Mac owners who's journey started with the mini . . .

[iMav]

Just curious how many here started their modern Mac journey with the mini's...and, if so, what Mac have you purchased (and/or sold) since then?

For me, the low price of the entry-level G4 mini's was the kick that finally led me to take the plunge (the risk was minimal (monetarily) and it ran a flavor of UNIX, so why not, I thought).

Here is where I stand (going to try and get the dates right as well):

Mac mini (1.25GHz G4, combo drive)
- purchased Feb 2005
- sold Apr 2006
Mac mini (1.25GHz G4, combo drive)
- purchased Feb 2005
- sold Apr 2006
Mac mini (1.42GHz G4, superdrive)
- purchased Feb 2005
- sold Sep 2006
17" iMac (1.8GHz G5, combo drive)
- purchased July 2005
- passed along to family friend Apr 2007
12" iBook (1.33Ghz G4, combo drive)
- purchased Oct 2005
- sold Jun 2006
20" iMac (2.0GHz CD, superdrive)
- purchased Feb 2006
- sold Jun 2006
Mac mini (1.5GHz Core Solo, combo drive)
- purchased Apr 2006
- passed on to in-laws Apr 2008 (upgraded to 2.0GHz Core2Duo)
MacBook - white (1.83GHz CD, combo drive)
- purchased Jun 2006
- sold May 2008
15" MacBook Pro (2.4GHz C2D, superdrive)
- purchased Nov 2007
MacBook - black (2.4GHz C2D, superdrive)
- purchased May 2008
- sold Aug 2008
17" iMac (1.8GHz G5, superdrive)
- saved from landfill Aug 2008
MacBook - aluminum (2.0GHz C2D, superdrive)
- purchased Oct 2008

I think that's it. (and, yes, I DO realize I have a problem)
_________________
-=iMav=-
http://geekhack.org

[devo]

The Mac mini is sort of what kept me in the Apple fold. I was about ready to give up on them after a bad eMac experience.

My history basically goes:

G3 iMac (OS 9)
- Sitting on the floor in a closet

G4 eMac (Jaguar/Panther)
- Raster shifted me to death and sold it

G4 Mac mini (Panther)
- Still use it to this day

Intel CD Mac mini (Tiger/Leopard)
- My main machine, might become HTPC now

Intel C2D MacBook Pro with matte screen (Leopard)
- Coming this week

I'll probably be a buyer again in 2-3 years. I pray they still make headless or matte Macs at that time.

[aquaman]

The Mac mini is exactly what got me started. Here's my list, but I can't remember the dates:

Mac mini (1.42GHz G4, Combo Drive, 1GB RAM)
- I sold on eBay to buy an Intel Mac mini.

Mac mini (1.66GHz Core Duo, SuperDrive, 2GB RAM)
- I still own and love this machine.

13" MacBook (1.83GHz Core 2 Duo, Superdrive, 2GB RAM)
- Sold it to a neighbor. I didn't care for the build quality or small glossy screen.

15" MacBook Pro (2.40GHz Core 2 Duo, SuperDrive, 4GB RAM)
- Have it, love it, wouldn't trade it for the world.

[WheelSpinners]

Just started my journey, but I'm thoroughly enjoying my Mac mini and OS X. I'm thinking a MacBook Air might be next on my list. I don't care that much for the other new MacBooks. I had the chance to see them yesterday.

[Cypher]

Dreamt of a Mac Mini from 2006 through to 2007, does that count as a first Mac. I wouldn't have switched if it wasn't for the mini getting my attention.

I then bought an
iMac (20" 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo 1GB RAM 250GB HDD Superdrive) in Aug 2007

Macbook (13" Glossy 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo 1GB RAM 120GB HD, Combodrive) in Nov 2007
- a gift for my daughter

Macbook Pro (15.4" Matte 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM 200GB 7200rpm HDD, Superdrive) in Mar 2008
_________________
Phil

Mac Mini 2.53GHz - iMac 2.0Ghz - Macbook Pro 2.4GHz - iPad 1 32GB 3G
6TB Netgear Ready NAS NV+ - 6TB Drobo S

[microfox]

Count me in.


I never would have switched, otherwise. The last thing I need is a mobile computer, I never liked the IMac and the MacPro is so ridiculously overpriced.

I still use my 1.42GHz, 1 Gb RAM, mini (bought in December 2005) and run Ubuntu on it. and my main computer is my C2D 2.0GHz, 2 Gb RAM, (bought it in September 2007) running Leopard's current version.

