Buying 2 nd - Advise Needed

I am considering buying a mini mac. However a friend of mine is selling her Mac Pro with the
following details :

MAC OS X version 10.5.8
Processeur: 2,66GHz
Memoire 2GO
Bought in 2008
With keyboard and mouse
Microsoft WORD, EXCEL & PPT 2011 installed


How does it compare to a mini Mac and how much should the asking price be ? What do you think about buying a computer that is nearly 6 years old ?

Thank You.

The new Mac Mini will likely outperform that Mac Pro in just about every aspect.

If purchased in '08, that should be the very first Intel MP introduced in Aug '06 and discontinued in Jan '08.

How much do you think the asking price should be ? She is suggesting € 700.

Bite an Apple said:

How much do you think the asking price should be ? She is suggesting € 700.

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Check e-Bay for used prices. You can also go to this website for approx. values:

- www.mac2sell.net

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Impossible to tell you...since you haven't given us any specification info on the Mac-Mini you're speaking of.

I your original post...you didn't even tell us if this Mac-Mini was new or used!!!

- Nick

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I have given the details of the Mac Pro which is for sale. The Mac mini costs around €600 but is
brand new and the Mac Pro is a 2008 model.

Bite an Apple said:

I have given the details of the Mac Pro which is for sale. The Mac mini costs around €600 but is
brand new and the Mac Pro is a 2008 model.

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Sorry...I got confused with your posts...since you're talking about 2 computers at the same time (Mac Pro and Mac-Mini). I edited my post above answering your question.

As "bobtomay" mentioned...getting the Mac-Mini would probably be the better choice...especially since both computers are relatively close in price. So it really doesn't make sense to pursue the Mac Pro...unless you can get it for a lot less money than the Mac-Mini.

And even then...you would still be much better off with the Mac-Mini...since that Mac Pro CANNOT run the latest version of the Mac OS (10.8, Mountain Lion). And as time goes on...that Mac Pro will get more & more antiquated.

- Nick

That does make sense. I wasn't too keen of forking out such a large sum of money for quite an old computer.

Thank you for your advise.

Bite an Apple said:

That does make sense. I wasn't too keen of forking out such a large sum of money for quite an old computer.

Thank you for your advise.

Click to expand...

There is the size difference as well!!! Mac Pro...BIG and HEAVY! Mac-Mini...teeny-weeny!

If you were talking about:

- a newer Mac Pro
- a newer Mac Pro with 8 or more cores
- you had specific needs like being able to run 4, 6, or 8 monitors simultaneously
- wanted to have 4 internal hard drives
- wanted two internal DVD drives
- needed more than 16gig of ram (the latest Mac Pro's can have up to 128gig of ram)

Then maybe a Mac Pro might be a better choice. But then to purchase a newer Mac Pro...you would be spending a HECK of a lot more money than the cost of a Mac-Mini!!!

- Nick

p.s. And just to repeat what I mentioned above. The Mac Pro you mentioned CANNOT run the latest version of the Mac OS. Which means it most likely will not be able to run any newer OS versions as they are released! VERY IMPORTANT!!!

pigoo3 said:

There is the size difference as well!!! Mac Pro...BIG and HEAVY! Mac-Mini...teeny-weeny!

If you were talking about:

- a newer Mac Pro
- a newer Mac Pro with 8 or more cores
- you had specific needs like being able to run 4, 6, or 8 monitors simultaneously
- wanted to have 4 internal hard drives
- wanted two internal DVD drives
- needed more than 16gig of ram (the latest Mac Pro's can have up to 128gig of ram)

Then maybe a Mac Pro might be a better choice. But then to purchase a newer Mac Pro...you would be spending a HECK of a lot more money than the cost of a Mac-Mini!!!

- Nick

p.s. And just to repeat what I mentioned above. The Mac Pro you mentioned CANNOT run the latest version of the Mac OS. Which means it most likely will not be able to run any newer OS versions as they are released! VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Click to expand...

What is an OS ? I've never had a Mac !

Bite an Apple said:

What is an OS ? I've never had a Mac !

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OS = Operating System.

If you do not understand what an "operating system" is or means...I would suggest doing some searching on the internet to learn more.

And if you have never owned a Macintosh computer before...or used a Macintosh computer to know how the Mac OS works...I sure hope that you know what you're doing.

Because if you've only used Windows computers before...there are some differences...and some folks have more difficulty than others making the switch. Macintosh computers are not hard...it's really more of a "flexibility to change" issue with some folks!

- Nick

I only joined this forum to get some advise concerning Mac computers. It was suggested to me by a member on another forum as I am considering switching to a Mac as they are easy to use. I'm not a computer expert and what must seem easy to most of you, is double dutch to me.
I only need a computer for basics ; photos, word and e mails.
I have used a Mac back in the 1980s.

Bite an Apple said:

I only joined this forum to get some advise concerning Mac computers. It was suggested to me by a member on another forum as I am considering switching to a Mac as they are easy to use. I'm not a computer expert and what must seem easy to most of you, is double dutch to me.
I only need a computer for basics ; photos, word and e mails.
I have used a Mac back in the 1980s.

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When someone is buying a new computer...it's easy. You give Apple your credit card...and Apple gives you a brand new computer (with all of the latest "bells & whistles").

When you buy a used computer...things can be much more complex...and you need to be MUCH more knowledgeable. Otherwise you may end up purchasing something that is:

- overpriced
- outdated/antiquated
- or may not even work properly

Long story short. I think that with your Macintosh knowledge base and computing needs...(as already recommended above)...you would be MUCH better off purchasing a brand new Mac-Mini!!!

- Nick

p.s. Remember. With a Mac-Mini you need to have your own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If you don't already have these...then the total cost of purchasing a Mac-Mini is higher. Sometimes high enough...that it really makes more sense to purchase a lower end iMac computer.

You are better off with mac mini, just get a monitor, keyboard and mouse. That it is.

I already have a Fujitsu keyboard, Philips screen and a Lochitech mouse. Apparently they are all compatable as I have asked for advise an my other thread in this section.
I also think it would be wiser to buy a brand new computer with a guarantee.

You are good to go, why wait.
If you do not mind can you let us know what mini mac you are going to get ?
you can easily upgrade to 16gb ram or 8gb, say your stock mini is 4gb, also hard drive is easy to upgrade.

Bite an Apple said:

I already have a Fujitsu keyboard, Philips screen and a Lochitech mouse. Apparently they are all compatable as I have asked for advise an my other thread in this section.
I also think it would be wiser to buy a brand new computer with a guarantee.

Click to expand...

Sounds like you are all set!

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

Sounds like you are all set!

- Nick

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Hopefully ! I'll be needing a lot of help when I purchase it as it must be so different to
a pc.

Bite an Apple said:

Hopefully ! I'll be needing a lot of help when I purchase it as it must be so different to
a pc.

Click to expand...

We have plenty of 'Sticky/Help" threads for that. Please check them out when you have a chance.

- Nick

OK thank you for your help. I'll be posting.