Need Mini A1103 advice ASAP!

Is an A1103 Mini w/ 1G ram worth $100? I've never used a Mac before. Is it a dog, performance wise? I'm currently using a PC with a 2.2 Ghz AMD. I don't game. It would only be for surfing the internet and watching standard DVD's on a 720p 32" LCD. Will it play them smoothly? Is there freeware DVD player software that would improve its DVD playback?

Included is the Apple Mac Mini, a DVI to VGA converter, and the orginal copy of OS X Panther and OS 9 for this machine. It is currently running Tiger.

The Apple Mac mini G4/1.25 features a 1.25 GHz PowerPC 7447a (G4) processor with the AltiVec "Velocity Engine" vector processing unit and a 512k on-chip level 2 cache, 256 MB of 333 MHz PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory (upgraded to 1GB), a 40.0 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, a slot-loading 8X DVD/CD-RW "Combo" Drive (4X DVD±RW/CD-RW "SuperDrive" optional), and an ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor (4X AGP) with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM.

I have a Mini, purchased in Dec. 2007 and it will do all you want just fine. I'm not sure where that number is lurking, so I can't say if it's an A1103 or not. When you say you're getting "the orginal copy of OS X Panther and OS 9" I hope that means that the installation discs are included. You'll need those. But, if it's currently running Tiger, why aren't the 10.4 discs coming with it? I'd insist that they be included!

toMACsh, he posted specs toward the bottom. That is a 1st Generation G4 Mini. It came with 10.3.5 Panther. I know because I bought that first mini also. The G4 Minis will not do HD well at all. Frame dropping. They will play DVD's though just fine and surf the Web. You Tube FLASH videos might be a bit jerky at times though.

To the OP: Not sure on the 32" 720P LCD but I would say it should drive it. It's a Radeon 9200 with 32 Megs VRAM. There is a resolution limit that I remember. Something like 1900x?.

Also to run Tiger smoothly the RAM should be at it's Maximum of 1GB. It takes a full size PC2700 DDR SDRAM stick. Any Stock PC3200 will work also.

the max res is probably 1920x1200 - yes it will play DVDs... youtube might not be so hot though, unless you opt in to the html 5 beta.

dtravis7 said:

toMACsh, he posted specs toward the bottom.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I know. I didn't know how to compare it to mine, so I gave the date I purchased it.

This model was the first Mini released, and is a G4 1.25GHz machine. If it is in good condition with the original system discs, $100 would be about its value. Here are the specs:-

Mac mini G4/1.25 Specs (Mac mini, M9686LL/A*, A1103, 2026, PowerMac10,1) @ EveryMac.com

Bear in mind you will be comparing it to a 2.2GHz machine and the Mini is a cheap alternative to a desktop.