, and he said nah! I then offered $125, and we agreed.

Thanks,

- Nick

Heck of a deal, Congrats! I am looking for a similar deal here locally. (I want to put one in my garage).

I have an iMac G4 in the kitchen for recipes, etc. Great deal on the mini!

That is a great deal and it came with the discs and DVI-VGA adapter also. What display you going to use in your kitchen? I would get a small flat panel and mount it somewhere out of the way.

I'd be pretty happy with that deal. I'd probably throw a bigger HD in it and use it as an HTPC or a light use file server.

dtravis7 said:

That is a great deal and it came with the discs and DVI-VGA adapter also. What display you going to use in your kitchen? I would get a small flat panel and mount it somewhere out of the way.

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Yes I thought it was a very good deal as well (disks, adapter, and original box)!

As far as a monitor, the only spot I have room for a monitor is on the kitchen counters under the kitchen cabinets. The height is the limiting factor...I only have about 15"-16".

With most LCD monitors today, the monitor stand elevates the monitor about 4-5 inches + the height of the flat panel itself is usually greater than the 15-16" I have. Thus I figured my best bet is to get a 15" monitor with a low stand.

I actually found a used 19" monitor for sale locally, that has a stand similar to the "flip" up "foot" like on the back of a keyboard to elevate it slightly.

This type of stand only elevates the monitor flat panel about 2" above the surface the monitor is placed on.

Unfortunately...the guy selling it is asking more than I want to pay...AND does not seem to be open to any negotiation.

I will have to see what develops or turns up.

- Nick

vansmith said:

I'd be pretty happy with that deal. I'd probably throw a bigger HD in it and use it as an HTPC or a light use file server.

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No if you have a HDTV you wouldn't. Even with a 1GB of RAM they can't handle it.

Yeah, besides for a HTPC, I think I'd rather have the intel version just so I could use Plex for the media center front end.

B&O said:

No if you have a HDTV you wouldn't. Even with a 1GB of RAM they can't handle it.

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Unfortunately, as a student, an HDTV is a bit out of my price range .