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stodge
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Joined: 19 Mar 2010
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:03 pm Post subject: Mac Mini vs 27" iMac or wait for new MacBook Pro? |
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I've been waiting for the new MacBook Pros to come out and eventually I think I may just cave and buy a different Mac. Which leaves the 27" iMac and a Mac Mini (of course!). I intend to use it for:
- web and maybe light 3d development
- music with garageband and reaper
- email
- web browsing
- writing documents etc
Given this, is the Mac Mini the right machine? Can it handle amateur garageband work? I have Guitar Rig 2 and the Rig Kontrol 2, which is a USB device.
I already have two LCDs on my desk so I don't necessarily need the built in screen on the iMac. Though the i7 27" iMac is rather tempting if I can get around the recent quality issues.
The last option is to wait for the new MacBook Pros but who knows when they will ne out. I could pick up a current MBP but I assume the new ones will have a significant performance improvement.
I've been saving for a Mac since OSX first came out so I guess another few weeks (months?!?!) shouldn't make a huge difference.
What say you? Cheers! |
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boiledfrog
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Joined: 12 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Most of your needs are light-duty, but the Mini will handle all of that just fine. The iMac will do it faster, significantly faster if you go quad-core.
You are comparing extremely different machines. Since form factor doesn't seem to be a criteria I'd say buy as much machine as your budget can handle. So it sounds like that would be the iMac.
PS, I know 2 people with the 27 incher and they have had no screen problems since installing the update from Apple. |
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philiparcario
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Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 4570
Location: Howell NJ USA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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I own the iMAC 27 inch 3.06ghz cpu 1tb hdd the better graphics card it buries the mini for speed .
I owned the fastest mini around with a 2.66ghz 8gb ram an intel x25-e ssd. I would buy the imac with the 3.06ghz or 3.33ghz cpu and the better graphics card.
_________________
2010 Mm 2.4 C2D oem 320gb hdd 8gb ram
2012Mm base 2.5 with 16gb ram diy fusion drive
2012Mm quad with 8gb ram oem 1tb hdd
promise pegasus r6 3x 3tb + 3x 4tb =21tb hdds
lacie little big disk 2x 512gb ssds
synology 2tb disk station |
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MacDSmith2
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Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 779
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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The portability of the Mac Mini is one thing in its favor. I take the Mac Mini everywhere with a LED LCD monitor in a back pack. So that could be an issue if you want to be able to take it with you, which of course you couldn't do with a big all in one iMac. I have two monitors, a large stationary one, and my more portable LED one. The flexibility of the Mac Mini and its small size are its advantage.
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Retired: Altair 8800, PET, TI 99/4A, Apple II
Mac Plus, Mac II, Mac SE/30, Quadra,
20th Anniversary Mac, iMac Purple, G4 Blue & White, iBook Clamshell
Active: Mac Mini (OCT 09) 4 GB RAM, 2.66 GHz, 500 GB HDD |
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Chris..S
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Joined: 25 Feb 2007
Posts: 704
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| What size is your more portable one? |
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MacDSmith2
Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 779
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris..S wrote: | | What size is your more portable one? |
Insignia 19 inch LED LCD TV, 9.3 lbs, detachable stand. Resolution is 1360 by 768 (720P). This is the smallest LED monitor/tv available that has full 720P resolution that can fit in a backpack. I would love the iPad to have a display port input, but so far it doesn't. Best Buy under $200. The LED is important because it is very thin and doesn't weigh very much. At 17 inches and under, you lose resolution. At 22 inches, it no longer fits in a backpack. I've tried all possible combinations.
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Retired: Altair 8800, PET, TI 99/4A, Apple II
Mac Plus, Mac II, Mac SE/30, Quadra,
20th Anniversary Mac, iMac Purple, G4 Blue & White, iBook Clamshell
Active: Mac Mini (OCT 09) 4 GB RAM, 2.66 GHz, 500 GB HDD |
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bprice
Member
Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Posts: 87
Location: LA Ca
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| Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:41 am Post subject: Re: Mac Mini vs 27" iMac or wait for new MacBook Pro? |
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| stodge wrote: | I've been waiting for the new MacBook Pros to come out and eventually I think I may just cave and buy a different Mac. Which leaves the 27" iMac and a Mac Mini (of course!). I intend to use it for:
- web and maybe light 3d development
- music with garageband and reaper
- email
- web browsing
- writing documents etc
Given this, is the Mac Mini the right machine? Can it handle amateur garageband work? I have Guitar Rig 2 and the Rig Kontrol 2, which is a USB device.
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I have an older CD 1.66 w 1 gb ram and run Logic.On my rig GR takes up a LOT of resources.A faster CPU comes in handy especially when you use multiple instances of GR (or VI).
I'm sure the MM 2.53 is way cool (I'm still tempted) but I think minimum "pro"good for dig recording is probably the iMac i5 even though I'd go for the quad core i7.As long as you don't have cards I think the i7 looks like a monster....almost like a MP quad.
btw I think GB puts more strain on my MM than Logic.On that note I do believe a MM 2.53 can get the job done "amateur well to good" just not PRO good.
BP
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MM 1.66ghz, CD, 1gb ram, 80gb HD, SL 10.6.8
iMac i7 2.83ghz, 8gb ram 2tb ,HD ,SL 10.6.8 |
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aljosah
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Joined: 16 Jan 2010
Posts: 57
Location: Slovenia
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| Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| i5 and i7 are both quad-core CPUs, as well as the Mac Pro's XEONs, though the later are server CPUs, being much more powerful than desktop solutions. |
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MacDSmith2
Veteran Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 779
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| aljosah wrote: | | i5 and i7 are both quad-core CPUs, as well as the Mac Pro's XEONs, though the later are server CPUs, being much more powerful than desktop solutions. |
Depends on which model of i5 you get; the 540M is 2 cores, 4 threads, 35 Watts, suitable for the Mac Mini. The 750 version is 4 cores, 4 threads, 95 Watts, too hot for a Mac Mini.
For the i7 line, the 620M runs 35 Watts, 2.66 GHZ, 2 cores, 4 threads, costs $332 while the 960 version runs 130 Watts, 3.2 GHz, 4 cores, 4 threads and costs $562. Think furnace replacement in winter!
_________________
Retired: Altair 8800, PET, TI 99/4A, Apple II
Mac Plus, Mac II, Mac SE/30, Quadra,
20th Anniversary Mac, iMac Purple, G4 Blue & White, iBook Clamshell
Active: Mac Mini (OCT 09) 4 GB RAM, 2.66 GHz, 500 GB HDD |
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