I just hope Apple does not discontinue the Mini or at least come up with an interesting alternative otherwise that could very well mean the end of my love affair with their Operating Systems.
_________________
iMac 2010, 21.5", 8Gb of RAM

2.0GHz Core2Duo Mac mini, 2 Gb RAM,120Gb HD + 1Tb LaCie external HD, Hauppauge PVR 950 USB TV Tuner stick, running 10.8.2

iPad 3rd generation, 32Gb

IPod Touch 4th generation 32Gb

[devo]

[ghostdawg]

Mac mini (1.25GHz G4, combo drive, airport extreme)
- purchased March 2005

Still using it as my HTPC setup.
_________________
G4 Mac Mini | 1.25ghz | 1gb | 40gb | OS X 10.4.11 | 37" Westinghouse HDTV
AAOne | 1.6ghz | 1gb | 160gb | Mageia 2 & Win XP

[Dino1956]

I got my Mac Mini in Feb. 2008 and now it is December 2008 & all I want for Christmas is a Macbook. My experience has been great with my Mini. It has convinced me of the fact that "Once You Go Mac, You Never Go Back". I'm convinced. I'm hooked!
_________________
iMac 27" 3.06 8GB ATI 4670 1TB HD
Mac Mini 1.83 Intel Core 2 Duo 4GB 80 GB
Macbook Pro 2.4 GHz i5 8 GB Ram 500 GB HD
Power Mac G5 1.8 GHz
Apple TV 3rd Gen
Time Capsule 1st Gen 2TB

http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=Dino1956

[Dino1956]

oh yea i bought an imac g3 on craigslist for 30 bucks. installed tiger and putting in a gig of ram. it's pretty sweet for being made in 1999. still waiting to get a macbook though. call me crazy, but the now, older white ones would be perfect for me. a laptop i would primarily use for surfing the web and email. i'm not spoiled.
_________________
iMac 27" 3.06 8GB ATI 4670 1TB HD
Mac Mini 1.83 Intel Core 2 Duo 4GB 80 GB
Macbook Pro 2.4 GHz i5 8 GB Ram 500 GB HD
Power Mac G5 1.8 GHz
Apple TV 3rd Gen
Time Capsule 1st Gen 2TB

http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=Dino1956

[frankblourtango]

I started with a 1.8 intel with 2Gig and 80 gig drive

since then

macbook
Imac
macbook pro
shuffle
Ipod 30gig
Ipod 160gig
Ipod touch
Iphone
_________________
Mac Mini 1.83MHZ Intel Core Duo 2G 80Gig HD
13" Macbook 1.83MHZ Intel Core Duo 1G 80Gig HD
MacBookPro
Imac
Ubuntu linux on two boxes
windows junkyard network
XP P4

[Bandit Bill]

The mini is what got me started (although I owned a Performa 5200 for about a month many years ago).

1.42 GHz G4 Mac mini
Purchased June 2005 - right after Tiger came out.
Sold it to a friend.

1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac mini
Purchased Sept 2007 - right after Leopard came out


Will potentially purchase a new mini when Snow Leopard comes out but I'm not so sure yet. My current mini meets my needs as did the G4 model.

[SeaLawyer]

[tundraSQ]

Performa 6205
paid $400 for an extra 4mb ram chip///
Power mac 7200
found mac gurus and did a nice raid....
Power Tower Pro 225
moved raid to this box...still my favorite mac ever.
Blue and White G3
loved the style...but this box was buggy.
17" FP iMac 800mhz
second favorite mac...served me well for 8 years
Early 2009 Mac Mini
maxed it out..love it, but give it zero points for style...hiding it under my desk.
wondering if i will get 8 years out of it...i would be surprised if i got 2.

[GrendelPrime]

Toyed with the idea of trying OS/X, but couldn't afford the price of admission.

Jan 2006, took the plunge with a G4 Mini (1.5GHz), learned enough to support our Mac customers and began using it for everything except gaming.
When the HDD died, I reinstalled to an external Firewire drive, but the Mini gave up the ghost recently, prompting me to upgrade.

March 2009 Got my Mini replacement, C2D 2GHz, upgraded to 4GB RAM myself, have an SSD on order to house the OS, and a FW800 external enclosure for data.

Hunting for possible means to repair the G4 and either run it headless or pass it on to one of my 'Mac-curious' co-workers.